Add XP Style to Your VB6 Application

As we know, although our VB6 application run on Windows XP, it's still not using XP style. This article shows you a very simple way to add XP style to your VB6 application.

1. First, add component Microsoft Windows Common Controls 6.0 (SP6) (Mscomctl.ocx) to your project.

Project > Components > check on Microsoft Windows Common Control 6.0 (SP6) > click OK

2. Then, put any of its control to your Startup Object.

To know your Startup Object, click Project > Properties > tab General.

Lets say we put a StatusBar to your Startup Object. You may set it to be unvisible.

3. Design your form now.


4. Compile your project. File > Make .exe.


5. At last, we create a manifest file.
Open Notepad, copy paste below code:

<?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="XP-Style" type="win32" />
<description></description>
<dependency>
<dependentAssembly>
<assemblyIdentity type="win32" name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls" version="6.0.0.0" processorArchitecture="X86" publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df" language="*" />
</dependentAssembly>
</dependency>
</assembly>

Save it with name: [your-application-name].exe.manifest.
Lets say your application name is: Test.exe. Then you must save it as: Test.exe.manifest.

6. Finish.


Result:

Some Notes

- XP Style do not apply during design time, only at run time. (Learn how to activate XP style during design time here).

- Option buttons do not seem to draw correctly when placed on a frame. You must place your option buttons onto a picture box.