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Commenting/uncommenting segments easily in C#

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4.98/5 (28 votes)
24 Jan 2011CPOL 91.9K   8   28
Comment out a large segment by changing a single line
You're probably already aware of the two popular types of ways to comment-out text in your code:
1. Single line comment with the double right-slash:
// this is an example of a single line of comment

2. Commenting out an entire segment with the opening /* and the closing */:
/*
int intValueA = 12;
int intValueB = 234;
int intSum = intValueA + intValueB;
*/

and you've probably commented out an entire segment with no regard for the single line comments tucked within:
/*
// set first value
int intValueA = 12;
// set second value
int intValueB = 234;
// calculate sum
int intSum = intValueA + intValueB;
*/

but have you ever considered commenting out the opening/closing comments? "why would I do that?" you may ask.
///*
// set first value
int intValueA = 12;
// set second value
int intValueB = 234;
// calculate sum
int intSum = intValueA + intValueB;
//*/


Of course when you comment out the opening-comment slash-asterisk, then that segment of code is no-longer commented out and by commenting out the closing asterisk-slash combination, it is ignored whenever the segment is not commented it and it still terminates the segment if the opening is not commented.
In other words, by doing this, you can easily comment/uncomment the entire segment by uncommenting/commenting the opening comment.

/*  <- single line commenting this line 'uncomments' the entire segment!
// set first value
int intValueA = 12;
// set second value
int intValueB = 234;
// calculate sum
int intSum = intValueA + intValueB;
//*/

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


Written By
CEO unemployable
Canada Canada
Christ Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Montreal and is a bilingual Quebecois with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from McGill University. He is unemployable and currently living in Moncton, N.B. writing his next novel.

Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
niubay31-Aug-12 3:45
niubay31-Aug-12 3:45 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
PIEBALDconsult13-Aug-12 18:36
mvePIEBALDconsult13-Aug-12 18:36 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Volynsky Alex10-Jul-12 9:37
professionalVolynsky Alex10-Jul-12 9:37 
GeneralMy vote of 3 Pin
Donsw15-Apr-12 16:08
Donsw15-Apr-12 16:08 
GeneralRe: My vote of 3 Pin
Andreas Gieriet3-Jun-12 5:55
professionalAndreas Gieriet3-Jun-12 5:55 
GeneralRe: yep, i think you're right. Pin
Christ Kennedy31-Jan-11 11:19
mvaChrist Kennedy31-Jan-11 11:19 
GeneralRe: I think this comment may have been meant for quasaron. Pin
Richard MacCutchan31-Jan-11 7:00
mveRichard MacCutchan31-Jan-11 7:00 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 really helpful article Pin
Nikhil_S22-Feb-12 23:46
professionalNikhil_S22-Feb-12 23:46 
GeneralWhilst this is a useful tip in itself, isn't there a greater... Pin
Reiss16-Aug-11 23:13
professionalReiss16-Aug-11 23:13 
GeneralRe: forgive my slow response(s) but if by 'ship the wrong code' ... Pin
Christ Kennedy27-Aug-11 4:09
mvaChrist Kennedy27-Aug-11 4:09 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Neat! Pin
JF201528-Mar-11 23:18
JF201528-Mar-11 23:18 
GeneralRe: very convenient too! thanks for your vote and comment. Pin
Christ Kennedy29-Mar-11 1:20
mvaChrist Kennedy29-Mar-11 1:20 
GeneralThe risk area should be obvious. If you apply this method to... Pin
TaipeiJim2-Feb-11 19:45
TaipeiJim2-Feb-11 19:45 
GeneralRe: I'm in the habit of using this method strictly for commentin... Pin
Christ Kennedy3-Feb-11 1:53
mvaChrist Kennedy3-Feb-11 1:53 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Nice trick !! Pin
JohnPool2-Feb-11 3:45
JohnPool2-Feb-11 3:45 
GeneralRe: works pretty good! thanks. Pin
Christ Kennedy2-Feb-11 10:23
mvaChrist Kennedy2-Feb-11 10:23 
GeneralGood One Pin
PrashKum31-Jan-11 21:49
PrashKum31-Jan-11 21:49 
GeneralRe: nice, eh! Pin
Christ Kennedy1-Feb-11 0:51
mvaChrist Kennedy1-Feb-11 0:51 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Nice trick! Pin
quasaron31-Jan-11 5:12
quasaron31-Jan-11 5:12 
Reason for my vote of 5
Nice trick!
GeneralRe: thanks. Pin
Christ Kennedy2-Feb-11 10:22
mvaChrist Kennedy2-Feb-11 10:22 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Really useful.. Pin
Pravin Patil, Mumbai24-Jan-11 3:25
Pravin Patil, Mumbai24-Jan-11 3:25 
GeneralRe: glad you agree. Pin
Christ Kennedy24-Jan-11 4:52
mvaChrist Kennedy24-Jan-11 4:52 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 nice trick - have 5 Pin
Pranay Rana24-Jan-11 2:14
professionalPranay Rana24-Jan-11 2:14 
GeneralRe: really handy, I often add "debug-start" & "debug-end" if tha... Pin
Christ Kennedy24-Jan-11 4:51
mvaChrist Kennedy24-Jan-11 4:51 
GeneralRe: great! Pin
Christ Kennedy31-Jan-11 11:20
mvaChrist Kennedy31-Jan-11 11:20 

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