Clean up your toolbox for more efficient forms development

Visual Studio provides tons of controls that you can use to develop Windows forms. However, if you regularly use only a handful of the controls or you just don’t like the way they appear in the toolbox list, you can rearrange the toolbox so that it’s easier for you grab the controls you need. Here are some of the options you have and how they’ll help you.

• Add/Remove Items. Allows you to add additional tools or remove a tool that you don’t often use.
• Move Up/Move Down. Allows you to move a single tool up or down in the list.
• Sort Items Alphabetically. Returns the list to alphabetical order.
• Add Tab. Allows you to create a new tab to hold the tools you use most often.
• Copy/Paste. Allows you to place the tools you use most often in a less cluttered tab in the toolbox.
• List View. When you deselect this option, .NET displays the tools as icons.