Project Settings

• Dec 11, 2024
• 3 minutes to read

In v24.2 and newer versions, DevExpress-powered application projects maintain a set of global component-related settings in a dedicated dxSettings unit. In addition, this auxiliary unit contains DevExpress component-related dependencies, such as a list of units that correspond to all skins included in the project.

The project settings unit name has the following pattern: ProjectName.dxSettings. Do not change this unit directly. Use the Project Settings dialog instead.

Upgrade to v24.2+

All new projects created with v24.2 or a newer version of DevExpress controls initially use the auxiliary dxSettings unit to maintain global settings and component dependencies. If you upgrade an existing project to v24.2+, you can switch to the new global settings format that allows you to avoid duplicate skin registrations in your units under uses.

To upgrade your project, you can open the Project Settings dialog directly in your IDE or select Upgrade to application-wide settings in the TdxSkinController.SkinName property’s combo box in the Object Inspector. A click on the OK button applies pending changes and creates a dxSettings unit in your project.

Project Settings Dialog

Project Settings is a design-time dialog where you can configure all project settings related to DevExpress components. To open the dialog, navigate to the Project menu category of your RAD Studio IDE and click the DevExpress Settings for ProjectName.

Dialog UI Elements

Available Skins

This list view allows you to add/remove individual skins to/from your project. DevExpress skins and palettes define the appearance of forms and controls only if operating system-dependent draw routines are disabled (the Use native look and feel style option is disabled).

You can use the Select All check box to select or deselect all skins simultaneously.

Skin Name

Allows you to select any skin checked in the Available Skins list view as the active skin for the project.

Palette Name

Switches between available palettes for the active vector skin. Raster skins do not support palettes.

Notify about new skins

This option automatically opens the Project Settings dialog every time you upgrade to a new version of DevExpress components that includes new skins.

Light Style | Touch Mode

Specify if Light Style and Touch Mode are enabled.

Apply global theme settings to Ribbon and other UI controls

Specifies if global appearance settings also affect controls with separate look & feel settings. You can enable this option to ensure the visual consistency of your application.

Set as default

Defines the current options as default for new projects.

OK | Cancel

Close the dialog. A click on the OK button applies pending changes and creates a dxSettings unit in the project if it does not exist yet.