# Design Time

To start using **RadDropDownList** just drag it from the toolbox and drop it at the form.

## Smart Tag

Select **RadDropDownList** and click the small arrow on the top right position in order to open the **Smart Tag**. The **Smart Tag** for **RadDropDownList** lets you quickly access common tasks involved with building **RadDropDownList** elements and customizing appearance through themes.

> caption Figure 1: Smart Tag

![WinForms RadDropDownList Smart Tag](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/1cd151493c7d649e74973163d9ef6fb8/dropdown-and-listcontrol-dropdownlist-design-time001.png)

* **New Theme Manager**: adds a new **RadThemeManager** component to the form.

* **Edit UI Elements**: allows setting properties at multiple levels of the class hierarchy.

> caption Figure 2: Element hierarchy editor

![WinForms RadDropDownList Element Hierarchy Editor](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/4536214baa53e7a200f0a8ee47ba1503/dropdown-and-listcontrol-dropdownlist-design-time002.png)

* **Theme Name**: select a theme name from the drop down list of themes available for that control. Selecting a theme allows you to change all aspects of the control's visual style at one time.

* **Edit Items**: allows populating the **RadDropDownList** at design time. Additional information can be found in the [Populating with Data >> Design Time](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/dropdown-listcontrol-and-checkeddropdownlist/dropdownlist/populating-with-data/design-time) help article.

## Data Binding

You can bind **RadDropDownList** at design time by specifying the **DataSource**, **ValueMember** and **DisplayMember** properties. Additional information can be found on the following link: [Data binding at design time](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/dropdown-listcontrol-and-checkeddropdownlist/dropdownlist/populating-with-data/data-binding).

## See Also

* [Element Hierarchy Editor](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/tools/element-hierarchy-editor)
* [Using default themes](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/styling-and-appearance/using-default-themes)