MSDN feature suggestions

Have an idea for how we can improve the overall experience on MSDN? If so, we’d love to hear it. You can submit a new idea or you can upvote and comment on existing ideas. Suggestions, comments, and votes will be reviewed directly by the engineering teams who are responsible for building MSDN.

This site is for feature suggestions and ideas, not for submitting bugs or to get support. To file a bug or get support, visit MSDN troubleshooting and support.

Thanks from all of us on the MSDN Engineering team!

I suggest you ...

You've used all your votes and won't be able to post a new idea, but you can still search and comment on existing ideas.

There are two ways to get more votes:

  • When an admin closes an idea you've voted on, you'll get your votes back from that idea.
  • You can remove your votes from an open idea you support.
  • To see ideas you have already voted on, select the "My feedback" filter and select "My open ideas".
(thinking…)

Enter your idea and we'll search to see if someone has already suggested it.

If a similar idea already exists, you can vote and comment on it.

If it doesn't exist, you can post your idea so others can vote on it.

Enter your idea and we'll search to see if someone has already suggested it.

  • Hot ideas
  • Top ideas
  • New ideas
  1. Give higher search priority to simple examples on a subject rather than going to the API docs first. Examples are few and far between.

    I can't think of any case in many years where an MSDN result was helpful for a programming problem. I always end up doing a web search to find good examples for complex problems from other sites. Secondly, when I do find an MSDN page for a topic I'm researching, quite often it's for an outdated version, 10+ years old (like SQL Server 2005). Recommend changing your search keywords so that examples come up first, and example pages link to the reference API for any given subject, rather than an almost-useless API hit first with few or no examples. Thirdly,…

    16 votes
    Vote
    Sign in
    Check!
    (thinking…)
    Reset
    or sign in with
    • facebook
    • google
      Password icon
      I agree to the terms of service
      Signed in as (Sign out)
      You have left! (?) (thinking…)
      1 comment  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
    • Getting the correct reference depending on what Office App you are using

      It would be helpful to have an advanced search where you could specify one of the Office apps and retrieve only shortcuts to items pertaining to that app. I was searching for MS-Access functions and I got MS-Excel functions ... very frustrating.

      9 votes
      Vote
      Sign in
      Check!
      (thinking…)
      Reset
      or sign in with
      • facebook
      • google
        Password icon
        I agree to the terms of service
        Signed in as (Sign out)
        You have left! (?) (thinking…)
        0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
      • Have Google And Or Bing Engines Do Searches

        The subject search engines seem to provide more accurate search results than the MSDN site does.

        6 votes
        Vote
        Sign in
        Check!
        (thinking…)
        Reset
        or sign in with
        • facebook
        • google
          Password icon
          I agree to the terms of service
          Signed in as (Sign out)
          You have left! (?) (thinking…)
          0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
        • 5 votes
          Vote
          Sign in
          Check!
          (thinking…)
          Reset
          or sign in with
          • facebook
          • google
            Password icon
            I agree to the terms of service
            Signed in as (Sign out)
            You have left! (?) (thinking…)
            0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
          • When entering a search facility from an application - only show related topics to the than application.

            When entering help or search from an application (e.g. excel visual basic) only show topic that relate to that application.
            I find it impossible to find help on VB programming that only relates to Visual Basic for Applications within Excel

            4 votes
            Vote
            Sign in
            Check!
            (thinking…)
            Reset
            or sign in with
            • facebook
            • google
              Password icon
              I agree to the terms of service
              Signed in as (Sign out)
              You have left! (?) (thinking…)
              0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
            • 4 votes
              Vote
              Sign in
              Check!
              (thinking…)
              Reset
              or sign in with
              • facebook
              • google
                Password icon
                I agree to the terms of service
                Signed in as (Sign out)
                You have left! (?) (thinking…)
                1 comment  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
              • Filter to topic area , I have to use Google to find what I am looking for at MSDN

                reference the current page and allow a checkbox to limit search within the topic downward
                like in google I search for [topic] SITE:msdn.micosoft.com -social -blog

                3 votes
                Vote
                Sign in
                Check!
                (thinking…)
                Reset
                or sign in with
                • facebook
                • google
                  Password icon
                  I agree to the terms of service
                  Signed in as (Sign out)
                  You have left! (?) (thinking…)
                  0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                • 3 votes
                  Vote
                  Sign in
                  Check!
                  (thinking…)
                  Reset
                  or sign in with
                  • facebook
                  • google
                    Password icon
                    I agree to the terms of service
                    Signed in as (Sign out)
                    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
                    0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                  • Manish Kumar Raj

                    Hello How Are U ? Dude

                    3 votes
                    Vote
                    Sign in
                    Check!
                    (thinking…)
                    Reset
                    or sign in with
                    • facebook
                    • google
                      Password icon
                      I agree to the terms of service
                      Signed in as (Sign out)
                      You have left! (?) (thinking…)
                      0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                    • Vote UP and Down Option should add for any Sample or Question and Answers

                      Vote UP and Down Option should add for any Sample or Question/Answers, So major search engines make it more Searchable, otherwise other websites have gone up and official Microsoft website going down after them.

