Render Mode to customize appearance of ContextMenuStrip

4 Feb 20252 minutes to read

Render mode is used to customize the appearance of the ContextMenu either through predefined or custom standards. It also refers to what kind of visual style the ToolStripItems needs to use. The RenderMode property is used to provides different painting styles like:

  • Professional
  • System
  • ManagerRenderMode
  • Custom

Professional

The below code snippet is used to apply “Professional” style renderer.

this.contextMenuStripEx1.RenderMode = System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripRenderMode.Professional;
Me.contextMenuStripEx1.RenderMode = System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripRenderMode.Professional

Professional

System

The below code snippet is used to apply “System” style renderer.

this.contextMenuStripEx1.RenderMode = System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripRenderMode.System;
Me.contextMenuStripEx1.RenderMode = System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripRenderMode.System

System

ManagerRenderMode

The below code snippet is used to apply “ManagerRenderMode” style renderer.

this.contextMenuStripEx1.RenderMode = System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripRenderMode.ManagerRenderMode;
Me.contextMenuStripEx1.RenderMode = System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripRenderMode.ManagerRenderMode

ManagerRenderMode

Custom

The RenderMode property cannot be directly set to Custom enumeration. To use a custom ToolStripRenderer, set the Renderer property directly instead. Here we have set the Renderer property to Office12ToolStripRenderer or Office2016ToolStripRenderer class object, which is used to change the appearance of the ContextMenuStripEx control.

In the form load event, add one of the below code to change the appearance.

//Sets Office Black Color
this.contextMenuStripEx1.Renderer = new Office12ToolStripRenderer(new OfficeBlack ());

//Sets Office Blue Color
this.contextMenuStripEx1.Renderer = new Office12ToolStripRenderer(new OfficeBlue ());

//Sets Office Silver Color
this.contextMenuStripEx1.Renderer = new Office12ToolStripRenderer(new Office12ColorTable());
'Sets Office Black Color
Me.contextMenuStripEx1.Renderer = New Office12ToolStripRenderer(New OfficeBlack) 

'Sets Office Blue Color
Me.contextMenuStripEx1.Renderer = New Office12ToolStripRenderer(New OfficeBlue)

'Sets Office Silver Color
Me.contextMenuStripEx1.Renderer = New Office12ToolStripRenderer(New Office12ColorTable())

Custom

Custom

Custom

See also

How to add an icon in a header of WinForms ContextMenuStripEx using CustomRenderer class