Setting up clang-format to format on save in VisualStudio 2017

Step 1

• Install the ClangFormat and Visual Commander Extensions for Visual Studio
• Go to Tools -> Extensions and Updates and search for the Extensions under the Online tab.

An already existing Clang-Format Installation outside of Visual Studio is not sufficient; Visual Studio still needs the Extension.

Step 2

Visual Commander allows the user to create Extensions for Visual Studio.

• Go to the new VCmd tab in Visual Studio and select Extensions.
• Select Add in the Extensions area and Edit on the newly created extension.
• You can give the Extension a name like "clang_on_save", but what's important is making sure the language is set to C#.
• Copy the following code into the extension:

using EnvDTE;
using EnvDTE80;
public class E : VisualCommanderExt.IExtension
{
  public void SetSite(EnvDTE80.DTE2 DTE_, Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.Package package)
  {
    DTE = DTE_;
    events = DTE.Events;
    documentEvents = events.DocumentEvents;
    documentEvents.DocumentSaved += OnDocumentSaved;  
  }
  public void Close()
  {
    documentEvents.DocumentSaved -= OnDocumentSaved;
  }
  private void OnDocumentSaved(EnvDTE.Document doc)
  {
    if(doc.Language == "C/C++")
    {       
      DTE.ExecuteCommand("Tools.ClangFormatDocument");
    }
  }
  private EnvDTE80.DTE2 DTE;
  private EnvDTE.Events events;
  private EnvDTE.DocumentEvents documentEvents;
}

• Then hit Save, Compile and Install.

Visual Studio should now apply Clang Format to any C and C++ documents upon saving them. You can also manually run Clang Format without saving by hitting Ctrl+R then Ctrl+D.

Below is a picture guide to make finding everything easier.