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[WPF + VS2008] anyway to get this window style


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nqtuza.jpg

Is there any way to get a form to look like that in windows XP? I'm writing an app in VS2008, in WPF, but the target platform is XP. I've already applied the "Aero" theme, but that changed the controls. I know this has to be possible, because Windows Live messanger on XP has that style of button.

Edited by SirEvan
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nqtuza.jpg

Is there any way to get a form to look like that in windows XP? I'm writing an app in VS2008, in WPF, but the target platform is XP, if i use one of the theme's, such as luna or aero, can it get that look for the minimize/maximize/close buttons?

Thanks

You want aero in Windows XP? Won't happen....at least it won't easily

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It's is but I'm not if it is to the extent of what you want to do. You basically have to restyle the whole Window.

http://www.kirupa.com/blend_wpf/custom_wpf_windows.htm

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/420538/...e-window-in-wpf

http://pavanpodila.spaces.live.com/blog/cn...8!345.entry

I googled "wpf window template", "wpf transparent window" and "WPF Style Maximise Button"

I remember looking into this sometime around January this year because I was trying to find how to disable the Maximise and Minimise buttons in WPF - believe it or not you can't out the box - and stumbled across the Windows Themeing.

GE

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No. Windows Vista visual styles are incompatible with Windows XP. Windows XP doesn't have Aero anyway.

If that's true, then how come I see outlook, and WLM with icons like this:

28jwqs8.jpg

also i assigned "Aero" in my code, and it changed the look of the interface.

<Application.Resources>
		<ResourceDictionary Source="/PresentationFramework.Aero, Version=3.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=31bf3856ad364e35, ProcessorArchitecture=MSIL;component/themes/aero.normalcolor.xaml" />

	</Application.Resources>

Reading the link here: http://www.dreamincode.net/forums/showtopic121576.htm

It looks like it's a lot of work to do just to get it to show in XP for a little eye candy...I'm guess this is the way that Microsoft probably did it for WLM and outlook.

Edited by SirEvan
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You have to style the Non-Client area yourself. And WLM and Outlook are native applications :wacko:

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The window borders are painted and managed by the operating system, and not the application. The only way to make them look different is by overriding this and doing all the painting and handling of window messages yourself. Many Microsoft applications do this (they actually use their own internal GUI frameworks), but it's generally a really bad idea, and I would think twice before doing it. Why do you want your window borders to look different from the OS?

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