How will I be able to make the TestStand UI objects into XP theme?

Question

Hi, I am using TestStand UI in .net, How will I be able to make the UI objecys of TestStand to adapt the XP theme?
Is there any example code that you can give me? Thanks!
Solved!
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Answer 1

The shipped TestStand  .NET Operator Interface  has a manifest file included in the project. This manifest file includes the Micrsoft.Windows.Common-Controls which is needed to identify the XP theme that has been configured on the operating system. In the shipped .NET Operator interface, this .manifest file is being embedded into the executable and formats the TestStand Operator Interface to display the XP theme that has been configured on the operating system. in the shipped TestStand 4.1.1 Operator Interface, the manifest file is embedded into the executable in a Project post-build event.
There are three things that the manifest file is required to have in order to allow the TestStand Operator Interface executable to adapt to the XP theme. They are as follows:
The manifest file must have the same name as the executable. For example, if your executable is named MyExecutable.exe, your manifest file is required to have the name MyExecutable.exe.manifest.
The manifest file must include the Micrsoft.Windows.Common-Controls in order to identify the XP theme that has been configured on the operating system.
The manifest file must reside in the same directory as the executable.
If you are building on an existing Operator interface that ships with TestStand 4.1.1, make sure that the manifest file meets these two requirements. If it does you can test that the theme is properly adapting by selecting Debug»Start Without Debugging.
If this works properly, you can rest assured that when building a release version of the TestStand Operator Interface, it will adapt to the XP theme that has been configured on the operating system.
NOTE:  that you can only test this feature if you launch the executable without debugging because this allows the executable to run its own process. If you run the executable with debugging, the Visual Studio environment will host the process and will not allow the manifest file to be embedded into the executable.
-Adri
Message Edited by Adri K. on 03-04-2009 04:15 PM
Adri Kruger
National Instruments
LabVIEW Product Marketing
Attachments:
matching names.jpg ‏27 KB
debug.jpg ‏20 KB
manifest.jpg ‏65 KB