When you create a WindowsWeb, or Web Services application, the IDE automatically displays the appropriate type of form on the Design tab in the IDE. As you drop components, such as labels and text boxes, from the Tool Palette on to the form, RAD Studio generates the underlying code to support the application. You can use the Object Inspector to modify the properties of components and the form. The results of those changes appear automatically in the source code on the Code tab. Conversely, as you modify code with Code Editor, the changes you make are immediately reflected on the Design tab. 

The Tool Palette provides dozens of controls to simplify the creation of Windows Forms, Web Forms, and HTML pages. When creating a Windows Form, for example, you can use the MainMenu component to create a customized main menu in minutes. After placing the component on a Windows Form, you type the main menu entries and commands in the boxes provided. The ContextMenu component provides similar functionality for creating context menus. There are also several dialog box components for commonly performed functions, such as opening and saving files, setting fonts, selecting colors, and printing. Using these components saves time and provides a consistent look and feel for the dialogs in your application.  

As you design your user interface, you can undo and repeat previous changes to a form by choosing EditUndo and EditRedo. When you are satisfied with the appearance of the form, you can lock the components and form to prevent accidental changes by right-clicking the form and choosing Lock Controls.

You can set options that effect the appearance and behavior of the Designer. For example, you can adjust the grid settings, and the style of generated code and HTML. To set these options, choose ToolsOptions and then use the Windows Form Designer and HTML Option dialog boxes.

You can use VCL (with Delphi or C++) to setup components that are "aware" of their relation to other components on a form. For instance, when you drop a component on a form, it will leave a certain amount of space from the border of the form, depending on how the 'padding' property is set. 

You can set properties to specify the distance between controls, shortcuts, focus labels, tab order, and maximum number of items (listboxes, menus). 

The Code Developer can then use these components to create forms when the Use Designer Guidelines option is enabled. If the Snap to Grid option is enabled, and Use Designer Guidelines is also enabled, the designer guidelines will take precedence. 

See the Creating Designer Guidelines link at the end of this topic, to view the procedure for setting these guidelines.

Adding Components to a Designer 

Using Design Guidelines with VCL Components