Operating Systems

Re: Custom Vista theme

MrHelperGuy — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 07:08:24 GMT

Glad that fits the bill. That other site looked really questionable upon revisit, so I edited my post to remove the link

Good luck!

Re: Custom Vista theme

TVVCR6 — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 06:44:30 GMT

MrHelperGuy:
Maybe something like this? http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=14347
Also came across this, but I have not downloaded it. Make sure you have anti-virus installed Is probably legit though: http://www.freedownloadscenter.com/Themes/Themes_Editors_and_Tools/Theme_Tutorial.html

Personally I don't trust the freedownloadscenter site. However, that winmatrix tutorial that you found is pure gold.

Thanks for the help, the main thing I needed were the image location numbers! Cheers!

Re: Custom Vista theme

MrHelperGuy — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:21:02 GMT

Maybe something like this? http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=14347

Also came across this, but I have not downloaded it. Make sure you have anti-virus installed Is probably legit though:

EDIT: More questionable site than I realized, link removed. Looks bogus--you have to give your e-mail address to get a link to download it, and the link o the author's site doesn't work!

Re: Custom Vista theme

TVVCR6 — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 03:57:16 GMT

If anyone knows of some good sites that have guides for theme creation/editing I would be very glad. It seems that no matter what I search for on google it always just brings back a bunch of theme download sites, none of which have any sort of guide on them except for installing the theme.

Re: Custom Vista theme

MrHelperGuy — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:55:33 GMT

When you open the theme files up with a resource editor, there are embedded text files that have to do with the theme's color scheme... Remember it slightly looking like CSS when I checked out a theme for you the other day.

I've never tried to edit a theme to the extent you're doing, so let us know if you figure out a way!

Good luck!

Re: Custom Vista theme

TVVCR6 — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:06:35 GMT

Well, so fa I've fixed a LOT of bugs (mostly with the start menu) although I've created a bit of my own.

As you can see, the text on those "recently used programs" and the some of the text where the browser and email are, is white. I've tried to change the color in the Appearance Settings dialog but there's nothing I can see to change that text. Any clues?

Re: Custom Vista theme

TVVCR6 — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:23:35 GMT

MrHelperGuy:
Oops, had in mind that was what you wanted. The start menu background is easy to find, just look for a rectangular sliver that will be teselated to make the actual menu...
Sorry, but I don't have the time to track down each image. Hopefully you have learned how to manipulate the images of a theme though!
Good luck!

I have! Thanks for your help.

Re: Custom Vista theme

MrHelperGuy — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 06:57:33 GMT

Oops, had in mind that was what you wanted. The start menu background is easy to find, just look for a rectangular sliver that will be teselated to make the actual menu...

Sorry, but I don't have the time to track down each image. Hopefully you have learned how to manipulate the images of a theme though!

Good luck!

Re: Custom Vista theme

TVVCR6 — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:04:46 GMT

MrHelperGuy:
IMAGE_868
IMAGE_876
Should be under either Images or Bitmaps, I think I said earlier

Thanks but that's the start button again.

Re: Custom Vista theme

MrHelperGuy — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 02:53:48 GMT

IMAGE_868

IMAGE_876

Should be under either Images or Bitmaps, I think I said earlier

Re: Custom Vista theme

TVVCR6 — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 02:39:02 GMT

MrHelperGuy:
Just try one of the commercial alternatives I mentioned. I believe all of those have 30-day trials... If nothing else, you can take turns and have 90 days to do your theme that should be enough!
Good luck!

Heh. Well I got PE explorer. Where do you think I could find the stuff for the Start Menu, Windows (as in the bar at the top where the window name is), and the buttons (like Minimize, close, etc.)? I've skimmed it but I can't seem to find them.

Re: Custom Vista theme

MrHelperGuy — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:45:24 GMT

Just try one of the commercial alternatives I mentioned. I believe all of those have 30-day trials... If nothing else, you can take turns and have 90 days to do your theme that should be enough!

Good luck!

Re: Custom Vista theme

TVVCR6 — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 01:13:46 GMT

MrHelperGuy:
Unfortunately, I was not able to locate any free resource editors with PNG support. Commercial solutions include Resource Tuner, PE Explorer, and the resource editor included with Microsoft Visual C++. Any of these are probably far more expensive than you care to pay for if you're just using it to customize a single theme, but if you do get a hold of any of these, you should be set!
Otherwise, you'll have to manually export each image resource by right clicking on them and saving. You can then edit this PNG file, and replace the original image in Resource Hacker by right clicking on it and selecting "Replace."
Good luck!

It only allows me to save the 1033 files as hex dumps (.txt).

I've also tried changing the extension to .png on the file but it just breaks it.

I would use Stardock's Skinstudio, but the main reason I hate it is because no matter how you save the themes with it you can only use them with Windowblinds... blech!!

Re: Custom Vista theme

GmsCool — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:18:30 GMT

Look for one in the Software section, there is a stickey at the top of the page for free software, not sure if there is one in there or not.

Feel free to add links to any free software you know of while your in there.

Re: Custom Vista theme

MrHelperGuy — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:07:55 GMT

Unfortunately, I was not able to locate any free resource editors with PNG support. Commercial solutions include Resource Tuner, PE Explorer, and the resource editor included with Microsoft Visual C++. Any of these are probably far more expensive than you care to pay for if you're just using it to customize a single theme, but if you do get a hold of any of these, you should be set!

Otherwise, you'll have to manually export each image resource by right clicking on them and saving. You can then edit this PNG file, and replace the original image in Resource Hacker by right clicking on it and selecting "Replace."

Good luck!