Hack 82 Force Older Programs to Use XP Common Controls
 
Older Windows programs look ancient and
outdated in XP, because they don't use the
newer-style buttons and check boxes. Here's how to
make them use XP common controls.
When you run an
older program in XP, the operating
system applies an XP-type frame around it, with rounded title bars.
But the older program itself still uses its older style interface.
You can, however, force older programs to use XP-type common controls
for things such as checkboxes and buttons. You'll
have to create a manifest file (a specifically
formatted XML file) and place it in the same directory as the older
file.
Example 9-1 shows the code to put in your manifest file. For
Description of Program, enter a
description for the program, and for Program
Name, enter the name of the program.
Example 9-1. Creating a .manifest file
<?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="Program Name"
type="win32"
/>
<description>Description of Program</description>
<dependency>
<dependentAssembly>
<assemblyIdentity
type="win32"
name="Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls"
version="6.0.0.0"
processorArchitecture="X86"
publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df"
language="*"
/>
</dependentAssembly>
</dependency>
</assembly>
To create the file, open Notepad, copy the text into it, and save it
to the same folder as the executable file of the program you want to
force to use XP common controls. Give it the same name as the
program's executable file, but with an extension of
.manifest. For example, if the
program's executable file is named
oldprogram.exe, give the manifest file the name
oldprogram.exe.manifest.
9.4.1 See Also
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