What is a NATVIS File Type?
Find the NATVIS files for the common types that are provided with Visual Studio in the following path.
Common7\ Packages\ Debugger\ Visualizers.
In Visual Studio you can open and edit NATVIS files. After the changes have been saved, the changes will be reflected in the windows of Watch, ", Local, &, quot, etc. debugger. You can open and modify NATVIS files with a different program from Visual Studio, but the changes will not be automatically reflected. Use the .natvisreload command in the " Watch &" window or restart the debug session. NATVIS files can be defined by @ @, -user or -system project or integrated into .PDB files.
You can add a NATVIS file to a C + + project by selecting the project node in the file " Solution Explorer &" then clicking on Add → item New & &&& rarr; Visual C + & &&& rarr; Utility & &&& rarr; Debugger visualization file.
The NATVIS was introduced to replace the autoexp.dat file, which was previously used by earlier versions of Visual Studio.
More information on the NATVIS file format can be found on the Microsoft Visual Studio Docs page.