Question

My controls look different in VS design view and my main app

Asked by: DamienL

Hi there,

I have my Windows style set to "Windows XP Style". In the design view in VS2005 all the controls look like  "Windows XP Style" but when I run the app my controls look like  "Windows Classic Style".

Why is this and how can I make them look like "Windows XP Style" controls all the time?

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Asked On
2006-03-17 at 02:34:41ID21777765
Tags

controls

,

like

,

look

Topic

Microsoft Visual Basic.Net

Participating Experts
2
Points
100
Comments
11

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Answers

 

by: tolgaongPosted on 2006-03-17 at 03:00:32ID: 16214323

Double click on "my Project"
Select application from the left
At the right
be sure that "Enable XP visual styles" are checked.

 

by: DamienLPosted on 2006-03-17 at 03:21:55ID: 16214452

Great!!

So if the user is using "Windows Classic style" then is there a way of overriding this and using "Windows XP Style" for the application?

 

by: tolgaongPosted on 2006-03-17 at 04:39:05ID: 16215033

Actually I don't the answer but:

The base classes are same, the visual changes are due to rendering differences, therefore, the user should see your buttons classsic view if he selects "Windows Classic style"

You may use image's instead of buttons to fix the view above the operating systems. But I don't recommend (as it increases your work dramatcally)

 

by: TheLearnedOnePosted on 2006-03-17 at 11:41:56ID: 16219156

Did you migrate a 2003 application to 2005?  If so, the wizard does not set that property correctly.

Bob

 

by: DamienLPosted on 2006-03-22 at 02:20:50ID: 16256102

Sorry about the late reply.

Yea I did migrate from 2003 to 2005.

But, TheLearnedOne, can I just ask you if it's possible to display the win froms as "Windows XP Style" even if the user is using "Windows Classic style" ?

Thanks for the help

 

by: TheLearnedOnePosted on 2006-03-22 at 05:23:35ID: 16257158

Did you set the setting from tolgaong above in the project settings?

Bob

 

by: DamienLPosted on 2006-03-23 at 02:37:46ID: 16267673

Yea I did.

When I have the app open in front of me and I change my setting from "Window XP style" to "Windows classic style" then the appearance of the app changes right in from of my eyes.

Is there any way of stopping this?

 

by: TheLearnedOnePosted on 2006-03-23 at 07:32:17ID: 16270204

I am confused now.

You said, "how can I make them look like Windows XP Style controls all the time?", and now you have changed your mind?

Bob

 

by: DamienLPosted on 2006-03-24 at 02:49:56ID: 16278826

Sorry,

I did say:
"how can I make them look like Windows XP Style controls all the time?"

and that is what I want to do.

So even if the user has selected Windown classic style I still want my app to get displayed as if the user has selected Windows XP style.


 

by: TheLearnedOnePosted on 2006-03-24 at 07:04:50ID: 16280639

With 2003, there was Application.EnableVisualStyles, but I don't know if 2005 still has that method.

Bob

 

by: DamienLPosted on 2006-03-27 at 03:12:02ID: 16299156

Yea 2005 has that same property:
Application.EnableVisualStyles

I've set it to true but still when the user has selected "Windows classic style" the app still gets displayed with "Windows classic style" controls.

I guess there is no way of overriding this... right?

Sorry to drag this on for ages. I'll close it after your next reply.

Thanks a lot,
D

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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