Tom
Wed Jan 05 12:38:31 CST 2005
Here are some comments I recieved from others.
1. Read Programming Windows with C# from front-to-back, then read it again.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0735613702/qid=1104949806/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/102-6006673-0206553?v=glance&s=books
2. Read
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnanchor/html/anch_uidesigndev.asp
3. Really look at the office UI.
4. Remove your mouse and use your applications for a week via keyboard only.
5. Read through the Framework Windows and Drawing namespace a few time.
6. Code, code, code.
7. Use this news group as a resource for WinForm questions.
8. More code, code, code.
--
Tom Krueger
Smart Client DevCenter -
http://msdn.microsoft.com/smartclient/
Mobile DevCenter -
http://msdn.microsoft.com/mobility
This posting is provided "as is" with no warranties and confers no rights.
"Tom Krueger [MSFT]" <a-tkrueg@online.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:ua04Jgs8EHA.1524@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> Getting your applications to look good starts first with design. Those
> that have poor looking applications haven't spent much time on the design
> or are simply not qualified for it. I don't mean that in a bad way, I
> would say most coders are not designers and vice versa. So, if you are a
> coder without a budget and under time constraints your application
> probably isn't going to look the best. Yes, this should be easier and
> Microsoft is making steps forward with UI design in Visual Studio 2005
> code named Whidbey. Here are some resources showing that:
>
> Video:
http://channel9.msdn.com/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=21658
> Sample Apps:
http://www.windowsforms.net/Default.aspx?tabindex=4&tabid=49
> Click "Whidbey Beta 1"
>
> So what about now. My suggestion to you is to study up on System.Drawing.
> Learn about drawing shapes, brushes, colors, etc, etc. Get very familiar
> with the OnPaint event and owner draw. There are some examples of how to
> modify menus, tabs, and buttons at
http://dotnetrix.co.uk/tips.html
>
> In your search, when you find more good resource please add them back so
> everyone can learn.
>
> Best of luck,
>
> --
> Tom Krueger
>
> Smart Client DevCenter -
http://msdn.microsoft.com/smartclient/
> Mobile DevCenter -
http://msdn.microsoft.com/mobility
>
> This posting is provided "as is" with no warranties and confers no rights.
>
> <shahbazc@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1104424815.585822.116960@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
>>I would like to know if there are any examples, tutorial on how to
>> completely change an application's look and feel. By that I mean the
>> colors, the way menus are drawn, the way tool bar items are spaced in a
>> tool bar, the way tab identifiers are shaped, etc., etc.
>>
>> There are a few interesting 'LAFs' such as MS Money 2005, MSN Messenger
>> 6.2, Office 2003...just to name a few basic ones. I would like to have
>> one of my graphic designer friends do a mock up in photoshop then
>> produce an application that looks like it (I'm assuming it all has to
>> be done programatically so designers would have to resort to something
>> like photoshop).
>>
>> I also understand that part of the reason the aforementioned
>> applications look the way they do is because of controls which are not
>> available publicly...despite that, if designer can create websites
>> (with primitive components) that can draw powerful and diverse
>> emotional reactions, I don't understand why rich client GUIs have to
>> look so ugly and gray (obviously 'consistency' has its place too).
>>
>> Any way, it will be even better if someone can point me to publicly
>> available LAFs, the way we are starting to see them for the Java/SWING
>> community.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>
>