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Are there any libraries available that can help to change the look-and-feel of Desktop Applications made using VB.net 2008? Here is a snapshot of an application that runs on Windows 7:

enter image description here

I think its made using the .net framework, but how can it be styled like this?

PS - Even if its not built using .net framework, then please let me know which language supports the UI customization on windows platform.

NOTE - As everyone is suggesting me to go with WPF or SWING using JAVA, I still want to know if its possible in VB.net WinForms or not.

Sujit Agarwal
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2 Answers2

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I don't know how this specific window was styled, but there are many posibilities:

Maybe was made in WPF. Microsoft WPF are available since VS2008 and Framework 3.0 and it allow to make a complete look and feel customization for every control that you use.

Maybe It was made in winforms using a custom control set. For example, DevExpress has a set of 60 free controls that comes with some predefined look and allow creating your own skin. (60 Free Controls)

Maybe It just was made in Java with Swing (look this Question)

Community
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Jonathan
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Theme handlers (Use standard controls and the handler takes care of the visual UI):

Open source
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/miscctrl/FancyNetForms.aspx FancyNetForms

Closed source
http://www.appface.com/ ($ 149 USD) (Skin your app with 2 lines of code) appface

Special controls that has built in theaming:
ComponentOne:
http://www.componentone.com/SuperProducts/StudioWinForms/

Infragistics:
http://www.infragistics.com/

Stefan
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