By default, the Application menu is empty, and you can add as many or as few items to the menu to fit your needs. The following steps demonstrate how to customize the main application button's drop-down menu.

To Create the Start Menu Using the Collection Editor

Complete the following steps:

1. Click the Application button to reveal the list of Application menu properties in the Properties window.
2. From the Properties window, select the LeftPaneItems property and click the ellipsis button at the right side of the (Collection).
   The RibbonApplicationMenu LeftPaneItems Collection Editor appears.
3. Click the Add drop-down arrow and select RibbonButton. Repeat this step to add two more Ribbon buttons.
   You should now have three buttons added to the Members list:
   
4. Select the first button in the list to edit its properties using the collection editor's Properties window. Set the following properties for the first button:
   • By default, the RibbonButton.Text property is set to Button. Delete the text and set it to &New.
   • Click the RibbonItem.LargeImage property drop-down button, then click the second drop-down button and choose the New image from the list.
5. Select the second button in the list and set the following properties using the collection editor's Properties window:
   • By default, the RibbonButton.Text property is set to Button. Delete the text and set it to &Open.
   • Click the RibbonItem.LargeImage property drop-down button, then click the second drop-down button and choose the Open image from the list.
6. Select the third button in the list and set the following properties using the collection editor's Properties window:
   • By default, the RibbonButton.Text property is set to Button. Delete the text and set it to &Save.
   • Click the RibbonItem.LargeImage property drop-down button, then click the second drop-down button and choose the Save image from the list.
7. Click OK to close the collection editor.

To Create the Start Menu Programmatically

To create a Start menu of commands, add the following code to your project:

To write code in Visual Basic

' Include the Imports directive for the namespace
Imports C1.Win.C1Ribbon
 
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
    ' Create the items for the left pane
    Dim NewButton As RibbonButton = New RibbonButton()
    Dim OpenButton As RibbonButton = New RibbonButton()
    Dim SaveButton As RibbonButton = New RibbonButton()
 
    ' Add items to the left pane menu
    Me.C1Ribbon1.ApplicationMenu.LeftPane.Items.Add(NewButton)
    Me.C1Ribbon1.ApplicationMenu.LeftPane.Items.Add(OpenButton)
    Me.C1Ribbon1.ApplicationMenu.LeftPane.Items.Add(SaveButton)
 
    ' Set properties for the left pane items
    NewButton.Text = "&New"
    NewButton.LargeImage = My.Resources.Resources.NewBtn
    OpenButton.Text = "&Open"
    OpenButton.LargeImage = My.Resources.Resources.OpenBtn
    SaveButton.Text = "&Save"
    SaveButton.LargeImage = My.Resources.Resources.SaveBtn
End Sub

To write code in C#

// Include the using directive for the namespace
using C1.Win.C1Ribbon;
 
private void Form1_Load(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
    // Create the items for the left pane
    RibbonButton NewButton = new RibbonButton();
    RibbonButton OpenButton = new RibbonButton();
    RibbonButton SaveButton = new RibbonButton();
 
    // Add items to the left pane menu
    this.c1Ribbon1.ApplicationMenu.LeftPane.Items.Add(NewButton);
    this.c1Ribbon1.ApplicationMenu.LeftPane.Items.Add(OpenButton);
    this.c1Ribbon1.ApplicationMenu.LeftPane.Items.Add(SaveButton);
 
    // Set properties for the left pane items
    NewButton.Text = "&New";
    NewButton.LargeImage = Properties.Resources.NewBtn;
    OpenButton.Text = "&Open";
    OpenButton.LargeImage = Properties.Resources.OpenBtn;
    SaveButton.Text = "&Save";
    SaveButton.LargeImage = Properties.Resources.SaveBtn;
}

This topic illustrates the following:

Run the application and click the main application button to reveal the drop-down menu of commands: