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How to make a RegisterClassEx() type from standard VB Controls (error control, progress bar, etc) suitable for use in C++ Applications?
When you drag a VB control into a form, really .NET framework does a CreateWindowExW call to create it because the Win32 API what is really can create a control, .NET framework only adds a hidden API call, which is defined in the control and in System.Windows.Forms.dll (The control defines the class while System.Windows.Forms.dll calls CreateWindowExW on the specified class name)
So, how to create a RegisterClassEx() type from standard VB controls suitable for use in Win32 C++ GUI Applications?
If a Windows Forms Control has a valid Window handle you can use the Windows API through P/Invoke to retrieve information about its class. Refer to GetClassLongPtrW function and also GetClassInfoExW function.
But if you really want to host Windows Forms Controls in a C++ desktop application I suggest you consider using MFC which contains support for doing this. See CWinFormsControl Class.
You can use C++/CLI as explained in this thread : Create C++ Windows Forms application in Visual Studio 2017
(it was for 2017 but it works with 2022)
To initilaize all common controls, use this code:
#include <commctrl.h>
#if defined _M_IX86
#pragma comment(linker, "/manifestdependency:\"type='win32' name='Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls' version='6.0.0.0' processorArchitecture='x86' publicKeyToken='6595b64144ccf1df' language='*'\"")
#elif defined _M_IA64
#pragma comment(linker, "/manifestdependency:\"type='win32' name='Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls' version='6.0.0.0' processorArchitecture='ia64' publicKeyToken='6595b64144ccf1df' language='*'\"")
#elif defined _M_X64
#pragma comment(linker, "/manifestdependency:\"type='win32' name='Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls' version='6.0.0.0' processorArchitecture='amd64' publicKeyToken='6595b64144ccf1df' language='*'\"")
#else
#pragma comment(linker, "/manifestdependency:\"type='win32' name='Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls' version='6.0.0.0' processorArchitecture='*' publicKeyToken='6595b64144ccf1df' language='*'\"")
#endif
INITCOMMONCONTROLSEX iccex;
iccex.dwSize = sizeof(INITCOMMONCONTROLSEX);
iccex.dwICC = ICC_ANIMATE_CLASS | ICC_BAR_CLASSES | ICC_COOL_CLASSES | ICC_DATE_CLASSES | ICC_HOTKEY_CLASS | ICC_INTERNET_CLASS | ICC_LINK_CLASS | ICC_LISTVIEW_CLASSES | ICC_NATIVEFNTCTL_CLASS | ICC_PAGESCROLLER_CLASS | ICC_PROGRESS_CLASS | ICC_STANDARD_CLASSES | ICC_TAB_CLASSES | ICC_TREEVIEW_CLASSES | ICC_UPDOWN_CLASS | ICC_USEREX_CLASSES | ICC_WIN95_CLASSES;
InitCommonControlsEx(&iccex);
This loads all the common controls.
Read the documentation for https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/commctrl/nf-commctrl-initcommoncontrolsex
?????
This code calls InitCommonControlsEx() to register all common controls.
And what is the relationship with .NET Framework controls/classes like ErrorProvider ?
The ErrorProvider is simply a static control with a red text and a changed name.
KEEP IN MIND that Windows API can do anything the .NET Framework can do, the .NET Framework is simply a wrapper of the Windows API.
Those DLLs that provide .NET framework functionality must initialize themselves and register all of their controls, which is a step you can repeat in C++ and then use CreateWindowExW to create it by passing the appropriate class name to it.
.NET controls are not all based on Common Controls (like DataGridView for example)