MSDN Documentation with Visual Studios

Anyone know if Visual C# standard comes with the MSDN documentation?

I bought Visual C++ Standard and it does (although it could be a cut down version), however I thought I was getting a good deal by buying the "Visual C# Learning Edition" (i.e. A "FULL" copy of C# standard and a book). It was the only way I could purchase a copy of the compiler without waiting for two weeks to have it delivered.

HOWEVER! Upon installing Visual C# I discovered that the F1 key is disabled as the MSDN documentation was not installed! (It is not on any of the disks that came with the box.). Also entering any help menu for the first time, it pops up warning you that MSDN is not installed and there is no way to permanantly disable this message.

I tried using VSCC to combine the help files but It doesn't work, I am presuming it is because I have 2002 Visual C++ and 2003 C# which comes with an updated version of the .NET framework.

Argh! So, does anyone have it and does your F1 key (i.e. when you highlight a keywork) work!?

I am pretty sure that it is only a full version of the COMPILER and not the actual package, despite being more expensive and showing a picture of the original full version box on the packaging.

Cheers

2 Things-
First of all,VC++ isn't a part of the .Net framework.It uses the usual Win32 system to compile and run programs created on it.
Secondly,yes,C# is very much a language of the .net framework.However,the MSDN Documentation is not your help menu.The help index and Dynamic help and MSDN doc. are 3 different entities.You'll probably find the documentation by going to the Start Menu,"Microsoft .Net Framework","Documentation".

Yeah, I know that MSDN is not the help menu. I do have a help menu, but the context sensitive help is not available. As it should be. It even tells me that If I want the context sensitive help, I can install the MSDN documentation. Here is the message I get when hitting F1. Notice that it says it contains help for ALL products in Visual Studio .NET including C#.

Quote:

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Help is not installed for Visual Studio.

The MSDN Library contains the Help documentation for all of the products in Visual Studio .NET. To use F1 Help, as well as the table of contents and other documentation features, you must install Help.

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This tells me that I need MSDN for the contextual help that is available in every other Visual Studio product I have ever used.

Quote:

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The help index and Dynamic help and MSDN doc. are 3 different entities.

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Yup, but as I said (probably not very clearly rereading the original post, sorry!), I have the dynamic help. But I don't have the MSDN documentation that comes with Visual C++ standard, which COVERS C# and all the products in the Visual Studio package, including C# as well which prevents me from highlighting a keyword and hitting F1 to bring up the help on that keyword.

There is an MSDN directory in the Visual C++ installation, but not in the C# installation. And since the C# box came with two CD's less than that of the C++ box, I am somewhat suspicious of the "Full product" label on the box (which remember had an image of the retail C# packaging).

Quote:

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First of all,VC++ isn't a part of the .Net framework.It uses the usual Win32 system to compile and run programs created on it.

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Yes, I have been using Visual C++ since well before .NET was a twinkle in Bills eye. :)

Microsoft apparently released the april 2003 MSDN library release for public download. This BetaNews article has the download links for the 3 disc images.

Your absolutely right. Cheers! :)

Yes - thanks for that! I managed to find the files mirrored at www.bigpond.com

If you are an Australian Bigpond customer these downloads are free and are not measured against your download limit.