Properties Window

Use this window to view and change the design-time properties and events of selected objects that are located in editors and designers. You can also use the Properties window to edit and view file, project, and solution properties. Properties Window is available from the View menu.

The Properties window displays different types of editing fields, depending on the needs of a particular property. These edit fields include edit boxes, drop-down lists, and links to custom editor dialog boxes. Properties shown in gray are read-only.

  • Object name
    Lists the currently selected object or objects. Only objects from the active editor or designer are visible. When you select multiple objects, only properties common to all selected objects appear.

  • Categorized
    Lists all properties and property values for the selected object, by category. You can collapse a category to reduce the number of visible properties. When you expand or collapse a category, you see a plus () or minus (-) to the left of the category name. Categories are listed alphabetically.

  • Alphabetic
    Alphabetically sorts all design-time properties and events for selected objects. To edit an undimmed property, click in the cell to its right and enter changes.

  • Property Pages
    Displays the Property Pages dialog box or Project Designer for the selected item. Property Pages displays a subset, the same or a superset of the properties available in the Properties window. Use this button to view and edit properties related to your project's active configuration.

  • Properties
    Displays the properties for an object. Many objects also have events that can be viewed using the Properties window.

  • Events
    Displays the events for an object.

    Note

    This Properties window toolbar control is only available when a form or control designer is active in the context of a Visual C# project.

  • Messages
    Lists all Windows messages. Allows you to add or delete specified handler functions for the messages provided for the selected class.

    Note

    This Properties window toolbar control is only available when Class View is the active window in the context of a Visual C++ project.

  • Overrides
    Lists all virtual functions for the selected class and allows you to add or delete overriding functions.

    Note

    This Properties window toolbar control is only available when Class View is the active window in the context of a Visual C++ project.

  • Description pane
    Shows the property type and a short description of the property. You can turn the description of the property off and on using the Description command on the shortcut menu.

See Also

Concepts

Project Properties

Other Resources

Window Management