Design-time configuration: smart tags and the Properties window

Smart tags are available only for .NET Framework

The WinForms HTML Editor's WinFormHtmlEditor Tasks smart-tag panel is available only for supported .NET Framework projects using Visual Studio's classic, in-process Windows Forms designer. It provides shortcuts to commonly used editor settings.

Windows Forms project target	This editor's smart-tag panel
Supported .NET Framework 4.x, such as 4.7.2 or 4.8, with the classic designer	Available
Modern .NET 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10	Unavailable; configure the editor through the Properties window or code

The target of the project containing the control determines this behavior. A solution can contain projects targeting different frameworks. This restriction concerns this control's custom Tasks panel; modern .NET's designer can support smart tags implemented for its out-of-process architecture.

Open the smart-tag panel

In a .NET Framework project's Windows Forms designer, select WinFormHtmlEditor and click the small arrow at its upper-right corner. The screenshot marks this arrow in red.

The Tasks panel groups shortcuts under Appearance, Behavior, Value and Help. It also opens automatically when the control is first dropped onto the form.

WinForms HTML Editor in the classic .NET Framework designer with its Tasks panel open; the red arrow marks the smart-tag button.

Settings and their corresponding properties

Smart-tag setting	Public property
Dock or undock in the parent container	`Dock`
Toolbar icon size	`Options.ToolbarIconSize`
Language	`Language`
Editor mode	`EditorMode`
Default HTML type	`Options.DefaultHtmlType`
Enter key response	`Options.EnterKeyResponse`
Inline spell checking on keystrokes	`SpellCheckOptions.FireInlineSpellCheckingOnKeyStroke`
Zero-border table guidelines	`Options.ShowZeroBorderGuideline`
Table cell merging	`Options.EnableTableCellMerge`
Body style	`BodyStyle`
Base URL	`BaseUrl`
Character set	`Charset`

The Help group opens the online documentation, support page, version-update page and About dialog. These are commands, rather than editable properties.

Configure the editor on modern .NET

Select the editor and use Visual Studio's Properties window for ordinary property values. Expand Options and SpellCheckOptions to find their nested settings. You can also configure the editor through its public API.

The custom Tasks panel and its design-time dialogs are not provided for modern .NET. This does not change the editor's runtime editing features.

For example, add these imports at the top of your form's code file, then place the assignments after InitializeComponent() in its constructor. Use your editor instance's name in place of htmlEditor1.

C#VB.NET

using SpiceLogic.HtmlEditor.Abstractions;
using SpiceLogic.HtmlEditor.Resources.Localization;

// In the form constructor, after InitializeComponent():
htmlEditor1.Language = EditorLanguage.German;
htmlEditor1.Options.EnterKeyResponse = EnterKeyResponses.LineBreak;

Imports SpiceLogic.HtmlEditor.Abstractions
Imports SpiceLogic.HtmlEditor.Resources.Localization

' In the form constructor, after InitializeComponent():
htmlEditor1.Language = EditorLanguage.German
htmlEditor1.Options.EnterKeyResponse = EnterKeyResponses.LineBreak

Quick answers

Question	Answer
Why is the smart-tag panel missing in my .NET 8 project?	This control's custom panel is available only in the classic .NET Framework designer. Use the Properties window or configure the editor in code.
Does this affect runtime editing features?	No. The restriction applies to the custom design-time panel.
Can I add toolbar buttons in the smart-tag panel?	Add custom buttons in code. See Add a custom button to the built-in toolbar.

Ask your AI to do this

With the SpiceLogic MCP server connected, give your coding assistant this prompt:

My Windows Forms project already references the SpiceLogic HTML Editor. Check its target framework and explain whether this control's .NET Framework smart-tag panel is available. Configure the existing editor after InitializeComponent() with Language set to German and Options.EnterKeyResponse set to LineBreak. Use the SpiceLogic MCP tools to verify the API names, include the required namespace imports, and use my project's programming language. Explain how to find these ordinary settings in the Properties window.