To efficiently perform and complete the Desktop Designer tasks, follow the guidelines related to the use of keyboard and mouse:

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, form or design surface 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 toolbox. 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.

Mouse Wheel Support

Use mouse wheel to speed up design object zooming and design surface scrolling.

  • Turning the wheel scrolls the label in a vertical direction.

  • Holding <Shift> and turning the wheel scrolls the label left or right.

  • Holding <Ctrl> and turning the wheel zooms the label in or out.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Use keyboard shortcuts to reduce the time needed to accomplish frequent tasks with Desktop Designer. To complete these tasks, use a standard combination of keys.

Tip

Keyboard shortcuts are just a faster and more convenient way of choosing commands. The command itself is executed in the same way as if it was run from the menu or toolbar.

Action

Press

Select all

Ctrl+A

Run the startup form

Ctrl+D

Paste

Ctrl+V

Cut

Ctrl+X

Move up

Move right

Move down

Move left

Close

Alt+F4

Zoom to document

Ctrl+0

Bold

Ctrl+B

Copy

Ctrl+C

Italic

Ctrl+I

Close solution

Ctrl+L

Zoom Out

Ctrl+minus sign on numeric keypad

Zoom In/Out

Ctrl+mouse scroll up/down

Open

Ctrl+O

Print

Ctrl+P

Zoom In

Ctrl+plus sign on numeric keypad

Run the currently opened form

Ctrl+R

Save

Ctrl+S

Open blank label connected to default printer

Ctrl+Shift+N

Redo

Ctrl+Y

Undo

Ctrl+Z

Undo all * Erases all changes from previously saved label/solution. Redo is not possible.

Ctrl+Shift+Z

Cancel

Esc

Move Focus

Tab or Shift+Tab

Run Form Debugger when form is running

Ctrl+Shift+F12

Start form and Form Debugger at the same time to debug the onFormLoad events

Ctrl+Shift+R

Format painter – copy object properties

Ctrl+Shift+C

Format painter – paste object properties

Ctrl+Shift+V