How do you control the size of the Min Max Close icon for Windows 10 themes?  Using the import script, my Windows 8.1 theme became this:



Clearly the Min, Max, Close icons are too large.  Is there a way to change the sizing, and if so, what's a good normal size?  Also, it looks like Firefox doesn't respect the theme's settings? 

No heaps of parts are no longer themeable, you can get taskbar and start menu customization back if you use StartIsBack

That sucks.  Thanks MS!  Almost not worth theming at all anymore.

Thanks for all of the help.  The import scripts appear to have worked for me going from 8.1 themes to 10 TH2, but I didn't try anything else.

Thanks Grim!  I got it working, and it looks like the import from my Windows 8 theme worked pretty well.  One thing that I noticed is that the taskbar is still all black.  Is there a new way to style it?  It looks like my image files are being ignored from TaskBar --> BackgroundBottom... etc images.  It's been a while since I've used WSB, so I might be missing something completely obvious.  

It seems a lot has changed?  Does theming in windows 10 no longer respect a bunch of the old settings?  I don't get it.  Please see here:

Thanks for those instructions.  I uninstalled the patcher I used, and then I installed UxStyle_0242_x86_x64_preview.exe (is this the right version).  I then followed your instructions, but my themes do NOT show up in the personalization menu.  When I double click on the "C:\Windows\Resources\Themes\aero\aerolite.msstyles\ThemeName.theme" file, it then shows up in the personalization menu, but doesn't apply or do anything.

What is everyone on Windows 10 TH2 using to allow custom themes?  I tried this patcher:

https://skinpacks.com/uxthemepatcher-for-windows-10-version-1511-10586/

But I'm not sure if that's working.  Is there something I'm missing?

After I finally got the upgraded theme to save, it wouldn't test, and I can't get it to apply manually either.  A stock Aero theme that is created when you launch WSB wouldn't apply either, so I'm guessing my system isn't patched correctly for 3rd party themes on TH2 1511.

Wasn't running as administrator.... stupid Windows 10.

I'm trying the "Windows 8 to Windows 10 TH2" theme import method on my Windows 10 machine.  I followed the steps exactly, but when I try to save the theme using any Save option, WSB stops responding and crashes.  Any idea?  It happens in both the BSC build and the normal one.  

EDIT, actually, the original beta crashes there for me too... may not be related.  I wonder why that's happening.

Sweet, gonna give it a whirl right now!  Thanks!

What about for the taskband preview background colors, specifically the hover color?

This guide here says:

Taskbar & System Tray > Taskband > Aero > TaskbandExtendedUI > Horizontal > Thumbnails & Controls > List Item

I replaced that with a solid gray picture, and the preview active hover is not gray. 

Did you make the one you posted previously, or was that just an example from following that person's theme?

Hey Guys,

I'm working on a theme that looks like this:



Is there a way I could add a 2 or 3px silver border around the top title bar of a DWM Window?

I guess I want it to look something like this:



Anyone know how to do this?

Thanks.  Yeah my theme got messed up from a Style Hack import.  Went back to a few revisions and got it to import properly without this weird stuff going on.  Anyways, thanks for the map!  I'm sure I will need to refer to it in the future.

OK, so it happens in paint.  What controls does this window use?

Hey Guys,

Do you have any idea why the informational dialog window in WSB looks the way it does with my theme I'm testing?



Is there another application somewhere built into windows that will test the same components?  This makes no sense.  I seem to be only able to reproduce this theme "issue" in WSB, but I'm not sure what components it's using in its Window so I can test elsewhere.  Anyone know?

The ColorizationColor solution only works if you have a solid color inactive frame.

If you have a gradient or any transparency you will have to use http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/163570-aero-glass-for-win81-rtm-rc3/

OK, thanks for the information.  You can still manipulate the background for the text in an active window... it won't match the gradient, but it is customizable.  I find it surprising that the inactive text background color is not customizable even if it's not transparent.  It's got that nasty grey color in my screenshots.  I'd rather change that to a solid blue. 

How do you change the text color for the taskbar application preview? 



I'd like to change the text color in the preview titles to white.

That doesn't make sense though because the colorization color matches the image color, so that's not  it.  It's only the inactive window where it adds the gray background.

Hi Guys,

I've looked through all of the inactive Window entries, and I cannot find where the inactive window caption text background color is defined nor can I find the actual color when grabbing it using my image editing utility.



In the above screenshot, the active window caption text color and background are correct.  However, the inactive window caption text background color is incorrect (it's this nasty gray which looks terrible combined with white text).

Anyone know where I can change this background color for inactive windows or where this setting is coming from?

Hey Guys,

Where are the images for the system tray?  Notice how the color doesn't match my taskbar / taskband?  I need to change the olive color that the system tray has.  Any idea where this is?  I can't seem to find it...

So does anyone know how to change the start menu picture that is used or the blue color as shown in this screenshot when you click the start menu button?



It would be nice to be able to change this!

Thanks, that fixed it for me!

