Today we are releasing 12.5 version of DotNetBar with new Desktop Alerts component. This new component helps you display desktop alerts on any version of Windows, XP or newer.

Desktop alerts are used in similar way you use MessageBox. To display an alert you call DesktopAlert.Show method which provides number of overloads for different alert options. The alert text supports text-markup and you can display symbol or image on the alert.

You can specify an method to be called if alert is clicked by the end user and you can also handle the clicks on any text-markup hyperlinks you use in the alert text.

If multiple alerts are being displayed, they will be stacked on top of each other. Alerts can be displayed on any of the 4 screen corners. We include several predefined colors for alerts but if needed you can set your own as well. Make sure to checkout the sample project which you can find at My Documents\DotNetBar WinForms Samples\DesktopAlert folder.

If you have current DotNetBar license download latest release on Customer Only web site. Fully functional trial version is also available. We are working on even more major new exciting features and please do not hesitate to send me your feedback and wishes. Thank you for using our controls and please let me know how you like them.

Today we are releasing 12.3 version of DotNetBar with new SideNav control. SideNav control allows you to create so called hamburger menu apps or simply just add resizable and expandable tabs to your app. Here is screen-shot which shows this control:

SideNav control consist of the tabs positioned vertically on left hand side with optional first button which collapses and expands the tab display:

Control is touch device friendly due to the large size of each tab and tabs position on screen edge so they are easier to reach using touch while holding the device.

SideNav control allows end users to resize it by using the resize-handle which is positioned on the right-edge of the control:

To learn more about this control please read SideNav control knowledge base article. There are over 30 other new features and fixes in this release. Here are detailed Release Notes.

If you have current DotNetBar license download latest release on Customer Only web site. Fully functional trial version is also available. We are working on even more major new exciting features and please do not hesitate to send me your feedback and wishes. Thank you for using our controls and please let me know how you like them.

Today we are releasing 12.1 version of DotNetBar with new Token Editor control. Token Editor is an advanced text-box control which parses the text entered by user and converts it into the distinct set of tokens. Similar to email address entry text-box in modern email clients, but more flexible. Each text-part, token is validated before being accepted so it can be rejected if it does not pass the validation. Here is screen-shot which shows this control:

Control includes built-in support for auto-complete and auto-complete popup with filtered list of available tokens will be displayed and updated as user performs the text input:

To learn more about this control please read TokenEditor knowledge base article.

There are over 60 other new features and fixes in this release. If you have current DotNetBar license download latest release on Customer Only web site. Fully functional trial version is also available. We are working on even more major new exciting features and please do not hesitate to send me your feedback and wishes. Thank you for using our controls and please let me know how you like them.

Today we are releasing 11.9 version of DotNetBar with advanced ListBox control. This control replaces system ListBox and CheckedListBox controls and it includes support for all DotNetBar styles. It allows you to easily display images or symbols next to list items and it also includes touch support and text-markup support. Here is screen-shot which shows this control:

Data-binding support is also included as well as single and multi-selection modes. Please check out ListBoxAdv sample which you can find at My Documents\DotNetBar WinForms Samples

You can read all about ListBoxAdv features in ListBoxAdv knowledge base article. Please check it out.

If you have current DotNetBar license download latest release on Customer Only web site. Fully functional trial version is also available. We are working on even more major new exciting features and please do not hesitate to send me your feedback and wishes. Thank you for using our controls and please let me know how you like them.

Hello Good People!

Today we are releasing 11.8 version of DotNetBar with touch friendly Office Mobile 2014 style as seen in Office apps for iPad. Here is screen-shot which shows this exciting new styling:

This style is part of our Metro styling so all colors are automatically generated by simply setting one color to base your color scheme on. Using that its simple matter to get following color scheme:

In images above also note new SuperTabControl style that was designed specifically for this style. Choosing this style will also enlarge all buttons on toolbars etc. to make them touch friendly.

We created How To Tutorial to teach you how to make user interface just like shown in images above. Please check it out.

If you have current DotNetBar license download latest release on Customer Only web site. Fully functional trial version is also available. We are working on even more major new exciting features and please do not hesitate to send me your feedback and wishes. Thank you for using our controls and please let me know how you like them.

Hi Everyone,

Today we are releasing 11.7 version of DotNetBar with Cell Merging functionality for SuperGrid control. Cell merging has been long requested feature and we’ve been working on it for a while now and have implemented really flexible and expansive functionality for you. Here are couple of images to illustrate that. First image shows column header merging:

Here is an example of cell merge, notice how cells are merged vertically and horizontally:

Here are some of the features of SuperGrid Merge:

• Merging helps you unclutter the grid display and makes data easier to evaluate
• Merging is available in all grid modes: bound, unbound, virtual etc.
• Great merging performance even with large data sets
• Merge cells and column headers vertically or horizontally
• Style each merge area individually
• User can fully interact with grouped column headers (move, resize, click, etc.)
• Text-markup fully supported for merged headers

There are over 20 other new features and fixes in this release. If you have current DotNetBar license download latest release on Customer Only web site. Fully functional trial version is also available. Thank you so much for using our controls. As always, we are already working on adding even more useful functionality to help you create professional apps with ease.

Happy New Year Good People!

Today we are releasing 11.6 version of DotNetBar with brand new Progress Steps control. Progress Steps control allows you to present progress of a process which consists of multiple steps. Here is screen-shot of control in action:

Each step in process is represented by separate item (StepItem) and each item provides you with Minimum, Maximum and Value properties so you can show current step progress, if needed.

ProgressSteps control supports text-markup, allows you to set images or symbols for each item as well as control whether items are tracking mouse using HotTracking property. Color schemes for all styles we provide Office 2007, 2010, 2013 etc. is included.

There are over 40 new features and fixes in this release. If you have current DotNetBar license download latest release on Customer Only web site. Fully functional trial version is also available. Thank you so much for using our controls. Stay tuned for more 

Hello Good People!

Today we are releasing 11.5.1 version of DotNetBar with grouping support for our new layout control. Groups are like nested layout controls inside each other and allow you to create layouts that otherwise would not be possible. Here is an example of layout that cannot be created unless you use new LayoutGroup item:

Notice two groups that have Width=50% are displayed side by side with left group containing 3 text-boxes and right group containing the text-box and RichTextBox controls. Notice how group on the right has customized background and border through LayoutGroup.Style properties.

Each LayoutGroup can also display captions/headers. Here is caption displayed on left with customized appearance through CaptionStyle property:

Using Appearance property you can specify that LayoutGroup should be drawn using one of our predefined system appearances so group is rendered like PanelEx or GroupPanel:

To learn more about Layout Control and new grouping support please read following Knowledge Base article.

If you have current DotNetBar license download latest release on Customer Only web site. Fully functional trial version is also available. Thank you so much for using our controls. Stay tuned for more 🙂

Today we are releasing 11.5 version of DotNetBar with brand new Layout Control. LayoutControl helps you create resolution and DPI independent user interface data entry forms. Its built-in layout logic will re-flow its content to fit available bounds and size constraints. Following screen-shot shows the layout control in action with two different sizes of host form and without any code necessary on your part:

LayoutControl allows for fixed and relative sizing of controls added to it and you can create both flow and table like layouts easily. Additionally it provides built-in text labels with symbols and images as well as text-markup support. Layout Control is something that we will grow over coming weeks so expect many new features to be added.

To learn more about Layout Control please read following Knowledge Base article.

There are over 50 new features and fixes in this release. Here are detailed Release Notes.

If you have current DotNetBar license download latest release on Customer Only web site. Fully functional trial version is also available. Thank you so much for using our controls.