Microsoft Visual Basic 2010 Step by Step eBook

Chapter 1 Exploring the Visual Studio Integrated Development Environment 21

3. Release the mouse button to dock the Properties window.

The window snaps into place in its new home.

Tip To switch between dockable, tabbed documents, hidden windows, and floating

windows, right-click the window’s title bar (or tab, if it is a tabbed document), and then

click the option you want. Although the Properties window works very well as a dockable

window, you’ll probably find that larger windows (the Visual Studio Start Page, for

example) work best as tabbed document windows.

4. Try docking the Properties window several more times in different places to get the feel
   of how docking works.
   I guarantee that although a few of these window procedures seem confusing at first,
   after a while they’ll become routine for you. In general, you want to create window
   spaces that have enough room for the information you need to see and use while you
   work on more important tasks in the Designer and in the Code Editor.

Hiding Tool Windows

To hide a tool window, click the Auto Hide pushpin button on the right side of the title bar to

conceal the window beneath a tool tab on the edge of the IDE, and click it again to restore the

window to its docked position. You can also use the Auto Hide command on the Window menu

(or right-click a title bar and select Auto Hide) to auto hide a tool window. Give it a try now.

Use the Auto Hide feature

1. Locate the Auto Hide pushpin button on the title bar of the Properties window.

The pushpin is currently in the “down,” or “pushed in,” position, meaning that the

Properties window is “pinned” open and auto hide is disabled.

2. Click the Auto Hide button on the Properties window title bar.

The Properties window slides off the screen and is replaced by a small tab named

Properties. The benefit of enabling auto hide, of course, is that the process frees up

additional work space in Visual Studio. But the hidden window is also quickly accessible.

3. Hold the mouse pointer over the Properties tab. (You can also click the Properties tab
   if you want .)
   The Properties window immediately reappears.


4. Move the mouse elsewhere within the IDE, and the window disappears again.


5. Finally, display the Properties window again, and then click the pushpin button on the
   Properties window title bar.