To create a simple WinForms application in .NET Framework for Ribbon control, complete the following steps: 

1. Create a new Windows Forms application.
2. Drag and drop the C1Ribbon control to your form.The Ribbon control is positioned at the top of the form. A tab and group gets added to the Ribbon control in advance.
   
   
3. Add the RichTextBox control from the Toolbox to your form. Set its Dock property to Fill.
4. To add a new tab, click the C1Ribbon control to enable its floating toolbar. Click the Actions button and select Add Tab from the list of actions. Whenever you add a new tab, a group is already added to it.
5. Rename the tabs as 'Home' and 'Insert'. This can be done by in-place text editing by double clicking the tab. You can also add text from the Text Settings in floating toolbar or by editing the Text property in the Properties window.
   
   
6. To add a new group, click the 'Home' Tab to enable its floating toolbar. Click the Actions button and select Add Group from the list of actions.
   
   
7. Rename the groups as 'Font' and 'Color' either by double clicking on it or by editing the Text property from the Properties window.
   
   
8. To add an item to the group, click the 'Font' group to enable its floating toolbar. Click the Actions button and Select Add Font ComboBox from the list of actions.
   
   
9. Enter the placeholder text 'Select a Font' in the Font ComboBox either by clicking on it or editing the Text property from the Properties window.
   
   
10. Similarly, select Add ColorPicker from the list of actions of 'Color' group to add it as an item.
    
    
11. The Windows Form can be converted to a Ribbon Form by switching to the code view and replacing the following:
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    partial class Form1 : Form { //... }

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    Partial Class Form1 Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form '... End Class

    With

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    partial class Form1 : C1RibbonForm { //... }

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    Partial Class Form1 Inherits C1.Win.C1Ribbon.C1RibbonForm '... End Class

The basic difference between the Windows form and the Ribbon Form is that in the Ribbon form, the title bar of the Windows Form is omitted and the title bar of the Ribbon Form comes into existence.

Run the application and observe the Ribbon Form generated in the following image. The Ribbon Form contains tabs, groups and FontComboBox and ColorPicker as items in the Group. Similarly, you can add other items from the group item list such as DatePicker, Gallery, Label, CheckBox, ToggleButton, TextBox etc.

To create a simple WinForms application in .NET for Ribbon control, complete the following steps: 

1. Create a new Windows Forms application.

2. Switch to code editor and initialize the C1Ribbon object.

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   C1Ribbon customRibbon;

3. Initialize the Ribbon control and add the control to the Form.

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   // Initialize the Ribbon control customRibbon = new C1Ribbon(); // Add the ribbon control to the Form this.Controls.Add(customRibbon);

4. Create an instance of RibbonTab class and add the 'Home' tab to the Ribbon control using the Add method of RibbonTabCollection class.

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   // Create and add the "Home" tab RibbonTab homeTab = new RibbonTab(); homeTab.Text = "Home"; customRibbon.Tabs.Add(homeTab);

5. Create an instance of RibbonGroup class, assign it the name 'Font' and add it to the Home tab using the Add method of RibbonGroupCollection class.

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   // Add a group named "Font" to the "Home" tab RibbonGroup fontStyle = new RibbonGroup(); fontStyle.Text = "Font"; homeTab.Groups.Add(fontStyle);

6. Create Quick Access Toolbar in the Ribbon control using the Qat property of C1Ribbon class, and add items to the Quick Access Toolbar using the Items property of RibbonQat class and Add method of RibbonItemCollectionBase class.

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   // Add Items to the quick access toolbar Image openImage = Image.FromFile(@"images\open.png"); customRibbon.Qat.Items.Add(new RibbonButton("Open", openImage)); Image undoImage = Image.FromFile(@"images\undo.png"); customRibbon.Qat.Items.Add(new RibbonButton("Undo", undoImage)); Image redoImage = Image.FromFile(@"images\redo.png"); customRibbon.Qat.Items.Add(new RibbonButton("Repeat", redoImage));

7. Create items to be added in application menu. Add them to the right and left panel of the Application Menu using ApplicationMenu property of C1Ribbon class.

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   // Create Items to be added in the default Application Menu RibbonButton openButton = new RibbonButton("Open", Image.FromFile(@"images\open-file-icon.png")); RibbonButton saveButton = new RibbonButton("Save", Image.FromFile(@"images\save-file-icon.png")); RibbonButton closeButton = new RibbonButton("Close", Image.FromFile(@"images\close.png")); RibbonButton printButton = new RibbonButton("Print", Image.FromFile(@"images\print.png")); RibbonButton previewButton = new RibbonButton("Preview", Image.FromFile(@"images\preview.png")); RibbonListItem print = new RibbonListItem(printButton); RibbonListItem preview = new RibbonListItem(previewButton); // Add image Icon for ApplicationMenu C1BitmapIcon c1Bitmap1 = new C1BitmapIcon(); c1Bitmap1.Source = Image.FromFile(@"images\application_menu.png"); c1Bitmap1.Size = new Size(20, 20); customRibbon.ApplicationMenu.IconSet.Add(c1Bitmap1); // Add Application Menu items customRibbon.ApplicationMenu.LeftPaneItems.Add(openButton); customRibbon.ApplicationMenu.LeftPaneItems.Add(saveButton); customRibbon.ApplicationMenu.LeftPaneItems.Add(closeButton); customRibbon.ApplicationMenu.RightPaneItems.Add(print); customRibbon.ApplicationMenu.RightPaneItems.Add(preview);

