Windows XP Look

**dis1411** · Mar 6th, 2003, 11:39 PM

heres how to have the current xp theme apply to your prog

1) put this in the code for prog:

VB Code:

Private Declare Function InitCommonControls Lib "comctl32.dll" () As Long    'this file needs to be on the comp
 
Private Sub Form_Initialize()
    InitCommonControls
End Sub

2) make a txt file w/ this is it

<?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=" "
type="win32"
/>
<description></description>
<dependency>
<dependentAssembly>
<assemblyIdentity
type="win32"
name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
version="6.0.0.0"
processorArchitecture="X86"
publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
language="*"
/>
</dependentAssembly>
</dependency>
</assembly>

3) use Resource Hacker to open your compiled prog then click action, add new recource
4) add the text file then enter 24,1,1301 for the 3 values then click add
5) click file,save and youre done!!

PS this works w/ all progs, c++ too.. if u do it to vb6.exe your progs will have the xp look while youre making them!

**aafuss** · Mar 8th, 2003, 01:56 AM

You'll need XP to see if it has the xp look.

**alistair4267** · Mar 8th, 2003, 08:46 AM

hi

i just read what u posted about XP style, but it don't seem to work for me i follow the instruction to the letter but when i click on ADD NEW RESOURCE and add the TXT file i created, it still remains DISABLED (ADD RESOURCE) button.

thanx alistair

**dis1411** · Mar 8th, 2003, 01:34 PM

the button will be disabled until u enter the values for type, name and language (24, 1, 1031)

**da_haCKEr** · Mar 10th, 2003, 11:48 AM

Er..., I don't think you need Resource Hacker just to make ur program have the XP look. The text file should be saved as XXX.manifest. (Sorry about the XXX part, I can't remember what it should be. Maybe it's the name of the app :} . I'll look it up and tell you guys) in the program directory containing the exe.

**dis1411** · Mar 10th, 2003, 01:56 PM

i think most people's preference is to have just the prog instead of including the xtra file

**da_silvy** · Mar 11th, 2003, 01:03 AM

Well if they don't have xp, there's no point to this code is there ;o

No other OS's use manifest files, correct?

**dis1411** · Mar 11th, 2003, 01:15 AM

correct, the manifest is xml which is xp and up

**da_silvy** · Mar 11th, 2003, 01:44 AM

And up?

What's up from XP?

**DeMoNiCoN** · Mar 11th, 2003, 04:40 AM

firstly, longhorn is to use xml.

secondly, the file should be named PROGRAMNAME.exe.manifest if you are to do it using that method.

**dis1411** · Mar 11th, 2003, 01:53 PM

dun forget windows server 2003, due w/in a month

**Dumsum** · Mar 11th, 2003, 10:36 PM

How would you use the VB6 resource editor to include that file, and also make it use it, so u don't have to use resource hacker. Also when you put option buttons in a frame, it will go black and you need to put a picturebox or something behind the options, with no borderstyle. You also don't need the code in the prog, it works fine without.

**ripple214** · Mar 18th, 2003, 11:36 AM

Hi,

I can't help but ask this question(I've seen this kind of code before but it doesn't work). I got a win98 os , does this mean I can't use this?

**dis1411** · Mar 18th, 2003, 02:16 PM

if u followed my instructions your prog would in fact run in windows 98.. w/ this code the prog takes on whatever Appearance settings you have applied, so unless the rest of your windows looks like xp the prog will not

**Daschle** · Mar 20th, 2003, 07:52 PM

Originally posted by da_silvy
What's up from XP?

Windows .NET Server, presumably renamed to Windows 2003 server.

But I think he meant, any version of windows that's XP or above. As in, future versions should work as long as they follow windows' trend of being backwards compatible.

**dis1411** · Mar 24th, 2003, 04:05 AM

Originally posted by Dumsum
How would you use the VB6 resource editor to include that file, and also make it use it, so u don't have to use resource hacker. Also when you put option buttons in a frame, it will go black and you need to put a picturebox or something behind the options, with no borderstyle. You also don't need the code in the prog, it works fine without.

u can do that in c++, but for vb u have to use resource hacker to include the file

you dont need the code if your prog uses comctl32.dll in some other way.. if it doesnt your prog will not open after being injected w/ the txt file

**ripple214** · Mar 24th, 2003, 11:44 AM

Hi,

I'm a little bit confused by what you said, that your program will only look like xp if you have xp. I got a win98, i installed this program called Download Accelerator Plus and it had an xp look.
How do you explain that?

