I have found 6 classes involved with the appearance of the UI:

CXTPSkinManager

CXTThemeManager

CXTPPaintManager

CXTPDockingPaneManager

CXTPPropertyGrid

CXTPOffice2007FrameHook

I have an MDI application that uses all but the CXTPSkinManager and this gives me an Office2007 look’n’feel:

m_ThemeManager.SetTheme(xtThemeOffice2003);

paintManager::SetTheme(xtpThemeRibbon);
dockingPaneManager.SetTheme(xtpPaneThemeOffice2007);

m_propertyGrid.SetTheme(xtpGridThemeWhidbey);

Now I tried adding a 3^rd party skin:

XTPSkinManager()->LoadSkin(GetStylesPath() + _T("AA.msstyles"));

At this point several dialogs are skinned, but my MDI frame and property grid, etc. still have the 2007 look.

If I comment out the 4 SetTheme calls and call CXTPOffice2007FrameHook:: EnableOffice2007Frame(0) then things look pretty reasonable, although the close box and thumbtack in docking panes look old.

Is this the proper way to implement skins? Are skins a complete replacement for themes? What about CXTPOffice2007FrameHook?