This is a general question but I can't think I'm the only one wondering.
I decided to try my hand at manila file editing about two weeks ago and have gone through 3 or 4 iterations of 'what do I want my theme to be' and finally decided. I wanted to make something unique but that would also lend itself to a crisp, clean look and let me use some cool icons.
What I'm realizing now is that after 120 or so icons I feel like I'm only about half way done if I want the ENTIRE look and feel to be consistent throughout. I don't want random 'highlights' to be in default green for example and it's getting more and more difficult to find the elusive manila file to modify.
So I guess the question is...how in depth do some of you theme makers go? How many manila file replacements do you end up processing? I'm not going to do weather, for example, and I'm not tackling stocks because...well...I don't use the app, but I want to make sure I cover all the major bases. And about how long does it take everyone else? I'm SURE there's a faster way than I'm doing it (by hand, using GIMP and Manila Editor 0.2 but frankly thos work REALLY well for me). I used HDWall to create the manila files for the slider and wallpaper icons but not to create the cab file because I didn't want to restrict it to people who weren't running HDWallS (for whatever reason).
Hey man, I did this for a try too and ran into the same problems, its difficult to find the time and energy to keep at it for a while I havent found much time in my days for anything recently so good luck to you, You might want to try this though it will give you a good guide for the depth issue, find someone who has already done the thorough job you are looking for, I mean has changed everything that you want changed, (and even if you dont use a tab its a good ides to make your customizations uniform all through manila or it just looks halfassed) and use this as your base to find all of the hidden things you want to change. Make sure to thank the person for thier work because you will be using their work as a template. good luck again.
you have to be very dedicated and diligent if you want to create themes. I once decided to change all the green highlights to blue on the 2.1 and had to sift through thousands of manila files to find all of them. then realised there are some png's, gif's and bmp's in the windows folder (non-manila files) that are also green highlights that needed changing.
suppose once you get all the files together the first time, it gets easier to do other changes later on.
it's always a big effort the first time round. you gotta be very organised
Related
Hi, Well I have finally got round to finishing enough of this application to give you a version. Unfortunately all the features I wanted to release are not there but its close enough. Future versions will incorporate these.
This application is basically a sound board with the ability to add user created content.
As before, requires .Net 3.5 CF.
The sample sound themes included in the application are a little weak and could do with some extra ones being created. Post your creations in the thread please
There are two types of themes available, a button theme and an image theme.
The button theme uses positionable windows image buttons to play the sounds.
The image theme uses an image to play the sounds. So for example you would have 2 images one for the background on the application for the user to see and one for the application to use. The overlay image will contain a single block of colour where you want to place a button, this colour is then indexed in the themes XML file. So when you press down on the background the colours are matched and the matching sound played.
The best way to get to grips with the themes is to look at two of the themes I have provided. The XML files are fully commented and quite simple to understand.
Example of ButtonTheme, \content\Roy Walker\RoyWalker.xml
Example of Imagetheme, \content\Mr T\MRT.xml
I am sure there will be bugs, but I wanted to get a release out as soon as possible to get some user created content. Please post any creations on this thread and I will include them in the .cab file with the next version.
Any feedback or suggestions please post on this thread also.
Future features:
Volume Control
More audio support, e.g. mp3 etc
Options to save last theme and other stuff
visual feedback on an Imagetheme button press, perhaps a greying of an area (Simple but havent had the time)
Any way have fun!!
http://www.barkered.com/?download=Pandemonium%20V0.1
Attached are a few screenshots of my bad attempts at themes.
The "wrong" button sound effect is not from catchphrase, but from Family Fortunes. As far as I remember, they didn't have a sound for that. Roy Walker simply said "It's a good guess but it's not right", which for me beeged the question, how is it a good guess then? Anyway, I'm not fussy. It's a great, useless, fun little program. We need more of these!!
Thanks.
Yeah you are right, I was just being lazy! But ah well, hopefully myself or someone else will create a family fortunes theme for it.
I also need to get some more Roy Walker sounds added in, a few people on the forum have given me links though.
Work seems to steal all of my time these days. Stupid work!
Cant wait to try it. Thanks for your hard work.
I can't play any sound when I'm on the phone. Neither I, or the one I'm on the phone with can hear anything.. What am I doing wrongd?
To be honest I never even thought about someone trying to use it during a phone call!
