# Getting Started with WinForms Menu

This tutorial will help you to quickly get started using the control.

## Adding Telerik Assemblies Using NuGet

To use `RadMenu` when working with NuGet packages, install the `Telerik.UI.for.WinForms.AllControls` package. The [package target framework version may vary](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/visual-studio-integration/available-nugets).

Read more about NuGet installation in the [Install using NuGet Packages](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/installation-and-upgrades/install-using-nuget) article.

> tip With the 2025 Q1 release, the Telerik UI for WinForms has a new licensing mechanism. You can learn more about it [here](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/licensing/license-key).

## Adding Assembly References Manually

When dragging and dropping a control from the Visual Studio (VS) Toolbox onto the Form Designer, VS automatically adds the necessary assemblies. However, if you're adding the control programmatically, you'll need to manually reference the following assemblies:

* **Telerik.Licensing.Runtime**
* **Telerik.WinControls**
* **Telerik.WinControls.UI**
* **TelerikCommon**

The Telerik UI for WinForms assemblies can be installed by using one of the available [installation approaches](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/installation-and-upgrades/installing-on-your-computer).

## Defining the RadMenu

The following tutorial demonstrates creating a **RadMenu** with standard **RadMenuItems** with shortcuts and **RadMenuComboItems**.

1\. Drag a **RadMenu** control from the toolbox and drop it onto the form.

2\. Click in the area labeled **Type Here** and type *File*.

3\. Press `Enter`.

![WinForms RadMenu Design Time Structure](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/a8c0fc43604c6e96844166315ba075ce/menus-menu-getting-started001.png)

4\. Click in the area labeled **Type Here** and type *Help*.

5\. Press `Enter`.

6\. Select the **File** menu item.

7\. In the **Properties** window, click in the **Items** property.

8\. Click the ellipsis button.

9\. In the **RadItem Collection Editor**, click the drop-down arrow on the **Add** button. Select the **RadMenuItem**.

![WinForms RadMenu Items Collection Editor](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/31205e7059ef888d7c051f43d4b2eae5/menus-menu-getting-started005.png)

10\. Set the **Text** property of the new **RadMenuItem** to *New*.

![WinForms RadMenu Item Text Property](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/75de3641fbafa309c561657e6a27fb11/menus-menu-getting-started002.png)

11\. Add two more **RadMenuItems**. Set their **Text** properties to *Open* and *Save*.

12\. Click **OK**.

13\. Select the **Help** menu item.

14\. In the **Properties** window, click in the **Items** property.

15\. Click the ellipsis button.

16\. In the **RadItem Collection Editor**, click the drop-down arrow on the **Add** button. Select the **RadMenuComboItem**.

17\. Clear the **Text** property of the new **RadMenuComboItem**.

18\. Expand the **ComboBoxElement** property of the **RadMenuComboItem**.

19\. Click in the **Items** property of the **ComboBoxElement**.

20\. Click the ellipsis button.

21\. In the **RadListDataItem Collection Editor**, click the **Add** button.

22\. Set the **Text** property of the new **RadListDataItem** to *Forums*.

23\. Add two more **RadListDataItems**. Set their **Text** properties to *Support* and *Knowledge Base*.

![WinForms RadMenu MenuComboItem Collection Editor](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/90880ca28451aadad16fecbc5646d254/menus-menu-getting-started003.png)

24\. Click **OK** to close the **RadListDataItem Collection Editor**.

25\. Click **OK** to close the **RadItem Collection Editor**.

26\. In order to assign a shortcut to a **RadMenuItem**, go to the Code View of the form and set the Ctrl+N shortcut to the **New** menu item.

#### Assigning shortcuts

```C#
radMenuItem3.Shortcuts.Add(new Telerik.WinControls.RadShortcut(Keys.Control, Keys.N));
```

```VB.NET
RadMenuItem3.Shortcuts.Add(New Telerik.WinControls.RadShortcut(Keys.Control, Keys.N))
```

27\. Go to the Design View of the form and select the **New** menu item.

28\. In the **Properties** window, click the events toolbar button.

29\. Double-click the **Click** event.

30\. Replace the automatically-generated event handler with this code:

```C#
private void radMenuItem3_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    MessageBox.Show("New File");
}
```

```VB.NET
Private Sub RadMenuItem3_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles RadMenuItem3.Click
    MessageBox.Show("New File")
End Sub
```

31\. Return to the Design View of the form.

32\. Press **F5** to run the project. Notice the menu styling, the use of Ctrl+N to trigger the message box, and the combo box in the Help menu.

![WinForms RadMenu Getting Started Sample](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/32ec952d580bf1bd08e6bf8fbf3cd367/menus-menu-getting-started004.png)

## See Also

* [Structure](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/menus/menu/structure)
* [Menu Designer](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/menus/menu/design-time/menu-designer)

## Telerik UI for WinForms Learning Resources

* [Telerik UI for WinForms Menu Component](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/menus.aspx)
* [Getting Started with Telerik UI for WinForms Components](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/getting-started/first-steps)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Setup](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/installation-and-upgrades/installing-on-your-computer)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Converter](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/ai-coding-assistant/converter/converter)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Visual Studio Templates](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/visual-studio-integration/visual-studio-templates)
* [Deploy Telerik UI for WinForms Applications](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/deployment-and-distribution/application-deployment)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms Virtual Classroom(Training Courses for Registered Users)](https://learn.telerik.com/learn/course/external/view/elearning/17/telerik-ui-for-winforms)
* [Telerik UI for WinForms License Agreement)](https://www.telerik.com/purchase/license-agreement/winforms-dlw-s)