Use Bitmap or Vector Icons

• Aug 23, 2019
• 3 minutes to read

This document illustrates the difference between bitmap and vector icons, and describes how to switch to using bitmap icons in your WinForms reporting application.

The Document Viewer and Report Designer display vector icons by default, which ensures a proper look of an application on high-DPI displays and with different skins applied.

• A ribbon with the “Office 2016 Light“ theme:

  

• A ribbon with the “Office 2016 Dark“ theme:

  

To make your WinForms application use bitmap icons everywhere in the application GUI, set the static WindowsFormsSettings.AllowDefaultSvgImages property to DefaultBoolean.False.

C#

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

VB.NET

Sub Main()
    DevExpress.XtraEditors.WindowsFormsSettings.AllowDefaultSvgImages = DevExpress.Utils.DefaultBoolean.False
    ' ...
End Sub

To make specific controls use bitmap icons, use the following properties.

• Standard Document Preview

  The following images illustrate the standard Document Preview toolbar with default bitmap and vector icons.

  SVG Icons
  Bitmap Icons

  The following code makes the standard Document Preview display bitmap icons by disabling the PrintBarManager.AllowDefaultSvgImages property.

  C#

  using DevExpress.XtraReports.UI;
  // ...
  
  private void button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e) {
      ReportPrintTool printTool = new ReportPrintTool(new XtraReport1());
      printTool.PreviewForm.PrintBarManager.AllowDefaultSvgImages = DevExpress.Utils.DefaultBoolean.False;
      printTool.ShowPreviewDialog();
  }
  

  VB.NET

  Imports DevExpress.XtraReports.UI
  ' ...
  
  Private Sub button1_Click(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs)
      Dim printTool As New ReportPrintTool(New XtraReport1())
      printTool.PreviewForm.PrintBarManager.AllowDefaultSvgImages = DevExpress.Utils.DefaultBoolean.False
      printTool.ShowPreviewDialog()
  End Sub
  

• Ribbon Document Preview

  The following images illustrate the ribbon Document Preview toolbar with default bitmap and vector icons.

  SVG Icons
  Bitmap Icons

  The following code makes the ribbon Document Preview display bitmap icons by disabling the PrintRibbonController.AllowDefaultSvgImages property.

  C#

  using DevExpress.XtraReports.UI;
  // ...
  
  private void button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e) {
      ReportPrintTool printTool = new ReportPrintTool(new XtraReport1());
      printTool.PreviewRibbonForm.PrintRibbonController.AllowDefaultSvgImages = DevExpress.Utils.DefaultBoolean.False;
      printTool.ShowRibbonPreviewDialog();
  }
  

  VB.NET

  Imports DevExpress.XtraReports.UI
  ' ...
  
  Private Sub button1_Click(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs)
      Dim printTool As New ReportPrintTool(New XtraReport1())
      printTool.PreviewRibbonForm.PrintRibbonController.AllowDefaultSvgImages = DevExpress.Utils.DefaultBoolean.False
      printTool.ShowRibbonPreviewDialog()
  End Sub
  

• Standard Report Designer

  The following images illustrate a standard Report Designer toolbar with default bitmap and vector icons.

  SVG Icons
  Bitmap Icons

  The following code makes the standard Report Designer display bitmap icons by disabling the XRDesignMdiController.AllowDefaultSvgImages property.

  C#

  using DevExpress.XtraReports.UI;
  // ...
  
  private void button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e) {
      ReportDesignTool designTool = new ReportDesignTool(new XtraReport1());
      designTool.DesignForm.DesignMdiController.AllowDefaultSvgImages = DevExpress.Utils.DefaultBoolean.False;
      designTool.ShowDesignerDialog();
  }
  

  VB.NET

  Imports DevExpress.XtraReports.UI
  ' ...
  
  Private Sub button1_Click(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs)
      Dim designTool As New ReportDesignTool(New XtraReport1())
      designTool.DesignForm.DesignMdiController.AllowDefaultSvgImages = DevExpress.Utils.DefaultBoolean.False
      designTool.ShowDesignerDialog()
  End Sub
  

• Ribbon Report Designer

  The following images illustrate a ribbon Report Designer toolbar with default bitmap and vector icons.

  SVG Icons
  Bitmap Icons

  The following code makes the ribbon Report Designer display bitmap icons by disabling the XRDesignMdiController.AllowDefaultSvgImages property.

  C#

  using DevExpress.XtraReports.UI;
  // ...
  
  private void button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e) {
      ReportDesignTool designTool = new ReportDesignTool(new XtraReport1());
      designTool.DesignRibbonForm.DesignMdiController.AllowDefaultSvgImages = DevExpress.Utils.DefaultBoolean.False;
      designTool.ShowRibbonDesignerDialog();
  }
  

  VB.NET

  Imports DevExpress.XtraReports.UI
  ' ...
  
  Private Sub button1_Click(sender As Object, e As System.EventArgs)
      Dim designTool As New ReportDesignTool(New XtraReport1())
      designTool.DesignRibbonForm.DesignMdiController.AllowDefaultSvgImages = DevExpress.Utils.DefaultBoolean.False
      designTool.ShowRibbonDesignerDialog()
  End Sub
  

Tip

An in-depth sample application is available online at How to create a custom control and register it in the End-User Report Designer toolbox with a custom icon.