Introduction
By default Microsoft Visual C++ V6 when running under Windows XP manages a half-hearted XP look. In theory
it shouldn't really have any XP look, but somehow bits seem to acquire it by magic.
So, I decided if I could make all (or most) of VC appear in the new look. And overall, I have. Note the
correct scrollbars, search combobox, and dialog box controls
As many of you will know, the way to make a program XP aware is to include a manifest resource in each .EXE or .DLL,
but another way to achieve this is merely to add a manifest file to the same directory as the program (or DLL)
named exactly the same as the file, but with .manifest appended to it.
e.g.
Program Filename Manifest Filename
---------------- ----------------------
myprogram.exe myprogram.exe.manifest
mysupport.dll mysupport.dll.manifest
The manifest file I have used is fairly standard:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly
xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1"
manifestVersion="1.0">
<assemblyIdentity
processorArchitecture="x86"
version="5.1.0.0"
type="win32"
name="test.exe"/>
<description>Test Application</description>
<dependency>
<dependentAssembly>
<assemblyIdentity
type="win32"
name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
version="6.0.0.0"
publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
language="*"
processorArchitecture="x86"/>
</dependentAssembly>
</dependency>
</assembly>
The only thing left to do is explain how to make it work!
Download the VC-XP_src.zip file (at the top of the page) and extract it to:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\Common\MSDev98\Bin
of course you may need to change this if you didn't install VC to the default directory/drive.
Then, the next time you run VC (MSDEV.EXE), you will get the new look.
Of course, this doesn't
actually give any extra features or benefits, it just looks nicer.
This member has not yet provided a Biography. Assume it's interesting and varied, and probably something to do with programming.