I’ve been using Visual Studio 2008 to do my Subtexting and while I’m really digging some of the new features like JavaScript IntelliSense, there is one new feature that is just driving me nuts. Split View.

By default VS 2008 opens HTML documents, which includes .aspx, .ascx, and other markup document types, in the split view.

Split view is great if you’re interested in working in the design surface and still want quick and easy access to the raw markup responsible for creating the pretty UI. However... I’m deathly allergic to the design surface and try to avoid it all costs.

Being so designer-averse you can imagine what a PITA it is when every HTML document that I open starts in split view.

How do I fix it?

The other night at our local .net developer’s group meeting I noticed that the speaker, my buddy Jeff, was using VS 2008 and yet all of the HTML docs he opened were starting in source view. I asked him how he configured VS to do that and he said

I have no idea... I guess I just didn’t break mine yet. But I’m sure there’s a configuration option somewhere.

Thanks Jeff, most helpful. :)

The configuration option

Jeff was right, there is a configuration option! And to be honest, it’s right about where I’d expect it to be.

Tools  -> Options -> HTML Designer

You then have three default options to pick from, Source View, Designer View, and Split View.

And just like that you can avoid the design surface just and maintain your 1337 status.