Datasheet

The objects are grouped into logical sections based on function. By default, you’ll find the Windows
Forms section is expanded and contains many commonly used elements such as buttons and text areas.
The other readily available groups deal with data-related components, such as database connections and
system components, that give you access to system-level features such as performance monitors and
hardware devices.
Moving over to the other side of the main window, you’ll find two more essential windows: the Solution
Explorer and the Properties window (both of which are shown in Figure 1-4).
Figure 1-4
❑ The Solution Explorer provides you with a way to navigate through your program’s structure,
with entries for each form, module, and class, along with supporting files such as the applica-
tion configuration file. The view is structured in a way similar to Windows Explorer, so you
should have no problem navigating your way through the program.
❑ The Properties window gives you access to the various configurable options available to the
currently selected item. This can be a form, a server component, or an individual object (such as
the Button object shown in Figure 1-4). By default, the Properties window is organized into cate-
gories, but you can click the A–Z button to sort the properties alphabetically instead.
The last major areas to cover are the Error List and Task List windows at the bottom of the IDE. These two
windows will not appear until you have compiled or run an application, but after that point, they will
always be present by default:
❑ The Error List will be populated with any potential issues with the code and form design of
your application. The issues will be broken down into three categories — errors that will stop
the program from compiling at all, warnings that indicate a probable runtime error that ought
to be investigated before running your program, and informational messages that are purely
there for your reference and won’t affect the way the program runs.
❑ The Task List contains automatically generated tasks, although you can also manually create
your own user tasks. You can use this list to keep an eye on what needs to be done, and you can
check individual tasks off as you complete them.
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