Excellent (apparently) free WinForms controls for download

[jmcilhinney]

I recommend that EVERYONE check out this component library, which appears to be a freely downloadable and redistributable. I haven't used it but it looks excellent from the screenshots. They appear to be Australian too, which warms my heart.

Edit:
Probably not really the correct place for this post but I got really excited when I read that it was free and I wanted the maximum number of people to see it as possible.

[dinosaur_uk]

Nice!

will try it out later on

[uniquegodwin]

Great link Jm...Thanks for sharing such stuff

[FishGuy]

Looks good, the repeater control looks an exciting feature, It may make converting some of my MS Access frontends to VB.net easier.

[jmcilhinney]

Looks good, the repeater control looks an exciting feature, It may make converting some of my MS Access frontends to VB.net easier.

In fact the Repeater was how I found it. Someone asked how to create a Repeater for WinForms in another thread, so I Googled and that was the only useful link I found, but it does look REALLY useful.

[sboyko]

Is this really a unique link?
If anyone know where to get/ how to create it, pls advise!

In fact the Repeater was how I found it. Someone asked how to create a Repeater for WinForms in another thread, so I Googled and that was the only useful link I found, but it does look REALLY useful.

[dinosaur_uk]

What's a Unique link?

[sboyko]

i'd like to ask:
does anybody knows another place where a repeater control for winforms may be downloaded from?
Sorry, english is not my native language.

What's a Unique link?

[jmcilhinney]

i'd like to ask:
does anybody knows another place where a repeater control for winforms may be downloaded from?
Sorry, english is not my native language.

Frankly, it looks like it's a big job to create one, which is why I'd guess that it seems to be a rare thing. Like I said in your other thread, according to the web site this one is completely free to use and distribute, and you only have to pay if you want the source code.

[grilkip]

Looks very nice thanks jm

[jmcilhinney]

I thought I'd bump this so that those who were asleep when I posted it will see it too.

[Beast777]

Looks good but it also looks like its only valid for 30 days.

[jmcilhinney]

Looks good but it also looks like its only valid for 30 days.

I don't think that's the case. The other software available on the downloads page each specifically says that it is a 30 day trial, while the Windows Forms Components library doesn't. Also, here are two quotes from the page that describes the library:

Windows Forms Components is a FREE download. Full source code is available for purchase.

Windows Forms Components is a free download which can be used and redistributed as part of an application. Source code is available for purchase.

I've downloaded it, installed it and played with the demo project and at no point was there any mention of it being a time-limited trial. I was skeptical myself because it seems far too good quality and have far too much functionality to be free, but It really does look like it is. I guess I'll know for sure in another 27 days.

[DCStudios]

I downloaded it and I can't figure out what to do know?

[jmcilhinney]

I downloaded it and I can't figure out what to do know?

The file you downloaded is an MSI, which is a Windows Installer package. If you execute the file it will install the library along with a demo project. You can access the demo project from the Start menu under All Programs -> Quantum Software Solutions -> Windows Forms Components -> Sample Solution. This will open the project in Visual Studio so you can see how to use the library and an example of the controls and components it contains in action. The library itself is installed to "C:\Program Files\Quantum Software Solutions\Windows Forms Components\bin\QSS.Components.Windows.Forms.dll".

To actually use the contents of the library in my own projects, here's what I did.

1. Open any project in the IDE and open any form in the designer to fill the Toolbox.
2. Right-click on the Toolbox window and select Add Tab.
3. Name the new tab "Quantum" and expand it.
4. Right-click within the new tab and select Add/Remove Items.
5. On the .NET Framework Components tab of the Customize Toolbox dialogue, click the header of the Namespace column to group the components by namespace.
6. Tick the checkbox next to every component in the QSS.Components.Windows.Forms namespace and press OK.

All the components from that library will now be available for use from the Quantum tab of the Toolbox and you can use them like any other control or component.

[FishGuy]

I have installed like above but am struggling to acually use it. I have a form and have dragged on the Extended DataGrid. I want to make it so that one of the columns uses the ExtendedDatagridComboColumn to allow a user to lookup a result from the database. There doesnt seem to be any instructions and I cannot really understand the poorly commented sample(in C#) .

If anyone has used this yet please give me some pointers.

[DCStudios]

You don't get all the features that they say you get in the sample thing do you?

[jmcilhinney]

You don't get all the features that they say you get in the sample thing do you?

Yes you do. If you follow the steps I outlined you'll get every one of their components in your Toolbox and then you can add them to your own projects just as you would the standard .NET Framework components and controls. You could completely recreate that sample project if you wanted to. As FishGuy points out, their doco is a little thin (read: non-existent) but I guess given that it's all free we can't complain too much.

FishGuy, I'm afraid I haven't used the ExtendedDataGrid myself, but if I get a chance I'll have a go and let you know how it went.

[nothingofvalue]

Excellent resource JM, thanks. I used the ballon tool tip, very easy and great looking.

[staticbob]

Thanks JM, these do look useful.

Although, I can't seem to get the balloon tooltip working on a combobox, any ideas ?

Thanks
Bob

[FishGuy]

I have installed like above but am struggling to acually use it. I have a form and have dragged on the Extended DataGrid. I want to make it so that one of the columns uses the ExtendedDatagridComboColumn to allow a user to lookup a result from the database. There doesnt seem to be any instructions and I cannot really understand the poorly commented sample(in C#) .

If anyone has used this yet please give me some pointers.

I now have this working and its really good easy to use. The reason I was strugging was beacuse I was trying to do it all in code, but just using the TableStyles, Column Styles wizard its easy.