8. Create items to be added in configuration toolbar. Add the items using ConfigToolBar property of C1Ribbon class.

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   //Create Items to be added in the default ConfigToolbar RibbonButton cutButton = new RibbonButton("Cut", Image.FromFile(@"images\cut.png")); RibbonButton copyButton = new RibbonButton("Copy", Image.FromFile(@"images\copy.png")); RibbonButton pasteButton = new RibbonButton("Paste", Image.FromFile(@"images\paste.png")); // Add ConfigToolbar items customRibbon.ConfigToolBar.Items.Add(cutButton); customRibbon.ConfigToolBar.Items.Add(copyButton); customRibbon.ConfigToolBar.Items.Add(pasteButton);

9. Add a new tab 'Format' and new 'Clipboard' group. Add items like button, checkbox, fontcombobox, colorpicker, toggle button and separator to the new tab and group.

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   // Add items like button, checkbox, fontcombobox, colorpicker, toggle button and separator //Create a new Tab RibbonTab format = new RibbonTab(); format.Text = "Format"; customRibbon.Tabs.Add(format); //Adding a Group RibbonGroup formatGroup = new RibbonGroup(); formatGroup.Text = "Clipboard"; format.Groups.Add(formatGroup); // Add ribbon button RibbonButton clearButton = new RibbonButton("Clear Format", Image.FromFile(@"images\clearformat.png")); clearButton.ToolTip = "Clear All Formatting"; formatGroup.Items.Add(clearButton); // Add CheckBox button ribbon item RibbonCheckBox reminderCheckBox = new RibbonCheckBox(); reminderCheckBox.IconSet.Add(new C1BitmapIcon(null, new Size(20, 20), Color.Transparent, Image.FromFile(@"images\reminder.png"))); reminderCheckBox.Text = "Reminder"; formatGroup.Items.Add(reminderCheckBox); //Add RibbonFontComboBox RibbonFontComboBox fontComboBox = new RibbonFontComboBox(); fontComboBox.ToolTip = "Font"; fontComboBox.Text = "Select a font"; formatGroup.Items.Add(fontComboBox); //Add RibbonSeparator RibbonSeparator separator = new RibbonSeparator(); formatGroup.Items.Add(separator); //Add RibbonColorPicker RibbonColorPicker colorPicker = new RibbonColorPicker(null, Image.FromFile(@"images\fontcolor.png")); colorPicker.ToolTip = "Color Picker"; formatGroup.Items.Add(colorPicker); // Add toggle button RibbonToggleButton leftAlign = new RibbonToggleButton(Image.FromFile(@"images\align_left.png")); leftAlign.ToolTip = "Align your content with left margin."; formatGroup.Items.Add(leftAlign);

10. Add items like datepicker, gallery, label and menu to another tab and group.

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    // Add items like datepicker, gallery, label and menu // Create a new Tab 'Tools' RibbonTab tool = new RibbonTab(); tool.Text = "Tools"; customRibbon.Tabs.Add(tool); // Add Editor group to Tools tab RibbonGroup toolGroup = new RibbonGroup(); toolGroup.Text = "Editor"; tool.Groups.Add(toolGroup); // Add DatePicker ribbon item RibbonDatePicker datePicker = new RibbonDatePicker(); datePicker.Format = "yyyy/MM/dd"; toolGroup.Items.Add(datePicker); // Add RibbonGallery ribbon item RibbonGallery ribbonGallery = new RibbonGallery(); ribbonGallery.ToolTip = "Select a shape"; RibbonGalleryItem ribbonGallery1 = new RibbonGalleryItem("Rectangle", Image.FromFile(@"images\rect.png")); RibbonGalleryItem ribbonGallery2 = new RibbonGalleryItem("Circle", Image.FromFile(@"images\circle.png")); RibbonGalleryItem ribbonGallery3 = new RibbonGalleryItem("Triangle", Image.FromFile(@"images\triangle.png")); RibbonGalleryItem ribbonGallery4 = new RibbonGalleryItem("Hexagon", Image.FromFile(@"images\hexagon.png")); ribbonGallery.Items.Add(ribbonGallery1); ribbonGallery.Items.Add(ribbonGallery2); ribbonGallery.Items.Add(ribbonGallery3); ribbonGallery.Items.Add(ribbonGallery4); toolGroup.Items.Add(ribbonGallery); // Add a Label ribbon item RibbonLabel ribbonLabel = new RibbonLabel("Feedback", Image.FromFile(@"images\feedback.png")); formatGroup.Items.Add(ribbonLabel); // Add RibbonMenu ribbon item RibbonMenu ribbonMenu = new RibbonMenu(); ribbonMenu.Text = "Edit"; RibbonButton buttonCut = new RibbonButton("Cut", Image.FromFile(@"images\cut.png")); RibbonButton buttonCopy = new RibbonButton("Copy", Image.FromFile(@"images\copy.png")); RibbonButton buttonPaste = new RibbonButton("Paste", Image.FromFile(@"images\paste.png")); RibbonSeparator separatoritem = new RibbonSeparator(); RibbonColorPicker colorpicker = new RibbonColorPicker("Color Picker", Image.FromFile(@"images\fontcolor.png")); RibbonLabel label = new RibbonLabel("Select Color"); RibbonColorPickerItem colorItem = new RibbonColorPickerItem(); ribbonMenu.Items.Add(buttonCut); ribbonMenu.Items.Add(buttonCopy); ribbonMenu.Items.Add(buttonPaste); ribbonMenu.Items.Add(separatoritem); ribbonMenu.Items.Add(colorpicker); ribbonMenu.Items.Add(label); ribbonMenu.Items.Add(colorItem); toolGroup.Items.Add(ribbonMenu);

