# WinForms RichTextEditor Overview **RadRichTextEditor** is a control that allows you to bring word-processing to your applications. It can display and edit rich-text content, including formatted text arranged in pages, paragraphs, spans (runs), tables, etc. If you are new to this control, see the [Getting Started](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/getting-started/getting-started) tutorial. > note **RadRichTextEditor** requires **.NET Framework 4.0** and cannot be used with an older version. ![WinForms RadRichTextEditor Overview](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/assets/5e6d95cf454592f58e112ab57996a216/richtexteditor001.png) ## Features The **RadRichTextEditor** provides an abundance of features that allow it to handle even highly complex documents: * **Rich Text Formatting** - Telerik **RadRichTextEditor** control allows you to edit text and apply rich formatting options, like: * Bold, Italic * Underline, Strike Through, Superscript and Subscript * Usage of all available system fonts * Text color and background * Bullet and numbered lists * Paragraph alignment and indentation * Show/Hide formatting symbols * Clear Formatting * **Inserting pictures/symbols/hyperlinks** - [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/document-elements/inline-image) * **Table support** – including nested tables, merging cells, setting different **RowSpan** and **ColumnSpan**, tables with auto width and more. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/document-elements/table) * **Section Columns** You can arrange the text into columns with equal or different width and set a separator between them. Find more information on how to use this feature in the [Section Columns](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/ui-for-applying-rich-text-formatting/section-columns) UI and [Section Columns API](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/section-columns) articles. * **Format Painter** The Format Painter feature enables you to copy the formatting of a particular content and paste it on other elements, so you can easily achieve the desired format. For more information about this functionality, check the [Format Painter](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/format-painter) topic. * **ContextMenu** - a standard one is provided out of the box, but it can be easily customized or substituted for a user-defined one. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/ui-for-applying-rich-text-formatting/context-menu) * **SelectionMiniToolbar** - very similar to the one in MS Word, but can also be replaced with another. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/ui-for-applying-rich-text-formatting/selection-mini-toolbar) * **SpellChecker** - extensible spell checking for different languages, using built-in or custom dictionaries. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/spellcheck) * **Printing** - **RadRichTextEditor** supports printing out of the box. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/printing) * **Multi-level Undo/Redo Support** - Telerik **RadRichTextEditor** provides desktop-like usability and control thanks to its multilevel Undo/Redo feature. It allows past actions to be reviewed and reversed, just like in Microsoft Word. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/history) * **Three types of layout** – Paged, Flow (as text in an HTML page viewed in a browser) and FlowNoWrap. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/getting-started/layout-modes) * **Multi-region selection** - the built-in multi-region support enables you to perform various operations for more than one selection simultaneously. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/selection) * **Rich-text clipboard** - allows rich text copy/paste from Word, OpenOffice etc. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/clipboard-support) * **Import/export** - with Telerik **RadRichTextEditor** control you can load XAML, HTML, RTF, DocX (rich-text) or TXT (plain text) into the control, you can format and edit it and then export it back to any of the above formats or PDF. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/import-export/overview) * **Headers and Footers** - **RadRichTextEditor** supports headers and footers in its document. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/headers-and-footers) * **Track changes** - adding and removing of text, images, hyperlinks, tables, etc. and formatting changes of these elements can be tracked by different users. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/track-changes) * **Bookmarks** - provide easy retrieval of previously marked parts of the document. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/bookmarks) * **Comments** - offer the ability to add text to the document which is not inserted directly in the page. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/comments) * **Document protection** - allows editing restrictions in the document for a set of users and groups. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/document-protection) * **Mail merge** - makes populating a template document with data easy. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/mail-merge/mail-merge) * **Custom annotations** - enables you to extend the document model in order to serve specific needs. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/document-elements/annotations/custom-annotations) * **Footnotes and Endnotes** - usually used to show the source of a material or add an explanation. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/references/footnotes-and-endnotes) * **Bibliographic references** - can be used for referencing a source in the form of text or pointing the source of a citation. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/references/bibliographic-references) * **Cross-references** - references to a Heading, Caption or Bookmark can now change along with their source. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/references/cross-reference) * **Captions for tables and figures** - images, tables, etc. can now be easily labeled. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/references/captions-for-tables-and-figures) * **Document variables** - a mechanism used for storing information in the document. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/fields-and-document-variables/document-variables) * **Code blocks** - provide the ability to add source code fragments in a document. [Read more](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/features/code-block) * **IME support** - **RadRichTextEditor** supports IME out the box. ## Telerik UI for WinForms Learning Resources * [Telerik UI for WinForms RichTextEditor Homepage](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/richtexteditor.aspx) * [Get Started with the Telerik UI for WinForms RichTextEditor](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/getting-started/getting-started) * [Telerik UI for WinForms API Reference](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/api/) * [Getting Started with Telerik UI for WinForms Components](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/getting-started/first-steps) * [Telerik UI for WinForms Virtual Classroom (Training Courses for Registered Users)](https://learn.telerik.com/learn/course/external/view/elearning/17/TelerikUIforWinForms) * [Telerik UI for WinForms Forum](https://www.telerik.com/forums/winforms) * [Telerik UI for WinForms Knowledge Base](https://docs.telerik.com/devtools/winforms/knowledge-base) ## Telerik UI for WinForms Additional Resources * [Telerik UI for WinForms Product Overview](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms.aspx) * [Telerik UI for WinForms Blog](https://www.telerik.com/blogs/desktop-winforms) * [Telerik UI for WinForms Videos](https://www.telerik.com/videos/product/winforms) * [Telerik UI for WinForms Roadmap](https://www.telerik.com/support/whats-new/winforms/roadmap) * [Telerik UI for WinForms Pricing](https://www.telerik.com/purchase/individual/winforms.aspx) * [Telerik UI for WinForms Code Library](https://www.telerik.com/support/code-library/winforms) * [Telerik UI for WinForms Support](https://www.telerik.com/support/winforms) * [What’s New in Telerik UI for WinForms](https://www.telerik.com/support/whats-new/winforms) ## See Also * [Getting Started](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/getting-started/getting-started) * [Events](https://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/documentation/controls/richtexteditor/events)