DirectSkin: More info needed!

from Stardock Forums
Hello!

I have downloaded the DirectSkin active-x component; but could not understand following information:

[1] Active-X component shows About Dialog box on Init which I suppose a part of Shareware protection. What are the other Shareware restrictions? Are any features restricted or only available in Full version? How many days I have to test this downloaded Trial version (time expiry)?

[2] What components are needed to be distributed with application installation setup?

[3] I saw the directory content of sample skins provided. Do I need to distribute all of those files with my application for a certain skin? Taking an example of "Antares", if I'm using this skin in my application then do I need to distribute all the files from this folder with my application installation setup?

Please guide me to understand DirectSkin component better and decide whether should I buy it or not. Waiting for your valuable reply ...

Regards,

Ruturaaj.
skinstudio
2,625 views 2 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
1) The Demo version of DirectSkin is a slightly older version, but is essentially the same as the full version, except for the "nag" screen reminding you to upgrade.

2) The components that need to be redistributed are wbocx.ocx and wbhelp2.dll. Additional information regarding redistribution is available at WWW Link

3) The skins included with this DirectSkin installer are samples provided only for testing, so you would not actually be able to use those skins. Stardock Design offers to create a complete User Interface design for your application. Skin files (UIS and images) must be included with your application. They can be included as a .DLL resource.

Please feel free to contact us with any further questions at corpsales@stardock.com or dshelp@stardock.com for technical issues.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hello!

I downloaded the Demo version of your DirectSkin component and was excited when I executed the sample Visual Basic 6.0 program. However, when I tried to use it in my own VB6 program, I was not able to! Must say guys, you have such a wonderful component developed; but the Help File is very poor ... it's lacking the content rich "Getting Started" section for sure!

Anyways. Can you please tell me what's wrong with the following code that I tried to mimic by following your sample Visual Basic 6.0 code:

Private Sub Form_Load()
Dim sSkinFolder As String

With Wbocx1

sSkinFolder = App.Path & "\skin\"
.SetRootPath 1
.SetRootPathStr sSkinFolder
.LoadUIS "dogmax.uis"
.InitWB
.DoWindow Me.hWnd

End With

Me.Show
Me.Refresh

End Sub

When I run this code, I get a Borderless form with sky-blue BG color. First of all, I don't know why I'm getting the Borderless form. I tried setting SetRootPath = 0 but no luck. To avoid any conflicts, I have moved the complete content of "dogmax" skin folder from your "skins" folder to my "skin" folder which I have created as a sub-folder of my test application source code folder.

This is another issue which is not addressed at all in Help file! There are in all four different file types distinctly seen in the Skin folder: UIS, BMP, TGA and WB4. I understand the UIS file is the skin definition file which is loaded by component at first. But which set of files amongst the other file types I need to distribute with my application in order to have the skin applied correctly?

Please guide me to understand the proper way of using DirectSkin component before the time (or run?) expiry of component ends. (this is another issue which is not addressed anywhere: how long the trial period of component is?)

Waiting for your reply ...

Regards,

Ruturaaj.
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