Name 

Description 

Adding Components to a Form 

 

Adding References 

You can integrate your legacy COM servers and ActiveX controls into managed applications by adding references to unmanaged DLLs to your project, and then browse the types just as you would with managed assemblies. 

Adding and Removing Files 

You can add and remove a variety of file types to your projects. 

Adding Templates to the Object Repository 

You can add your own objects to the Object Repository as templates to reuse or share with other developers. Reusing objects lets you build families of applications with common user interfaces and functionality to reduce development time and improve quality. 

Copying References to a Local Path 

During runtime, assemblies must be in the output path of the project or in the GAC for deployment. If your project contains a reference to an object that is not in one of the two locations, the reference must be copied to the appropriate output path. 

Creating a Component Template 

You can save selected, preconfigured components on the current form as a reusable component template accessible from the Tool Palette. 

Creating a Project 

 

Customizing the Form 

 

Customizing the Tool Palette 

 

Customizing Toolbars 

 

Disabling Themes in the IDE and in Your Application 

Both Windows Vista and Windows XP support themes in the user interface. By default, the IDE uses themes, and runtime themes are enabled for the application itself. If you prefer or if you require the classic user interface style, you can disable the use of themes in the IDE and in your application. 

Docking Tool Windows 

The Auto-Hide feature lets you undock and hide tool windows, such as the Object Inspector, Tool Palette, and Project Manager, but still have access to them. 

Finding Items on the Tool Palette 

 

Exploring .NET Assembly Metadata Using the Reflection Viewer 

You can open and explore the namespaces and types contained with a .NET assembly. The assembly metadata is displayed in the Reflection viewer, whose left pane contains a tree structure of the namespaces and types within the assembly. The right pane displays specific information on the selected item in the tree. The Call Graph tab shows you a list of the methods called by the selected method, as well as a list of the methods that call the selected method.
You can open multiple .NET assemblies in the Reflection viewer. Each open assembly is displayed in the tree in the... more 

Exploring Windows Type Libraries 

You can open and inspect the interfaces and other types contained within a Windows type library. The type library contents are displayed in a Windows Explorer-style presentation, with a left pane containing a tree of the interface and type definitions within the type library. The right pane displays specific information on the selected item in the tree. The Type Library Explorer can open a .TLB file, as well as OCX controls, and .DLL and .EXE files that have type libraries as embedded resources. 

Installing Custom Components 

 

Renaming Files Using the Project Manager 

Renaming a file changes the name of the file in both the Project Manager and on disk. 

Saving Desktop Layouts 

To switch between desktop layouts, choose a layout from the drop-down list box located on the Desktop toolbar.
This procedure describes how to save your current desktop layout so that your own layout is available from the ViewDesktops submenu and from the toolbar. 

Setting Component Properties 

After you place your components on your Designer, set their properties using the Object Inspector. By setting a component’s properties, you can change the way a component appears and behaves in your application. Because properties appear during designtime, you have more control over a component’s properties and can easily modify them without having to write additional code. 

Setting Dynamic Properties 

Many of the .NET Framework objects support dynamic properties. Dynamic properties provide a way to change property values without recompiling an application. The dynamic properties and their values are stored in a configuration file, along with the application's executable file. Changing a property value in the configuration file causes the change to take effect the next time the applications runs. Dynamic properties are useful for changing an application after it has been deployed. 

Setting Project Options 

You can manage application and compiler options for your project. Making changes to your project only affects the current project. However, you can also save your selections as the default settings for new projects. 

Setting C++ Project Options 

You can manage application and compiler options for your project. Making changes to your project only affects the current project. However, you can also save your selections as the default settings for new projects. 

Setting Properties and Events 

Properties, methods, and events are attributes of a component. 

Setting The IDE To Mimic Delphi 7 

Use this procedure to set the IDE to mimic Delphi 7 or C++Builder, where each pane is its own window. 

Setting Tool Preferences 

You can customize the appearance and behavior of many tools and features, such as the Object Inspector, Code Editor, and integrated debugger. 

Using Design Guidelines with VCL Components 

You can use VCL or VCL.NET (with Delphi or C++) to setup components that are "aware" of their relation to other components on a form. You can set properties to specify the distance between controls, shortcuts, focus labels, tab order, and maximum number of items (listboxes, menus). 

Using the File Browser 

The File Browser is a standard Windows-style browser that you can undock within the IDE. The context menu on the File Browser enables you to perform file operations such as Cut, Copy, Delete and Rename. You can also add a file to your project using the Add to project command. 

Using To-Do Lists 

A to-do list records and displays tasks that need to be completed for a project. 

Using Virtual Folders 

For C++ only, the IDE provides the ability to organize your project files with virtual folders in the Project Manager tree. Virtual folders only affect the display of the folder structure in the IDE. Moving files into virtual folders does not change their actual location on disc.  

Writing Event Handlers 

Your source code usually responds to events that might occur to a component at runtime, such as a user clicking a button or choosing a menu command. The code that responds to an occurrence is called an event handler. The event handler code can modify property values and call methods.