This code will show you how to use great looking skins on borderless forms without the use of any API calls. Includes 11 different Skins. Although I have made considerable modifications to the skins themselves, the original credits go to windowblinds. Also, (because of some of the feedback I've gotten), ALL of the skins that I am using in this demo I have gained permission to use from the aurthors of each skin.
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when i try to run it it says "data base not found".. whats up with that? Please help me get this to work i wouldnt mind seeing this puppy! (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
nice job. I voted excellent. hey if you let me I will use your skins in my final benchmark project.. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
Thanks everyone for the comments. You all may use these skins in your own program if you wish. All I ask is that you mention my name somewhere in the code. (My name is Jeff Deaton) Thanx !
Reguarding the database stuff, just commment it out. I'm not using a DB with this program just yet anyway. When the login screen appears, just click the Login button. You don't need a PW to get in. Once you're in the program, click the Colors toolbar button to go and start changing skins. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
By the way, if anyone knows how to resize a borderless form, I would LOVE to know. I can't figure it out and/or find the API to do it. Cio... (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
Thank you everyone for the nice comments and excellent ratings. Very much appreciated !! (Taking suggestions too)... (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
I got this library missing : Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects 2.5 Library. Any ideas as to where I can get it from? This looks cool so once I've got it working you'll deserve another vote! (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
For resizing a borderless form: One way would be to place a thin label along each border and trap mousedown/mousemove events. Also, there is code somewhere here in PSC for resizing a borderless form. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
I'm not saying you stole the code anywhere or anything but don't you think you should give some credit to the artists instead of saying you made the art , but if it is your art and I'm mistaken sorry. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
Forget about the database stuff (DAO, ADO, ActiveX) etc. in the code. You can go through and remove all of that and remove any references to it as well. They are not used at this point as I'm still working on this program for my company and haven't put in the SQL Server DB Connection stuff yet. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
OK, got it working, very cool! Although you said there were no API calls, but there are. I can see SendMessage and ReleaseCapture for starters. But apart from that this is great! (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
OK, there are some api calls, but I meant that there are no API calls for using the skins :). The API's that are there are for moving the borderless forms. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
5 stars for the code, -5 stars for the lame skin graphics. Luckily for you I'm only voting for the code :) If you want some GOOD ORIGINAL skins done for free, just ask me. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
im sorry, i must be totally s*upid or something but i cant get this code to work at all, ive tried the deleting of db stuff and still i cant get it to work
if somebody could just email the project to me already fixed up this wuold be good, HELP !! I REALLY WANNA SEE THIS PROGRAM !!! my email address is jaz@sumaki.com (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
Public Declare Function MoveWindow Lib "user32" Alias "MoveWindow" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal x As Long, ByVal y As Long, ByVal nWidth As Long, ByVal nHeight As Long, ByVal bRepaint As Long) As Long
You need to specify the same x and y as your form has current or it will move to the upper left of the screen...
(If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
Sorry forgot to mention what thats for..You can resize forms with that api call despite the form type..I used this a while back to get rid off them free banners on free isp's..I just mad the banner really small and moved it to like -2000 on my screen..that was before they caught on and now they ignore api calls lol...Eric Malamisura..Hope that helps..later (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
this is not right...please give those artist that truly made that art some credit, you do know its illegal what you have done under copyright laws, as someone has said before, they are skinz from windowsblinds..... (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
I DID mention the original artwork was done by windowblinds. Although I have made considerable modifications to the skins, I am mainly demonstrating the skin CODE here. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
Note to all who have criticized me on using stardock windowblind skins. I know you didn't know this, but I have asked each artist for permission to use they're skin in my companie's program that I'm writing for them as long as I mention their name(s) in the Splash screen and/or in the code. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOT USED ANY SKIN THAT PERMISSION WASN'T GIVEN TO ME TO USE. (Just FYI before anyone else complains that I STOLD the skins) :) (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
Could you please upload the code without database entries, There are far too many errors to fix! i would greatly appreciate this.. thanks (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
Ok I ahve tried to run it an I get a library error. Which library do I have to active to get this to work. I already commented out the DB stuff so it is not that. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
I commented out the db stuff an still can not get it to run.. I even get cant load project or library on a chr(0) command.. what gives (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
I am i only one that noticed this code requires you to replace all your checkboxes, command buttons, and radio buttons with images? Maybe i'm missing something, but that means this code can not be used with an existing project. You need to build a new project with the idea of skinning it right from the start. WindowsBlinds may be expensive, but it doesn't require this amount of extra work. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
What about making of this a group of controls so it can be used in any app:
One that automatically makes itself the size of the form and has the resize, move, control box etc code already in it, then all you have to do is make the form borderless, dump the control in it and send it to back so it doesn't hide other controls!
