Category News

Edit Word Documents with Enhanced Text Styling

July 1, 2024
IronWord for .NET 2024.6.1 broadens text formatting support with customizable shadows, reflections, gradients, 3D effects, and more.

IronWord for .NET by Iron Software is a C# library designed to enable developers to programmatically manage and manipulate Microsoft Word documents within .NET applications. This tool provides Word document processing functionality, such as creating, editing, and converting Word documents (DOC and DOCX) without the need for Microsoft Office dependencies or Interop. It offers a user-friendly API for working with document elements like text, paragraphs, tables, and images, and supports a range of document operations, including text formatting, image embedding, and complex document constructions.

The IronWord for .NET 2024.6.1 update offers a wider range of text styling options, including the ability to apply and modify 3D effects, gradients, reflections, glows, outlines, shadows, and underlines. The addition of these advanced styling options helps developers deliver richer, more engaging content experiences in document-centric applications, improving both the aesthetics and the functional appeal of generated documents.

To see a full list of what's new in 2024.6.1, see our release notes.

IronWord for .NET is licensed based on the number of developers, organization locations and projects, and is available as a Perpetual license with one free year of product updates and support services. See our IronWord for .NET licensing page for full details.

IronWord for .NET is available in the following products:

Streamline Installations with Effortless MSI Authoring

July 1, 2024
Installation tools with MSI support provide robust, standardized, and automated installation, configuration, and uninstallation of software.

MSI authoring within an installation tool allows software developers to create Microsoft Installer (.msi) files using a visual interface or code. They offer significant advantages for deploying software, particularly in corporate environments. MSI creates a standardized and reliable installation process, enabling features like remote deployment, rollback on failures, and easy uninstalls. This translates to reduced IT support costs, improved software consistency across machines, and simplified management of applications within your organization.

Several installation tools offer MSI authoring including:

  • Advanced Installer Professional by Caphyon facilitates building robust MSIs with a user-friendly interface.
  • InstallShield by Revenera empowers developers to craft complex installations with advanced features like digital signing.
  • RayPack Studio by Raynet streamlines MSI creation through a drag-and- drop interface, ideal for straightforward installations.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our comparison of Installation Tools.

Compare Installation Tools

Create Detailed Documentation and Export to DOCX

June 28, 2024
Dr.Explain v6.8 adds the ability to export to the Microsoft Word DOCX format, providing greater flexibility for developers and users alike.

Dr.Explain by Indigo Byte Systems is a sophisticated software documentation tool designed to streamline the creation of detailed help files, user guides, online manuals, and technical documentation. It captures screenshots from a live software application or web site and allows you to directly embed explanations and instructions, reducing the time and effort required to produce high-quality, context-sensitive user guides. With robust features for editing and organizing content, Dr.Explain supports various output formats, including HTML, CHM, RTF, and PDF, ensuring compatibility with different platforms and user needs. This tool enhances productivity by streamlining the documentation process, enabling developers to produce professional and user-friendly documentation efficiently.

The Dr.Explain v6.8 update adds the ability to export to the DOCX file format, an Open XML formatted Microsoft Word document. This new functionality enables developers to seamlessly integrate their user guides and tutorials directly into their existing documentation sets, streamlining the delivery of comprehensive and up-to-date user information. It ensures that the documentation remains accessible and easily modifiable, catering to diverse documentation workflows and requirements while maintaining the professional quality of the content generated by Dr.Explain.

To see a full list of what's new in v6.8, see our release notes.

Dr.Explain is licensed per user-PC schema and is available as an annual license with Premium maintenance and free updates, or as a perpetual license with only Basic maintenance and minor updates. See our Dr.Explain licensing page for full details.

For more information, see our Dr.Explain product page.

Improve XML Document Development Efficiency

June 28, 2024
XML well-formedness checkers help to identify and rectify syntax errors during editing or loading, saving time and reducing frustration.

An XML well-formedness checker is a tool that verifies if an XML document adheres to the basic structural rules of XML. This includes elements having properly closed tags, following a nesting hierarchy, and containing valid characters. A well-formed document ensures it can be processed by any XML parser, but doesn't necessarily guarantee that it meets specific data requirements.

Several structured document tools offer an XML-well formedness checker including:

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our structured document tools comparison.

Compare Structured Document Tools

Ensure Grid Layout Consistency via State Persistence

June 28, 2024
Augment your .NET application with a datagrid that can restore a user's customized viewing state, saving time and providing UI consistency.

In .NET development, a grid control with state persistence empowers applications with datagrid functionality while enabling users to personalize their experience. These components remember user-applied settings like sorting, filtering, and column resizing, automatically restoring them upon subsequent grid loads. This continuity eliminates the need for repeated configuration, boosting productivity and user satisfaction, especially in data-intensive applications where users frequently interact with complex datasets.

Several .NET grid components support state persistence, including:

  • DevExpress WinForms Data Grid (part of DevExpress WinForms) is a powerful grid component that facilitates saving and restoring grid layouts to maintain a customized view.
  • Wisej.NET DataGridView (part of Wisej.NET) includes a large set of complex and advanced features for building modern HTML5 apps with a state-persistent grid via .NET.
  • Xceed DataGrid for WPF by Xceed Software provides a customizable data grid that allows developers to persist a variety of user settings such as grouping and sorting.
  • Syncfusion ASP.NET Core DataGrid (part of Syncfusion Essential Studio Enterprise) includes a state management feature so it can retain the grid's configuration and data.

For an in-depth analysis of features and price, visit our comparison of .NET grid components.

Compare .NET Grid Components