DevExpress WinForms Skins - now showing

Question

I have 2 desktop apps:

1. .NET 4.8.0 Framework app, DevExpress 22.2

2. .NET 8 Core app DevExpress 23.1.7 Both are WinForms-base. in #1 the "Dark Side" skin shows for entire app, but in #2 it does not. Unfortunately, my subscription is expired and DevExpress is not answering my questions. Here is my code in .NET Core app (#2) in Program.cs Main():

            SkinManager.EnableFormSkins();
            SkinManager.EnableMdiFormSkins();
            BonusProvidersRegistrator.Register(); // used in .NET 8
            //DevExpress.UserSkins.BonusSkins.Register(); // used  in >NET 4.8.0
   
            UserLookAndFeel ulaf = UserLookAndFeel.Default;
            ulaf.UseDefaultLookAndFeel = false;
            UserLookAndFeel.Default.SetSkinStyle("Dark Side");
   
            var services = new ServiceCollection();
   
            ConfigureServices(services);
   
            // Build ServiceProvider
            ServiceProvider = services.BuildServiceProvider();
   
            Application.Run(ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<MainForm>());
   

I also tried without this line but it does not make a difference:

UserLookAndFeel.Default.SkinName = "Dark Side";

Any ideas? Is it a bug in DevExpress 23.1.7 or compatibility issue in 23.1.7?

Answer 1

Edit your project file and add:

    <PackageReference Include="DevExpress.Win.BonusSkins" Version="23.1.7" />

Then add to your main window in MainForm_Load:

WindowsFormsSettings.DefaultLookAndFeel.SetSkinStyle(skinStyle: DevExpress.LookAndFeel.SkinStyle.DarkSide);