DotNetBar is a comprehensive suite of UI controls for .NET Windows Forms and WPF applications. Created by DevComponents, a company founded in 1996 and based in Michigan, USA, DotNetBar has been their flagship product for years. The suite contains 89 individual components that allow developers to bypass the relatively limited default .NET Framework controls and instead implement professional-grade interfaces reminiscent of Microsoft Office.
Change the assembly version slightly (e.g., 14.1.0.1 ) to prevent version conflicts with official, un-modified DevComponents binaries that might reside on client machines. devcomponents dotnetbar 14100 with source code
When compiling from source, you must register the newly built DLLs into your Visual Studio Toolbox. You can do this by right-clicking the Toolbox panel, selecting , and browsing directly to your freshly compiled DevComponents.DotNetBar2.dll . Upgrading Legacy Projects to the Source Variant DotNetBar is a comprehensive suite of UI controls for
The suite is frequently mentioned in developer forums and communities, with many praising its cost-effectiveness. As one long-time user noted, while competitors in this UI control space could cost "in the $1000's price range, [DotNetBar] is in the $100's". Change the assembly version slightly (e
The suite provides full, customizable Office-style Ribbon controls, which are the standard for modern desktop applications.
If you have been developing Windows Forms applications for any significant length of time, the name likely conjures up specific memories. For many, it was the golden standard for UI—transforming the drab gray standard Windows interface into something that felt like Office, Visual Studio, or a futuristic Command Center.