11. Add more items like Numeric box, progress bar, splitbutton, textbox, timepicker, toolbar and trackbar.

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    // Add more items like Numeric box, progress bar, splitbutton, textbox, timepicker, toolbar and trackbar // Add Styles group to Tools tab RibbonGroup stylesGroup = new RibbonGroup(); stylesGroup.Text = "Styles"; tool.Groups.Add(stylesGroup); // Add Numeric Box ribbon item RibbonNumericBox numericBox = new RibbonNumericBox(); numericBox.Maximum = 10; numericBox.Minimum = 1; numericBox.ToolTip = "Select a number"; numericBox.Label = "Number Box"; stylesGroup.Items.Add(numericBox); // Add Progress Bar ribbon item RibbonProgressBar progressBar = new RibbonProgressBar(); progressBar.Minimum = 0; progressBar.Maximum = 100; progressBar.Value = 30; stylesGroup.Items.Add(progressBar); // Add Separator ribbon item RibbonSeparator separatorItem = new RibbonSeparator(); stylesGroup.Items.Add(separatorItem); // Add Ribbon Split Button RibbonSplitButton splitButton = new RibbonSplitButton("Views"); RibbonButton printLayout = new RibbonButton("Print Layout", Image.FromFile(@"images\printlayout.png")); RibbonButton fullScreenLayout = new RibbonButton("Full Screen Reading", Image.FromFile(@"images\fullscreen.png")); RibbonButton webLayout = new RibbonButton("Web Layout", Image.FromFile(@"images\weblayout.png")); splitButton.Items.Add(printLayout); splitButton.Items.Add(fullScreenLayout); splitButton.Items.Add(webLayout); stylesGroup.Items.Add(splitButton); // Add Ribbon TextBox RibbonTextBox textBox = new RibbonTextBox(); textBox.Text = "Write Text"; stylesGroup.Items.Add(textBox); // Add TimePicker RibbonTimePicker timePicker = new RibbonTimePicker(); timePicker.Label = "Select Time:"; stylesGroup.Items.Add(timePicker); // Add Ribbon Toolbar RibbonToolBar ribbonToolBar = new RibbonToolBar(); RibbonButton boldButton = new RibbonButton(Image.FromFile(@"images\bold.png")); RibbonButton italicButton = new RibbonButton(Image.FromFile(@"images\italic.png")); RibbonButton underlineButton = new RibbonButton(Image.FromFile(@"images\underline.png")); ribbonToolBar.Items.Add(boldButton); ribbonToolBar.Items.Add(italicButton); ribbonToolBar.Items.Add(underlineButton); stylesGroup.Items.Add(ribbonToolBar); // Add TrackBar RibbonTrackBar trackBar = new RibbonTrackBar(); trackBar.Minimum = 10; trackBar.Maximum = 100; trackBar.Value = 30; trackBar.TickFrequency = 10; stylesGroup.Items.Add(trackBar);

    Note that the Ribbon control provides dedicated class for each item in the ribbon, such as RibbonButton, RibbonCheckBox, RibbonFontComboBox, RibbonSeparator, RibbonColorPicker, RibbonToggleButton, RibbonDatePicker, RibbonGallery, RibbonLabel, RibbonMenu, RibbonNumericBox, RibbonProgressBar, RibbonSplitButton, RibbonTextBox, RibbonTimePicker, RibbonToolbar, RibbonTrackBar classes.

12. Ribbon control also allows the user to add a hosted control in the ribbon using the RibbonControlHost class. For this, the user has to create a new TextBoxHost class that inherits the RibbonControlHost element, and then initialize RibbonControlHost object in the form and add it to the ribbon group.

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    // Add Control Host RibbonControlHost textboxHost = new RibbonControlHost(); textboxHost = new WinFormsRibbonQuickStart.TextBoxHost(); stylesGroup.Items.Add(textboxHost);

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    // Create a new TextBoxHost class public class TextBoxHost : C1.Win.Ribbon.RibbonControlHost { public TextBoxHost() : base(new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox()) { base.Text = "Sample text"; } }

    Run the application and observe the ribbon control with tabs, groups and ribbon items.

    

    Note: WinForms .NET Edition does not include rich design-time support yet. We will enhance it in future releases.