Devexpress Change Style Button

5 min read Oct 02, 2024

How to Customize the Appearance of DevExpress Buttons?

DevExpress provides a rich set of UI controls, including buttons, that can be easily customized to match your application's design. Let's explore various techniques for changing the style of DevExpress buttons.

1. Using the Visual Designer:

The DevExpress Visual Designer offers a drag-and-drop interface for modifying the appearance of your buttons.

Here's how:

Open the designer: Right-click your button on the form and select "Properties."
Access the Style Tab: Look for the "Style" tab within the Properties window.
Adjust Appearance: This tab provides options for changing button colors, fonts, borders, and more.
Experiment with Predefined Styles: DevExpress includes pre-defined styles like "Flat," "Modern," and "Office 2019."

2. Utilizing CSS:

For more granular control, you can leverage CSS to style your DevExpress buttons.

Here's an example:

.myButton {
    background-color: #4CAF50; /* Set background color */
    color: white;            /* Set text color */
    padding: 10px 20px;      /* Add padding */
    border: none;             /* Remove default border */
    border-radius: 5px;      /* Apply rounded corners */
    font-size: 16px;          /* Set font size */
    cursor: pointer;        /* Change cursor on hover */
}

Apply the style: Assign this CSS class to your DevExpress button using its ClassName property.

3. Employing Themes:

DevExpress provides a variety of themes that drastically alter the visual style of your application, including buttons.

Here's how to use themes:

Choose a theme: Navigate to the "Themes" section within your project's settings.
Apply the theme: Select a theme that best suits your needs. DevExpress themes like "Office 2019," "Material," and "Visual Studio" will automatically style your buttons.

4. Creating Custom Styles:

For a truly unique look, you can create your own custom button styles.

Here's a guide:

Extend the DevExpress Button Class: Create a new class that inherits from DevExpress.XtraEditors.SimpleButton.
Override Properties: Override properties like Appearance, AppearanceHovered, and AppearancePressed to define specific appearances for different button states.
Use in your code: Use your custom button class wherever you need a button with your specific styling.

5. Utilizing the Appearance Object:

DevExpress provides an Appearance object that lets you control the look of the button in more detail.

Here's an example:

button1.Appearance.BackColor = Color.Blue;     // Set background color
button1.Appearance.ForeColor = Color.White;  // Set text color
button1.Appearance.Font = new Font("Arial", 12); // Set font
button1.Appearance.BorderColor = Color.Black; // Set border color

Tips for Styling:

Consistency: Use a consistent style across your application for a polished look.
Visual Hierarchy: Use different button styles to emphasize important actions.
User Feedback: Ensure buttons provide clear visual feedback for users on hover and press events.
Accessibility: Consider users with disabilities. Use sufficient contrast and alternative text.

Example:

Let's say you want to create a button with a green background, white text, rounded corners, and a slight shadow.

Using CSS:

.myButton {
    background-color: #4CAF50;
    color: white;
    padding: 10px 20px;
    border: none;
    border-radius: 5px;
    font-size: 16px;
    cursor: pointer;
    box-shadow: 2px 2px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2); /* Add shadow */
}

Applying in Code:

// Assuming a button named button1
button1.ClassName = "myButton";

Conclusion:

DevExpress provides powerful tools for customizing the style of your buttons. By using the Visual Designer, CSS, themes, custom styles, and the Appearance object, you can create visually appealing buttons that enhance your application's user experience.