Apply XP Style During Design Time

At my first article, we learn how to add XP style to your VB6 application. To test your XP style, you must run your executable (.exe) frequently. It will be some sort of pain if we are working on huge project where we spend much time waiting it to be compiled to .exe - test the executable - back to design environment and make changes  - compile again - it becomes a trial & error circumstance.

To make it simple, we need to activate XP style during design time. All we need to do to make it possible is simply create a manifest file for vb6.exe.

Open Notepad, copy paste below code then save it with filename vb6.exe.manifest and put it on your VB6 installation folder. For example, at my computer VB6 is located on C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\VB98.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<assembly xmlns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:asm.v1" manifestVersion="1.0">
<assemblyIdentity
version="1.0.0.0"
processorArchitecture="X86"
name="Microsoft.VB6.VBnetStyles"
type="win32"
/>
<description>VBnet Manifest for VB6 IDE</description>
<dependency>
<dependentAssembly>
<assemblyIdentity
type="win32"
name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
version="6.0.0.0"
processorArchitecture="X86"
publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
language="*"
/>
</dependentAssembly>
</dependency>
</assembly>

Result: