XP Style Controls in D5

[Punchinello]

Hi,

I've got Delphi5 on a 98 machine and want to compile a program that will take advantage of XP Style controls if it is run on a XP machine.

I've placed the following code in the main form's OnCreate event and, in a second try, placed the code in the program file above the Application.Initialize line:

var
CC: Integer;

CC := ComCtrls.GetComCtlVersion;
ComCtrls.InitCommonControl(CC);

Neither try had any effect on the XP machine and the form has a small sample of controls that should look different. (radiobutton, checkbox, edit, scrollbox, combobox)

Can anyone help me with the right way to do this?

 

[Punchinello]

Well, I've answered my own question and here it is for everyone to see. To make your delphi app have the look and feel of windows XP follow these 2 steps:

Step 1
First you'll need to re-compile your project with a few lines of code added to your project file after the application initializes but before your first form is created. Here's an example:

program YourProgram;

uses ComCtrls, Forms,        {added ComCtrls}
     YourForm1 in 'YourForm1.pas' {YourForm1};

var                          {added variable}
  ccVersion: Integer;        {declaration}

{$R *.RES}

begin
  Application.Initialize;

  {added the following 2 lines}
  ccVersion := ComCtrls.GetComCtlVersion;
  ComCtrls.InitCommonControl(ccVersion);

  Application.CreateForm(TYourForm1, YourForm1);
  Application.Run;
end.

Step 2
Now create a manifest file with the name YourProgram.exe.manifest and place the file in the same folder as your application's executable file. A manifest file is simply a renamed .XML file. A sample that will work for this purpose as well as a complete description of implementing programs in XP can be found at

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnwxp/html/winxpicons.asp.

That's it. It worked for me, perhaps it will work for you.

 

[TonHu]

Don't forget to wipe out some of the errors in the D5 runtime libs.
I found 2 articles on Delphi3000.com to that extent :

http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_2843.asp

In the item 4) mentioned there, you need to save the ActivePageIndex before the loop, and restore it afterward.
and for Delphi 4 the issue of transparent tabsheets

http://www.delphi3000.com/articles/article_3168.asp

Guess you'll have to register before you can access them, but they are well worth the countdown of your free article count ;-)

I know it's on another forum, but it's the most concentrated info I could find on the subject :-|

HTH
TonHu