Are you tired of the ALL CAPS menu items in Visual Studio 2013? Many developers find the capitalized menu text visually distracting and prefer a more modern, less shouty interface. While Visual Studio doesn’t offer a built-in option to directly change this, there are several workarounds and extensions you can use to disable ALL CAPS menu items in Visual Studio 2013. This guide will walk you through the most effective methods, including using the registry editor and third-party tools, to customize your Visual Studio environment for a more pleasant coding experience. We’ll cover potential pitfalls, provide step-by-step instructions, and explore alternative solutions, empowering you to take control of your IDE’s appearance and boost your productivity.
Understanding the Issue with ALL CAPS Menus
Visual Studio 2013 adopted the ALL CAPS style for its menu items, following a trend prevalent in older Windows applications. While intended to improve readability, many users find it visually overwhelming and outdated. The constant capitalization can create visual noise, making it harder to quickly scan and locate the desired menu option. This is especially true for developers accustomed to more modern UI designs that prioritize lowercase or sentence case text. The lack of a native setting to control this behavior has led to the development of various community-driven solutions.
The root of the problem lies in the way Visual Studio renders its menus. It relies on system-level settings and resource files that dictate the capitalization. Because there’s no simple “disable ALL CAPS” checkbox within the Visual Studio settings, users must resort to modifying these underlying system configurations or using extensions that override the default behavior. While Microsoft hasn’t officially addressed this customization request directly, the continued demand from the developer community highlights the importance of providing more granular control over the IDE’s appearance. According to a Stack Overflow survey, a significant portion of Visual Studio users actively seek ways to customize their environment to improve their workflow and reduce distractions. (Stack Overflow Developer Survey 2019)
One common complaint is that ALL CAPS menus donβt align with the design aesthetic of more recent operating systems and applications. The visual inconsistency can be jarring, especially for developers who work with a variety of tools and platforms. Therefore, finding a solution to disable ALL CAPS menu items in Visual Studio 2013 can greatly improve the overall user experience, making the IDE feel more modern and cohesive with the rest of their software ecosystem.
Modifying the Windows Registry (Use with Caution)
One of the most direct methods to disable ALL CAPS menu items in Visual Studio 2013 involves modifying the Windows Registry. This method works by altering the system-level settings that control how menus are rendered. However, it’s crucial to exercise extreme caution when editing the registry, as incorrect modifications can lead to system instability. Always back up your registry before making any changes.
To modify the registry, follow these steps:
- Press
Win + Rto open the Run dialog box. - Type
regeditand press Enter to open the Registry Editor. - Navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\WindowMetrics - Locate the
MenuFontvalue. This value contains the font settings for menus. - Right-click on
MenuFontand select “Modify…”. - In the “Data” field, find the part that specifies the font name (e.g., “Segoe UI”). Add a space and then the number “0” to the end of the font name string. This effectively disables the ALL CAPS rendering. Example: “Segoe UI 0”
- Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
This method works by tricking Windows into thinking that the font doesn’t support ALL CAPS rendering. By adding “0” to the font name, you’re essentially providing an invalid parameter, which forces Windows to render the menu items in their original case. While effective, this approach is somewhat of a hack and might not be supported in future versions of Windows or Visual Studio. It’s also important to note that this change affects all applications that use the system’s menu font, not just Visual Studio. Before attempting this, create a system restore point to revert if you encounter issues. For additional information about Windows Registry modifications, consult Microsoft’s official documentation.(Microsoft Support)
Using Third-Party Extensions
A safer and often more convenient way to disable ALL CAPS menu items in Visual Studio 2013 is to use third-party extensions. Several extensions are specifically designed to customize the Visual Studio interface, including the removal of ALL CAPS from menus. These extensions typically provide a user-friendly interface for making changes, without requiring direct modification of the registry. This reduces the risk of system instability and makes it easier to revert changes if needed.
One popular extension is the “Visual Studio Theme Editor.” While primarily designed for customizing the overall theme of Visual Studio, it often includes options to control the capitalization of menu items. To use an extension, first, install it through the Visual Studio Extension Manager (Tools > Extensions and Updates). Then, navigate to the extension’s settings (usually found under Tools > Options) and look for options related to menu capitalization. Enable the setting to disable ALL CAPS menu items in Visual Studio 2013, and restart Visual Studio for the changes to take effect.
Using extensions offers several advantages over directly modifying the registry. Extensions are typically more user-friendly, provide a preview of changes before applying them, and can be easily uninstalled if they cause problems. They also isolate the changes to Visual Studio, preventing unintended side effects on other applications. However, it’s important to choose extensions from reputable developers and ensure they are compatible with your version of Visual Studio. Always read reviews and check the extension’s documentation before installing it. Furthermore, ensure the extension remains compatible with future Visual Studio updates to maintain functionality. Learn more about Visual Studio customizations.