Thanks for the information guys!  That is working perfectly now!

I still don't understand why this is happening:



There's a different color in the DWM Window Top and Left Side and Right Corner as a single pixel color (in the screenshot I selected the pixel anomalies).  What does AtlasRect do?  I can change it all day, and I don't notice any difference.

What could possibly be responsible for this?  This is driving me insane.  I've attached the theme in case that might help track down. 

Any help is appreciated.

http://www.dinofly.com/files/themes/luna_olive_8.zip

Hey Guys,

If I import a theme from XP to Windows 7 or from Windows 7 to 8 using the latest Beta, the min, max, close buttons are always smaller than they should be.  Any idea why?  Here's a comparison of a theme I imported from XP to 7.  XP is the top Notepad Window.  Windows 7 is the bottom Notepad Window.  As you can see, the buttons are not the same height or width, but both themes are using the same icon / picture set here. 



Any idea what I need to tweak?  I keep changing Sizing Margins and Content Margins, but I'm not sure what each one does.  The changes I make to these don't affect the width and height anyways.

Found it.  It was a problem with TrayNotifyHoriz::Button due to too many imagefile entries being there.  I fixed it by exporting the image shown in WSB, deleting all imagefile entries, and adding 1 imagefile entry with the original image.

Sorry for all these posts.  Just hope it helps someone!

[::EDIT::]

Hi Guys,

Is there a way to increase the spacing of the notification arrow icon in the system tray?  What is the name of this entity?  I'd like to replace the image as well.  I've highlighted what I'm talking about in green here:

http://s22.postimg.org/pxupo5035/luna_theme_notification_bar_spacing_arrow_icon.jpg

I looked through the taskbar & system tray section, but I wasn't finding the arrow.  I also wasn't able to guess the name of it either.

::EDIT::

Found this:  http://vistastylebuilder.com/forum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=939.0

However, noticed the settings were inherited from various entities (there's more)

TrayNotifyHorizOpen
TrayNotifyVert

These entities are using the correct images according to WSB, yet, my theme is not using the correct arrow here?   It's using the white one illustrated in my screenshot.  Any idea what setting needs to be set in order for this to work in a Windows 8.1 skin?

Thanks

What's the height of your taskbar? Also what is the sizing type for the taskband?

Thanks, that was it.  I set the sizing type for the taskband to stretch, and it now looks correct.

[::EDIT::]

I decided to redo the Luna theme from a stock Windows 8.1 theme.  

However, I ran into some weird settings.  For example, there's a line at the bottom of the taskbar, and I think it's because the images / properties for opened application windows are oversizing the area?



Notice in my other theme how the explorer icon is more compact:



Anyone know where to customize these settings, or if there is any documentation on this?

::EDIT::

Should I be using content margins on the Taskbar images?

Hey Guys,

Working on converting the second theme, the Royale blue one.  I did this one from the base Aero Windows 8.1 theme and just used Stylehacks to pull certain sections out of the converted theme which seemed to work better than using everything that was converted.  The Luna theme seems to be OK even though it's terrible in the way that it works (but looks right ).

Anyways, does anyone know where this color is coming from?



The white text for the Notepad window title has a silverish blue background color.   I can't seem to find it anywhere.  Anyone know where it is?  Also, is there an easy way to search for certain colors using their RGB value, and out of curiosity, why can't I ever find the color after using the color dropper tool in my image editor?  I find colors with similar values, but I never find the one of the actual color that my editor picks out from a screenshot. 

Well, I was able to get it to look like this (after looking and removing certain default jumplist values which you said shouldn't be there):



I think that's as good as the Jumplist is going to get until WSB supports converting up to 8.1

I played around with this until I got a headache. I don't know what you've been doing. I've never seen anything like this before.

I managed to get this much done before I gave up:





If you want to change the colors:

Blue is Fonts & System Metrics > MENU:COLOR
White text is Fonts & System Metrics > MENUTEXT:COLOR
Black text is Fonts & System Metrics > HIGHLIGHTEXT:COLOR
Red text is Unknown > StartMenuPlaceListComposited::ListView > GroupHeader > HEADING1TEXTCOLOR
Red line is Unknown > StartMenuPlaceListComposited::ListView > GroupHeaderLine


I attached it if you want it. Maybe somebody else can do better.

How did you remove the white half arrows that were in my original screenshot?

Importing the theme worked pretty well except for this part (the jumplist).  I wonder why it's doing this.  If I could just get rid of the white partial arrows in my original screenshot and somehow change the selector shape, I would be happy. 

Actually, I would be happy with Windows 8's default Jumplist settings for this theme.  Any easy way to just use that portion from the default Aero theme for Windows 8.1?

I didn't do anything; I just imported the theme and worked with what was built.

I'll keep looking, but would appreciate some help (which could update your tutorial posts). 

