# Connecting Ribbon Tabs in XAML

> Connect TX Text Control ribbon tabs, rulers and the status bar to a WPF TextControl by x:Name in XAML, in a RibbonWindow with a DockPanel, with a full example.

- **Product:** TX Text Control .NET for WPF
- **Section:** Documentation
- **Kind:** Topic
- **Path:** TX Text Control .NET for WPF > Document Editor > Ribbon and UI > Connecting Ribbon Tabs in XAML
- **3721 words**
- **Web URL:** https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/document-editor/ribbon-ui/ribbon-xaml/
- **LLMs URL:** https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/document-editor/ribbon-ui/ribbon-xaml/llms.txt
- **LLMs-Full URL:** https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/document-editor/ribbon-ui/ribbon-xaml/llms-full.txt

---

In WPF, the ribbon tabs of TX Text Control are elements of the XAML, and the `TextControl` finds each of them by name. Unlike the Windows Forms controls, which reference each other as objects, the WPF `TextControl` stores a string for every tab, ruler, status bar and button bar it works with. Writing the connections correctly, and in a layout where every bar gets its place, is what makes the ribbon work.

The step-by-step tutorial [Create a WPF Ribbon Application](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/getting-started/document-editor/ribbon/llms-full.txt) builds a window with two tabs. Here, the XAML behind it is explained and extended to more tabs, contextual tabs and a sidebar.

### Connection by Name

Each connection is a string property of the [TextControl](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/llms-full.txt) that holds the `x:Name` of the element. An empty string, the default, means that nothing is connected:

| Property of `TextControl` | Name of a |
|---|---|
| [RibbonFormattingTab](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/ribbonformattingtab-property/llms-full.txt) | `RibbonFormattingTab` |
| [RibbonInsertTab](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/ribboninserttab-property/llms-full.txt) | `RibbonInsertTab` |
| [RibbonPageLayoutTab](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/ribbonpagelayouttab-property/llms-full.txt) | `RibbonPageLayoutTab` |
| [RibbonViewTab](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/ribbonviewtab-property/llms-full.txt) | `RibbonViewTab` |
| [RibbonReferencesTab](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/ribbonreferencestab-property/llms-full.txt) | `RibbonReferencesTab` |
| [RibbonProofingTab](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/ribbonproofingtab-property/llms-full.txt) | `RibbonProofingTab` |
| [RibbonPermissionsTab](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/ribbonpermissionstab-property/llms-full.txt) | `RibbonPermissionsTab` |
| [RibbonFormFieldsTab](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/ribbonformfieldstab-property/llms-full.txt) | `RibbonFormFieldsTab` |
| [RibbonReportingTab](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/ribbonreportingtab-property/llms-full.txt) | `RibbonReportingTab` |
| [RibbonTableLayoutTab](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/ribbontablelayouttab-property/llms-full.txt) | `RibbonTableLayoutTab` |
| [RibbonFormulaTab](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/ribbonformulatab-property/llms-full.txt) | `RibbonFormulaTab` |
| [RibbonFrameLayoutTab](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/ribbonframelayouttab-property/llms-full.txt) | `RibbonFrameLayoutTab` |
| [RulerBar](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/rulerbar-property/llms-full.txt), [VerticalRulerBar](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/verticalrulerbar-property/llms-full.txt) | `RulerBar`, horizontal and vertical |
| [StatusBar](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/statusbar-property/llms-full.txt) | `StatusBar` |
| [ButtonBar](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/buttonbar-property/llms-full.txt) | `ButtonBar`, usually not used together with a ribbon |

The same principle applies to the sidebar properties of the tabs, such as `FindSidebar` of the `RibbonFormattingTab`: they hold the name of a [Sidebar](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/sidebar/llms-full.txt). The sidebar in turn names its editor in its own [TextControl](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/sidebar/textcontrol-property/llms-full.txt) property.

In the designer, select the `TextControl` and type the names into these properties in the **Properties** window:

![The Visual Studio Properties window of a WPF TextControl named textControl, with RibbonFormattingTab set to ribbonFormattingTab, RibbonInsertTab to ribbonInsertTab, RulerBar to rulerBar and StatusBar to statusBar.](https://docs.textcontrol.com/assets/img/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/properties-ribbon-tab.5a03e308.webp)

### Prepare the Window

A ribbon application uses the WPF `Ribbon` and, for a Quick Access Toolbar and contextual tab headers in the title bar, a `RibbonWindow` instead of a `Window`, with a `DockPanel` instead of the `Grid`, so that each bar docks at one side of the editor. [Make the Window a RibbonWindow](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/getting-started/document-editor/ribbon/#make-the-window-a-ribbonwindow) in the tutorial Create a WPF Ribbon Application shows the two changes in *MainWindow.xaml* and *MainWindow.xaml.cs*.

In a .NET Framework project, the `Ribbon` also needs a reference to the assembly *System.Windows.Controls.Ribbon*. Dragging a `Ribbon` from the toolbox adds it; if the toolbox has no **Ribbon**, add it with **Tools > Choose Toolbox Items** in the **WPF Components** tab. In projects for .NET 8 or later, the assembly is part of WPF.