                      3 votes
                      Vote
                      Sign in
                      Check!
                      (thinking…)
                      Reset
                      or sign in with
                      • facebook
                      • google
                        Password icon
                        I agree to the terms of service
                        Signed in as (Sign out)
                        You have left! (?) (thinking…)
                        0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                      • 3 votes
                        Vote
                        Sign in
                        Check!
                        (thinking…)
                        Reset
                        or sign in with
                        • facebook
                        • google
                          Password icon
                          I agree to the terms of service
                          Signed in as (Sign out)
                          You have left! (?) (thinking…)
                          0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                        • Geek News, one of the top technology news portal

                          Read articles about the latest technology news and highlights covering computer Hardware, Software and Social media news at Times of India and the ultimate resource for technology information.

                          http://geeknews.in/

                          3 votes
                          Vote
                          Sign in
                          Check!
                          (thinking…)
                          Reset
                          or sign in with
                          • facebook
                          • google
                            Password icon
                            I agree to the terms of service
                            Signed in as (Sign out)
                            You have left! (?) (thinking…)
                            0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                          • Allow advanced search options in forums.

                            It appears that (at least) MSDN forum searches do not allow the advanced search options provided by Bing. That makes it very difficult to narrow results down to a useful set.

                            2 votes
                            Vote
                            Sign in
                            Check!
                            (thinking…)
                            Reset
                            or sign in with
                            • facebook
                            • google
                              Password icon
                              I agree to the terms of service
                              Signed in as (Sign out)
                              You have left! (?) (thinking…)
                              1 comment  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                            • Dates In Search Results

                              I don't see dates in search results from MSDN Magazine. That's an important distinguisher when scanning results.

                              2 votes
                              Vote
                              Sign in
                              Check!
                              (thinking…)
                              Reset
                              or sign in with
                              • facebook
                              • google
                                Password icon
                                I agree to the terms of service
                                Signed in as (Sign out)
                                You have left! (?) (thinking…)
                                1 comment  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                              • searching for c# code only WHY am i getting vb and c++ just trees NO wood, 1st link that actuall worked it was to stackoverflow MSDN WTF?

                                searching for c# code only WHY am i getting vb and c++ just trees NO wood, 1st link that actualy worked it was to stackoverflow MSDN WTF?

                                1 vote
                                Vote
                                Sign in
                                Check!
                                (thinking…)
                                Reset
                                or sign in with
                                • facebook
                                • google
                                  Password icon
                                  I agree to the terms of service
                                  Signed in as (Sign out)
                                  You have left! (?) (thinking…)
                                  0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                                • Link to working sample

                                  I was searching for XmlSchemaSimpleTypeRestriction and msdn have working example but there is no link that I needed to view the code

                                  1 vote
                                  Vote
                                  Sign in
                                  Check!
                                  (thinking…)
                                  Reset
                                  or sign in with
                                  • facebook
                                  • google
                                    Password icon
                                    I agree to the terms of service
                                    Signed in as (Sign out)
                                    You have left! (?) (thinking…)
                                    0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                                  • Please make instructions for WiFi connection using Cable system's gear.

                                    Figure out a path for cryptology setting incompatibility with LAN setting disconnection. This novice (moi) has to reset LAN to automatic when his Windows Essentials Program runs now in Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit. Wannnngh!! Baby wants a "LINK" in an e mail to 'AUTOFIX" Thank you.

                                    1 vote
                                    Vote
                                    Sign in
                                    Check!
                                    (thinking…)
                                    Reset
                                    or sign in with
                                    • facebook
                                    • google
                                      Password icon
                                      I agree to the terms of service
                                      Signed in as (Sign out)
                                      You have left! (?) (thinking…)
                                      0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                                    • Provide a clearly identifiable web page (eg "Migrating Access to SQL - start here") & provide simple linear outline of steps/links to follow

                                      I am starting the process of migrating Access back-end to SQL server. Web searching yields many interesting and useful pages, but often critical steps are discovered on subsequent searches within an MSDN site. Having a logically and operationally ordered site outlining steps to follow in the proper sequence would be a great help.

                                      1 vote
                                      Vote
                                      Sign in
                                      Check!
                                      (thinking…)
                                      Reset
                                      or sign in with
                                      • facebook
                                      • google
                                        Password icon
                                        I agree to the terms of service
                                        Signed in as (Sign out)
                                        You have left! (?) (thinking…)
                                        0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                                      • Make things easier or take away the free download.

                                        Need Sr. developer to become BA here to enable mind is working correctly.

                                        1 vote
                                        Vote
                                        Sign in
                                        Check!
                                        (thinking…)
                                        Reset
                                        or sign in with
                                        • facebook
                                        • google
                                          Password icon
                                          I agree to the terms of service
                                          Signed in as (Sign out)
                                          You have left! (?) (thinking…)
                                          0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                                        • Where's the powershell

                                          I should be able to search for any powershell cmd in bing or here and find it. Try this simple experiment look for Set-SqlAuthenticationMode and you won't find it anywhere however it's one of many new commands in SQL Server 2014. I can get the same results with Azure commands as well. so question why write powershell commands if there's no help or examples on how to use them?

                                          1 vote
                                          Vote
                                          Sign in
                                          Check!
                                          (thinking…)
                                          Reset
                                          or sign in with
                                          • facebook
                                          • google
                                            Password icon
                                            I agree to the terms of service
                                            Signed in as (Sign out)
                                            You have left! (?) (thinking…)
                                            0 comments  ·  MSDN Search  ·  Flag idea as inappropriate…  ·  Admin →
                                          ← Previous 1
                                          • Don't see your idea?

                                          MSDN feature suggestions

                                          Feedback and Knowledge Base