This topic has not yet been rated - Rate this topic

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.

Alphabetical

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.

Sort by Property Source

Groups properties by source, such as inheritance, applied styles, and bindings. Only available when editing XAML files in the designer.

Events

Displays the events for an object.

NoteNote

This Properties window toolbar control is only available when a form or control designer is active in the context of a Visual C# project. When editing XAML files, events appear on a separate tab of the properties window.

Messages

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

NoteNote

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.

NoteNote

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.

NoteNote

This Properties window toolbar control is not available when editing XAML files in the designer.

Thumbnail view

Shows a visual representation of the currently selected element when editing XAML files in the designer.

Search

Provides a Search function for properties and events when editing XAML files in the designer. The search box responds to partial word searches and updates search results as you type.

Did you find this helpful?
(1500 characters remaining)
Community Content Add
Annotations FAQ
Where are Field Descriptions?
How do I turn on Field Descriptions?  I'm viewing a XAML file.  I can see Properties and Events but no descriptions.  Grave omission.
Description window really needed when editing XAML
I agree with the above poster, the description panel would help out a lot when editing XAML.  Currently I can see the description in the tooltips, but these aren't always reliable to pop up, I would much rather have the description panel.  And frankly it just seems odd to me that it would be omitted in just this one case.
Description pane for XAML
I see the note above, but it would be really nice to have the description pane for XAML files and the XAML designer.  It's very helpful in advertising features without having to hit F1.  This was a huge learning tool in VB6 back in the day, and would be very helpful now for WPF.
Advertisement