Appearance of custom controls on Outlook 2007

I have a custom control that I use on a custom Outlook form. It is a simple
COM wrapper of the Windows date picker control. On Outlook 2003 and earlier,
it displays in Windows 98/2000 style (e.g. a gray drop down arrow), which is
what you want because it is consistent with all the other controls on the
tab. But on Outlook 2007 Beta 2, it displays in Windows XP style (e.g. a blue
drop down arrow), which just looks wrong.

Does anyone know if this in an Outlook 2007 issue and, if so, will it be
fixed?

Outlook 2007 automatically themes your controls and addins so it's logical
that the control has that look. It's not going to change.

--
Ken Slovak
[MVP - Outlook]
http://www.slovaktech.com
Author: Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options
http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm


"Charles Sinclair" <CharlesSinclair@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:A9D6B0EA-144D-4B97-894F-905D9E09CADE@microsoft.com...
>I have a custom control that I use on a custom Outlook form. It is a simple
> COM wrapper of the Windows date picker control. On Outlook 2003 and
> earlier,
> it displays in Windows 98/2000 style (e.g. a gray drop down arrow), which
> is
> what you want because it is consistent with all the other controls on the
> tab. But on Outlook 2007 Beta 2, it displays in Windows XP style (e.g. a
> blue
> drop down arrow), which just looks wrong.
>
> Does anyone know if this in an Outlook 2007 issue and, if so, will it be
> fixed?

"Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]" wrote:
> Outlook 2007 automatically themes your controls and addins so it's logical
> that the control has that look. It's not going to change.

Surely a logical approach on custom tabs would be to either have all the
controls themed, or none of them? A mish-mash like this looks pretty awful. I
do not understand the thinking here at all.

I am wondering if I can side-step the issue. I read that Outlook 2007 now
has a date picker built in. Is this the case? I can't see it on the custom
form's toolbox.

Yeah, you have access to the date/time picker. You have to add it to the
tools, select Microsoft Office Outlook Date Control. There are a bunch of
other controls listed in that area but I haven't played with all of them
yet. You can also add the Outlook Time control.

--
Ken Slovak
[MVP - Outlook]
http://www.slovaktech.com
Author: Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Office Outlook 2003
Reminder Manager, Extended Reminders, Attachment Options
http://www.slovaktech.com/products.htm


"Charles Sinclair" <CharlesSinclair@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
message news:C2B76FB7-644F-45B7-AB73-5E98445EE9B7@microsoft.com...
> "Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]" wrote:
>> Outlook 2007 automatically themes your controls and addins so it's
>> logical
>> that the control has that look. It's not going to change.
>
> Surely a logical approach on custom tabs would be to either have all the
> controls themed, or none of them? A mish-mash like this looks pretty
> awful. I
> do not understand the thinking here at all.
>
> I am wondering if I can side-step the issue. I read that Outlook 2007 now
> has a date picker built in. Is this the case? I can't see it on the custom
> form's toolbox.
>

It's built into the new form region feature. See http://turtleflock-ol2007.spaces.msn.com/blog/cns!C1013F1F9A99E3D8!144.entry for an introductory walkthrough.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.turtleflock.com/olconfig/index.htm
and Microsoft Outlook Programming - Jumpstart for
Administrators, Power Users, and Developers
http://www.outlookcode.com/jumpstart.aspx

"Charles Sinclair" <CharlesSinclair@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:C2B76FB7-644F-45B7-AB73-5E98445EE9B7@microsoft.com...
>
> I am wondering if I can side-step the issue. I read that Outlook 2007 now
> has a date picker built in. Is this the case? I can't see it on the custom
> form's toolbox.
>