Question

VB6 "Vista" style buttons with windows API?

Asked by: WernerVonBraun

Hey experts,

When you run a VB6 application in Vista, and it contains standard buttons, the buttons will look rather bland compared to other applications on the system. On other dialogs, the buttons have nice "gradient" backgrounds.

I am hoping that this is something that may be quite easy to achieve on a Vista machine by simply calling an API passing the button's HWND?

Does anyone know whether this is so and what the API is, or how else to achieve this without having to buy 3rd party products?

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Asked On
2009-09-25 at 03:26:01ID24761219
Tags

vista style buttons VB6

Topics

Visual Basic Programming

,

Windows Vista

Participating Experts
2
Points
250
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: Brook1966Posted on 2009-09-25 at 04:48:10ID: 25422022

What I have found to work was to create my own buttons in VB6 use an Image control and putting transparent gif files in them.   You still put code in your click event and the image works just like a button control.  Your gif takes up little space and you can make them look as nice as you would like.  There are even places on the internet to download Vista style button graphics.  Try that and see if it is more of what you are looking for.

 

by: WernerVonBraunPosted on 2009-09-25 at 05:03:16ID: 25422115

[grin] - yeah, I was hoping that that was NOT the answer.

If it is though you will get the points and an "A" - I don't believe in shooting the messenger. But I'll wait a while longer in the vain hope that someone will give me an answer I would be happier to hear ... ;-)

 

by: VBClassicGuyPosted on 2009-09-25 at 06:56:26ID: 25422965

 

by: WernerVonBraunPosted on 2009-09-25 at 07:32:53ID: 25423344

it doesn't seem to include the gradient type buttons you see in Vista.

 

by: VBClassicGuyPosted on 2009-09-25 at 07:39:28ID: 25423426

You have to make your own background GIF's for it to load, I think.

I use gradient's on my programs' opening form (all done in code, with user-selectable colors), I'll see if I can apply that to a button. I doubt it, though.

 

by: VBClassicGuyPosted on 2009-09-25 at 07:56:56ID: 25423637

Try here, I think it's exactly what you want:

http://www.nearlogic.com/?p=21

if not, here:

http://www.sourcefalcon.com/Files.htm

 

by: WernerVonBraunPosted on 2009-09-28 at 02:33:09ID: 31633453

Yup, the VB Gradient Button did the job; I had to tweak it a little bit to make the button look a little more rounded, but that was a minor adjustment. Excellent.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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