How To Use \n In a TextBox

Question

I'm developing a program that I'm using a string(generatedCode) that contains some \n to enter a new-line at the textBox that I'm using it(textBox1.Text = generatedCode), but when I'm running the program, instead of breaking that line I'm seeing a square.

Remember that I've set the Multiline value of the textBox to True.

Answer 1

Replace \n with \r\n - that's how Windows controls represent newlines (but see note at bottom):

textBox1.Text = generatedCode.Replace("\n", "\r\n");

or

textBox1.Text = generatedCode.Replace("\n", Environment.NewLine);

Note: As discussed in comments, you may want to use Environment.NewLine. It's unclear though - it's not well-defined what line separator Windows Forms controls should use when they're not running on Windows. Should they use the platform default, or the Windows one (as it's a port of a Windows GUI control)? One of the examples in MSDN does use Environment.NewLine, but I've seen horribly wrong examples in MSDN before now, and the documentation just doesn't state which is should be.

In an ideal world, we'd just have one line separator - and even in a second best world, every situation would clearly define which line separator it was expecting...

Answer 2

since using \n is easier on the eyes (especailly when formatting), and also sometimes you don't control how the source string is constructed - I find best practice is to use:
TextBox1.Text = str.Replace("\r\n", "\n").Replace("\n", Environment.NewLine);