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Use Project Templates to Create a RichEditControl

  • 3 minutes to read

This tutorial uses the DevExpress Template Kit to create a WinForms application that mimics Microsoft Word for editing DOCX/RTF files. The application targets .NET 9 and integrates a Rich Text Editor and Ribbon UI.

DevExpress-powered Word Processing Application - Template Kit

Tip

Refer to the following help topic for information on how to download and install the DevExpress Template Kit: Install DevExpress Template Kit.

Note

Use the DevExpress Project Template Gallery to create applications based on templates that target the .NET Framework.

#Create a Word Processing App

  1. In Visual Studio, go to “File | New | Project” to create a new project. Select DevExpress v24.2 Template Kit and click Next:

    Create a New WinForms Project - DevExpress Template Kit

  2. Specify project settings and click Create to run the DevExpress Project Wizard.
  3. Select the WinForms platform. Scroll down to the Office-inspired Controls section and select Word Processing Application. Click Create Project.

    Create Word Processing Application - DevExpress Template Kit

  4. Run the application to see the result.

    Word Processing Application - DevExpress Template Kit

Tip

Specify restriction settings to disable or hide specific Ribbon commands. Use RichEditControl.Options.Behavior and RichEditControl.Options.DocumentCapabilities properties.

Note

Ribbon UI commands can throw unhandled exceptions (for example, when a user saves the document to a locked or read-only file). To prevent application failure, handle the UnhandledException event and set the e.Handled event parameter to true.

#Change the Application Skin

Open DevExpress Project Settings and select a skin based on your preferences:

Select DevExpress Skin - DevExpress Project Settings

The following code snippet applies the “Office2019Colorful” skin to the application:

using DevExpress.LookAndFeel;

internal static class Program {
    /// <summary>
    ///  The main entry point for the application.
    /// </summary>
    [STAThread]
    static void Main() {
        ApplicationConfiguration.Initialize();
        UserLookAndFeel.Default.SetSkinStyle(SkinStyle.Office2019Colorful);
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }
}

#Display SVG or PNG Icons

The newly created word processing application uses vector icons. This ensures that the application is rendered correctly on high-DPI devices.

Set the WindowsFormsSettings.AllowDefaultSvgImages property to DefaultBoolean.False at application startup to display PNG icons:

static void Main() {
    DevExpress.XtraEditors.WindowsFormsSettings.AllowDefaultSvgImages = DevExpress.Utils.DefaultBoolean.False;
    // ...
}

#Enable DevExpress Open/Save File Dialogs

Enable the WindowsFormsSettings.UseDXDialogs setting at application startup to enable DevExpress dialogs in your application:

using DevExpress.LookAndFeel;
using DevExpress.Utils;
using DevExpress.XtraEditors;

internal static class Program {
    /// <summary>
    /// The main entry point for the application.
    /// </summary>
    [STAThread]
    static void Main() {
        ApplicationConfiguration.Initialize();
        UserLookAndFeel.Default.SetSkinStyle(SkinStyle.Office2019Colorful);
        WindowsFormsSettings.UseDXDialogs = DefaultBoolean.True;
        Application.Run(new Form1());
    }
}

DevExpress Open/Save File Dialogs

See Also