---
title: "How to: Create and Set a Custom Renderer for the ToolStrip Control"
ms.date: "03/30/2017"
dev_langs: 
  - "csharp"
  - "vb"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "ToolStrip control [Windows Forms], custom rendering"
  - "toolbars [Windows Forms], rendering"
  - "examples [Windows Forms], toolbars"
  - "ToolStrip control [Windows Forms], rendering"
ms.assetid: 88a804ba-679f-4ba3-938a-0dc396199c5b
---
# How to: Create and Set a Custom Renderer for the ToolStrip Control in Windows Forms
<xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip> controls give easy support to themes and styles. You can achieve completely custom appearance and behavior (look and feel) by setting either the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip.Renderer%2A?displayProperty=nameWithType> property or the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripManager.Renderer%2A?displayProperty=nameWithType> property to a custom renderer.  
  
 You can assign renderers to each individual <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip>, <xref:System.Windows.Forms.MenuStrip>, <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ContextMenuStrip>, or <xref:System.Windows.Forms.StatusStrip> control, or you can use the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripManager.Renderer%2A> property to affect all objects by setting the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip.RenderMode%2A?displayProperty=nameWithType> property to <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripRenderMode.ManagerRenderMode?displayProperty=nameWithType>.  
  
> [!NOTE]
> <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip.RenderMode%2A> returns <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripRenderMode.Custom> only if the value of <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip.Renderer%2A?displayProperty=nameWithType> is not `null`.  
  
### To create a custom renderer  
  
1. Extend the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripRenderer> class.  
  
2. Implement desired custom rendering by overriding appropriate *On…* members  
  
    ```vb  
    Public Class RedTextRenderer  
        Inherits System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripRenderer  
        Protected Overrides Sub OnRenderItemText(ByVal e As _  
            ToolStripItemTextRenderEventArgs)
            e.TextColor = Color.Red  
            e.TextFont = New Font("Helvetica", 7, FontStyle.Bold)  
            MyBase.OnRenderItemText(e)  
        End Sub  
    End Class  
    ```  
  
    ```csharp  
    public class RedTextRenderer : _  
        System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripRenderer  
    {  
        protected override void _  
            OnRenderItemText(ToolStripItemTextRenderEventArgs e)  
        {  
            e.TextColor = Color.Red;  
            e.TextFont = new Font("Helvetica", 7, FontStyle.Bold);  
           base.OnRenderItemText(e);  
        }  
    }  
    ```  
  
### To set the custom renderer to be the current renderer  
  
1. To set the custom renderer for one <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip>, set the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip.Renderer%2A?displayProperty=nameWithType> property to the custom renderer.  
  
    ```vb  
    toolStrip1.Renderer = New RedTextRenderer()  
    ```  
  
    ```csharp  
    toolStrip1.Renderer = new RedTextRenderer();  
    ```  
  
2. Or to set the custom renderer for all <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip> classes contained in your application: Set the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripManager.Renderer%2A?displayProperty=nameWithType> property to the custom renderer and set the <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip.RenderMode%2A> property to <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripRenderMode.ManagerRenderMode>.  
  
    ```vb  
    toolStrip1.RenderMode = ToolStripRenderMode.ManagerRenderMode  
    ToolStripManager.Renderer = New RedTextRenderer()  
    ```  
  
    ```csharp  
    toolStrip1.RenderMode = ToolStripRenderMode.ManagerRenderMode;  
    ToolStripManager.Renderer = new RedTextRenderer();  
    ```  
  
## See also

- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripManager.Renderer%2A>
- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripRenderer>
- <xref:System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip.RenderMode%2A>
- [ToolStrip Control Overview](toolstrip-control-overview-windows-forms.md)
- [ToolStrip Control Architecture](toolstrip-control-architecture.md)
- [ToolStrip Technology Summary](toolstrip-technology-summary.md)