We assume that you have already a skin file ( else you can search for *.ebn
files in the samples folder of the Exontrol's ExButton ).
There are two options to load your skin file to the button using the Skin
or FocusSkin method of the
ExButton:
- converting the skin file to a BASE64 encoded string.
- loading directly the file
Converting the skin file to a BASE64 encoded string is possible
using the Exontrol's ExImages
tool. It is free to use, so you have to download it and to run the
ExImages.exe file.
Open a Windows Explorer, locate your skin file and drag the
file over the area "Drag here a file such of .... ". The tool
generates the BASE64 encoded string in two formats: VB or Template.
The VB format shows like follows:
Dim s as String
s = "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"
s = s + "WhGJZpEoYoWiYaZKG6HomioCh2iGJ5pAoIoKgUaIDDCOgvCqKoyiuKxrAqPuCisSpGjWLJrGqZo4i6ax6naOoviuSo2iaBRmkmNJQC+DALB6SYyCyKw2kyM5sjsRpOjSLUIFaNRtgsUpajWbY7GaSowlAOguG0NQMCMEpkjmLhbh6ao6G6S4im6OpunuNpwjybwrlacY9m8S5inaOZuAsFJ/DYDBjCMAJAjAHAPAaQRwgwEwKkGcI8CcDJDnCbBHA2RJxAwUwSkCb5bgifw3AyMwzByR4xlwfwikgchMgMJpInIfIXCiSpyiyNwpkucpMkMLpHnGGoiG0OAMnMQw4k6M4cm8PpPHR2BCk+dA9AcRJRnQbQnEWUp0g0MxKk6cxVgYbQ5eSUxUlWNRdF8WpWHWTRjF6Vp1n0dxglidgthcYZZnYTYjGaVZ1BoIJoDWTYNj8cZcDcLZXHSXZ3D2M4dovQ3gbG8P0Xw8ANjnAKL8eAfAHDlFsM0U4WRbBtHiFwM4FxjDyA4H8Eoxw5CcEeCsZI8huDPBiM0eQ/B3g1GeHMTgbwIB/eYPkX40h6D9BuFEao9QuhvCmNceonRDhdGwPYTonw2jZDuB0V4cxtj1A67AOInA+j/EGOAPAXgXiJHGPgPwTxGjlDyB4L7zB9AeDOKUc4+g/CPEKNETw5wcjPHYPsPw1xcjvH2N8B4ux4j8A+CcYo8h+gfB+NUeYfRPhPiiPsToGR4B0E6D8T74A/DfGePEfo/h/jvHoP8T"
s = s + "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"
s = s + "4KYig+hOHSP0HopRqCojeNEfoUQ1A9CMKkuApQqDaEmFMdQZQoCpGqEYVQVQdCtCoKoYoVRVg1C8KIV41AxCMGoEUMIrAqiOFkFYLQzQsjrCKGkVoVRXCzBIOQUAUwIhqBSK4JArhdAiFUO0Lg6xeh1FeAgUwtxKDSAEQEA="
and it can be copied and pasted to your VB, VC code.
The Template form looks like:
Template: "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"
and it can be used in Template pages. Also, the tool displays
the length of the string that's required to hold the file you dragged.
Important to notice is that the ExImages tool compresses the file before
generating the BASE64 encoded string, but converting it to a BASE64 string it
means that the size of the string will be with 1/4 greater than compressed
file. The BASE64 encoded strings are useful to hold your icons, pictures,
skins in string instead adding all kind of files to your application.
So, after we get the BASE64 encoded string all that you need
to do is to pass the s variable to Skin, or FocusSkin
method like in the following sample:
With Button1
Dim s As String
s = "gBFLBCJwBAEHhEJAEGg4BV4Fg6AABACAxWgKBADQKAAyDIKsEQGGIZRhhGIwAgaFIXQKMUIxVAcLQxCgCYRhYABRiUAoJkjkMYhSDOFgzARHcxRPDgARrDyZQAkOQ5FDGFo+ShFQxTRC9CQpHaEYqkeA3fgmTYXTxJM7yfQVFxlCwTIwFGQqJgmVpPABYERyWKoSzJMyERpGCyIDqqbJXVxFYj3DCscw/KIYaqlGS5Ni+IZ2TLNMz4BAdEQfKSEaAgOToboaE5GB5GeRRbT1HYtKDEcQhepIbpaH5YQjkMBibBNZ4pAavcroeK7FqeI5ua7ach5fisB5EAARYREGrcEqPGZ5ShjGJ1MK0CxzIwDboBPbNdwXP56cIAAx8IJbD0GJQGoIQ1jgGAbhmTZXGsLZ7AsTpKDEVolG0QAaJyA4bleZgCiEJpjHmSJaGENgLgwRpTgUCAhAMEIElCSZ+EUAxkCQKB2huJR0BgRQPkAPZuFOCpSGgewckOUACBSBYhFgXgagYYZIGIHoGmGeB2CCCJiCiFghgmYhIiIJoFmEEZtEwAAilKFB9JWUooi2DRjHiWg4g6Y4onYOYPmOSQCD6EBkEkDhGhCJIJBYSYRmOCJIFKCxhmMBIuCwZQpFIU4VGWCReFqFYlkkZjpGWaYGGCGJlnmFhihmJhJh4F4Hg+eY0kULILFmPhxhwJwplYdIdmcOZmHaHongmbh+h8aAJnKAofmgOgGHKGxPnmLgXiIDISli+BonoOtEGkKh"
s = s + "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"
s = s + "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"
s = s + "4KYig+hOHSP0HopRqCojeNEfoUQ1A9CMKkuApQqDaEmFMdQZQoCpGqEYVQVQdCtCoKoYoVRVg1C8KIV41AxCMGoEUMIrAqiOFkFYLQzQsjrCKGkVoVRXCzBIOQUAUwIhqBSK4JArhdAiFUO0Lg6xeh1FeAgUwtxKDSAEQEA="
.Skin exNormal, s
End With
The sample shows how to apply a skin to the exNormal
state of the button. Using the same way you can assign skin for any state of
the button, and you can assign skins for states that you are going to
use, not for all.
For instance, if you have AllowHotState
property is False, the exHot state should not be assigned ( because it is
never used ). Also, if you have UseFocusSkin
property on True, instead calling the Skin method you should call FocusSkin
method. Also, if multiple skins are applied in the same time we would
recommend using the the BeginUpdate
and EndUpdate methods. You will find a
simple sample bellow this page.
Loading directly the file is possible by passing the
path to the skin file to the Skin or FocusSkin
method like in the following sample:
With Button1
.Skin exNormal, "D:\Exontrol\ExButton\project\skins\XPSilver\normal.ebn"
End With
Use the BeginUpdate
and EndUpdate methods to avoid painting the
button while adding skins for each state of the button like in the following
sample:
With Button1
.BeginUpdate
Dim strPath As String
strPath = "D:\Exontrol\ExButton\sample\VB\Builder\Predefined\XPSilver\"
.UseFocusSkin = True
.Skin exNormal, strPath + "normal.ebn"
.Skin exHot, strPath + "hot.ebn"
.Skin exPushed, strPath + "pushed.ebn"
.FocusSkin exNormal, strPath + "focus.ebn"
.EndUpdate
End With