Force a Windows XP look

  • Thread starter Thread starter Maurice
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M

Maurice

Hi all,

I have an application, designed in Visual Studio 2005, which will run
mainly on Windows XP computers.

If I run the application on a Windows XP computer having the Windows XP
Theme selected the controls look nice rounded, etc. just like in Windows
XP.

But if I run the application on a Windows XP computer having the Windows
Classic Theme selected the controls look 'classic' again.

Is there a way to also use the Windows XP look on a computer having the
Windows Classic Theme running?



Thanks,

Regards,
Maurice
 
"Maurice" <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de [email protected]...

| Is there a way to also use the Windows XP look on a computer having the
| Windows Classic Theme running?

The whole idea of themes is to allow users to choose how their applications
look; you are not in charge of that, they are.

I, for one, would not appreciate an application that looks different to how
I have set and would like to see my applications appear.

Joanna
 
Maurice said:
Hi all,

I have an application, designed in Visual Studio 2005, which will run
mainly on Windows XP computers.

If I run the application on a Windows XP computer having the Windows XP
Theme selected the controls look nice rounded, etc. just like in Windows
XP.

But if I run the application on a Windows XP computer having the Windows
Classic Theme selected the controls look 'classic' again.

Is there a way to also use the Windows XP look on a computer having the
Windows Classic Theme running?
Click to expand...

I haven't tried the exact scenario you describe, but there is an:

Application.EnableVisualStyles

method.
 
Maurice said:
I have an application, designed in Visual Studio 2005, which will run
mainly on Windows XP computers.

If I run the application on a Windows XP computer having the Windows XP
Theme selected the controls look nice rounded, etc. just like in Windows
XP.

But if I run the application on a Windows XP computer having the Windows
Classic Theme selected the controls look 'classic' again.
Click to expand...

Well, have you ever spent a thought on why the user has the ability to
change the theme?! If the user selects the Windows Classic theme he/she
expects applications to use this theme.
 
Hi Joanna,

the reason I want this is because we are building a product which has a
certain look and feel. We want to preserve this look and feel throughout
the whole GUI of the application.

We designed a specific GUI and don't want this GUI to be changed.
 
The user has chosen their theme as it has a certain look and feel. They
want to preserve this look and feel throughout the whole GUI of the
operating system.

The user has selected a specific GUI and do not want this GUI to be changed.

D
 
"Maurice" <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de [email protected]...

| the reason I want this is because we are building a product which has a
| certain look and feel. We want to preserve this look and feel throughout
| the whole GUI of the application.
|
| We designed a specific GUI and don't want this GUI to be changed.

Well, I'm sorry, but that really violates the whole idea of the Windows UI
design guidelines.

People set up Windows to look and feel how *they* want. It is up to you to
allow them to do that; after all it is their computer, not yours.

I have had the displeasure of installing programs like this which take over
my computer's UI settings; they last about 30 seconds before I uninstall
them.

If you really insist on making a "different" look and feel, then I suggest
you look at creating your own skinning options like Media Player, etc. But
do bear in mind that the customer is always right, and if they don't like
the appearance, they will simply change it or ditch the program. You could
well be shooting yourself in the commercial foot insisting on this
"feature".

Joanna
 
I hope not. Why do you want to force the XP look on your users?
You will probably need to draw everything yourself if you want a precise
look, regardless of the user's settings.

/claes
 
Maurice said:
Hi all,

I have an application, designed in Visual Studio 2005, which will run
mainly on Windows XP computers.

If I run the application on a Windows XP computer having the Windows XP
Theme selected the controls look nice rounded, etc. just like in Windows
XP.

But if I run the application on a Windows XP computer having the Windows
Classic Theme selected the controls look 'classic' again.

Is there a way to also use the Windows XP look on a computer having the
Windows Classic Theme running?



Thanks,

Regards,
Maurice
Click to expand...

Why would you want to? The concept is that the person choose their PC
to look the classic way so your program should conform to that way.
 
Hi all,

thanks for the comments.

I just figured out how to solve my problem. Indeed, as mentioned by
Joanna, I will force the look by the use of a skin. A third party tool,
Application Styling, from Infragistics, will work perfect for me. I will
be able to force the GUI with nice round controls, etc.

In my opinion, the Media Player, is exactly doing what I want to do.
Offering the user a nice looking GUI.
 