### The Complete XAML

The following *MainWindow.xaml* is a ribbon word processor with the Home, Insert, Page Layout, View and Proofing tabs, contextual Table Tools tabs, two rulers, a status bar and a sidebar at the right:

```xml
<RibbonWindow x:Class="SampleApp.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        xmlns:WPF="clr-namespace:TXTextControl.WPF;assembly=TXTextControl.WPF"
        Title="MainWindow" Height="600" Width="900">
    <DockPanel>
        <Ribbon x:Name="ribbon" DockPanel.Dock="Top">
            <WPF:RibbonFormattingTab x:Name="ribbonFormattingTab" Header="Home"
                                     FindSidebar="sidebarRight" StylesSidebar="sidebarRight"/>
            <WPF:RibbonInsertTab x:Name="ribbonInsertTab" Header="Insert"/>
            <WPF:RibbonPageLayoutTab x:Name="ribbonPageLayoutTab" Header="Page Layout"/>
            <WPF:RibbonViewTab x:Name="ribbonViewTab" Header="View"/>
            <WPF:RibbonProofingTab x:Name="ribbonProofingTab" Header="Proofing"
                                   CommentsSidebar="sidebarRight"/>
            <WPF:RibbonTableLayoutTab x:Name="ribbonTableLayoutTab" Header="Table Layout"
                                      ContextualTabGroupHeader="Table Tools"/>
            <WPF:RibbonFormulaTab x:Name="ribbonFormulaTab" Header="Formulas"
                                  ContextualTabGroupHeader="Table Tools"/>
            <Ribbon.ContextualTabGroups>
                <RibbonContextualTabGroup x:Name="tableToolsGroup" Header="Table Tools"
                                          Background="#6600FF00" Visibility="Collapsed"/>
            </Ribbon.ContextualTabGroups>
        </Ribbon>
        <WPF:StatusBar x:Name="statusBar" DockPanel.Dock="Bottom"/>
        <WPF:Sidebar x:Name="sidebarRight" DockPanel.Dock="Right" HorizontalAlignment="Right"
                     TextControl="textControl" IsShown="False"/>
        <WPF:RulerBar x:Name="rulerBar" DockPanel.Dock="Top"/>
        <WPF:RulerBar x:Name="verticalRulerBar" DockPanel.Dock="Left"
                      HorizontalAlignment="Left" VerticalAlignment="Stretch"/>
        <WPF:TextControl x:Name="textControl" DockPanel.Dock="Top"
                         RibbonFormattingTab="ribbonFormattingTab"
                         RibbonInsertTab="ribbonInsertTab"
                         RibbonPageLayoutTab="ribbonPageLayoutTab"
                         RibbonViewTab="ribbonViewTab"
                         RibbonProofingTab="ribbonProofingTab"
                         RibbonTableLayoutTab="ribbonTableLayoutTab"
                         RibbonFormulaTab="ribbonFormulaTab"
                         RulerBar="rulerBar" VerticalRulerBar="verticalRulerBar"
                         StatusBar="statusBar"
                         Loaded="TextControl_Loaded"
                         InputPositionChanged="TextControl_InputPositionChanged"/>
    </DockPanel>
</RibbonWindow>
```

And the code-behind, *MainWindow.xaml.cs*:

```csharp
using System;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls.Ribbon;

namespace SampleApp;

public partial class MainWindow : RibbonWindow
{
    public MainWindow()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
    }

    private void TextControl_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
    {
        // Give the editor the keyboard focus
        textControl.Focus();
    }

    private void TextControl_InputPositionChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        // Show Table Tools only while the input position is in a table
        tableToolsGroup.Visibility = textControl.Tables.GetItem() != null
            ? Visibility.Visible : Visibility.Collapsed;
    }
}
```

What the XAML does:

- **The order of the `DockPanel` children matters.** The ribbon, the status bar, the sidebar and the rulers are declared first, each docked at its side, and the `TextControl` is declared last, so that it takes the space that is left in the middle.
- **The vertical ruler** is a second `RulerBar` docked at the left, with `HorizontalAlignment="Left"` and `VerticalAlignment="Stretch"`.
- **Header** is the title of each tab. **ContextualTabGroupHeader** assigns the table tabs to the **Table Tools** group, which the handler of [InputPositionChanged](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/reference/txtextcontrol-wpf/textcontrol/inputpositionchanged-event/llms-full.txt) shows while the input position is in a table, as [Show Tabs Only in Context](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/document-editor/ribbon-ui/ribbon/#show-tabs-only-in-context) explains.
- **The sidebar** is hidden with `IsShown="False"` until the **Find**, **Styles** or **Comments** button opens it. `HorizontalAlignment="Right"` gives its panels the vertical layout; see [Sidebar and Panels](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/document-editor/ribbon-ui/sidebar/llms-full.txt).

The Proofing tab's spelling commands also need TX Spell .NET; see [Spell Checking and Hyphenation](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/document-editor/spell-checking/llms-full.txt).

### Connect in Code

The connection properties are ordinary string properties, so code can set them to another name or clear them with an empty string, for example to connect a status bar only for some users. [Change the Connections at Run Time](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/integration/controls-in-code/#change-the-connections-at-run-time) shows the code, and [Connections Are Names](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/integration/xaml/#connections-are-names) explains why the compiler doesn't check the names.

### Next Steps

- [Built-in Ribbon Tabs](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/document-editor/ribbon-ui/ribbon/llms-full.txt): what each tab contains, and how to change its items.
- [Custom Tabs and Commands](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/document-editor/ribbon-ui/custom-tabs/llms-full.txt): your own tabs, the application menu and the Quick Access Toolbar.
- [Sidebar and Panels](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/document-editor/ribbon-ui/sidebar/llms-full.txt): more sidebars, connected to the ribbon by name.
- [XAML and Data Binding Examples](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/examples/xaml-data-binding/llms-full.txt): more XAML with TX Text Control.

---

## Nearby

- **Previous:** [Built-In Ribbon Tabs](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/document-editor/ribbon-ui/ribbon/llms-full.txt)
- **Next:** [Custom Tabs and Commands](https://docs.textcontrol.com/tx-text-control-dotnet-wpf/document-editor/ribbon-ui/custom-tabs/llms-full.txt)