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Use Browse Files

Overview/Tasks

Whenever you open a project, the browse file for the project is opened if it exists. If you close the browse file, the file is reopened when you do a query.

To query the current information file about a symbol

  1. On the Tools menu, click Source Browser.

    The Browse dialog box appears.

  2. In the Identifier text box, type the name of the symbol you want to query for.

    You can use the asterisk as a wildcard to match any string.

  3. In the Select Query list box, select the type of query you want.

  4. If necessary, click the Case Sensitive Queries option.

  5. Choose OK.

    A browse window specific to the query type appears. The query results for the symbol you selected are displayed.

Tip   If you select a symbol in a source file, the symbol appears in the Identifier box when you open the Browse dialog box. This eliminates step two in the procedure above.

When the browse information file is open, you can use it to find where a symbol used in a source file is defined or first referenced.

To find the definition of a symbol

  1. Select the symbol in a source file or the standard toolbar Find box.

  2. On the Edit menu, click Go To.

    The Go To dialog box appears.

  3. In the Go to what list, click Definition.

  4. Click the Go To button.

To find the first reference to a symbol

  1. Select the symbol in a source file or the standard toolbar Find box.

  2. On the Edit menu, click Go To.

    The Go To dialog box appears.

  3. In the Go to what list, select Reference.

  4. Choose the Go To button.

Note   The browse file is based on the state of the source files at the time of the last build. If you edit source files and then go to a definition or a reference, the location in the browse file may no longer be accurate. If the browse file has not been built, a dialog box provides the option of building the browse file.

Tip   You can jump to the previous or next definition or reference by choosing one of the navigation buttons on the Go To dialog box: Previous or Next.