Microsoft Windows Native Theme Support

The library has a built-in mechanism allowing you to give your application a Microsoft Windows native look. All library components, such as toolbars, menus, tab controls, frames, docking bars, and buttons, will be rendered using the Microsoft Theme API, so your application will have the same look as native Windows applications.

The product API allows you to detect whether your Windows applications have a dark theme (Windows 10 or later) and activate the dark visual theme, such as Office 2021-2024 or Visual Studio 2026, which has the same appearance as Fluent UI applications with the Windows 11 dark theme.

Controls in the Windows light theme:

Controls in the Windows dark theme:

Ribbon bar—Windows Scenic theme:

Sample code:

// Application class is derived from CBCGPWinApp
CMyApp::CMyApp()
{
    // Enable Windows look:
    SetVisualTheme(
        BCGP_VISUAL_THEME_DEFAULT);
}

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