Automatic layout and sorting samples in Better ListView.
Better ListView offers a replacement for the .NET ListView control with more features and improved behavior.
Better ListView has significantly more features and improved behavior. It is lightweight and always uses the system theme (including Aero support). It does not inherit from the regular list view control and is therefore very flexible. Better ListView has no dependencies and is easy to deploy (a single 80kB DLL when compressed). Better ListView is optimized for speed (100.000+ items) and includes drag & drop support, sorting, image support, checkboxes and more.
Features
Fast, light-weight, pure managed code
- Written from scratch in pure managed C# code - does not inherit from regular ListView
- No dependencies
- Easy deployment - single DLL binary that has just 80 kB when compressed in a ZIP archive
- 100% compatible with .NET 2.0 or higher
- Lightning fast. Optimized for 100.000+ items
No bugs and issues related to regular .NET ListView control
- Since the whole control has been written from scratch and it does not inherit from the regular Microsoft .NET ListView component, the original ListView bugs are not present.
- Furthermore, Component Owl have fixed all issues and some limitations related to the regular .NET ListView control, especially incorrect behavior and non-standard implementation of many features (selections, drag & drop, checkboxes, etc).
- Surprisingly, .NET ListView does not support complex data binding. This forces developers to write additional code for populating and updating the control. Better ListView, however, has the ability just like the DataGrid control - one can simply bound any IList, DataSet, DataTable and several other types directly to Better ListView and leave all the management on .NET internals.
Better drag & drop support:
- Insertion mark for inner reordering of items helps users preview the action
- Auto-scroll while reordering items added
Better column headers:
- Columns can be shown in all layouts (not just Details)
- Column headers have their own context menu
- Auto-scroll when reordering column headers added
Better sorting:
- Inbuilt sorting (zero code needed)
- Multi-column sort supported (use Shift+Click to add additional columns to sort)
- Ability to create custom comparer
Images support:
- Each sub-item can have its own image
- Use both ImageList control or individual images
- Supports images of all sizes
- Can automatically resize images nicely if needed (no pixelated horrors)
- Column header images are supported
Better checkboxes:
- Checkboxes can be used in all layouts (not just Details)
- Fixed behavior. Checkboxes behave as expected - this makes Better ListView user friendly, compared to regular ListView.
- Three-state checkboxes supported
Looks and feels great
- Better ListView always fully utilizes the current Windows theme
- Double-buffered and flicker-free
Fixed bugs and wrong behavior of regular .NET ListView
- The regular ListView has various obscure bugs (like events firing twice) and non-standard implementation of behavior in many cases.
- Component Owl have fixed all the bugs, and made it to always behave as expected.
User friendly:
- Leverage the user knowledge of Windows Explorer ListView. The ListView in Windows Explorer is a great model, because every Windows user already knows how it works and how to use it. Unfortunately, the regular .NET ListView deviates from this behavior, and is thus not user friendly. Better ListView replicates the correct standard behavior of Windows Explorer ListView whenever possible. Better ListView always works as expected.
Developer friendly:
- Better ListView can be used just like the common ListView. All the method names and property names are the same whenever possible. If you know how to use the common ListView, Better ListView will require nearly no learning on your side. Better ListView is a true pragmatic choice -- skip the learning time, and focus on development.
Powerful, flexible, customizable:
- Advanced features like super powerful HitTest and ability to have owner-drawn item are supported. You might be surprised by all the things that are possible to do with Better ListView.
Guaranteed supported and continued development
- Better ListView is developed as a joint-venture of two software companies that use it in their flagship products (Swift To-Do List and ImagingShop), used by thousands of users daily. This is your guarantee that it will be supported and developed in the future.
Tested in real world applications by thousands of users
- Because Better ListView is used in professional consumer software applications - Swift To-Do List and ImagingShop, thousands of users work with it every day. Although Component Owl use unit tests that cover all code, and do thorough inhouse testing, this is your true bullet-proof guarantee that it is tested thoroughly in the real world.
Other nice-to-have and might-come-handy features:
- Customizable searching by typing
- Ability to set custom size for items in all layouts
- Any element of the control can be customized with properties and owner-drawing
About Component Owl
Component Owl was founded in 2010 as a part of the Dextronet.com network. The company's goal is to provide light-weight, flexible and reliable components and controls for Microsoft .NET that are both user friendly and developer friendly. The important thing about Component Owl controls is that they always use system themes, look, and behavior. Its first product is Better ListView, which aims to be the number one replacement for the regular .NET ListView included with Visual Studio.