**dis1411** · Mar 24th, 2003, 12:10 PM

your program [using this method] will only look like xp if you have xp

the prog u refer to looks like it has an xp theme while running on 98 b/c they included all the images for it to do so

**Dumsum** · Mar 24th, 2003, 06:32 PM

Originally posted by dis1411
u can do that in c++, but for vb u have to use resource hacker to include the file

you dont need the code if your prog uses comctl32.dll in some other way.. if it doesnt your prog will not open after being injected w/ the txt file

Why is that? What is the resource editor used for?

**plenderj** · Mar 25th, 2003, 06:08 AM

I've tried using the WindowsXP look in my apps using this method, and it just crashes my apps for some reason...

**dis1411** · Mar 26th, 2003, 12:47 AM

Originally posted by plenderj
I've tried using the WindowsXP look in my apps using this method, and it just crashes my apps for some reason...

does the app ever open at all?

**plenderj** · Mar 26th, 2003, 03:48 AM

No when I double click to open it, Windows then says its not a valid win32 application.
When I use FileMon to check what's going on, Windows looks at the manifest file, but then crashes straight after...

**dis1411** · Mar 26th, 2003, 08:36 AM

i have seen this before.. u somehow did not do a step correctly. im not sure exactly which it is but the answer is in the first post

**plenderj** · Mar 26th, 2003, 08:42 AM

Ok I'll try with a new project and let you know how I get on.

**plenderj** · Mar 26th, 2003, 08:49 AM

Does nothing now

**dis1411** · Mar 26th, 2003, 01:23 PM

send it this way

**Dumsum** · Mar 26th, 2003, 06:49 PM

I think Microsoft (or someone) should just make new controls for everything that is affected by WinXP styles.

**BuggyProgrammer** · Mar 27th, 2003, 08:59 PM

if you want xp style in non-xp oses, then go here: http://www.planetsourcecode.com/vb/s...28804&lngWId=1

also look at this:

http://www.planetsourcecode.com/vb/s...27673&lngWId=1

**aliddle** · Dec 10th, 2003, 02:45 AM

All of this looks great for my app's purposes. The original popst by dis1411 works great!!! There are two small problems though.

In VB 6 you can't change the color of buttons.

AND

It does nothing for the standard Progress Bar

I am hoping the links submitted by BuggyProgrammer will give me the solution to the color of buttons, but is there a way to get the style of a progress bar to change?

Alan

**plenderj** · Dec 10th, 2003, 05:00 AM

Originally posted by aliddle
In VB 6 you can't change the color of buttons.

Create an option button. Set its style to 1 - Graphical. Change the forecolor

**dis1411** · Dec 10th, 2003, 02:24 PM

try using the progress bar from Windows Common Controls 5.0 (SP2)

**aliddle** · Dec 10th, 2003, 06:44 PM

I have change a few command buttons to graphic mode, but when I do they no longer look like XP buttons.

**dis1411** · Dec 10th, 2003, 10:48 PM

yup, i thought u were talking about command buttons.. anyway the only thing you can do is change the color of the outline of the button (with style set to 0)

**aliddle** · Dec 11th, 2003, 01:48 AM

I have now discovered that Option Boxes don't work with the XP Look. The are totally black! Any suggestions?

**dis1411** · Dec 11th, 2003, 02:18 AM

this is because u have the option button in a frame.. put the option button onto the form or put it into a picture box and put the picture box into the frame

**aliddle** · Dec 11th, 2003, 02:30 AM

That works a treat thanks

**Madboy** · Dec 13th, 2003, 07:18 AM

Um if this code only works on XP OS's, then why bother? XP already has the XP look

Besides there are many decent examples with CONTROLS to make any OS have a XP theme.

**Merri** · Dec 13th, 2003, 07:33 AM

To correct that, Visual Basic apps on XP DO NOT have XP look. And I guess by any OS you meant any Windows?

**dis1411** · Dec 14th, 2003, 03:37 AM

Originally posted by Madboy
Um if this code only works on XP OS's, then why bother? XP already has the XP look

Besides there are many decent examples with CONTROLS to make any OS have a XP theme.

sigh.. what Merri said

im not even attempting to provide an XP look for all OSes, so there's no need to tell me that it only works under XP

my opinion is if people want the XP look they should upgrade to XP.. and im not going to weigh my program down with bitmaps, controls etc

**Madboy** · Dec 19th, 2003, 04:20 PM

Fair enough

Thread: Windows XP Look

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Windows XP Look

it don't seem to work

Manifest ?

Cool

Huh?

Re: Cool

I don't think you got me...

Re: Re: Cool

How about Progress Bars?

Re: How about Progress Bars?

Problem with Buttons in Graphic Mode

Problem with Option Boxes

Works a Treat

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