Alternative Solutions and Considerations
If modifying the registry or using extensions seems too risky or complex, there are alternative approaches to consider, although they may not completely disable ALL CAPS menu items in Visual Studio 2013.
One option is to adjust your Visual Studio theme. Some themes might minimize the visual impact of the ALL CAPS menus by using different fonts or color schemes. While this won’t remove the capitalization, it can make it less noticeable. Another approach is to use keyboard shortcuts more frequently. By relying on shortcuts, you can reduce your reliance on the menus altogether, thereby minimizing the impact of the ALL CAPS text. Learning common shortcuts for tasks like building, debugging, and navigating code can significantly improve your productivity and reduce the need to interact with the menus directly.
Consider these key points:
- Modifying the registry carries risks and should be done with caution.
- Third-party extensions offer a safer and more user-friendly alternative.
- Adjusting the theme or using keyboard shortcuts can help mitigate the issue.
Ultimately, the best solution depends on your comfort level with technical modifications and your specific preferences. If you’re comfortable with registry editing and understand the risks involved, it can be a direct and effective solution. However, for most users, using a third-party extension is the recommended approach. Remember to back up your system and test any changes thoroughly before committing to them.
FAQ: Disabling ALL CAPS in Visual Studio 2013
- Why are the menu items in Visual Studio 2013 ALL CAPS?
- Visual Studio 2013 inherited the ALL CAPS style from older Windows applications, aiming to improve readability, although many find it visually distracting.
- Is there a built-in option to disable ALL CAPS menus?
- No, Visual Studio 2013 does not have a built-in setting to directly disable ALL CAPS menu items.
- Is it safe to modify the Windows Registry?
- Modifying the registry can be risky and should be done with caution. Always back up your registry before making any changes.
- Are third-party extensions safe to use?
- Choose extensions from reputable developers and ensure they are compatible with your version of Visual Studio. Read reviews and check documentation before installing.
- What happens if I mess up the registry?
- If you make incorrect modifications to the registry, your system may become unstable. Restore from a backup or use a system restore point to revert the changes.
- Always back up your registry before making changes.
- Consider using extensions for a safer approach.
We’ve explored several methods to disable ALL CAPS menu items in Visual Studio 2013, from directly tweaking the Windows Registry to leveraging the power of third-party extensions. While the Registry method offers a direct solution, its inherent risks necessitate caution. Extensions, on the other hand, provide a user-friendly and often safer alternative. Remember to evaluate your comfort level with technical modifications and choose the approach that best suits your needs. Remember, customizing your development environment is an investment in your productivity and overall coding experience.
So, take the plunge! Experiment with these methods, find the one that works best for you, and reclaim your Visual Studio interface from the tyranny of ALL CAPS. You might be surprised at how much of a difference a small visual tweak can make to your daily workflow. For further reading, consider exploring articles on Visual Studio theme customization and keyboard shortcut optimization to further enhance your coding efficiency.
Question & Answer :
In Visual Studio 2013, Microsoft again presents the menu in UPPERCASE as the default.
Can these be modified to be Sentence Case?
Yes - in the new Visual Studio 2013 (as in VS 2012), MS reinforced their design decision to make ALL CAPS MENU ITEMS the default. The methods for reverting the menu style are almost the same methods used for Visual Studio 2012, which has been discussed before.
Update (after Visual Studio 2013 Update 4)As of Visual Studio 2013 Update 4 you can go into Tools > Options > Environment
and uncheck Turn off upper case in the menu bar 
Before Visual Studio 2013 Update 4:You need to create a specific registry key if you want “old-style” menus back.
First Variant: Since Package Manager Console is Powershell, select menu options TOOLS / Library Package Manager / Package Manager Console and enter and runSet-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\12.0\General -Name SuppressUppercaseConversion -Type DWord -Value 1 (as a single line).
Second Variant: Open up a Command Prompt (win+r, cmd, enter) and enter and runREG ADD HKCU\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\12.0\General /v SuppressUppercaseConversion /t REG_DWORD /d 1 (as a single line).
Third Variant: Change registry values by hand, open regedit and navigate to ```
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\12.0\General
then, create (right click):
DWORD value
with the content of
SuppressUppercaseConversion
and set it to
1
Close regedit.exe and you're done.
---
**Fourth Variant**: At least one VS Extension (**[VSCommands for Visual Studio 2013](http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/c6d1c265-7007-405c-a68b-5606af238ece)**) has been published that enables you (among other things) **to switch menu style via config menu** from within VS 2013.
You may also set it to **all-lower-case** items (which is, imho, nice): 
switch to **Sentence Case** (subtly different from what you get with SuppressUppercaseConversion: the SQL menu gets renamed to Sql) 
or **hide it completely** (and have it appear on ALT key press or mouse over) 
