.NET - Overview VisualStyleElements (XP theme elements)

In .NET you can use the de VisualStyleRenderer classs (namespace System.Windows.Forms.VisualStyles) to paint all graphical elements (button, tab, checkbox, ...) from the active XP Windows theme on a Graphics class (=GDI+ drawing surface).

C# example

private void Form1_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
{
  // Check if XP theme is available
  if (Application.RenderWithVisualStyles)
  {
    // Draw button with size 100,30
    if (VisualStyleRenderer.IsElementDefined(
      VisualStyleElement.Button.PushButton.Normal))
    {
      VisualStyleRenderer renderer = new VisualStyleRenderer(VisualStyleElement.Button.PushButton.Normal);
      Rectangle buttonRect = new Rectangle(10, 10, 100, 30);
      // Draw button
      renderer.DrawBackground(e.Graphics, buttonRect);
    }

    // Draw checked checkbox with default size
    if (VisualStyleRenderer.IsElementDefined(
      VisualStyleElement.Button.CheckBox.CheckedHot))
    {
      VisualStyleRenderer renderer = new VisualStyleRenderer(VisualStyleElement.Button.CheckBox.CheckedNormal);

      // Get the system-defined size of the element
      Graphics g = this.CreateGraphics();
      Size checkboxSize = renderer.GetPartSize(g, ThemeSizeType.True);
      g.Dispose();

      Rectangle checkboxRect = new Rectangle(new Point(10, 50), checkboxSize);
      // Draw checkbox
      renderer.DrawBackground(e.Graphics, checkboxRect);
    }
  }
}

A nice demo application which shows a treeview with all VisualStyleElements can be found at the MSDN website.

• http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.visualstyles.visualstylerenderer.aspx
  
  
• http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.forms.visualstyles.visualstyleelement.aspx

Sometimes it can be handy to have a visual overview to find one of the elements. That is way I have exported all elements (from the default blue XP theme) to PNG images and collected them on this page.

