The VisualStyler add-in extends the Visual Studio design-time IDE to support skinned Forms, UserControls and Controls. The add-in presents itself has a standard Visual Studio toolbar alongside the existing IDE toolbars. The add-in automatically skins your project user interface whenever you create or open a project that has an instance of the VisualStyler component sited on a Form.

The VisualStyler add-in is designed to work with C#, VB.Net and C++.Net Windows Forms project types. The add-in toolbar is very intuitive and functions almost in the same way as the Visual Studio control layout toolbar, that is it is visible whenever the currently active document is a Form or UserControl. If the Form with the VisualStyler component is currently open then the add-in automatically synchronizes the skin with the VisualStyler settings.

Activating the VisualStyler Add-in

If you wish to use the VisualStyler design-time skinning features then you will need to activate the VisualStyler add-in after the product installation. On the main Visual Studio toolbar select Tools->Add-in Manager to show the Add-in Manager dialog. Please note, if you are using Visual Studio 2008/2010 on Windows Vista or Windows 7, then you will need Administrator permissions in order to configure Add-in settings on this platform.

In the add-in manager dialog under available add-ins you will see an entry for the VisualStyler component, please check this item in the 'Available Add-ins' column and also check the 'Startup' column. Click OK, the add-in will now automatically load when Visual Studio starts.

Installing the Add-in on Visual Studio 2008/2010 under Windows Vista or Windows 7

Visual Studio 2008 runs as a 'Standard User' account on Windows Vista ( even though you may have an Administrator account ) and when you open the add-in manager and attempt to select the VisualStyler component, Visual Studio is unable to save the setting to the registry because of insufficient access rights.

Please carry out the following steps to resolve this issue :-

1. Run Visual Studio has an Administrator using one of the following methods :-
   
   • Launch "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe" as Administrator.
     
   • Modify your shortcut to VS2008 by bringing up the shortcut properties, click Advanced and check the 'Run as Administrator' box.
     
   
   
2. Bring up the Add-In manager you will see the Startup checkbox is now enabled, you need to check just this column.
   
3. You could could continue to run VS2008 has Administrator by modifying the shortcut as described above, or run in the standard
   user mode in which case the Startup checkbox will be checked but disabled.