Efficient Use of Keyboard and Mouse

Use the following list of tips to make your work with Desktop Designer easier and more efficient.

1. Select object anchoring point. Press <Ctrl> key and click the object placeholders to quickly define the anchoring point.

2. Label scrolling and zooming. Use mouse wheel to scroll the label. Holding <Ctrl> when rotating the wheel, adjusts zoom factor. <Shift> scrolls label left or right.

3. Set label or form properties. Double-click the design surface to open the label or form properties dialog.

4. Vertical or horizontal object moving. Hold <Shift> while moving an object over the design surface. The object is moved in straight vertical and horizontal lines.

5. Resize an object with arrow keys. Holding <Shift> while pressing arrow keys resizes the object.

6. Fine-tune the object position. Hold <Ctrl> while pressing arrow keys.

7. Open contextual menus. Right-click the object or design surface to access the Label-specific Contextual Tabs, form or Design Surface Context Menu contextual menus.

8. Select multiple objects. Hold <Shift> and click the objects to add them to the selected objects in a group.

9. Quickly add an object with connected data source. Click the object's shortcut handle in the Object and Explorer Panels A list of available data sources appears. Select a data source or add a new one, and click the design surface to add an object which already has a dynamic data source connected to it.