How do I access Microsoft programming documentation

Question

How do I access Microsoft programming documentation

Peter Lambert 0

I used to be able to access detailed information on Microsoft MSDN. Now, when I try the same approach, it supplies answers like "How to create a new WPF App" and "How to create a database in ,Net framework Apps". My question had been, "c# title bar height". MSDN used to be able to find such information easily, but now the answers bear no resemblance to the question.

I program in C#, and I had a really simple question, but I was horrified at the poor results now provided.

Peter Lambert 0 Reputation points

2026-01-20T18:47:25.4833333+00:00

I did refine my question further, but the results still bore zero relevance to the question. After a while it became apparent that the results were useless throughout, however I changed my question.
Viorel 126.1K Reputation points

2026-01-20T21:03:53.67+00:00

Have you used a specific search engine in a browser?
Peter Lambert 0 Reputation points

2026-01-20T21:27:32.1933333+00:00

I used Microsoft Edge to access the MSDN link: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms123401.aspx

The search box then produced my answers that I found unhelpful.

Since then, I have found that an "AI Summary" has appeared. This gave the answer, but the useless results still appear below that. My amended question: "how high is the title bar in .net c#".

Like Google, the AI summary above responds better to full English sentences, where the search results below is supposed to respond better to the terse keyword search. However, here the search results below really are useless, leading me to despair of getting any form of answer.

Maybe as a suggestion, where a terse question produces no result from the AI, provide an AI suggestion for the user to use, at least showing that there is a useful AI engine behind it (rather than nothing, or just that no search results were found).

Formulating the better question might seem to some as a useful artform, but for others it might appear as an insurmountable obstacle, or at least as an inconvenience.
Ten years ago, when there was only the search results below, the search engine then did appear to find some useful things which encouraged the user to look further. Could some of those results be included in the result list to encourage the user?

I'm hoping now to improve the user experience.

Many thanks for your response and your time and expertise.

Your answer

Peter Lambert 0 Reputation points

2026-01-20T18:47:25.4833333+00:00

I did refine my question further, but the results still bore zero relevance to the question. After a while it became apparent that the results were useless throughout, however I changed my question.
Viorel 126.1K Reputation points

2026-01-20T21:03:53.67+00:00

Have you used a specific search engine in a browser?
Peter Lambert 0 Reputation points

2026-01-20T21:27:32.1933333+00:00

I used Microsoft Edge to access the MSDN link: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms123401.aspx

The search box then produced my answers that I found unhelpful.

Since then, I have found that an "AI Summary" has appeared. This gave the answer, but the useless results still appear below that. My amended question: "how high is the title bar in .net c#".

Like Google, the AI summary above responds better to full English sentences, where the search results below is supposed to respond better to the terse keyword search. However, here the search results below really are useless, leading me to despair of getting any form of answer.

Maybe as a suggestion, where a terse question produces no result from the AI, provide an AI suggestion for the user to use, at least showing that there is a useful AI engine behind it (rather than nothing, or just that no search results were found).

Formulating the better question might seem to some as a useful artform, but for others it might appear as an insurmountable obstacle, or at least as an inconvenience.
Ten years ago, when there was only the search results below, the search engine then did appear to find some useful things which encouraged the user to look further. Could some of those results be included in the result list to encourage the user?

I'm hoping now to improve the user experience.

Many thanks for your response and your time and expertise.

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How do I access Microsoft programming documentation

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