Q: How can I enable the XP style interface on a form when it is declared in a DLL?

[Neil]

I know all about Application.EnableVisualStyles (for .NET 1.1 only) and
using a manifest, but neither method seems to work when the form is declared
in a class DLL, unless the calling executable enables the visual style. The
problem is that I have no control over the calling executable since I am
making a shell namespace extension. In my case the calling executable is
actually Windows File Explorer.

As a test, I did create a manifest named explorer.exe.manifest and through
it in the windows directory, and sure enough my app had the XP style
interface, but since this is going to be a commercial application, I don't
really want to do such a hack job that could potentially affect other
programs.

Is there another (more professional) way to enable the XP style interface
that I am missing?

Thank you in advance.

-Neil

 

[news.microsoft.com]

Why cant the desktop OS handle widgits, why must the app have to do
fagshandbag stuff.

Im sick n tired of BMP bubble buttons and winamp style UIs and Linux apps,
And avalon is gona make things worse with Fx crap.

If the user wants the XP crayola UI, let em use display control panel to do
it, i sure aint gona code that crap into an app.