Button.PushButton.Normal		ExplorerBar.HeaderBackground.Normal		TrackBar.Track.Normal
Button.PushButton.Hot		ExplorerBar.HeaderClose.Normal		TrackBar.TrackVertical.Normal
Button.PushButton.Pressed		ExplorerBar.HeaderClose.Hot		TrackBar.Thumb.Normal
Button.PushButton.Disabled		ExplorerBar.HeaderClose.Pressed		TrackBar.Thumb.Hot
Button.PushButton.Default		ExplorerBar.HeaderPin.Normal		TrackBar.Thumb.Pressed
Button.RadioButton.UncheckedNormal		ExplorerBar.HeaderPin.Hot		TrackBar.Thumb.Focused
Button.RadioButton.UncheckedHot		ExplorerBar.HeaderPin.Pressed		TrackBar.Thumb.Disabled
Button.RadioButton.UncheckedPressed		ExplorerBar.HeaderPin.SelectedNormal		TrackBar.ThumbBottom.Normal
Button.RadioButton.UncheckedDisabled		ExplorerBar.HeaderPin.SelectedHot		TrackBar.ThumbBottom.Hot
Button.RadioButton.CheckedNormal		ExplorerBar.HeaderPin.SelectedPressed		TrackBar.ThumbBottom.Pressed
Button.RadioButton.CheckedHot		ExplorerBar.IEBarMenu.Normal		TrackBar.ThumbBottom.Focused
Button.RadioButton.CheckedPressed		ExplorerBar.IEBarMenu.Hot		TrackBar.ThumbBottom.Disabled
Button.RadioButton.CheckedDisabled		ExplorerBar.IEBarMenu.Pressed		TrackBar.ThumbTop.Normal
Button.CheckBox.UncheckedNormal		ExplorerBar.NormalGroupBackground.Normal		TrackBar.ThumbTop.Hot
Button.CheckBox.UncheckedHot		ExplorerBar.NormalGroupCollapse.Normal		TrackBar.ThumbTop.Pressed
Button.CheckBox.UncheckedPressed		ExplorerBar.NormalGroupCollapse.Hot		TrackBar.ThumbTop.Focused
Button.CheckBox.UncheckedDisabled		ExplorerBar.NormalGroupCollapse.Pressed		TrackBar.ThumbTop.Disabled
Button.CheckBox.CheckedNormal		ExplorerBar.NormalGroupExpand.Normal		TrackBar.ThumbVertical.Normal
Button.CheckBox.CheckedHot		ExplorerBar.NormalGroupExpand.Hot		TrackBar.ThumbVertical.Hot
Button.CheckBox.CheckedPressed		ExplorerBar.NormalGroupExpand.Pressed		TrackBar.ThumbVertical.Pressed
Button.CheckBox.CheckedDisabled		ExplorerBar.NormalGroupHead.Normal		TrackBar.ThumbVertical.Focused
Button.CheckBox.MixedNormal		ExplorerBar.SpecialGroupBackground.Normal		TrackBar.ThumbVertical.Disabled
Button.CheckBox.MixedHot		ExplorerBar.SpecialGroupCollapse.Normal		TrackBar.ThumbLeft.Normal
Button.CheckBox.MixedPressed		ExplorerBar.SpecialGroupCollapse.Hot		TrackBar.ThumbLeft.Hot
Button.CheckBox.MixedDisabled		ExplorerBar.SpecialGroupCollapse.Pressed		TrackBar.ThumbLeft.Pressed
Button.GroupBox.Normal		ExplorerBar.SpecialGroupExpand.Normal		TrackBar.ThumbLeft.Focused
Button.GroupBox.Disabled		ExplorerBar.SpecialGroupExpand.Hot		TrackBar.ThumbLeft.Disabled
ComboBox.DropDownButton.Normal		ExplorerBar.SpecialGroupExpand.Pressed		TrackBar.ThumbRight.Normal
ComboBox.DropDownButton.Hot		ExplorerBar.SpecialGroupHead.Normal		TrackBar.ThumbRight.Hot
ComboBox.DropDownButton.Pressed		Header.Item.Normal		TrackBar.ThumbRight.Pressed
ComboBox.DropDownButton.Disabled		Header.Item.Hot		TrackBar.ThumbRight.Focused
Spin.Up.Normal		Header.Item.Pressed		TrackBar.ThumbRight.Disabled
Spin.Up.Hot		ProgressBar.Bar.Normal		TrackBar.Ticks.Normal
Spin.Up.Pressed		ProgressBar.BarVertical.Normal		TrackBar.TicksVertical.Normal
Spin.Up.Disabled		ProgressBar.Chunk.Normal		TreeView.Glyph.Closed
Spin.Down.Normal		ProgressBar.ChunkVertical.Normal		TreeView.Glyph.Opened
Spin.Down.Hot		Rebar.Gripper.Normal		TextBox.TextEdit.Normal
Spin.Down.Pressed		Rebar.GripperVertical.Normal		TextBox.TextEdit.Hot
Spin.Down.Disabled		Rebar.Band.Normal		TextBox.TextEdit.Selected
