Template Gallery (.NET Framework)
- 6 minutes to read
The DevExpress Template Gallery includes project templates and project item templates that utilize specific DevExpress UI controls and components. You can use DevExpress templates in WinForms projects that target .NET Framework 4.6.2+. The Template Gallery option automatically appears in the Visual Studio Create a new project dialog after you install the DevExpress controls suite.
Tip
Use the DevExpress cross-IDE Template Kit to create WinForms projects based on templates. Project templates cover a broader range of usage scenarios when compared to our Template Gallery for .NET Framework. New project templates support hybrid app development and MVVM.
The DevExpress Template Kit includes project templates for .NET 8+ and C# only.
Create a New Project
To create a new project based on the Template Gallery, follow the steps below:
- In Visual Studio, select File → New → Project.
In the Create a new project dialog, select DevExpress v26.1 Template Gallery and click Next.
In the Configure your new project dialog, specify the project name and location, and click Create.
In the DevExpress Template Gallery dialog, select the WinForms platform, configure project parameters, and click Create Project.
Project Templates
WinForms Common
Blank Application
Creates a WinForms application with an empty XtraForm.
Toolbar Based Application
Creates a WinForms application with the DevExpress XtraForm that contains the following UI elements and components:
Ribbon Based Application
Creates a WinForms application with a Ribbon Form. The form integrates the Ribbon Control.
DirectX-powered Application
Creates a WinForms application with an empty DirectX-powered form. The DevExpress DirectX form supports High DPI and HTML & CSS Markup.
Tabbed UI Application
Creates a WinForms application with a Tabbed Form. The TabForm allows you to display tabs and custom buttons in or below the form title.
Fluent Design Application
Creates a WinForms application with a Fluent Design Form. The Fluent Design Form replicates Microsoft’s Fluent Design UI and integrates a Hamburger menu.
WinForms Business Solutions
Word Processing Application
Creates a Microsoft Word-inspired WinForms application with the following UI controls:
- Ribbon Form
- Rich Text Editor with spell checking
Scheduling Application
Creates a Microsoft Outlook-inspired WinForms application with the following UI controls:
Spreadsheet Application
Creates a Microsoft Excel-inspired WinForms application with the following UI controls:
PDF Viewer Application
Creates an Adobe PDF Viewer-inspired WinForms application with the following UI controls:
Map Application
Creates a WinForms application with a Ribbon Form that contains a Map Control. The Map Control allows you to incorporate map services within your application.
Dashboard Designer Application
Creates a WinForms application with a Ribbon Form that contains a Dashboard Designer. The Dashboard Designer allows you to embed fully-configurable dashboards into your application.
Dashboard Viewer Application
Creates a WinForms application with a Dashboard Viewer.
WinForms Popular UIs
Grid Based UI
Creates a WinForms application with a Ribbon Form that contains the DevExpress Data Grid.
Grid Based UI (Office 365 Inspired)
Creates a WinForms application with a Ribbon Form that contains the DevExpress Data Grid. The Data Grid uses the Tile View to display data.
UI-ready Form
Creates a WinForms application that includes three views (modules):
- Navigation Container — a startup page that allows users to navigate to Business Object Collection pages.
- Business Object Collection — a tier two application page that displays all data records from a specific collection (for example, all entities from the “Customers” data table).
- Business Object — a tier three application page for viewing and editing a data record (for example, information about a specific customer).
The template allows you to choose UI type. Options include:
WinForms Windows UI Applications
Blank Application
Creates a Windows Modern UI application with a blank container for live tiles. The DocumentManager component allows you to add more pages and implement page navigation as needed. The form contains the following UI controls and components:
Tile Application
Creates a Windows Modern UI application with two-level object hierarchy. The template creates a home page, a section page, and an item detail page.
Wizard Application
Creates a fully functional Wizard application with the following UI controls:
Add a New Item to an Existing Project
To add a new item to an existing project, follow the steps below:
In the Solution Explorer, open the context menu and select Add → New Item.
In the Add New Item dialog, select DevExpress v26.1 Template Gallery, specify the item name, and click Add.
In the DevExpress Template Gallery window, select the WinForms platform, choose an item template, and click Add Item.
Item Templates
WinForms Common
User Control
Creates a User Control with DevExpress Skin support (XtraUserControl).
Form
Creates an empty XtraForm.
Toolbar Form
Creates an XtraForm with the following UI elements and components:
Ribbon Form
Creates a Ribbon Form. The form integrates the Ribbon Control.
DirectX Form
Creates an empty DirectX-powered form. The DevExpress DirectX form supports High DPI and HTML & CSS Markup.
Fluent Design Form
Creates a Fluent Design Form. The Fluent Design Form replicates Microsoft’s Fluent Design UI and integrates a Hamburger menu.
Wizard Form
Creates an XtraForm that contains the Wizard Control.
Splash Screen
Creates a splash screen window (SplashScreen) with a predefined content template.
Progress Indicator
Creates a marquee progress bar splash screen with a predefined content template.
WinForms Popular UIs
UI-ready User Control & UI-ready Form
With these templates, you can create a User Control or Form with pre-designed UIs. Options include:
You can also choose one of the following view types:
- Navigation Container — a startup page that allows users to navigate to Business Object Collection pages.
- Business Object Collection — a tier two application page that displays all data records from a specific collection (for example, all entities from the “Customers” data table).
- Business Object — a tier three application page for viewing and editing a data record (for example, information about a specific customer).
WinForms MVVM
Blank View Model
Creates an empty View Model. The View Model implements INotifyPropertyChanged and supports bindable properties.
View & View Model
Creates an empty View Model and a View with the MvvmContext component. The View Model can be a regular or POCO View Model.
WinForms Custom Solutions
Custom Data Editor
Creates a custom data editor based on the selected DevExpress Data Editor. The templates can also generate custom infrastructure classes (painter and ViewInfo) for the custom editor.
Custom Data Grid
Creates a custom Data Grid control (XtraGrid descendant) and generates infrastructure classes.
WinForms Reporting
Report
Runs a Report Wizard that adds a new report to the project.
Scheduler Report
Adds a DevExpress Report that supports the Scheduler and Calendar reporting option (XtraSchedulerReport).
BI Dashboard
Dashboard
Creates an empty DevExpress Dashboard. You can customize the Dashboard at design time.
XPO
ORM Data Model Wizard
Creates a data model. You can map the model to a new or existing database.
ORM Persistent Object
Creates an XPO descendant. Refer to the following help topic for additional information: Create a Persistent Object.