[FishGuy]

I now have this working and its really good easy to use. The reason I was strugging was beacuse I was trying to do it all in code, but just using the TableStyles, Column Styles wizard its easy.

Update although it does work, the record source for the field with the combo doesnt seem to be binding. The drop down list is there with values but a value doesnt get stored once picked and previous data isnt visible. If anyone else has played with this and solved the problem let me know.

[xxlauvillx]

Wow! This is a great bundle of controls... Thanks JM!

[jmcilhinney]

Thanks JM, these do look useful.

Although, I can't seem to get the balloon tooltip working on a combobox, any ideas ?

Thanks
Bob

Which one are you using? For controls with editing capabilities, e.g. TextBox and ComboBox, you need to use the EditBalloonToolTip rather than the BalloonToolTip.

[mar_zim]

To those who are using those controls, Does it affect the performance especially the speed of the application or just the same in using built-in windows controls because I tried using third party controls and it really takes time to load a form especially when you use most of the controls.

[jmcilhinney]

To those who are using those controls, Does it affect the performance especially the speed of the application or just the same in using built-in windows controls because I tried using third party controls and it really takes time to load a form especially when you use most of the controls.

Try the sample project and see. There seems to be no appreciable lag in the cases I've tried. They are just derived from the standard .NET controls after all. The themed controls might take a bit more time to render, but I'm guessing that they will perform better than using Skybound VisualStyles with standard controls because the theming is built into the control itself. Also, some of the other owner-drawn controls would probably take longer to render, but no more so than if you did the same thing yourself to get similar effects.

[RobDog888]

As much as I think these are very nice controls I did find a drawback

Trial versions are available for all of our products. The software is fully functional for the 30 days, after which you must purchase to continue using it.

Its the first paragraph on the downloads page.
So does this mean it stops working or your just in violation of their licensing?

[mar_zim]

Yeah that is also my concern, I think they will sue you if you will not purchase their product.
Or they have imbeded a timer that after 30 days in installing the product it will throws an error asking "You cannot use this control better you purchase it and it's not for free dumb@ss"

Ok seriously I just wait after 30 days on what happend if I didn't purchase it.

[RobDog888]

No, just try changing your system date but dont blame me if it disables and your cant reenable it by setting the system data back to current.

The other thing I found was that it is only compatible currently for version 1.1 of the framework. So if your using 2005 ???

Sorry John, but I really do think they are great for most of the controls. So can you give me $400.00 ?

I also bet that you could duplicate some of the controls except for the more advanced ones since the basic ones inherit from the default .net controls.

Almost nothing in life is actually free.

[jmcilhinney]

Evereyone, including myself, seems to have this same reservation Rob, as they do seem too good to be free, but see my post #13 in this thread.

[dglienna]

He said he already set the date forward, and it didn't lock him out. They have disclaimers on all their other products stating that they are trial versions, but not on the last one. Isn't a product one that is for sale?

[jmcilhinney]

I should also point out that I have successfully added all the controls and components in that library to the Toolbox in VB Express 2005 and run an application with some of them on a form. You may have to have both versions 1.1 and 2.0 of the .NET Framework installed to do this. I'll have to check that later on a clean install without .NET 1.1 and see if the 2.0 app will still run.

[mar_zim]

The other thing I found was that it is only compatible currently for version 1.1 of the framework. So if your using 2005 ???

So it will not work in version 1.0? If that so then I can't use it since I'm still using the version 1.0.
The controls are exclusive for version 1.1 only.

Almost nothing in life is actually free.

Did you pay the air you breath?

[RobDog888]

Yes, I have read and seen all that dglienna but they state as shown that it is completely functional for 30 days which leads you to think that after the limit it will do one of a few things: become disabled, no change but just be in violation of license, or will force you to purchase or remove from your system. You can see more info on their faq page showing something to this effect.

http://www.quantumsoftware.com.au/Su...le.aspx?ID=165

[RobDog888]

So it will not work in version 1.0? If that so then I can't use it since I'm still using the version 1.0.
The controls are exclusive for version 1.1 only.


Did you pay the air you breath?

Almost is the key word there but I'm sure in some way we do pay for the air we breath by either the cost of the energy of processing the air into CO2 or by damaging our systems with breathing unpure air.

This leads me to believe that it is 1.1 version compatible only:

The Windows Forms component library provides a number of production quality, multi-platform compatible controls for use in .NET 1.1 Windows Forms projects. All components are written in C# and are fully compatible with the Visual Studio .NET 2003 designer.

Our advanced, designer-compatible controls rival those found in Visual Studio 2005, and allow you to take advantage of these visual features, today.

[jmcilhinney]

I have e-mailed the company regarding cost so we should have a definitive answer soon. Coincidentally, they are located just a couple of kilometres from me.

[dglienna]

I just opened a new project, and added the Quantum Line, and it doesn't even have an ABOUT property, like most paid controls that I've used have.

[RobDog888]

If they're that close then just walk down the street and give us the lo-down.

I bet that changing the system date is uneffected since they could just use a .NET web service to query a time server and get the real date. I did read that there is a nag screen that popups up until its purchased. So maybe they will just use the same logic that WinZip uses: nag and give the functionality until you breakdown and make the purchase. Does it popup when you run an app using one of the controls?

[jmcilhinney]

I have seen no specific indication that there is any cost at all involved, either on the web site, when downloading, when installing or when using.

[mar_zim]

Yeah mostly controls for trial has that kind of attitude popup a message about the company who made the controls then it will stop until you purchase it. Seems so annoying if you ask me.