Spin.UpHorizontal.Normal		Rebar.Chevron.Normal		TextBox.TextEdit.Disabled
Spin.UpHorizontal.Hot		Rebar.Chevron.Hot		TextBox.TextEdit.Focused
Spin.UpHorizontal.Pressed		Rebar.Chevron.Pressed		TextBox.TextEdit.ReadOnly
Spin.UpHorizontal.Disabled		Rebar.ChevronVertical.Normal		TextBox.TextEdit.Assist
Spin.DownHorizontal.Normal		Rebar.ChevronVertical.Hot		Window.Caption.Active
Spin.DownHorizontal.Hot		Rebar.ChevronVertical.Pressed		Window.Caption.Inactive
Spin.DownHorizontal.Pressed		StartPanel.UserPane.Normal		Window.Caption.Disabled
Spin.DownHorizontal.Disabled		StartPanel.MorePrograms.Normal		Window.SmallCaption.Active
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.UpNormal		StartPanel.MoreProgramsArrow.Normal		Window.SmallCaption.Inactive
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.UpHot		StartPanel.MoreProgramsArrow.Hot		Window.SmallCaption.Disabled
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.UpPressed		StartPanel.MoreProgramsArrow.Pressed		Window.MinCaption.Active
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.UpDisabled		StartPanel.ProgList.Normal		Window.MinCaption.Inactive
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.DownNormal		StartPanel.ProgListSeparator.Normal		Window.MinCaption.Disabled
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.DownHot		StartPanel.PlaceList.Normal		Window.MaxCaption.Active
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.DownPressed		StartPanel.PlaceListSeparator.Normal		Window.MaxCaption.Inactive
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.DownDisabled		StartPanel.LogOff.Normal		Window.MaxCaption.Disabled
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.LeftNormal		StartPanel.LogOffButtons.Normal		Window.FrameLeft.Active
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.LeftHot		StartPanel.LogOffButtons.Hot		Window.FrameLeft.Inactive
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.LeftPressed		StartPanel.LogOffButtons.Pressed		Window.FrameRight.Active
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.LeftDisabled		StartPanel.UserPicture.Normal		Window.FrameRight.Inactive
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.RightNormal		Status.Bar.Normal		Window.FrameBottom.Active
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.RightHot		Status.Pane.Normal		Window.FrameBottom.Inactive
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.RightPressed		Status.GripperPane.Normal		Window.SmallFrameLeft.Active
ScrollBar.ArrowButton.RightDisabled		Status.Gripper.Normal		Window.SmallFrameLeft.Inactive
ScrollBar.ThumbButtonHorizontal.Normal		TaskBand.GroupCount.Normal		Window.SmallFrameRight.Active
ScrollBar.ThumbButtonHorizontal.Hot		TaskBand.FlashButton.Normal		Window.SmallFrameRight.Inactive
ScrollBar.ThumbButtonHorizontal.Pressed		TaskBand.FlashButtonGroupMenu.Normal		Window.SmallFrameBottom.Active
ScrollBar.ThumbButtonHorizontal.Disabled		Taskbar.BackgroundBottom.Normal		Window.SmallFrameBottom.Inactive
ScrollBar.ThumbButtonVertical.Normal		Taskbar.BackgroundRight.Normal		Window.MinButton.Normal
ScrollBar.ThumbButtonVertical.Hot		Taskbar.BackgroundTop.Normal		Window.MinButton.Hot
ScrollBar.ThumbButtonVertical.Pressed		Taskbar.BackgroundLeft.Normal		Window.MinButton.Pressed
ScrollBar.ThumbButtonVertical.Disabled		Taskbar.SizingBarBottom.Normal		Window.MinButton.Disabled
