However, if you were to write a program in VB, the buttons, textboxes you were to use, would not change. You need to tell Windows XP that you are going to use the new version of the Common Controls Library, and to do this you must include an application manifest. A manifest is an XML document that Windows XP searches for in the application’s directory when you open an application. This manifest tells Windows XP to use the new version of COMCTL32.DLL (Version 6).
Here is a brief tutorial::
- Load Microsoft Visual Basic and start a new project
- Now add a few standard controls, a button, a checkbox, 2 option buttons and a text box
- Give them captions, and program the button to Exit when clicked.
Private Sub Command1_Click()
Unload Me
End Sub
COMCTL32.DLL exports a function called InitCommonControls. This is exported in COMCTL32.DLL versions from Windows 95. This needs to be called when the application is started, to ensure that the common controls library is opened. The declaration is not available in the API viewer. Make sure that you use Form_Initialize and not Form_Load, to enter the code. So the code in the form should now read:
Option Explicit
Private Declare Function InitCommonControls Lib "comctl32.dll" () As Long
Private Sub Command1_Click()
Unload Me
End Sub
Private Sub Form_Initialize()
InitCommonControls
End Sub
Now we need to compile this into an executable file (the manifest will only work when run as an EXE) and actually create the manifest. I have called my application COMCTLTest.EXE. You can call your executable anything, but that name needs to correspond with the name on the manifest.
Go to the folder, at which you have compiled the application into, load notepad and enter the following:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
<assemblyIdentity type="win32" processorArchitecture="*" version="6.0.0.0" name="mash"/>
<description>Enter your Description Here</description>
<dependency>
<dependentAssembly>
<assemblyIdentity
type="win32"
name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls" version="6.0.0.0"
language="*"
processorArchitecture="*"
publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
/>
</dependentAssembly>
</dependency>
</assembly>
Save this as:
<YOUR EXE NAME>.EXE.MANIFEST
So because I compiled my application as COMCTLTest.exe I would save my manifest as: COMCTLTest.EXE.MANIFEST
Now, you are ready to run your application. Double click on the executable, and there you are!! (by Phillip N)
