>So, I came to the start point. If I want to do something that looks like Outlook 2003 I need to create predefined themes and when there's no active themes, I need to use GetSysColor.
Just remember there are thousands of non-microsoft visual styles. Thought Windows XP allows only standard visual styles many people use patched UxTheme.dll or an application like StyleXP to allow custom visual styles. AFAIK Windows XP Media Center Edition also has visual styles different from what we found in Home or Professional Edition.
And I believe that API indicates that theme is active for custom styles too.
/A new technology turns into completely outdated stuff before you have a time to read "Getting Started..." section.
/If there are some "system programmers" then others are unsystematic.