Just starting out with unity and have next to no experience programming, so this is probably a REALLY easy fix, just as a fore warning. So I’m running through the tutorials and what not to familiarize myself with the Unity Engine, and during the very first instance required to write any code, the tutorial has me attempt to issue a command using ctrl + ’ to search the unity database. Problem is all the MS VS keeps doing is opening the workspace tab and telling me that I’m not connected to a workspace. So basically I cant do what the tutorial is telling me to do. Any thoughts?
Ctrl+’ is a MonoDevelop shortcut to quickly access the online script manual. I don’t have any experience with Visual Studio so I’m not sure if it has an equivalent. However all the shortcut does is open the search page with whatever you were pointing to, which you can do yourself by going here and typing in the searchbox:
Good luck with Unity. 
I would recommend using monodevelop vs visual studio if you are newer. It allows you to use monodevelop shortcuts and in my experience it works better for basic needs than VS since it is geared towards unity.
In the end it’s up to your preference, but because you are following a tutorial it would be best for you to use the same tools. Ctrl + ’ is the shortcut for pulling up the Unity API, so you could always just use the online version. Monodevelop may serve you better in your early days, however.