The Synchronize with Designer action selects the node in the Project Explorer corresponding to the selected item in the Designer window, allowing easy location of items and a quick way to orient yourself in the project configuration hierarchy.
![Synchronize with Designer icon on the Project Explorer toolbar. Synchronize with Designer icon on the Project Explorer toolbar.](/blog/2012/06/staying-in-sync/image02.png)
For example, double-click on Customers / Orders / container1 / view1 node.
![View1 on the Orders page. View1 on the Orders page.](/blog/2012/06/staying-in-sync/image04.png)
The properties page for the view will open in the Designer window.
![Data View property page with Sync button on the action bar. Data View property page with Sync button on the action bar.](/blog/2012/06/staying-in-sync/image06.png)
In the Project Explorer, switch to the User Controls tab, and highlight Welcome user control.
![Welcome user control highlighted. Welcome user control highlighted.](/blog/2012/06/staying-in-sync/image08.png)
Click on the Synchronize button on the Project Explorer, the Sync action on the Designer action bar, or press “Ctrl+.” keyboard shortcut (“Control” key pressed simultaneously with “period” key).
The Project Explorer will switch to the Controllers tab, and highlight the view1 node that was open in the Designer window.
![Synchronize button shifts the focus back to view1. Synchronize button shifts the focus back to view1.](/blog/2012/06/staying-in-sync/image12.png)
The Sync action is also available on the context menu in the lists of project configuration elements.
![Sync context menu option on container2 from the list of containers. Sync context menu option on container2 from the list of containers.](/blog/2012/06/staying-in-sync/image14.png)
Clicking on the Sync action will select the relevant node in the Project Explorer.
![image image](/blog/2012/06/staying-in-sync/image16.png)
Focus can be switched between Designer window and Project Explorer tree by pressing “F4” keyboard shortcut.