Interesting idea though...
I am slowing working on a few more themes, when I get time during work of course. Unfortunately my artistic skills are a little weak.
But I have created piano theme also, much like the one for the IPhone. Need to create some others also.
I was kinda hoping other people would create some content. It is easy enough
i am up for this....let me know how i can make some themes!
woooohooo
i have made a new theme! (well based on the mr t one supplied)
BETTER SOUNDS AND IMAGE!
i would like to know if someone can tell the screen size the program displays as it is not 480*800 as in the specs (it looses some from header and footer)
if anyone would like the theme i have made please Private message me i will mail it to you (as i do not know how to link)
i am currently working on another FAR TSUPERIOR theme just need the right images and screen size before i mail it out.
about time i found an app that i can have fun with! (like those iphone apps!)
cheers original poster for this!
I there, a have been searching for a while for an application that a could use to make something like the iphone idrummer (because of the daft punk kits) since i dont know how to make one, just modify them.
So here are my versions of Daft Punk "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" and "Aerodynamic". Just ad the files to the content file of the application and select them on the application and you are ready to go.
The thing is, they were made for QVGA version (240x320), so for other screen dimensions just modify the size of the background images and buttons, and coordinates also.
Hope you enjoy them (sorry for my possible bad english)
Anyway thanks to the creator of the application, and if anyone could make a new application more suited for a possible version of idrummer for those that dont have a iphone its always welcome
Haha i was just about to come here and ask if someone could port this http://www.noblefart.com/ across from the andrioid but since this sound board is very similar then maybe it could be intergrated into this!!
Is it possible to make it so that someone on the phone can hear the sounds?
This would be then great for prank calls. It would then also be useful to let you set your voicemail message as an mp3 - just dial your vm, choose record greeting and hit the soundboard button...
is there any way u can make a soundboard for family feud?
[Theme cancelled]
sorry, no time to do it, very busy with my job...
This would be definitly fantastic. Great idea. I love LOST.
Great idea, I'd love to see this. I'm a huge LOST fan
Sounds good, nice idea, I hope someone can do it
so any volunteer?
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great Idea
how to create additional tab in manila?
I need some ideas on icons... i am ready to listen
Hm. It`s quite difficult. Perhaps the symbols of the different stations on the island.
...perhaps like this
http://rapidshare.com/files/154170629/Dharma.zip.html
aha, i got it, every station had it's purpose... thx, will try.
this is looking great so far!! any update on the process?
i am a bit busy with my job, but will update soon. I changed my mind, i have another idea on how this can look like. will post soon.(weekend 25-26)
when it is ready?
thanks
i am working on L'amour theme now, but this one will be remade
How is it going.
Hey.
Im a big fan of lost just wondering how it´s going with the theme?
Take care
yes i would love to see this go some where!
Hi to you all!
I'm quite new to the forum but ever since I found my way to it I've spent hours on it
I've been trying to learn to make some icons and stuff and I practiced with the Lost theme. I don't really know how to make themes or cab files or anything, but I thought I could share that little something that I came up with....
I found some icons from this site: http://www.lostseasons.com/lost-icons/ and all the credit to those who made'em. I guess those can be used since they are there available for download. If some one knows otherwise let me know?
Anyway, all the icons were on the big sheet so I had to cut them to individual ones and do some resizing and make the background transparent etc....You can link the .png files to the Diamond icons with Manila editor or if you wish I can share my set of manila files...I just don't know yet if the order of the icons is good or not.
I also attach two wallpapers, other one found from somewhere from this forum (the dharma background) and other one found from some wallpapersite and resized/cropped for optimal resolution...I noticed someone else thinking the same that me too about the dharma stations used as icons and that might be a good idea for other "theme" with the attached dharma wallpaper.
So here's my contribution to the Forum
I just hope I'm not "stepping to anyone's toes" with this....?
14 Tab Icons - Dharma - Lost
I've taken some icons that Toranaga79 posted and combined them with the stock white Icons to create what IMO is a classy set of Tab Icons. I don't use the stock tab, so I didn't create on, if someone really wants it, I'm sure I could whip one up. Hope you like them!
I've created a cab to install the icons. Remember to disable TF3D from you today setup menu before installing/uninstalling.
Looks good nkryptit, I like them!
Thanks
I like the lost themes. Good job
After some searching through the vast amount of information on these forums I'm still at a lose on how to create my own Theme's on my HTC Touch HD.
