changing titlebar color

[devGOD]

anyone know how to make the titlebar and border black when active (focus) and inactive

[seaweed]

As far as I know, this is controlled by the system settings, so you would have to change the way windows are displayed system-wide.

[Spajeoly]

If it is possible I would not know how to do it either because it is set by the system. Although I am sur eone of these API freaks on this page know of a way because nothing's impossible.

[seaweed]

You don't have to be an API "freak", just check out http://www.mentalis.org/apilist/SetSysColors.shtml

Here's an example that works, unless you're using XP theme which doesn't allow changing title bar colors (put two command buttons on a form and run this code):

Option Explicit
 
Private Declare Function SetSysColors Lib "user32" _
    (ByVal nChanges As Long, lpSysColor As Long, lpColorValues As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GetSysColor Lib "user32" _
    (ByVal nIndex As Long) As Long
    
Private Const COLOR_SCROLLBAR = 0               'The Scrollbar color
Private Const COLOR_BACKGROUND = 1              'The Color of the background with no wallpaper
Private Const COLOR_ACTIVECAPTION = 2           'Caption of Active Window
Private Const COLOR_INACTIVECAPTION = 3         'Caption of Inactive window
Private Const COLOR_MENU = 4                    'Menu
Private Const COLOR_WINDOW = 5                  'Windows background
Private Const COLOR_WINDOWFRAME = 6             'Window frame
Private Const COLOR_MENUTEXT = 7                'Window Text
Private Const COLOR_WINDOWTEXT = 8              '3D dark shadow (Win95)
Private Const COLOR_CAPTIONTEXT = 9             'Text in window caption
Private Const COLOR_ACTIVEBORDER = 10           'Border of active window
Private Const COLOR_INACTIVEBORDER = 11         'Border of inactive window
Private Const COLOR_APPWORKSPACE = 12           'Background of MDI desktop
Private Const COLOR_HIGHLIGHT = 13              'Selected item background
Private Const COLOR_HIGHLIGHTTEXT = 14          'Selected menu item
Private Const COLOR_BTNFACE = 15                'Button
Private Const COLOR_BTNSHADOW = 16              '3D shading of button
Private Const COLOR_GRAYTEXT = 17               'Grey text, of zero if dithering is used.
Private Const COLOR_BTNTEXT = 18                'Button text
Private Const COLOR_INACTIVECAPTIONTEXT = 19    'Text of inactive window
Private Const COLOR_BTNHIGHLIGHT = 20           '3D highlight of button
Private Const COLOR_2NDACTIVECAPTION = 27       'Win98 only: 2nd active window color
Private Const COLOR_2NDINACTIVECAPTION = 28     'Win98 only: 2nd inactive window color
 
Private OriginalActiveColor As Long             ' Holds original active title bar color
Private OriginalInactiveColor As Long           ' Holds original inactive title bar color
 
Private Sub ResetColors()
    ' Resets the original system colors
    SetSysColors 1, COLOR_ACTIVECAPTION, OriginalActiveColor
    SetSysColors 1, COLOR_INACTIVECAPTION, OriginalInactiveColor
End Sub
 
Private Sub ChangeColors()
    ' Change active title bar color to black
    SetSysColors 1, COLOR_ACTIVECAPTION, RGB(0, 0, 0)
    ' Change inactive title bar color to black
    SetSysColors 1, COLOR_INACTIVECAPTION, RGB(0, 0, 0)
End Sub
 
Private Sub Command1_Click()
    ResetColors
End Sub
 
Private Sub Command2_Click()
    ChangeColors
End Sub
 
Private Sub Form_Load()
    Command1.Caption = "Reset Colors"
    Command2.Caption = "Change Colors"
    OriginalActiveColor = GetSysColor(COLOR_ACTIVECAPTION)
    OriginalInactiveColor = GetSysColor(COLOR_INACTIVECAPTION)
End Sub

[Spajeoly]

Right on, hey don't get me wrong about the "Freaks" crack, when I call someone some said name reffering to something they're awsome at doing I am simply complementing said person(s).

Thanx a lot for the code too.




~~Edited to add~~

So that changes just you apps colors right?

[da_haCKEr]

http://www.planetsourcecode.com/vb/s...26332&lngWId=1

[seaweed]

Originally posted by Spajeoly
So that changes just you apps colors right?

No, it changes the system colors for all windows. da_hacker's link above shows you how to change just your title bar (actually it replaces your title bar with a user control).

[McGenius]

Generally speaking - it's not a good idea to change someone's system settings. Personally I would dump any app that does this sort of things.

[Spajeoly]

As would I.

[seaweed]

Originally posted by McGenius
Generally speaking - it's not a good idea to change someone's system settings. Personally I would dump any app that does this sort of things.

I couldn't agree with you more. Unless it also changed my homepage and desktop background without asking. Then I would love it!

[Spajeoly]

Ooo ooo ooo, don't forget about changing the registry to nonexistant!!!