Use Project Templates to Create a RichEditControl

Jan 23, 2025
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.

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

In Visual Studio, go to “File | New | Project” to create a new project. Select DevExpress v25.2 Template Kit and click Next :
Specify project settings and click Create to run the DevExpress Project Wizard.
Select the WinForms platform. Scroll down to the Office-inspired Controls section and select Word Processing Application. Click Create Project.
Run the application to see the result.

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:

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

C#
VB.NET

csharp

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());
    }
}

Imports DevExpress.LookAndFeel

Friend Module Program
    ''' <summary>
    ''' The main entry point for the application.
    ''' </summary>
    <STAThread>
    Sub Main()
        ApplicationConfiguration.Initialize()
        UserLookAndFeel.Default.SetSkinStyle(SkinStyle.Office2019Colorful)
        Application.Run(New Form1())
    End Sub
End Module

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:

C#
VB.NET

csharp

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

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

Enable DevExpress Open/Save File Dialogs

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

C#
VB.NET

csharp

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());
    }
}

Imports DevExpress.LookAndFeel
Imports DevExpress.Utils
Imports DevExpress.XtraEditors

Friend Module Program
    ''' <summary>
    ''' The main entry point for the application.
    ''' </summary>
    <STAThread>
    Sub Main()
        ApplicationConfiguration.Initialize()
        UserLookAndFeel.Default.SetSkinStyle(SkinStyle.Office2019Colorful)
        WindowsFormsSettings.UseDXDialogs = DefaultBoolean.True
        Application.Run(New Form1())
    End Sub
End Module