Ribbon

Enhance your UI with a Ribbon style menu. ComponentOne Ribbon™ for WinForms delivers both Ribbon and status bar functionality with the same, pixel-perfect look and feel as the new Microsoft Office 2010 UI.

What is a Ribbon?

The Ribbon is a region at the top of the screen that replaces traditional menus, toolbars, and task panes with a simpler system of interfaces. It organizes related commands (in the form of controls) into groups and related groups into tabs so that the commands are easier to find. Users perform tasks efficiently by accessing commands in a reachable and discoverable layout.

Controls and Classes Included

  • C1Ribbon is the main Ribbon control which includes the application menu, Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) as well as the customizable tabs and groups used to display related commands. C1Ribbon is always docked to the top of the form.
  • C1StatusBar is a Ribbon-styled status strip control. C1StatusBar is always docked to the bottom of the form.
  • The C1RibbonForm class provides a Ribbon-styled Windows Form containing a title bar and a client region.

Features

  • Microsoft Office Visual Styles
    Ribbon UI elements achieve a look that is pixel-perfect with the Microsoft Office interface, including: Ribbon controls, Status Bar controls, and a custom form. Ribbon supports seven built-in Visual Styles including Office 2007, Office 2010 and Windows 7 themes.
  • Ribbon-style Controls
    Ribbon includes a rich set of Ribbon controls, from simple buttons to color palettes and galleries. Supported elements include: Application Menu, Tabs, Groups (with optional Dialog Launcher Button), QAT (Quick Access Toolbar), Configuration Toolbar, Gallery, Toggle Group, Toolbar, Menu, Color Picker, Combo Box, Font Combo Box, Text Box, Numeric Box, Date Picker, Time Picker, Check Box, Button, Toggle Button, Split Button, Label, Separator, Track Bar, Progress Bar, Ribbon Control Host
  • No-code Design Experience
    Ribbon features extensive design-time support, including ComponentOne SmartDesigner® technology. The context-sensitive floating toolbars are activated with a single mouse click, where you can make changes right on the design surface. This no-code design experience provides hassle-free customization of the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT), tabs, groups, and other interface elements. Ribbon for WinForms also provides SmartTags, collection editors, and more.
  • Host Any WinForms Control
    Ribbon supports any third party WinForms control. You can incorporate arbitrary controls in the Ribbon by using the RibbonControlHost element. This flexibility allows you to design the Ribbon to the precision you need.
  • Automatic Spacing
    When the form gets resized, Ribbon will automaticallly accommodate the available space by reducing large buttons into small buttons, hiding text, and collapsing Ribbon groups. This ensures that no matter what size the window displays at, all elements are easily accessible with no scrollbars.
  • Minimize the Ribbon
    Easily minimize the Ribbon to make more space available on your screen.
  • Application Menu
    Using ComponentOne SmartDesigner® technology, you can quickly change the Application button's image and customize the Application menu. For example, display menu items as images, text, or both. The Application menu can display as the original, round button look introduced in Office 2007 or the new Windows 7 look.
  • Quick Access Toolbar (QAT)
    With the SmartDesigner, you can add Ribbon items or the group of items to the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT). At run-time users can customize the QAT by selecting adding and removing items. Users can also choose to display the QAT above or below the Ribbon.
  • Contextual Tabs
    C1Ribbon supports multi-colored contextual tabs. You may designate some controls on the Ribbon to only be used in conjunction with a specific object or function on the form, such as a picture, chart or table. You can configure contextual tabs to only appear when a relevant object is selected or a specific action performs.
  • Dialog Launcher Button
    Included in the functional group of the Ribbon, the dialog launcher connects the simple functionality of the Ribbon and the advanced functionality of the dialog box.
  • Rich Tooltips
    The design-time multi-line editor enables you to easily create rich tooltips with the option to include images. Customize the exact look and layout of tooltips using Html markup.
  • Keyboard Navigation
    End-users can quickly complete specific commands using the keyboard. To make text bold, for example, end-users can use a CTRL+B key combination. This feature is easily implemented at design time with the intuitive shortcut key editor.
  • Over 700 Stock Images for Ribbon Items
    Built-in image library for application menu, groups, and group items. Two image sizes available: large (32x32) and small (16x16).
  • Automatic Image Processing
    With the time-saving automatic image processing, you do not have to provide highlighted or grayed version of your custom images. The appearance of each item at run time is customized when you move the mouse over the Ribbon item or press it. No extra steps are required for these graphical effects.
  • Tab and Group Templates
    Create tabs and control groups and save as XML templates to import later – no need to start from scratch again!
  • 32-bit and 64-bit Compatibility
    Ribbon functions well in both 32-bit and 64-bit run-time environments.