(V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

This is a pretty basic tutorial on how to create Windows Mobile 5/6 themes for the Sprint Mogul or devices that have the same screen resolution as the mogul. I just want to go into a few things of what this tutorial will NOT be showing you:

·How to size images to fit the PDA’s resolution
·Special effects added to theme files
·How to change the color of each and every aspect of your theme

This will show you how to easily create a theme in under 5 minutes. Please DO NOT PM ME ASKING HOW TO GET THIS EFFECT OR THAT EFFECT! If you want to learn, I suggest you do as I did and play around with the software for an hour or two until you learn what does what. This tutorial just serves as a basic how to since the ones that are floating around are dodgy at best.

To make a theme, you really only need two things:

* Wallpaper(s)
* ThemeGenCE

To get a wallpaper, the best thing to do is use images.google.com and put in what you are looking for. For the sake of sanity, I will simply go here and put in "Wallpapers" (Without the quotes). I found a orange picture of a bridge that I liked so I'll use that. The picture is located here:

http://www.drweb.de/img/wa2.jpg

Save the picture to your desktop so you can access it quickly. Now go and download

ThemeGenCE 2.5.

To get ThemeGenCe 2.5, Go here:
http://www.codeppc.com/telechargemen...themegence.htm

Once you download ThemeGenCe, you have to extract the zip to a folder. Once you extract the zip, start the application by double-clicking the ThemeGenCe.exe file in the folder (Note. If you have Windows Vista, you must run this program as an Administrator or else it will not work correctly!!!!)

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...emeGenCe/1.jpg


Now your screen will differ from mine since I have already made a few themes. But I'm going to point out the only important places you need to go to make a theme. Notice that you have five tabs. They are:

Options, Pictures, Colors, WM5 Settings, AS

The only tabs we will touch are the first four tabs. If you are not on the Options tab, click on it now. You will see the words "Theme Format." To the right of that, you will see an options button, click it:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...emeGenCe/2.jpg

On this screen, you will select the theme size. For this example, we will use QVGA (TD 320x293, ST 319,292). Select that option and then hit validate:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...emeGenCe/3.jpg

What we just did was tell ThemeGenCE that we want to a QVGA theme that will use one

image for the background and one image for the start menu. You should now be back at the options screen. Click the images tab and click on the picture of the mona lisa. You should have a screen like this:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...emeGenCe/4.jpg

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

Right now, the only icons you need to worry about are the first and the fourth icons. Now remember the wallpaper we saved? Hit the first icon and navigate to where the wallpaper is and select the file. Notice when you select this file, because it is much bigger than the PDA's screen, you can a gray box. This box lets you select what section of the picture you will use as the theme's wallpaper. Position the box and then hit the fourth icon to save that section as the Today Wallpaper. Since this is your first time making a theme, it should not ask you to overwrite an existing file.

If you ever get that, just answer yes. Your just updating the STWater files with your new images. Noticed that the area you select now fills up the entire box. The next thing we will do is save a start menu image. We will save the same image to give the start menu that "transparent gif" look. Select the Start option in the Image to Build section and hit the fourth icon again. It might not look like anything happened but it saved the same image as the start menu's image.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...emeGenCe/5.jpg

Now hit the sixth icon (Power Button and it will take you back to the images tab. Now we will move to the colors tab. Select the colors tab and you will notice that the background you see is the one you just saved. Don't worry about selecting any colors right now. Just hit the D button and then give your theme a name and select a location to save the theme. I always save to the desktop because you can get to it very easy by holding your Windows Key and hitting D ;) (Tech guys tip) Your screen should looks something like this:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...emeGenCe/6.jpg

Now go to the WM5 options tab. Select the BaseHue option. This is how WM5/WM6 figures out what colors to base all of options on. Take your mouse over the color bar at the top of this screen until you find a color that goes good with the theme. Once you have selected a color, make sure to check the options of:

Create BaseHue Key for Theme & Create DPI Key for the Theme and then hit Validate:

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...emeGenCe/7.jpg

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

The only thing left to do now is save the theme file. You do this by hitting the
fourth icon on the main program screen and it will write the theme to a .tsk file.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...emeGenCe/8.jpg

Now pat yourself on the back because you just made your first theme. Now take the theme as copy it to your phone and see how it looks

MeGa

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

You can also use ThemeGenCE 2.5 to preview your theme by clicking the theme preview button.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...emeGenCe/9.jpg

In the preview, to view WM6 bars just click the WM6 button. To save a screenshot of your theme, just click on the PDA's preview screen.

http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m...meGenCe/10.jpg

And that's it ;)

MeGa

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

wow nice write up

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

i missed this thread when you made it, but yeah very nice walkthru, thanks.

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

Awsome walk through, I am going to be up late making themes. Vega, you da man!

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

How do I use the themes from your site? Dont get not .tsk file with them..???

