AppFace UI Development Kits offers a simple software skinning solution with just two lines of code. It supports a range of programming languages and allows users to import skins from XP themes and free resources.
With AUDK, you'll get access to a skinning library, the visual skin maker, comprehensive documentation, and skinned sample projects. The skinning library, appface.dll, is an important component of many skinned controls. In fact, it can skin all created windows automatically in your target application.
Developers can use AUDK by adding skin loads and unloads to their applications. The process is simple:
Step 1. Copy the necessary files and function declarations to your project.
Step 2. Before the first window is created, call SkinStart("yoururf.urf",0,0,1,0,0)
Step 3. Before the process is terminated, call SkinRemove().
Once compiled, your software will have a stunning skin!
What's more, the skinning library, appface.dll, is not an ActiveX control but a standard windows dll. It's only 230 KB and compatible with Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003. Developers can import skins from XP themes or design their own unique and creative skins using the visual skin maker.
In conclusion, AUDK is an excellent skinning solution that can transform the user interface of your software. If you're looking for a way to take your application to the next level, AUDK is definitely worth considering.
Version 2.1: Fixed the reported bugs
Version 1.4: Fixed the reported bugs