xp themes with addin

[Frank Burns]

how do i enable xp themes support for my outlook 2003 addin? i've tried
supplying a manifest file but that doesn't seem to help.

thanks,
Frank Burns

XPSP1, .NET2K3

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

The Windows version must be Windows XP SP1 and your manifest file would be
named outlook.exe.manifest. It needs to be placed in the same folder as
outlook.exe. It can be a standard format manifest file. Once that is done
Outlook will automatically use the themes for *any and all* addins.

Some addins may not look good if you do that, especially any addins that
were compiled using VB 6 and that have radio controls inside frame controls.
The labels of the radio controls will not show text and just look like black
blobs. So I usually provide the manifest file and instructions on where to
place it and leave it to the user to decide if things look OK that way. At
minimum I'd provide instructions on how to get rid of the theming if one of
their other addins stops displaying correctly.

 

[Frank Burns]

well that kind of sucks. it's too bad there's no easier/simpler way to add
themes to an addin.

thanks,
Frank Burns

 

[Mark Bower [MSFT]]

Hi Ken, Frank,

KB article 830033 discusses how to make COM Add-ins adopt Windows XP themes
on a per-addin basis, rather than for all addins.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;830033

--
Mark Bower
Microsoft

This post is provided 'as-is' and confers no warranties or rights.

 

[Ken Slovak - [MVP - Outlook]]

Hi Mark,

If you read that KB it says that VB 6 theming isn't supported. The method I
mentioned does work with VB 6 code, except for the anomaly I mentioned. It
has been tested and implemented in my own commercial Outlook COM addins.

 

[Frank Burns]

this helps a lot.

thanks,
Frank

Hi Ken, Frank,

KB article 830033 discusses how to make COM Add-ins adopt Windows XP themes
on a per-addin basis, rather than for all addins.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;830033

--
Mark Bower
Microsoft

This post is provided 'as-is' and confers no warranties or rights.

would where way.