Create Project/solution in an existing directory?

To create a solution in an existing directory, I have found the best way is to create it one directory back from where you actually want it, then use the name of the directory where you really want it as the name of the solution.

If that isn't the name you want (i.e. you don't want your solution name to match the name of the directory it is in) then once you have created it, you can rename the solution by right-clicking on it and choosing "Rename". It does not rename the directory it is in nor move it. That is by far the simplest way.

You can obviously use the same trick for a project too, however if you have more than one project in a single directory, ideally the intermediate directory into which they build should differ, otherwise you are going to have issues if you want to rebuild just one of them and it clears out the intermediate target directory.

From Visual Studio, if you have no solution open, you can select

File->New->Project From Existing Code

Select the project type

Put the directory you want the solution and project file to be in as the "Project file location" field.

Finish the wizard and you'll have a project file and solution file in the same directory.

If the "Project from existing code" option is not available

Make a custom keyboard shortcut, toolbar button or menu item by using the customization features of VS.

Tools->Customize

Select the "Keyboard" button to add a keyboard shortcut or select the "Command" tab to add a toolbar button or menu item. The command you are looking for is:

File->New Project From Existing Code

Assign whatever keyboard shortcut or drag an icon to whichever menu/toolbar you want.