Visual Studio F6 stopped working. It no longer builds the project

Question

I'm using VS2008, been using it for quite some time now, and since I hate using the mouse while developing, I'm always using F6 to build the solution, or Shift+F6 to build the current project. What's weird though is for some strange reason, it simply stopped working over the last few days. In fact, when I pull down the Build menu, next to "Build MyProject" there's no longer a "Shift+F6" shortcut there on the menu?!? Anyone ever experienced this? Is there a setting I need to change?

Solution 1

You can change keyboard bindings in the Tools->Options dialog. It's under Environment->Keyboard.

You can reset the binding here, and also check what might have stolen it by checking what's currently bound to those keys.

If you recently installed any add-ins, they're known to set (sometimes unwanted) keyboard shortcuts.

Solution 2

Your Keyboard Mapping Scheme has changed. Go to Tools -> Options. In Environments->Keyboard in the dropdown for "Apply the following additional mapping scheme" select "Visual C# 2005"

Solution 3

Have you tried : Tools -> Options -> Environment -> Keyboard

All the keyboard shortcuts have been shown there.

Solution 4

I'll add the proverbial "Is it plugged into the wall" question:

Do you have a fancy keyboard that replaces function keys with other things toggled incorrectly?

Solution 5

VMWare stole my Shift + F6. Maybe that's your prob?

I fixed this by going to going to tool-options-environment-keyboard just like the other suggestions but I clicked "Reset" instead to restore the proper short cuts.

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Comments

[BFree]

Thanks! It was driving me nuts!

[David Basarab]

I had the same problem when I installed VM Ware. SHAME on you VM Ware for overrighting my keyboard short cuts with you VS plugin.

[Ruvan Fernando]

I can confirm it was VM Ware workstation which adds an add-in to VS

[DSO]

Grrr! Luckily I'm still on my 30-day free trial of VMWare Workstation. Hijacking the VS keyboard shortcuts is a HUGE minus. Looks like another point for sticking with the free VirtualBox (its faster and less bloated than VMWare anyway and doesn't require a reboot to install the thing).

[theJerm]

I see zounds of options for building here. Which one is it and how do I assign F6 to it? You did good up until you left the answer hanging at ->Keyboard saying we can reset the binding here :)

[John Demetriou]

I used it, set it to shift f6 but still does not work

[Optical Phoenix]

setting it to Visual C# 2005 did it for me. for some reason in the newest version that is no longer the default.

[steve]

And don't click the 'reset' button ... like I did ... thinking that would (re)set the keyboard to the selected value. Select 'Visual C# 2005' and then click OK button.