Re: totaly stuck and need help to improve the GUI look of c# program

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"Peted" wrote in message news:g5tk63pi8bpf8cvpjeg0qrd5d9k2hlinqv@xxxxxxxxxx
Im using c# 2005 express edition

Ive pretty much finished an winforms application and i need to
significantly improve the visual appeal of the interface.

Im totaly stuck on this and cant seem to work out how to start on a
solution.

I have of course used a varienty of componets, mostly radio buttons
with "button" appearence.

So i need a way to enhance the buttons and forms looks without redoing
or undoing any exisitng coding, and i understand there are ways of
affecting the whole GUI and look of the application.

So where do i start with that. I would like to eventually be able to
customise the look of the whole range of visual componets, but in the
short term doing something like improve the look of the various button
and radio button and check button up and down visual states with some
sort of painted gradient to produce a metalic like look, even on the
back of the forms itself.

..NET has a whole bunch of classes named "Renderer" this and "VisualStyles" that. But they're all sealed, no chance to override, and the MS documentation on Visual Styles says this:

Visual Styles

Visual styles were introduced with Windows XP. Visual styles are specifications for the appearance of controls. For example, a visual style can define the overall appearance of controls, and enable software developers to configure the visual interface to coordinate with an application's appearance. Additionally, visual styles provide a mechanism for all Windows-based applications to apply visual styles. The following are some characteristics of visual styles.

* Visual styles change the appearance of controls in windows.
* You cannot author a specification file that changes the appearance of controls.
* To use a particular appearance in your application you must use the UxTheme API.
* End users choose how they want the desktop controls to appear by making selections on the Appearance tab of the display option in Control Panel.

Looks like you will have to custom-draw everything like Nicholas suggested.


My internet research has not led to me to any specific step by step
examples on how i can do this.

It would be great if anyone could get me started with an example like
applying a gradient and bitmap to a radio button while it is in
"button" appearence mode and adjusted for the up and down states
appearence, in such a way as to affect all the same button types on
the forms, in the application


thanks for any help.

Im realy stuck on this one with no idea where to go from here.

peted

.

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