How to: Enable High DPI Support in a WinForms Application

• Mar 12, 2021
• 2 minutes to read

This topic describes adjustments you should perform to prepare your WinForms XAF application to be used on 4K display devices.

Enable the DPI-Aware Mode

Add the Application Manifest file to your WinForms application project and set the dpiAware element value to true.

XML

<application xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v3">
    <windowsSettings>
        <dpiAware xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/SMI/2005/WindowsSettings">true</dpiAware>
    </windowsSettings>
</application>

To learn more, refer to the High DPI Support topic in the WinForms Controls documentation.

Enable the New Report Wizard

If you use the Reports V2 Module, edit the WinApplication.cs (WinApplication.vb) file. In the WinApplication descendant constructor, set the WinReportServiceController.UseNewWizard static property to true

C#

DevExpress.ExpressApp.ReportsV2.Win.WinReportServiceController.UseNewWizard = true;

VB.NET

DevExpress.ExpressApp.ReportsV2.Win.WinReportServiceController.UseNewWizard = True

Current Limitations and Recommendations

• Design your applications under default 96 DPI (100%). Downscaling a form developed under higher DPI values may lead to possible issues.
• Currently, we do not provide built-in icons for high DPI. Existing images may look blurry or too small on your screen. However, you can provide custom icons of an appropriate size.
• The HTML Property Editor Module does not support high DPI.
• Per-Monitor DPI is not supported. The application window will be upscaled/downscaled by the system when you drag it between displays with different DPI settings.