MFC menu bar shading

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C++

MFC

I have an MFC app which uses the XP style - I think it uses this because I am using unicode, I havn't done anything with the manifest file.

The drop-down menu options e.g. under File etc have a shaded column at the left. This shaded column is not always shaded next to some menu options - it is sometimes just a uniform colour (which is the colour of the darkest shade on the shaded bits).

Whether the column is shaded or uniform in colour next to menu items does not seem to be dependent on whether or not the menu item is enabled. I can't see why some items have the shaded column and some do not.

Any ideas please?
Many thanks