Database Users

Extensible Theme/Skin Changer

(originally posted here)
I would like to propose the open-source development of a new program for Windows Mobile theme changing.
Themes are very popular. People love to personalize their mobile devices. Many ROM cookers will create their own themes that are implemented across a variety of included applications. Unfortunately, themes for third party applications cannot be defined or changed from within Windows Mobile’s native “Today” Control Panel Appearance tab. There are completely different methods of changing the Today screen theme, Media Player theme, and Phone dialer theme. Then if you’ve got some HTC applications in your ROM, there are yet other methods of changing the HTC Home Plug-in theme, TouchFLO Cube theme, Comm Manager theme, SIP keyboard themes, etc. The possibilities are endless.
I would like to propose a standard unified way of changing the look on all of these applications as well as future applications.
The program could be similar to the HTC Home Customizer where users would select named themes to be applied to specific programs, and the software would copy the proper images/files to the proper locations. The difference would be that there would need to be a way for users and 3rd party developers to interface with the program in order to let it know where its new theme files are supposed to go. Maybe there’s a master XML file that lists application specific XML files which include image/file location information.
Anyway, I think this type of program would be extremely useful both for power users and beginners who want to easily customize the look of their device and apply different themes to their applications from a central location. However, I’m not much of a programmer at all, so I am seeking help from the community.
I’ve started a project on Popfly called “WM6ProThemeChanger”. If you search for that name using the Popfly explorer, you’ll find it. Also, you can add me as a friend using “Adamz1977”. I'm not sure if that's the right way to do this, so if anyone else has any thoughts, feel free to post 'em.
I guess we should start be creating a central list of locations and filenames for various theme-changing image files for the variety of applications we all use. Any thoughts??

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That's a great idea!
I have installed Poorlyduck's vista theme for the cube and if you look at his thread, not only did he worked hard at making the theme but he had to help out a really big bunch of people who had a hard time installing it.
Hope this works out!

Are you looking for this to somehow have one file type that contains all of the necessary files, or some sort of "it reads what it can from a folder and copies them where they need to go" style? I guess I can't picture what your goal is...

xd1936 said:
Are you looking for this to somehow have one file type that contains all of the necessary files, or some sort of "it reads what it can from a folder and copies them where they need to go" style? I guess I can't picture what your goal is...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The "it reads what it can from a folder and copies them where they need to go" style would probably be easiest, right? That's what the HTC Home Customizer does I think. Plus, a lot of applications might need text files, GIF, PNG images, and maybe even a DLL to be placed somewhere in order for the theme/skin design to work. The Media Player skins need a SKN text file. I think the phone dialer needs a DLL sometimes in order to change its skin.
I just think it's too difficult for us users to figure out how to change the theme/skins of all these great programs. If you know any one who might be able to help with this, please send them to this thread.

Personal PPCWiki

I have begun writing a Wiki program for my PPC.
I wanted to be able to access and carry all my technical information with me and not rely on being able to connect to a web based wiki. I must admit this was based on another wiki program called "Blade Wiki", but not having all the features I wanted I decided to write my own.
I originally only wrote this program for my own use, but have decided to release it to anyone who might have a use for it. I have released it as open source. The source code can be found at Basic4PPC.
Features:
Quik Easy Markup
Mostly compatible with Blade Wiki
Take phots and save them directly into your wiki
Draw and save it into wiki
Some SQL data base connectivity
all files saved as text files
Field encryption
Code folding
Include one wiki page inside another
Will only run on WM5 and WM6. Needs dotnet V2.
NOTE:Do not sync "pppcw.ini" from desktop to ppc
Its probably not quit ready for a Wiki novice, but it does work well for me.
Getting Started:
Create a directory inside your MyDocuments folder perhaps "MyWikis".
Copy "wikistyle.css" to each wiki folder that you create.
Now simply open PPPWiki and navigate there.
Happy Wiki-ing

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Reserved post for comments

tsteward said:
I have begun writing a Wiki program for my PPC.
I wanted to be able to access and carry all my technical information with me and not rely on being able to connect to a web based wiki. I must admit this was based on another wiki program called "Blade Wiki", but not having all the features I wanted I decided to write my own.
I originally only wrote this program for my own use, but have decided to release it to anyone who might have a use for it. I have released it as open source. The source code can be found at Basic4PPC.
Features:
Quik Easy Markup
Mostly compatible with Blade Wiki
Take phots and save them directly into your wiki
Draw and save it into wiki
Some SQL data base connectivity
all files saved as text files
Field encryption
Code folding
Include one wiki page inside another
Will only run on WM5 and WM6. Needs dotnet V2.
NOTE:Do not sync "pppcw.ini" from desktop to ppc
Its probably not quit ready for a Wiki novice, but it does work well for me.
Getting Started:
Create a directory inside your MyDocuments folder perhaps "MyWikis".
Copy "wikistyle.css" to each wiki folder that you create.
Now simply open PPPWiki and navigate there.
Happy Wiki-ing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a really good implementation and enhancement of Dale's bLADE Wiki. I started using his wiki program last year to help organize my notes. I used to use Notepad to take quick notes, then try to organize them into directories that made sense so I could find them later. Not only was that a lot of effort to keep organized, I would often lose something or more likely update the wrong text file.
When I saw how I could use a wiki to organize everything, it was information organization nirvana for me.

