VSIX LanguageService FindToolWindow(...) returns null

Question

I have two VSIX packages (VS2010 SDK), one containing a LanguageService and one the ProjectPackage (based on Managed Package Framework for Projects) for my language. Now I need to establish some sort of communication channel where the LanguageService can retrieve additional information from the ProjectPackage. In the ProjectPackage, the information is available via a toolWindow, which can be retieved using

package.FindToolWindow(typeof(HierarchyViewerWindow), 0, false) as HierarchyViewerWindow;

The LanguageService inherits from the same Package base Class as the ProjectPackage, so I thought I could use the same mechanism here. The call returns null though.

So the basic question is whether I am doing something wrong or this is impossible for some reason... Or if there is a better way to establish communication between a LanguageService and another VSIX package.

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 10 '13 at 06:34

1

Your ProjectPackage can Provide a Custom Service and your LanguageService can access it via the standard GetService call.

answered Oct 10 '13 at 06:34

Sergey Vlasov

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Just what I was searching for. I guess that a toolwindow is always local to the package that created it? – BennyBarns Oct 10 '13 at 08:22
Tool windows should be global. Make sure its type is global and it is already created when you search for it. – Sergey Vlasov Oct 10 '13 at 14:01

VSIX LanguageService FindToolWindow(...) returns null

1 Answers1