Can we change the look/feel of windows forms menus?

I just need a push in the right direction. My boss would like me to research this, to see how difficult/time consuming it would be. I tried google, but don't know where to start.

Sorry, but this is a huge pet peeve on mine.Every time I see someone ask this question (or one similar to it) about "theming" the default windows controls. I have to ask "Why?"May I ask why your software would want to change the Look and Feel that I as a user wanted to be standardized across all my windows? Why does every software vendor think that they need to have some funky interface to their program?If you go mucking about (I need to watch my language)izing the controls then a) it disorients the user and b) it locks you out of OS upgrades. For example, if you modify the look and feel of your program, how do you plan to handle how it runs under Vista?Very rarely does there seem to be a legitimate reason to do this...

Antitorgo wrote:

...For example, if you modify the look and feel of your program, how do you plan to handle how it runs under Vista?Very rarely does there seem to be a legitimate reason to do this...

That sounds like a complaint for Vista, and not the designers. If a developer/designer desires to set his/her apps apart from what everybody else is doing, they should have that freedom. If the OS doesn't allow that, then shame on the OS.

Besides, windows forms allow a great deal of modifications right now. Forms have bgcolors, etc. But you can create custom controls to look different too.

qwert231 wrote:

I just need a push in the right direction. My boss would like me to research this, to see how difficult/time consuming it would be. I tried google, but don't know where to start.

You can use System.Windows.Forms.ProfessionalToolStripRenderer to provide some level of customization (since the menu bar in .net 2.0 is a tool strip), but I don't know how much control you can get (I haven't used it before).

Telerik Tool Set == Good Times

You will not be disappointed. And it will probably take you less time to learn their suite then make your own with GDI+. (WPF might be another option if your project can migrate to 3.0)

qwert231 wrote:

I just need a push in the right direction. My boss would like me to research this, to see how difficult/time consuming it would be. I tried google, but don't know where to start.

You can change the look. It isn't too difficult, however somewhat time-consuming (depending on WHAT you want it to change into). E.g. doing some custom background image is fairly simple, more complex stuff might not be.
You only have limited options to change the feel (interaction) though.

www.telerik.com

Costs a grand with source. If you are doing this professionally I imagine you cannot match the cost in your  time not using it.

qwert231 wrote:

I just need a push in the right direction. My boss would like me to research this, to see how difficult/time consuming it would be. I tried google, but don't know where to start.

If you use WPF, you can achieve this within several hours.

Sheva