digitaldon37 said:
This is a really good implementation and enhancement of Dale's bLADE Wiki. I started using his wiki program last year to help organize my notes. I used to use Notepad to take quick notes, then try to organize them into directories that made sense so I could find them later. Not only was that a lot of effort to keep organized, I would often lose something or more likely update the wrong text file.
When I saw how I could use a wiki to organize everything, it was information organization nirvana for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At the moment I am working on Namespace feature so you can have the best of both worlds, A wiki and also keep data in its respective directory.
I found the wiki to be great and it has helped me get organised, but I didn't like that fact that every file was all in one directory.
So at the moment a link to another page is [page_name]. The namespace version will allow [sub_directory\page_name]. Helping to organise your information even better.

Ok not a lot of interest here.
If you really want to see what this program is capable of please come to my home page
Personal PPC Wiki Home Page http://pppcwiki.freehostia.com/

Cab-O-Matic - Free online .cab maker

Hey guys,
Thought I'd throw up a post about a tool i've developed to make .cabs online. It's called Cab-O-Matic and basically all you do is .zip up the files you want cabbed, upload them and generate your .cab!
In the interests of privacy (and storage space!), no files are stored, the .cabs are generated "on-the-fly" and the files used to make them are removed once the .cab is generated.
I'll also be adding support for installing multiple files to multiple locations and might even have a section that allows you to include popular reg tweaks (if you have a favourite, please post it!).
The tool is currently in Beta.
Please try it out and let me know what you think
http://nedge2k.com/cab-o-matic
Cheers!
UPDATE: Finally got round to fixing this, the only issue now is with binary registry settings - I'm not entirely sure how to write them. I'll look into fixing it if the demand is there.

nice
Great,Iv'e been lookin for something like this for a long time.Wanted it as a program on my device but this will do.Anyway I can put this on my webserver and also store created cabs with it on there as well?
Thanks,will let you know of any bugs.
*Feature Request-Option to upload oem packages and convert to cabs.

D1ab70 said:
I can put this on my webserver and also store created cabs with it on there as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not quite, I won't be releasing the source for this but I may introduce a developer API at a later date.
As for converting OEM packages to .cab, sounds like a great idea! It won't be something I'll look into until I'm happy everything is working as it should though

combine several CABs
Hi there,
The most important thing I need from such a software is to combine several CABs so that they will install by just installing the one made from your site -- is it possible?
But anyway, you're the pioneer to build up the first online cab maker, no doubt in that
cheers,
arefin

Thanks
Yeah I've been thinking about that. Technically it's possible by including a setup.dll.
The way i see it, you upload a .zip of .cabs, Cab-O-Matic detects what you're trying to do and includes a setup.dll, the resultant .cab then puts the packaged .cabs into a temp folder and the setup.dll scans that folder and installs each .cab one by one
Only problem is, iirc, setup.dll's need to be created in C - which I dont write in. I know people that do though, so watch this space!

you might want to change the name of your program...there is a Cabomatic, cost $20 at this website
http://www.phelios.net/cabomatic.html

nedge2k said:
Hey guys,
Thought I'd throw up a post about a tool i've developed to make .cabs online. It's called Cab-O-Matic and basically all you do is .zip up the files you want cabbed, upload them and generate your .cab!
In the interests of privacy (and storage space!), no files are stored, the .cabs are generated "on-the-fly" and the files used to make them are removed once the .cab is generated.
The only limitations to it at the moment are that I haven't yet added support for BINARY and MULTI STRING data types for registry settings. Nor have I gotten round to adding support for program menu shortcuts...but I will soon!
I'll also be adding support for installing multiple files to multiple locations and might even have a section that allows you to include popular reg tweaks (if you have a favourite, please post it!).
The tool is currently in Beta and from what I've seen so far, the only proplem it seems to have is with large uploads (more than 10mb) but that's easily fixed.
Please try it out and let me know what you think
http://nedge2k.com/cab-o-matic
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dude this is awesome, great work!!

robertg9 said:
you might want to change the name of your program...there is a Cabomatic, cost $20 at this website
http://www.phelios.net/cabomatic.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I realised that shortly after I made my Cab-O-Matic public. However, as far as im aware, the name is not copyrighted or trademarked and both products are quite different. Mine is online, free, written from scratch and actually creates the .cabs. Theirs is offline, costs and is basically just a frontend for Microsoft's cabwiz.exe so...

