Is it possible to edit a website with Visual Studio without running ISS?

[Arcadio]

I want to edit a website using Visual Studio 2010, but the website won't run with IIS. I just want to edit the website locally, and upload the changes to the server (via FTP or other method).

I tried just opening the website with VS2010, but when I try to debug it, I get an error saying that the IIS configuration is not correct.

Specifically, I get this error:

Error 1 It is an error to use a section registered as allowDefinition='MachineToApplication' beyond application level. This error can be caused by a virtual directory not being configured as an application in IIS. D:\Documents\Website\public_html\Web.Config

 

[Markbnj]

Visual Studio will open and edit any HTML page, either in source or design mode. It's not really a website as far as VS knows, since there is no project that tells it what all the site's files are. Just use it as a page editor. To test the page right click it in the solution explorer and click View in browser. You can also step through any javascript in the page as well.

 

[MrColin]

I think if you create a new project and import the files, VS can set up a localhost testing server for you (including an SQL Express instance). It has been a few years since I've messed with that.

 

[KB]

You want to change the project to use the Visual Studio Development Server as your debugging host.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms178108.aspx