C# Signature:

[DllImport("dwmapi.dll")]
private static extern int DwmIsCompositionEnabled(out bool enabled);

VB.NET Signature:

<DllImport("dwmapi.dll")> _
Private Shared Function DwmIsCompositionEnabled(ByRef enabled As Boolean) As Integer
End Function

User-Defined Types:

None.

Notes:

NB Since Windows XP has been end-of-lifed, the OS version checks can be skipped. Especially if you are using .NET 4.5 and up, in which case Vista or greater is a prerequisite to run your program.

You cannot call this function directly. This is how to use it (VB.NET):

Public Function AeroEnabled() As Boolean
     If Environment.OSVersion.Version.Major < 6 Then Return False
     Dim Enabled As Boolean
     DwmIsCompositionEnabled(Enabled)
     Return Enabled
End Function

Shorter version. Yes, this does work. Try it!

Public Function AeroEnabled() As Boolean
     If Environment.OSVersion.Version.Major < 6 Then Return False
     DwmIsCompositionEnabled(AeroEnabled)
End Function

Alternative Managed API:

Download the 'VistaBridge Sample Library' from http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/VistaBridge once downloaded, open the project and then build it (if you want to look through all the code, examine the files in the \Library or \Interop folders). You can now take the DLL from VistaBridge\bin\debug\ and add a reference to it in your project, as well you must add a using statement for each of the different VistaBridge modules. For Example:

using Microsoft.SDK.Samples.VistaBridge.Interop or .Library or .Properties or .Services - Depending on your needs.

The VistaBridge project includes API's for many other Vista Features (such as the TaskDialog, Vista OpenFile and SaveFile Dialogs, and of course the Aero Glass Effects) to try these out, run the VistaBridge Project.

If you're using DevExpress components::

  DevExpress.Utils.Drawing.Helpers.NativeVista.IsCompositionEnabled();

Tips & Tricks:

Please add some!

Sample Code:

Please add some!