Modern looking buttons? (not tool bar buttons)

[johnb41]

I don't know why I never noticed this before... but in VS 2003, when i
drag a button (or combobox, etc) onto the form, it defaults to a hard
chisseled rectangle.

But in just about all the programs I use (except maybe some very old
ones) the buttons are much slicker looking: rounded, with a slight
border around which responds to a rollover.

I'm tinkering with VB 2005 Express Edition, and by default the buttons
are really modern, like I explained above. Same thing with the
combobox and other common controls.

Is VS 2003 not able to do this without alot of effort, or buying a 3rd
party solution?

Thanks!
John

 

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

But in just about all the programs I use (except maybe some very old
ones) the buttons are much slicker looking: rounded, with a slight
border around which responds to a rollover.

I'm tinkering with VB 2005 Express Edition, and by default the buttons
are really modern, like I explained above. Same thing with the
combobox and other common controls.

Enabling Windows XP Visual Styles for Windows Forms applications
<URL:http://dotnet.mvps.org/dotnet/faqs/?id=xpvisualstyles&lang=en>

 

[johnb41]

Thanks, but this isn't working for me.

Where do I put the code:

Application.EnableVisualStyles()
Application.DoEvents()

I tried it in the load event of the first form that shows up. I also
put it in a module that has many other popular functions in it:

Module SubsAndFunctions
Sub main()
Application.EnableVisualStyles()
Application.DoEvents() ' Bug fix.
End Sub

' other functions go here...

End Module


I also set the flatstyle of a button to "system".

The button still appears old-fashioned.

Any idea what I'm doing wrong?
Thanks,
John

 

[Stacey]

If you don't have your desktop running windows xp, and using windows xp
style itself, it will override your buttons. Ie. if you have changed the
them to windows classic.

 

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

I tried it in the load event of the first form that shows up. I also
put it in a module that has many other popular functions in it:

Module SubsAndFunctions
Sub main()
Application.EnableVisualStyles()
Application.DoEvents() ' Bug fix.

\\\
Application.Run(New MainForm())
///

End Sub

In the project properties, select 'Sub Main' as startup object.

 

[johnb41]

I should read replys more carefully! I didn't see the
"Application.Run" part, so this wasn't working.

But all is well. It works! Thanks so very much!!!

John

 

[johnb41]

Hmmm... The main startup form has the nice new look, but all my other
forms do not. I thought what I did would make a global change to my
entire app.

How can I get all my other forms on the app to get the same look?

Thanks,
John