Where is the visual studio HTML Designer?

Question

Where is the Visual Studio HTML Designer? I see that there are options for the HTML Designer but I can't open it.

So I just want to ask why I can't find the designer and how do I open it. When I create an HTML file it just goes to the HTML code.

Answer 1

The default HTML editor (for static HTML) doesn't have a design view. To set the default editor to the Web forms editor which does have a design view,

1. Right click any HTML file in the Solution Explorer in Visual Studio and click on Open with
2. Select the HTML (web forms) editor
3. Click on Set as default
4. Click on the OK button

Once you have done that, all you need to do is click on design or split view as shown below:

Answer 2

Another way of setting the default to the HTML web forms editor is:

1. At the top menu in Visual Studio go to File > New > File
2. Select HTML Page
3. In the lower right corner of the New File dialog on the Open button there is a down arrow
4. Click it and you should see an option Open With
5. Select HTML (Web Forms) Editor
6. Click Set as Default
7. Press OK

Answer 3

Go to [Tools, Options], section "Web Forms Designer" and enable the option "Enable Web Forms Designer". That should give you the Design and Split option again.

Answer 4

The solution of creating a new HTML file with HTML (Web Forms) Designer worked for that file but not for other, individual HTML files that I wanted to edit.

I did find the Open With option in the Open File dialogue and was able to select the HTML (Web Forms) Editor there. Having clicked the "Set as Default" option in that window, VS then remembered to use that editor when I opened other HTML files.