Simplifying Qualified Types
Generate a new using statement from a qualified type usage
This feature is available in MFractor Professional
Introduction
In C#, a qualified type refers to the usage of a type (such as a class or interface) that also includes the namespace.
For example, the following type usages are all qualified types:
System.IO.FileInfo fileInfo; // Qualified type is 'System.IO.FileInfo'
var myTask = System.Threading.Tasks.Task.Run(); // Qualified type is 'System.Threading.Tasks.Task'
To simplify this code, we might introduce using statement to import the namespaces System.IO and System.Threading.Tasks. This means we can refer to each type in it's smallest format:
using System.IO;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
FileInfo fileInfo;
var myTask = Task.Run();
By adding using statements to import the namespaces, our code becomes simpler as each type usage no longer needs to be fully qualified. This makes our code easier to read and maintain!
When writing code, it's likely we'll need to convert a qualified type into it's simplier format and add a using statement to import the namespace that contains that type.
To help accomplish this, we can use MFractors simplify qualified types refactorings.
Using the Code Action
To use the Simplify Qualified Type code action, locate a qualified type reference in C# and press Alt+Return or right click and choose Quick Fix. In the context menu that opens, select Simplify qualified type and introduce usings.
This will introduce a using statement to import the types namespace and simplify the existing type reference to just its name:
The Simplify Types Wizard
In addition to the Simplify Qualified Type code action, you can use the Simplify All Qualified Types In File code action to simplify all qualified types in the current file.
This code action converts all qualified types to their simplest forms and introduces usings for all required namespaces.
To use the Simplify Qualified Type code action, locate a qualified type reference in C# and press Alt+Return or right click and choose Quick Fix. In the context menu that opens, select Simplify all qualified types in this file.
This will launch the Simplify Types dialog, showing you what the simplified file will look like:
To apply the simplified code, press the Apply button.