controlling-command-visibility

To show Visual Studio commands only when relevant, apply declarative visibility constraints in .vsct files or use ProvideUIContextRule attributes to define contextual rules based on active file types, solution state, or UI contexts before and after package load.

BeforeQueryStatus is used to adjust command enablement and visibility at runtime after package initialization. It allows dynamic contextual checks during Visual Studio extension development, with optional delegation back to UIContext using Command.Supported for predictable UX.

Control command visibility before a package loads by declaring VisibilityConstraints in .vsct files or using VisibleWhen in VisualStudio.Extensibility. This pre-loads declarative rules tied to UIContexts, ensuring commands remain hidden until the appropriate context activates.

Yes, ProvideUIContextRule can activate UI contexts based on editor content, active file types, or solution state. This allows Visual Studio extensions to declaratively trigger command visibility rules without requiring the package to be fully loaded.

The best way to manage UI context across out-of-process, in-process Toolkit, or legacy VSSDK extensions is to combine declarative VisibleWhen constraints for pre-load visibility with BeforeQueryStatus logic for runtime adjustments, ensuring consistent command behavior.

Commands remain visible because they lack declarative VisibilityConstraints or ProvideUIContextRule definitions. Implement contextual visibility rules in .vsct files or use BeforeQueryStatus handlers to hide them when the UI context does not match the active file types or solution state.