Maurice said:
I just figured out how to solve my problem. Indeed, as mentioned by
Joanna, I will force the look by the use of a skin. A third party tool,
Application Styling, from Infragistics, will work perfect for me. I will
be able to force the GUI with nice round controls, etc.

In my opinion, the Media Player, is exactly doing what I want to do.
Offering the user a nice looking GUI.
Click to expand...

The user has already had the option of an XP-style UI and turned it off
in order to go to the "classic" theme. Do you believe they've changed
their minds about what they like since they made that choice?
 
I think your missing the point of themes and skins entirely. They are not
there to force a style but to offer a choice of styles. You forcing a
choice on them may intefere with things like accessibility settings a user
requires. I for one would dump in a flash any application that forced a XP
theme on me that I did not want to see and I always use the classic view.

Regards

John Timney (MVP)
 
Maurice said:
Hi all,

thanks for the comments.

I just figured out how to solve my problem. Indeed, as mentioned by
Joanna, I will force the look by the use of a skin. A third party tool,
Application Styling, from Infragistics, will work perfect for me. I will
be able to force the GUI with nice round controls, etc.

In my opinion, the Media Player, is exactly doing what I want to do.
Offering the user a nice looking GUI.
Click to expand...

Do you also give the user the choice to bypass your theme? I hope so,
because users don't only change the theme because they don't like the
look. Some change it out of nescesity. With that I mean people with
visual impairments that want bigger fonts, high contrast themes etc.
When your app is forced to the one theme you as a developer like you're
basically ignoring the needs of those users.

Just my 2 cents.
 
If I take a look at the Media Player (version 9), I get it in a Windows XP
look, nice rounded buttons, etc.

After turning the theme of my computer to 'Windows Classic' and opening the
same Media Player I get the same Windows XP look.
 
Hi Maurice,

I'm not sure about 2005, but in 2003, if you want the XP look "no matter
what", then you need to use custom controls (created by yourself or purchased
from a third party) that have the XP look.

John
 
Thats may simply be because you dont have any alternate skins installed.
The layout of media player is skin based so you can add extra skins and
change the layout easily. Perhaps thats an approach you might think about
for your application, or perhaps consider adding later but designing for
now.

Regards

John Timney (MVP)
 
"Maurice" <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de [email protected]...

| If I take a look at the Media Player (version 9), I get it in a Windows XP
| look, nice rounded buttons, etc.
|
| After turning the theme of my computer to 'Windows Classic' and opening
the
| same Media Player I get the same Windows XP look.

Now try pressing Ctrl-2; you should get the non-XP theme. This is what I
mean by allowing your users choice. You will lose customers if you do not
follow the Windows UI design guidelines and provide a means of letting them
choose.

Joanna
 
"Joanna Carter [TeamB]" <[email protected]> a écrit dans le message de
news: (e-mail address removed)...

| Now try pressing Ctrl-2; you should get the non-XP theme. This is what I
| mean by allowing your users choice. You will lose customers if you do not
| follow the Windows UI design guidelines and provide a means of letting
them
| choose.

What I meant is that you get an alternative skin which is less XPish.

The difference with Media Player is that it is always skinned, but not
themed.

Theming affects the caption bar, close, minimise, maximise buttons, scroll
bars, etc. It is these things that the user has power over.

However, skinning an application, or the appearance of the window *inside*
the themed frame, is entirely at your discretion. If you really want your
own appearance, then you have to accept that you are only entitled to change
the "canvas" within the window frame, all the rest is not within your power.

Joanna
 
Maurice said:
If I take a look at the Media Player (version 9), I get it in a Windows XP
look, nice rounded buttons, etc.

After turning the theme of my computer to 'Windows Classic' and opening the
same Media Player I get the same Windows XP look.
Click to expand...

IMO that's a flaw in their design. What looks nice to you is impractical
to others. I have no vision problems, but I hate the look of the Media
Player. Nice is in the eye of the beholder. I think it's great that you
want to offer your own design, nothing wrong with that. But give the
user the choice to switch if your design differs from standard OS
layouts/colours for those that don't like it or have useability problems.
 
Hi all,

thank you for replying. I know the right solution now.

Joanna: Indeed I just want the inside of the frame to be the same style no
matter what ('always skinned') . So I had to use the word 'Style' instead
of 'Theme'.


Maurice
 
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