Windows XP look

[vm360]

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?

[Motoxpro]

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

[eiSecure]

You could always use ActiveSkin with an XP skin.

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

[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>

[Bloodeye]

vm360 -

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

[vm360]

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

[Bloodeye]

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

[vm360]

Exactly. And it works with any program.

[Bloodeye]

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

[FRAIL_KNIGHT]

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

www.planetsourcecode.com

Search XP under VB Code

FRAIL_KNIGHT

[Kzin]

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

[Motoxpro]

ya that sound cool i would like to c that 2

[stickman373]

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

...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*"

[vm360]

take a look...

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

[rudvs2]

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

for some nicely done xp controls and demo

[Bloodeye]

vm360 -

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

[vm360]

I saw it in another forum, why?

[Bloodeye]

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.

[vm360]

yeah, me too, but I just found the file

[Bloodeye]

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

[vm360]

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

[DiGiTaIErRoR]

There's an article at allapi about this.

[Bloodeye]

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

[abdul]

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

[abdul]

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

[rmoghal]

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

Please advise

Thanks

[abdul]

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.

[filburt1]

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.

[MrGTI]

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

[bookmarks this thread for future referance]

[Motoxpro]

wow very nice

[Motoxpro]

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

[abdul]

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

[eiSecure]

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?

[Bloodeye]

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...

[DaoK]

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

[rudvs2]

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

[abdul]

Do you see any difference?

the XP style:


the old style:

[eiSecure]

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

[abdul]

Originally posted by eiSecure


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

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

[DaoK]

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