Using the Windows XP/Vista style and theme in your windows

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Using the Windows XP/Vista style and theme in your windows

Overview

Using the theme of Windows XP/Vista

Using the XP/Vista style

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The windows

Using the Windows XP/Vista style and theme in your windows

Overview

WINDEV allows you to customize:

the windows and the controls found in these window by using the theme of Windows XP/Vista.
the menus (main or popup menus) of the windows that use the XP/Vista style (feature available even if the current computer is not running Windows XP/Vista).

Using the theme of Windows XP/Vista

Overview

The theme of Windows XP/Vista corresponds to the characteristics of the interface on a computer running Windows XP/Vista. This theme is defined in the configuration panel of Windows.

WINDEV allows you to force the use of the Windows XP/Vista theme in the windows and in the controls found in these windows. In this case, as soon as the application is opened on a computer running Windows XP/Vista, the theme of Windows XP/Vista defined on this computer will be applied.

Note: If the application is opened on a computer that is using another operating system, the style characteristics (defined in the "Style" tab of the description windows) will be automatically applied.

Forcing the use of the Windows XP/Vista theme on a window

To force the use of the Windows XP/Vista theme on a window:

Open the relevant window in WINDEV (from the project explorer for example).
Display the "Style" tab in the description window of the current window ("Description" from the popup menu).Display the "Modifier" pane ("Display .. Toolbar .. Panes .. Modifier").Display the "Modifier" pane: on the "Home" pane, in the "Environment" group, expand "Panes" and select "Modifier".
Check "Force the active theme in Wndows XP/Vista".In the modifier, in the "Style" category, switch the "XP theme" option to "Yes". In the "Style" tab of the description window of the current window, the option "Force the active theme in Windows XP/Vista" is displayed and it is automatically checked.

Notes:

The windows that use the Windows XP/Vista theme keep their style characteristics (defined in the "Style" tab of the description window).
If a background image is used, this image is kept. Otherwise, the corresponding XP/Vista theme (background color of the window) is applied.

Forcing the use of the Windows XP/Vista theme on a window control

To force the use of the Windows XP/Vista theme on a window control:

Force the use of the Windows XP theme on the window to which the control belong (see paragraph above).
Select the requested control.
Display the "Style" tab in the description window of this control ("Description" from the popup menu).
Select "XP/Vista theme" in the "Element" combo box.
Check "Use the active theme in Windows XP/Vista".

Note: If the theme was not forced at window level, the checkmark will not be found at control level.

XP/Vista theme: Style characteristics kept

The following table presents the style characteristics kept for the controls that use the Windows XP/Vista theme (characteristics defined in the "Style' tab of the description window of these controls):

Type of control	Style characteristics kept	Example Theme used: "Windows XP/Vista"

Edit control	All the style characteristics except for: the input border. the scrollbar.
Button	All the style characteristics except for the color of the caption. If the button is using a background image or a border image, this image is kept. Otherwise, the XP theme is applied.
Radio button	All the style characteristics except for: the checkmark. the background color of the inside border.
Check box	All the style characteristics except for: the checkmark. the background color of the inside border.
List box	All the style characteristics except for: the scrollbar. the background color of the inside border.
Combo box	All the style characteristics except for: the arrow button. the scrollbar (of the expanded area). the input border.
Table	All the style characteristics except for: the scrollbar. the background color of the inside border.
TreeView	All style characteristics except for the scrollbar.
Progress bar	All the style characteristics except for: the caption. the outside border. If the progress bar is using a cursor image, this image is kept. Otherwise, the XP/Vista theme is applied.
Scrollbar	No characteristic.
Slider	No characteristic.
Spin	No characteristic.
Tab	All the style characteristics except for the color of the outside border. If the tab panes are using an image, this image is kept. Otherwise, the XP/Vista theme is applied.

Using the XP/Vista style

Overview

WINDEV allows you to use the XP/Vista style on the menus (main and/or popup menus) found in the windows. To view the menus in XP/Vista style, the current computer does not necessarily have to run Windows XP/Vista.

For example:


Popup menu:	Main menu:

Using the XP/Vista style in the main menu of a window

In order for the main menu of a window to use the XP/Vista style:

Open the requested window in WINDEV.
Insert the main menu if necessary ("Window .. Add the main menu").Insert the main menu if necessary: on the "Window" pane, in the "Bars and menus" group, expand "Main menu" and select "Add the main menu".
Display the "Style" tab in the description window of the current window ("Description" from the popup menu).
Check "Display the menu in XP/Vista style".

Note: The menus that are using the XP style keep the characteristics of the font used for the menu options (size, color, ...). These characteristics have been defined in the "Style" tab of the description window of the menu option.