Support for program menu shortcuts to .exe files as been added.
EDIT: ..and BINARY/MSTRING datatypes for registry settings.

Guys,
If you experience any problems, or recommend this tool to people who then experience problems, please ensure that you/they post the issue in this thread...so I can fix it!!
I created this tool for the community, I have no real need for it myself so I'm relying on feedback to make sure it works as it should!

Bump - OP updated.

What a pity - you cannot directly use standard reg files :-(

Wise ones please help: Are Manilla's tabs located as individual files within device?

Hi there,
Hopefully one of you guys can help me, I'm needing to know whether Manilla's tabs i.e, the ones on the main interface -today, messaging, contacts, etc- are actually files located somewhere within the device.
like an exe/or similar file that would move to that tab when clicked. Not actually open it, but just move to the that tab within the Manilla interface.
It's an idea I have for getting round the landscape problem that bothers us HD2 owners.
Many thanks

I'm certainly no manila guru, so can't really give much advice, but from what I do know I can tell you that manila is a single app and it runs as a today plugin. The graphics that make up the manila theme are spread around in the windows folder (and there's LOTS of them), as well as config files (xml file format), but that's where my knowledge stops.
It's basically 1 big application, not seperate ones.

Have a trawl through the rom development and the themes and apps sections, there are a few good reads on the manila files.
Also, try the advanced google search instead of the site search, it turns up some good stuff, sometimes for different phones, but the info is valid.
Try this
tut edit manila +hd2 +leo
the google page which is worth bookmarking is
Here

[SOLVED] Programs "Start Menu" from imported ROM

I hate to ask on here because I feel like the answer should be obvious but it hasnt been.
I imported the latest AT&T ROM for the Tilt 2 in to OSKitchen and have been customizing/modding the heck out of it. Added my own software, removed most of the AT&T crap. Changed SYS to 21916 and even 2019 Manila without difficulty.
What is stumping me? The stupid default shortcuts for things like ActiveSync or email setup , remote destop Windows Live etc...
Most apps I have changed the app.dat to modify location for most things that I kept. However I have searched in both sys and EXT for prov.xml files, reg files basically ALL file contents looking for the likes of the apps above and just CANT find reference to them.
Is there some default behavior that says if a .lnk file exists in windows make a shortcut in the root of "Programs" ? or what am I missing. (Even that doesnt hold water though because activesync is actually async.lnk.
I know I can use something like mortscript to just move them around but this is more about wanting to know what the heck I seem to be missing. Thanks in advance and hopefully this isnt a stupid question.

hx4700 Killer said:
I hate to ask on here because I feel like the answer should be obvious but it hasnt been.
I imported the latest AT&T ROM for the Tilt 2 in to OSKitchen and have been customizing/modding the heck out of it. Added my own software, removed most of the AT&T crap. Changed SYS to 21916 and even 2019 Manila without difficulty.
What is stumping me? The stupid default shortcuts for things like ActiveSync or email setup , remote destop Windows Live etc...
Most apps I have changed the app.dat to modify location for most things that I kept. However I have searched in both sys and EXT for prov.xml files, reg files basically ALL file contents looking for the likes of the apps above and just CANT find reference to them.
Is there some default behavior that says if a .lnk file exists in windows make a shortcut in the root of "Programs" ? or what am I missing. (Even that doesnt hold water though because activesync is actually async.lnk.
I know I can use something like mortscript to just move them around but this is more about wanting to know what the heck I seem to be missing. Thanks in advance and hopefully this isnt a stupid question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try look in the initflashfiles.dat file.

Lol sure enough. More proof positive that Win7 search is garbage. I had it search file contents but for whatever reason it didnt find those shortcuts because it didnt search that file and it is indexed.

You can change the name of the actual .lnk then using an app.dat rename it and place it in where you'd like. I was having this problem with WM Live so I renamed the actual "WLMLauncher.lnk" to "_WLMLauncher.lnk" and then added this line:
Code:
Directory("\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Internet"):-File("Windows Live.lnk","\Windows\_WLMLauncher.lnk")
to an app.dat in the Start Menu section of my kitchen.
This way whatever is natively calling that link won't be able to recognize it anymore.
If you're simply having trouble finding all the .lnks, just search your SYS XXXXX directory for ".lnk" and that should pull up all the async and email links that you're having trouble with.