Visual Studio Solution Cleaner
v.1.6.0.0
Copyright (c) 2012-2019 by dennisbabkin.com. All rights reserved.
(Windows 8/8.1/10/11)

LAST MODIFIED: December 6, 2022


DESCRIPTION:
================

This small utility can be handy for developers who use Microsoft Visual Studio. It can do the following:

- Before archiving a Visual Studio C++ or C# solution, sharing it, or uploading it to a Git repository 
  a developer may want to clean, or shrink the solution folder in size.

- Quite often C++ or C# projects may become corrupted, IntelliSense may stop working, or Class Views become
  unresponsive. And simply invoking Build -> Clean Solution command from within the Visual Studio, in most cases,
  will not perform a thorough cleanup.

This utility will remove all non-essential files from the Visual Studio solution, files that can be easily 
recreated after such solution is opened in the Visual Studio again. By doing this you not only make your solution 
much smaller in size (for archiving or sharing purposes), you also reset it in case of a bug in the Visual Studio.


WARNING: Keep in mind that this utility will place files in provided solution into your Recycle Bin.
         Please make a backup before using it!



OPERATION:
================

1) Make sure to close your Visual Studio solution that you're intending to clean.

2) Then simply drag your Visual Studio solution folder from within Windows Explorer and into this 
   tool's icon (or into its window), and this tool will clean it up for you.

3) The tool will close automatically if cleanup was successful. Otherwise it will play an error beep
   and stay up on the screen. Its log window will contain the report about the cleanup.


When cleaning up, the tool will place the following into the Recycle Bin:
(It will NEVER permanently delete any files!)

 - All folders named "Debug" (only if they contain no subfolders.)

 - All folders named ".vs" (with all of their subfolders), if they contain a subfolder with a solution name, 
   with another subfolder that contains either the "ipch" folder, or any of the .suo, or .vc.db files.

 - All folders named "ipch" or "obj" (with all of their subfolders.)

 - All folders (with all of their subfolders) ending with ".tlog" if they are located inside a "Release" folder.

 - All folders named "Release" if they are empty.

 - All files with the following extensions within all folders in the solution:

    .ncb, .sdf, .aps, .bsc, .log, .tlog, .user, .sbr, 
    and .suo (if user allowed it via the main User Interface)

 - All files in the "Release" folders, with the exception of the following files:

    .exe, .dll, .sys, .scr, .msi, .msp, .appx, .pdb, .wixpdb



Additionally, you can place the following text file into any folder inside your Visual Studio solution folder
to prevent any particular files or folders from being deleted by this tool:
(The file name must match exactly to the name below.)

Visual Studio Solution Cleaner (do not delete).txt

Inside this file specify absolute or relative paths of files or folders not to be deleted. (Relative paths 
are "relative" to the location of this .txt file that they are placed in.)
Make sure to put each path on its own line. File and folder names are not case-sensitive.

Example:

cryptopp810\Win32\Output\Debug\
cryptopp810\Win32\Output\Release\
cryptopp810\x64\Output\Debug\
cryptopp810\x64\Output\Release\






To download your copy go to:
https://dennisbabkin.com/vssolutioncleaner

To download a deprecated copy for Windows XP/Vista/7 go to:
https://dennisbabkin.com/php/downloads/VSSolutionCleaner_win7.zip

For bug reports go to:
https://www.dennisbabkin.com/sfb/?what=bug&name=VSSolutionCleaner


Thank you!