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

My themes are cab files because I want you to be able to install and un-install the themes easy. No everyone is computer or PDA-literate, so I tried to make it easier for everyone.

MeGa

PS - Thanks for the love guys. I'm glad you like the write up. I was telling people I was going to do it but I been so busy. Now everyone can give it a try.

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

Maybe I just not understanding. I downloaded the Texas Longhorns and Poker themes and when I unzip it I get three things.

setup.xml
and two other files with no extension

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

That's because you don't unzip the files. You install them like any other application. ;)

cab file = exe file in Windows Mobile ;)

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

LOL...ok i feel stupid.... I got it finally

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

thanks for nice information for newcommers.


thanks

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

first of all let me thank you for this amazing tutorial and for the time you take trying to help. i just have one quick question, ok i followed all the steps on how to make the theme and stuff but there is only one problem, i cant seem to find any picture to fit the screen. is there a specific size for the pictures for the today and start page?

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

There is but I stated that I wouldn't show this at all. I like people to learn on their own and while this helps a little, you have to figure out what those image sizes are and how to get the image to that size. That's the part that isn't tricky ;) but you have to figure out. If you want to make it easy on yourself, find a place that has wallpapers made specifically for PPC Devices. Most images will fit but certain parts are chopped off. Again, how to get the pic from being chopped off is what you have to figure out as I stated I wouldn't be showing that in this tutorial.

MeGa

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

great step by step info

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

So I followed the steps and when i went to preview everything was fine, but when i load the theme on my phone the background is tiled for some reason.

Could I get some help with this plz :-(

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

If you followed this step by step, it should not be tiled. What phone were you making the theme for? This is for phones like the Wing, The Mogul and The Touch.

MeGa

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

I'm having same problem, i tried 3 different pics and still getting tiles on MOGUL.

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

I think I got it. When choosing theme format, I think it should be the fourth one down rather then the third one. I did this and was able to do several themes.

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

Can you upload an example? This works for me. It's not the format I usually use but QVGA themes should work on the Mogul as that's what I have.

MeGa

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

I am really a noob when it comes to ppc's.... please bare with me as I try to learn. How can I upload an example?](*,)

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

Mega,

First I would like to thank you for the tutorial. It rocks. I have my first custom theme on my phone right now and it took less than 30 minutes. If you are looking for people to make themes I will gladly send all the ones I make your way to post on your site. I have a feeling this will become an obsession very quickly. I got it all working P+L and decent colors. All I need is instructions on how to make the cab files and I will gladly shoot everything your way!

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

Sure, send me a PM and I'll fill you in ;)

MeGa

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

so you recieve the themes in the mail?

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

What are you talking about??? :(

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

Sorry but I just cant figure out how to get a homeplugin on here....like the one that comes with the htc touch...can u help?

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

The plugin is called HTC Home. Search for HTC Home Customizer 1.0 Final. This program will allow you to not only download and install HTC Home, but also customize almost every aspect of the plugin.

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

Do any of these themes formatted for PPCs work on phones with WM6 Standard like the Samsung Blackjack II or Motorola Q9c?

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

i have had the same problem with the tileing of the pictures. any advice?

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

Yea I have been trying for two days or so, resizing the pics to many different sizes, and I cant get the pics to not be tiled in the background. Any help would be appreciated.

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

Read a few of the previous post. ;)

MeGa

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

Created my first theme. Now as i work on creating a second theme BaseHue no matter what i select will not show up on the screen it keeps the settings from the first them i created. How do i fix that.

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

Make sure you have the Create DPI key and Basehue key checked. It should work fine if you select a different color on that screen.

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

Yeah they are both checked. I think i am going to just delete the folder and try again...That did not make a difference either.

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

Ok i figured out that it is just not displaying correctly on the preview panel and they actually work great on my pda. Thanks for the help.

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

I've followed these instructions to a "T" to create several themes. Simple enough, but sometimes my picture tiles and I get four (4) images rather than one on my phone. It looks great in the creation program. Am I missing something? Sorry, I just saw that others have had the same problem. I will search first and if I don't find resolution I'll be back. Yup, NoHaterzPlzzz on pg 2 had the same problem and his/her solution fixed it. It appears that the Mogul uses the VGA (TD 640x588, ST 399x586) setting (4th one down). THANKS (V)eGA for the thread and everyone else who's contributed here. This is great! Now I can get my Petty Girl pinups as wallpapers and create some for my favorite sports teams for seasonality!

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

You can also use the QVGA option was well, this gives you the ultimate level of being able to customize everything. Only option I use for my themes.

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

thanks for the knowledge on creating theme's vega!!!! i would like to take it a step further..can you point me in the right direction to learn how to create skins....such as a dialer skin???? any info would be greatly appreciated:headbang:

Re: (V)eGa's - How to create a basic theme - TUTORIAL
 

http://tiermann.net/index.php?option...sktop&Itemid=3

;)