Windows Blinds

Ok I am sure Many of you folks have seen or heared of that program (Windows Blinds), I saw it today At a friends place I didnt get the address where he downloaded it ... but I was wondering ...

HOW does it WORK ??
(please spare us answers like :"I think they change something in the registry. " )

For those who dont know this program ... what it does is pretty cool , asside from causing you PC to freeze from time to time ... you can select from a range of templates
, one and apply it to your windows. So it all looks reallllllllly different the buttons become different everywhere in windows , the Task bar looks like in the template, EVERYTHING is different ... it is kind of cool (to put it the american way ) ...

It uses the skin method. It replaces the look of windows and has some very nice faces. However, as you said, it has a bad side. If the builder of the skin is a rookie and screws up your pc will freeze up. From what I have heard on the topic it also does not cover all programs..I had trouble with Front Page and a few others and I got tired of it so I don't use it anymore.

It is shareware and for that you must pay of find someone who will give you the crack for the program.

Good luck with it...I agree, it is more pleasant than windows look but given the bad built skins and the fact tthat it couldn't cover all the bases I don't use it anymore.

It is all verry well .... but What is the Skin Method ...???

And I stop to use this program cause it use alot of CPU and system ressources...
your windows is more long to load ...
So YES IT'S COOL but not very practice..

Boys and Girls .. I know I know ... Windows Blinds is not Very Practical nor Efficient , and it is bulky ... But I DONT CARE ... All I want to know is HOW? Can it be done?
Meaning ... HOW Can one Make a program like it ....?

- Thanks -

I think you have to do subclassing and check for WM_PAINT message, and then blit to the foreign window DC you get with getwindowdc, but generally i think it's a hard thing to do, you may also have to cut regions for the shaped borders they have in windows.

But there's something on planet sourcode i think, not sure, search on this topic and you'll find something