OpenEuphoria

Use Windows Themes - inject a manifest

• Posted by Brian Broker <brian_broker at yahoo.com> Nov 22, 2005
• 588 views

To Windows programmers that like XP themes:

Do you want to distribute apps that use XP themes without having to add an
additional manifest file?

Here is a cool tool with a free 30 day evaluation but you only need it once for
two files.

This tool will inject a manifest file into exw.exe and/or backend.exe:
http://www.restuner.com/tour-manifest.htm

This will make your progams look XP-ish without the need to supply an additional
manifest file.

First backup your exw.exe and backend.exe files for safe-keeping.  Then, follow
the instructions for this simple tool to inject a manifest file into those
executables.  The tool will decompress the executables but you can, and should,
use UPX to recompress them.

Now your translated and bound Windows programs will use XP themes for common
controls.  You will need to recompress backend.exe if you want your bound
executables to show your icon in Windows.  (It will show in your application but
not in Explorer.)

Since you've injected into backend.exe, all of your bound apps will use themes
and there is no need to use the tool again.  I've even set the time on my
computer ahead a few months to be sure it doesn't time bomb your bound
application.

Note: This obviously doesn't apply to translated & compiled apps but you could
still use this tool on your exe if your compiler doesn't support a manifest
resource.

Anyway, I got it to work and thought I'd share the news.  Let me know if you
have any questions.

-- Brian

PS:  Rob, if you have any objections to folks sharing this sort of modified
exw.exe, you'd best speak up now...

PSS: I'm not affiliated with this app, I just found it and used it to my
advantage.