ScrollBar.RightTrackHorizontal.Normal		Taskbar.SizingBarRight.Normal		Window.MdiMinButton.Normal
ScrollBar.RightTrackHorizontal.Hot		Taskbar.SizingBarTop.Normal		Window.MdiMinButton.Hot
ScrollBar.RightTrackHorizontal.Pressed		Taskbar.SizingBarLeft.Normal		Window.MdiMinButton.Pressed
ScrollBar.RightTrackHorizontal.Disabled		ToolBar.Button.Normal		Window.MdiMinButton.Disabled
ScrollBar.LeftTrackHorizontal.Normal		ToolBar.Button.Hot		Window.MaxButton.Normal
ScrollBar.LeftTrackHorizontal.Hot		ToolBar.Button.Pressed		Window.MaxButton.Hot
ScrollBar.LeftTrackHorizontal.Pressed		ToolBar.Button.Disabled		Window.MaxButton.Pressed
ScrollBar.LeftTrackHorizontal.Disabled		ToolBar.Button.Checked		Window.MaxButton.Disabled
ScrollBar.LowerTrackVertical.Normal		ToolBar.Button.HotChecked		Window.CloseButton.Normal
ScrollBar.LowerTrackVertical.Hot		ToolBar.DropDownButton.Normal		Window.CloseButton.Hot
ScrollBar.LowerTrackVertical.Pressed		ToolBar.DropDownButton.Hot		Window.CloseButton.Pressed
ScrollBar.LowerTrackVertical.Disabled		ToolBar.DropDownButton.Pressed		Window.CloseButton.Disabled
ScrollBar.UpperTrackVertical.Normal		ToolBar.DropDownButton.Disabled		Window.SmallCloseButton.Normal
ScrollBar.UpperTrackVertical.Hot		ToolBar.DropDownButton.Checked		Window.SmallCloseButton.Hot
ScrollBar.UpperTrackVertical.Pressed		ToolBar.DropDownButton.HotChecked		Window.SmallCloseButton.Pressed
ScrollBar.UpperTrackVertical.Disabled		ToolBar.SplitButton.Normal		Window.SmallCloseButton.Disabled
ScrollBar.GripperHorizontal.Normal		ToolBar.SplitButton.Hot		Window.MdiCloseButton.Normal
ScrollBar.GripperVertical.Normal		ToolBar.SplitButton.Pressed		Window.MdiCloseButton.Hot
ScrollBar.SizeBox.RightAlign		ToolBar.SplitButton.Disabled		Window.MdiCloseButton.Pressed
ScrollBar.SizeBox.LeftAlign		ToolBar.SplitButton.Checked		Window.MdiCloseButton.Disabled
Tab.TabItem.Normal		ToolBar.SplitButton.HotChecked		Window.RestoreButton.Normal
Tab.TabItem.Hot		ToolBar.SplitButtonDropDown.Normal		Window.RestoreButton.Hot
Tab.TabItem.Pressed		ToolBar.SplitButtonDropDown.Hot		Window.RestoreButton.Pressed
Tab.TabItem.Disabled		ToolBar.SplitButtonDropDown.Pressed		Window.RestoreButton.Disabled
Tab.TabItemLeftEdge.Normal		ToolBar.SplitButtonDropDown.Disabled		Window.MdiRestoreButton.Normal
Tab.TabItemLeftEdge.Hot		ToolBar.SplitButtonDropDown.Checked		Window.MdiRestoreButton.Hot
Tab.TabItemLeftEdge.Pressed		ToolBar.SplitButtonDropDown.HotChecked		Window.MdiRestoreButton.Pressed
Tab.TabItemLeftEdge.Disabled		ToolBar.SeparatorHorizontal.Normal		Window.MdiRestoreButton.Disabled
Tab.TabItemRightEdge.Normal		ToolBar.SeparatorVertical.Normal		Window.HelpButton.Normal
Tab.TabItemRightEdge.Hot		ToolTip.Close.Normal		Window.HelpButton.Hot
Tab.TabItemRightEdge.Pressed		ToolTip.Close.Hot		Window.HelpButton.Pressed
Tab.TabItemRightEdge.Disabled		ToolTip.Close.Pressed		Window.HelpButton.Disabled
Tab.TabItemBothEdges.Normal				Window.Dialog.Normal
Tab.TopTabItem.Normal				Window.CaptionSizingTemplate.Normal
Tab.TopTabItem.Hot				Window.SmallCaptionSizingTemplate.Normal
Tab.TopTabItem.Pressed
Tab.TopTabItem.Disabled
Tab.TopTabItemLeftEdge.Normal
Tab.TopTabItemLeftEdge.Hot
Tab.TopTabItemLeftEdge.Pressed
Tab.TopTabItemLeftEdge.Disabled
Tab.TopTabItemRightEdge.Normal
Tab.TopTabItemRightEdge.Hot
Tab.TopTabItemRightEdge.Pressed
Tab.TopTabItemRightEdge.Disabled
Tab.TopTabItemBothEdges.Normal
Tab.Pane.Normal

Stefan Cruysberghs