And some basic controls like command buttons, radio buttons, check boxes, lists, labels that automatically set themselves the right color...
This would be really useful, all you had to do would be one control for each form and replace your controls with the new ones!
Also, it would be easy if you just had to specify the folder of the skin and it had the info and all the images in it! (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
I love your skin demo. It was the nicest implimentation I have seen so far. I am trying to skin the MDI Form. Any Ideas on that? (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
To fix the database error you get, do like this... Load and run the project, it'll give you an error about library not found or something and the reference dialog will popup. Remove check on the 2 missing references. Run project again and comment the constants and subs linked to DB stuff. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
i a newbie to VB and have to start out by making an application with PDA looks so i downloaded A++ skins but it gives hell lot of errors even though im trying my best to delete references to the DB file - could u please help me and mail me the version of the source code without the references to the database - or u may mail me ther database file so that atleast the software runs
- a desperate VB newbie (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
This code is excellent, I read you are working on it, are you gonna let us see future versions ?, can you give us a clue on how to connect the application to our login database. This code really answer a bunch of question to me, great practice for me, every day some time trying to understand it, this is what I want to be able to do.
let me go and give this animal an excellent. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
Excellent code man, but i got a little problem, you know that note you put on your program about how you must terminate the program using the mouse right button or it will screw your monitor, well i did what it said but it still screwed up my monitor, so if you or someone else could help me fix this little problem i would really apreciate it!!. heres my email: mora133@hotmail.com (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
Excellent code man, but i got a little problem, you know that note you put on your program about how you must terminate the program using the mouse right button or it will screw your monitor, well i did what it said but it still screwed up my monitor (it turns yellow), so if you or someone else could help me fix this little problem i would really apreciate it!!. heres my email: mora133@hotmail.com (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
Are we allow to use your code, or any part of it for our own projects. I am thinking of a project and I was planning to alter your code, the thing is that I am learning VB, I think that is the best way to learn but I would like to know if that is ok with you
Kaspa (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
could u please help me and mail me the version of the source code without the references to the database also I am a newbie and am haveing alot of trouble getting it to work aaron_stinson@yahoo.com (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
Great thing! Does anybody know if I have to use an MDI-Form for this code? :-) sonja.toelle@gmx.de (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
I've tried to run the program, but each time I get the following Error: Can not find Project or Library It gets stuck on: Global FS as New FileSystemObject I've tried to locate the library with no success. Please assist. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
D Wenrich: You don't have the Scripting Runtime library which includes the FileSystemObject. I'm not sure where to get it.. Windows Scripting homepage would be a good place to start. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
Great code, Ill love this example, and I am verry impressed with the skins themselves, and was wondering if I could use the artwork in my next program. Let me know, and keep the codes coming. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
Microsoft scripting runtime missing (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
12/1/2002 12:35:41 PM:
could someone please send me fixed version of this? email = migr4ne@aol.com...thx..if anyone does... (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
1/4/2003 9:58:21 PM:
Hey can you help me I get a problem. I have VB 6 without MSDN.Help quickly please. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
1/20/2003 3:44:28 PM:
Great Code! I hope I can incorporate this into my application. Of course I will give credit to you and the other autohers. Keep up the good work. Hope too see more updates. Maybe from XML File Skin Method just like Winamp. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
1/24/2003 10:01:32 AM:
I recognize the second skin.. TreeTog's Attacker theme.. I don't think you have the right to let people use that skin in their apps.. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
1/22/2005 2:54:16 AM:
great code... tnx for letting us use your code... 5 globes (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
2/7/2005 4:48:47 PM:
lol, the last 2 ppl who commented were from 1/24/03 and then 1/22/05... lol
well now heres me:
I LOVE THIS CODE, i'm adding it to my proggy (already done but yeah)
ima give you credit too (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
2/13/2005 12:05:14 PM:
Very nice. The parent form still keeps the VB style look, only inner windows get the skin. Is that a limitation? Overall I vote excellent. (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
4/12/2005 12:51:08 PM:
Excellent code! (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
Great Code! You get 5 globes. One question that I don't see it answered here: You have certain sizes of images like 500X300. How can I resize my form to fit something lager using the same size image? (If this comment was disrespectful, please report it.)
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