Theme Editor

[JustDave]

Michael originally posted this in the beta section. I thought it was too cool so I've copied it here to General Discussion. I'm working on MagentaMigraine and Button-Down Brown themes. :~>


Postby mddmx » Fri Jun 19, 2009 2:01 pm
Most of the work in this beta pertains to Themes. The Themes are now being pulled from a theme.ini file located in the application directory. So, if you have downloaded and not noticed anything different ..... that is a good thing. This will allow us to develop some new innovative schemes easily.

If you fashion yourself as a tweaker, you are welcome to also download the Theme Editor that we use. Please bear in mind that creating a theme is very difficult as it is much more art than science. The theme editor can be downloaded from http://www.chaossoftware.com/beta/themeeditorsetup.exe

Please BACKUP YOUR THEME.INI file, and note that your customized THEME.INI file will be replaced whenever you install and update from us. (it will be moved to old versions). This is a necessary requirement.

If you develop a cool theme, please post a picture.

[Gavin Coles]

I could make a Ubuntu themed version!

[JustDave]

I could make a Ubuntu themed version!

Ha! We'll get there yet, eh Gavin?

bdb.jpg

Code: Select all

[Button-Down Brown]
FormColor=0000509F
Gradient=00C6D9E3
GradientTo=0099BCD0
GradientMirror=1FFFFFFF
GradientMirrorTo=1FFFFFFF
GradientText=00000000
Highlight=00F4F4F4
HighlightTo=0099BCD0
HighlightMirror=1FFFFFFF
HighlightMirrorTo=1FFFFFFF
HighlightText=00000000
MenuColor=00F4F5F6
MenuColorTo=00DEE1E4
BorderColor=00B8B8DC
CaptionColor=0097BACC
CaptionColorTo=0057829D
CaptionText=00000000
WindowColor=00FFFFFF
WindowText=00000000

[David]

Still work in progress. I have modified the Silver theme. More or less changed to a light blue with dark blue highlights. Notice the border lines as well which are blue. Possibilities are endless here, I am just doing a little at a time....

Silver.JPG

[mddmx]

Ahhh, now we all know .... that it is hard work and time consuming to create a quality theme. But, it will keep you off the streets at night.

Just a tip, if you see a color gradient anywhere that you like, take a screen shot of it with SHIFT + PRTSCREEN and paste it into Photoshop, Paintshop or similar. Use the color dropper tool to get the RGB color at both ends of the gradient . Then apply those values inside of the theme editor color picker.

[JustDave]

Good point Michael. A smaller, more manageable tool is HexColorFinder. I don't think it's still in development but you can download it from tucows. I keep it on my Flash drive.

Also...
If you want to add a theme, edit theme.ini with a text editor and cut, paste and rename one of the existing themes. Save theme.ini and the new theme will show in alphabetical order in the theme selection drop-down.

[bspeight]

As we've not had a T&C beta since release of the Theme Editor, would I be right in believing that we cannot use it? Somewhere, I think I saw that you have to be using the later !ntellect beta for the Theme Editor to work.

[David]

I am running the latest beta viewtopic.php?f=28&t=760

I do not think that there has been any more since that release.

David

[bspeight]

Hello David...

I'm referring to the difference between T&C and !ntellect. We haven't had a T&C beta to match the current !ntellect beta. I think you need specifically the !ntellect beta to use Theme Editor at the moment.

[David]

Sorry Bernard...I misunderstood your question.

David