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# Better ListView Express edition: Free .NET listview control

The free Express edition has less features than the full version, but still kills the regular .NET WinForms (C#, VB.net) listview control.

- Overview
- Comparison With Regular ListView and Full Version

- The Express edition of Better ListView has less features than the full version
- Still, the Express edition is much better than the regular ListView included with Visual Studio
- 100% free
- Designed as a replacement for the regular .NET list view control.
- Compatible with: Visual Studio 2015, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2008, 2005 (and newer), with full designer support.
- For C#, Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET), managed C++, and other CLI languages.
- Compatible with .NET 4.5, .NET 4, .NET 3.5, .NET 3, .NET 2, and newer. Supports .NET Client Profile.
- Runs on Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, 2003, XP, 2000, and newer, both 32-bit and 64-bit.
- Uses current Windows theme (including Vista/Windows 7 look)
- Written in pure managed C# code. It is fast, light-weight and optimized.
- Easy XCOPY deployment, single DLL file with small size when compressed.
- The assembly is FIPS-compliant, CLS-compliant, digitally signed and strongly named.
- Tested in the real world by thousands of users

## Why use Better ListView Express?

There is every reason to go for Better ListView Express, unless you need even more features available in the full version. It looks better than the regular list view, has more features, less limitations, no known bugs, is free, and you can start using it immediately. Just look at the comparison chart!

Your projects will look better and more professional. You will look better and more professional. You will have more options. You will have more features. You will have less limitations. AND IT'S FREE!

There is very little to learn, it works the same way as the regular list view, just all classes, structures, enums etc. have a "Better" prefix.

But! Before downloading the Express edition, consider downloading the full version instead. It comes with fully functional trial and has lots of additional extremely useful extra features and improvements.

## Feature highlights

> It's an odd thing when you're inspired by a form component, but Component Owl with their Better ListView has done it. Love its native feel.

Daniel N, USA

### Improved Groups

Groups in Better ListView Express are much more powerful, flexible and easier to use than in the regular listview. Groups are also focusable and support images.

### Images in column headers, sub-items, groups

You can use images in column headers, sub-items, items, groups. Custom image sizes are supported. Regular listview for .NET included with Visual Studio supports only one image per item, and doesn't support sub-item images. Better ListView removes these limitations and has excellent image support.

### Background image support

Display background image in Better ListView easily using the BackgroundImage property. Many layouts (stretch, tile, none), alignments (top, bottom, left, right, center and combinations) are supported, as well as customizable opacity.

### Checkboxes in all views

You can have checkboxes in LargeIcons view, SmallIcons view, List view, Thumbnails view and of course also in the Details view.

### Uses current Windows theme

Instead of implementing custom, un-native look and feel, Better ListView Express always automatically fully uses the current system theme. It supports Aero as well. Better ListView Express always looks great and feels right to the user. More about Better ListView native theme support.

### XML and Binary serialization

All Better ListView Express objects can be serialized to XML or binary form. This allows you to easily implement data persistence.

### Double-buffered and flicker free

Better ListView Express is smooth. Regular listview requires multiple anti-flicker techniques, but you do not have to worry about that with Better ListView Express. Better ListView Express is optimized for 100k+ items.

### Owner drawing

Better ListView Express allows you to draw over the client area, items and column headers. Contrary to .NET ListView, owner drawing is fully operational even when the system uses Aero theme. You can draw separately to background and foreground parts of Better ListView Express without worrying about proper drawing order. Owner drawing events provide rich data, including exact item state and areas of every item part.

### Label-edit for sub-items

Take advantage of the inbuilt label editing support, which includes not just textbox edit, but also combobox edit and date picker edit.

### Embedded controls for custom label edit

Not only you can use the inbuilt label-editing controls, you can also create your own controls to edit items and sub-items.

### Advanced hit-test with detailed information

The hit test in Better ListView returns very detailed information. It tells you not only the location (Client Area, Sub-Item, Sub-Item Text, Sub-Item Image, Checkbox, Column Header Image, and many more), but it also tells you the state of the item, and part of the item (left or right).

### Inbuilt sorting

You do not need to code your own item comparers any more! Better ListView has inbuilt list view sorting that works out of the box. If custom comparer is needed, you can inherit from the Better ListView comparer to save development time. The full version also supports multi-column sorting and other advanced features.

### Automatic layout

Better ListView Express can automatically size items and images using intelligent algorithms. Whatever you put into Better ListView Express, the presentation will always look great.

## What users and press say about Better ListView

> In addition to creating a new List View control to incorporate broader flexibility and functionality, Better ListView could also be called Fixed ListView, as it corrects a number of annoying problems with the standard List View that Microsoft delivers to Visual Studio customers.

DevProConnections.com Review

> Better ListView is a must for a toolbox of any serious .NET developer.

Ondrej Z, Czech Republic
Free Download

Version 3.15 / May 27, 2015

Seamless integration with .NET 2.0 and higher

See Quick Start Guide

See Documentation

See Class Reference

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### Latest From Our Blog

#### Activation issues and how to solve them

Wednesday, 01 March 2017

#### The Three Main Advantages Better ListView has Over the Classic .NET Framework

Thursday, 09 February 2017

#### BLV and Internet Explorer

Sunday, 13 November 2016

#### Centering Images in Better ListView Sub-items

Wednesday, 06 August 2014

#### Sub-item Check Boxes in Better ListView

Sunday, 06 July 2014
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27May

#### Better ListView Express 3.15 released!

Download latest release

27May

#### Better ListView 3.15 released!

Download latest release

27May

#### Better SplitButton 3.15 released!

Download latest release

27May

#### Better Thumbnail Browser 3.15 released!

Download latest release

08Apr

#### Better ListView Express 3.14.0 released!

See what's new or Download latest release

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