Do I need to change TouchFlo theme's or Manila themes? It is it a tad confusing to a noobie!
I've discovered things that edit previously made ones but dont really want to do this. I really need to be able to open the files in photoshop, preferably in JPG format in order to change them to my cool designs that I'm sure you'll all love!
I'm a Photoshop designer and think my skills at doing this would be appreciated once I've learnt how to save the files out. I've already got a few ideas on some of the icons/wallpapers/theme's I'm planning on using. If anyone can let me know how to rip the files from my phone that need chaning I'd appreciate it.
I've read that they all end _manila, but I cant seem to find them.
Hello,
Searching the internet helped me to this great sight but I ran into some issues. So I prompted to make my post hopefully helpful to those of us with that darn AT&T background on the TILT 2.
This is what got me started on the right track. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=528133
It was most helpful and is one of many programs that I found helpful. I am sure if you have searched around you have already found this thread. With the Tilt 2 being new and most of these programs were written prior to its release I ran into some issues. Plus my thread title should make searching easier for those that (well I didn't till I got here) that the phone is a Rhodium. Of course if I am wrong please do kick me. I can take it.
What I did.
Remember to follow the directions for CFC. You may have better luck than I but just in case you don't here is what I ended up doing. I think it ended up being the long way but I have my custom Robotech backgrounds I made up and am pleased with the results.
The first thing I ran into was the program CFC was fantastic for making the files I needed. Great for giving me the names I needed to change and creating the files for me.
For me the compression wasn't working for me with the files available for download so I ended up using full file sizes. That is ok for the next step got me going to change the pictures. I did try the cfc compression but to no avail.
CFC gives you the file names if you can not get it to automatically change the files when exported/uploading to the device. To cure this I downloaded total commander. The factory file explorer is not user friendly in changing these files. I backed up the original files. It is a good practice to get into. Changing the files was then as easy as click and drop from my pc to the phone.
None of this was real difficult but my Tilt 2 was cranky.
Thank You for everyone's hard work at XDA.
-CRP
More Tilt 2 info
I also want to point out to those of us newbs that it is very important to look at the about screen. What version you have for your rom, windows, and TF3D is very important when choosing what add-ons to use. Not all clocks, sliders, icons, taskbars, and other items are created equal.
Back-up. Is all I can say.
Good luck and a big thank you to this community for the great work and programs made available for those of us that need a start.
-CRP
so i was checking out the forums.... did some searching and kinda got lost... so i decided it was time to join and see what i can find out..... got my evo a couple days ago... first thing i thought when checking out my phone is how i can change the theme...
i figured that such a powerful phone it should be possible to do it.... well i found themes and other info... but it all seems contradictory.... some sites and info it seems i need to "root" my phone (which i'm not sure what that is still).... others say i need to "rom" my phone (again still not sure what that is either)...
so what do i need to know to change the theme of my phone? what other things should i know about my phone (besides the basics i read in the guide)?
is it possible to create my own theme for the phone? or is it very complicated?
sorry if this is a repost i did search and as i said i kinda got lost and confused.. it's obviious you all are smart and some of the terms and info you put out kinda has me scratching my head.... it there's a way to explain it simply i can probably understand...
i feel the same way
Well it took em a few days to figure out everything.. I am too a new evo user..i managed to root my evo, add a custom theme and kernel and change my banner..i had figured it out all on my own..theres a evo wiki that might help you...
thanks banks.... i'll look into it...... but thanks to fachadick i learned a little what i needed to know.... my next step was to learn how to root and add roms and the like.... i'll look into that wiki....
the reason you get a lot of different information depending on where you look is because there are multiple options for themes depending on what exactly you are looking for. there are some things that can be done without root. for example many launchers (OpenHome ADW etc) will let you download themes made for it which give you different icons and backgrounds. Other options are to go with a launcher liek Launcher Pro and youcan change your dock around a lot, you can download folder organizer or application organizer and make folders with custom icons, you can use better cut to change icons on single applications. All these you can do with out needing root.
what you will need root for is if you want a theme that changes the rosie UI, changes the menus(ie adds color) or changes the notification icons\color of the top bar, and even changing fonts used by the rosie ui itself
if you dont care about that stuff then you dont actually have to root, though i suggest it anyway, to change your theme.