Windows XP look

Well, I have Windows XP, and the look of my VB applications suck. How can I give them the same appearance as Windows XP programs? Is it possible?

nope....ur talking about making then rounded? nope....you have to just make a image insted of a button

You could always use ActiveSkin with an XP skin.:D

...unfortunately, it costs money. *cough*
*cough* Mor *cough* pheus *cough* search *cough* download.com *cough*

Hey! This is amazing!!!!

Try it...

Let's imagine your program is called "test.exe", then make a file called "test.exe.manifest" in the same folder containing the following:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
<assemblyIdentity
version="1.0.0.0"
processorArchitecture="X86"
name="My program"
type="win32"
/>
<description>My program is very cool</description>
<dependency>
<dependentAssembly>
<assemblyIdentity
type="win32"
name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
version="6.0.0.0"
processorArchitecture="X86"
publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
language="*"
/>
</dependentAssembly>
</dependency>
</assembly>

vm360 -

Do I need WinXP installed?
What is this "manifest" thingy?

Yes, you need Windows XP, you won't notice any changes under Win9x, NT or 2000.

I don't know what is this manifest stuff... I just found it somewhere and discovered that it works :)

Hmmmm......Thanks for the explanation. :D
What works?
Does it change the appearance of your program to an XP look?

Exactly. And it works with any program.

Cool...:cool:
One last thing, where did you find this info?

I belive there was some XP look alike code for Visual Basic at :

www.planetsourcecode.com

Search XP under VB Code

FRAIL_KNIGHT:D

Can you give us a screenshot of the effect of this manifest thing so that we can see the effects Thanks:)

ya that sound cool i would like to c that 2

Quote:

---

Originally posted by eiSecure
You could always use ActiveSkin with an XP skin.:D

...unfortunately, it costs money. *cough*
*cough* Mor *cough* pheus *cough* search *cough* download.com *cough*

---

hmm i see it at download.com i think,but not at "*cough* Mor *cough* pheus *cough* search *cough*"

:D :( :(

take a look...

test1.gif is without the .manifest file, and
test2.gif is that file's effect :-)

go here http://www.planetsourcecode.com/xq/A...s/ShowCode.htm

for some nicely done xp controls and demo :)

vm360 -

Where did you find out this info on the manifest file?

I saw it in another forum, why?

Because I would like to understand it more. Maybe there are setting's within the file that I can change and tweak for my program. Basically, I would like to have a better understanding so I know how to use it with my programs.

yeah, me too, but I just found the file

Here's a few links that I have found. I wish I had a better understanding of the "manifest" file. In time....I guess. :D
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de.../xptheming.asp
http://www.macadamian.com/column/

Thanks. If you find something else (especially about VB6 and this manifest stuff), please let me know.

There's an article at allapi about this.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by DiGiTaIErRoR
There's an article at allapi about this.

---

Thanks for the tip...;)
Here's the link if anyone is interested:
http://www.allapi.net/vbtutor/xpthemes.php

Quote:

---

Originally posted by vm360
Hey! This is amazing!!!!

Try it...

Let's imagine your program is called "test.exe", then make a file called "test.exe.manifest" in the same folder containing the following:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
<assemblyIdentity
version="1.0.0.0"
processorArchitecture="X86"
name="My program"
type="win32"
/>
<description>My program is very cool</description>
<dependency>
<dependentAssembly>
<assemblyIdentity
type="win32"
name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
version="6.0.0.0"
processorArchitecture="X86"
publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
language="*"
/>
</dependentAssembly>
</dependency>
</assembly>

---

I tried it and it just does not do anything when I doubleclick on the exe file. The exe file runs fine when I delete this XML file:confused:

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Bloodeye

Thanks for the tip...;)
Here's the link if anyone is interested:
http://www.allapi.net/vbtutor/xpthemes.php

---

Thanks for this link. It's working fine now:)
That is really an amazing tip;)

I have tried this but it's not working :(
I have VB Enterprise 6.0 and Windows ME.

Please advise

Thanks

Quote:

---

Originally posted by rmoghal
I have tried this but it's not working :(
I have VB Enterprise 6.0 and Windows ME.

Please advise

Thanks

---

It will only work on Windows XP.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by vm360
take a look...

test1.gif is without the .manifest file, and
test2.gif is that file's effect :-)

---

That's pretty freakin' cool. :)

Very interesting, .........

[bookmarks this thread for future referance]

wow very nice

do you think this would work if some1 had win98 and they had the dll?

I am not sure but there might be some additional APIs that Windows XP uses in this verion of Common Controls.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Motoxpro
do you think this would work if some1 had win98 and they had the dll?

---

Good question. Did you check the MS Knowledge Base or MSDN Library?

From AllApi.net:
"This manifest tells Windows XP to use the new version of COMCTL32.DLL"
Give it a try, see if it works in Win98. Try installing this newer version (version 6) of COMCTL32.DLL.
Report back here (if you can) if it worked or not...:D

I went to : http://www.allapi.net/vbtutor/xpthemes.php and I do not see any difference in the screenshot ??? What that do ?

hey guys for some cool XP themes in a very easy to use method check out my post http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.p...hreadid=119350

Do you see any difference?

the XP style:
http://www.student.kuleuven.ac.be/~m.../xpthemes3.jpg

the old style:

http://www.vbforums.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=647095

:eek:

What happened to the progress bar?!!?!??!

:eek:

Quote:

---

Originally posted by eiSecure
:eek:

What happened to the progress bar?!!?!??!

:eek:

---

Windows XP ate that;)
It does not need any progressbar 'cause Windows XP never finishes a task(another new feature from Micro$oft):D

wow it's cool i need to test it!!!