You can download my latest test version here:

http://www.dinofly.com/files/luna_8.1_test.zip

Thanks to this guide (http://vistastylebuilder.com/forum/index.php?topic=1986.0), I've gotten this far:



However, as you can see from the above screenshot, there are still some things that need to be adjusted.  In my screenshot, why are there partial random triangles in the list (selected as square and upside down triangle)?  I can't seem to find what is responsible for this anywhere.  As indicated by the circular selection, where is this pin icon coming from?  Can I change it? 

Finally, the rectangular selection is not following what was posted in your guide. 

Where you mapped the pink (Windows 8 (For Testing Purposes Only) > Jump Lists > SplitItemLabelBackground) and orange (Windows 8 (For Testing Purposes Only) > Jump Lists > ItemBackground) background colors in your guide, I can change these properties all day, but the actual background color of the selected item does not change.

Also, your guide indicated that the red text could be changed in Windows 8 (For Testing Purposes Only) > Jump Lists > ItemsPanel >  HOTTRACKING:COLOR.  I changed the hottracking color, and it does not change the text color of the selected item. 

Any idea where any of these conflicts are coming from?

Thanks for your help so far.  I am getting closer

Thanks!  I got that part fixed, but now I have a few more questions.

What images control the right click menus on the taskbar items?



Also, is there a way to change the start button image / colors when it is clicked on in Windows 8.1?

(bad job on the thumbnail postimage lol)

Hmmm, that's not really what I'm looking for.  

I think the problem with my converted Luna theme lies in two sections.  Is there a way to export and import just the following settings from the default Windows 8 Aero theme into mine?

DWM Window --> Frames --> Aero Peek Window
DWM Window --> Frames --> Shadowless Window

If I right click on the "Aero Peek Window" section and then click on"Export all properties under the tree Aero Peek Window", nothing happens.   I don't get an option to export all marked properties to a StyleHack file.  However, if I pick the root of DWM Window, it can export all of the properties into a StyleHack file... BUT, that includes all of the DWM Window settings.  I just want the resources and settings from Aero Peek Window and Shadowless Window.  Any way to do that?

Adding properties to the DWMWindow class doesn't do anything and removing properties from the DWMWindow class can cause DWM to fail, so adding properties there is disabled.

By setting the content margins that high you're just stretching the image. If you want it to be solid blue just use a blue image rather than Luna's top frame. Example: http://i.cubeupload.com/a7BKf1.png

I tried that, but I still had those weird anomalies in the top right corner.  So, what I did was export the default Windows 8 Aero DWM settings and overwrite what was there.  However, now the default theme color (that you set in personalize) is used for the active window.   Is there a way to define the default theme color when the theme is applied but still allow users to change it later?  

Here's what I'm talking about.



I'd like to make this personalization color #005ee9 when the theme is initially applied.  Is that possible?  

Thanks. 

When I try to add other properties to these images, I get this message:

"Adding properties here have no effect."

If you change the existing properties, they have an effect, so I'm not sure why I can't add any.  But then again, I'm not sure why I'd want to add one here.

Also, why does setting content margins to "2000, 2000, 500, 500" on the top WDM window frame make my frame window borders look like a solid color?  This is what I want to happen, but I don't understand what each value does and why 2000 works.  I was just playing with it to get it to do that.

Are the selected components in this screenshot editable somewhere for the window frame?  I'd like those to be a solid color too?

Hey Guys,

Is there a way to customize the white lines surrounding the top window frame for Windows 8 themes?

Also, how would you customize the bottom window frame so that it more closely matches the left and right frames?  Note, in the theme I'm working on, the bottom and top frames are correct, but it seems that Windows 8 ignores these resources and uses something else?  Why does it look like there is a window beneath the window frame in the top right corner in Windows 8?  It looks kinda funky.   

I've tried to highlight what I'm talking about from this screenshot:



Any help is appreciated.  Thanks!

Thanks.  The Windows 7 theme conversion did work properly when running WSB in Windows 8.

WSB is an excellent utility!  Very powerful.  Thank you so much for your work on it!

Hi All,

I'm trying to get a few existing Windows 7 themes to work in Windows 8.1.  However, I'm not having any luck.  Importing them following these instructions in the latest beta of Windows Style Builder did not work for me:

1. Open WSB and click Open then Import a Windows 7 theme
2. Save the file to where ever you want
3. Click Open again and load the theme you just saved
4. You can now save and test your theme properly

I imported the theme, saved it, and then tried it on my Windows 8.1 machine.  It doesn't work.  I'm using Windows Style Builder on my Windows 7 machine.  Does that matter?  

The two Windows 7 themes I'm trying to get working in Windows 8 are:

• Luna
   
• Royale

They can both be downloaded here:

http://winxp4life.tk

I'm not the author of those themes, but there are a lot of people that would like to see them working on Windows 8.1 including myself.  They work great on Windows 7, but they don't do anything on Windows 8.

Is there any documentation somewhere that maps out the resource IDs and which ID is responsible for which image?  I would try doing this myself manually using resource hacker if I knew which ID did what.  Should I just start with the Windows 8 default msstyle in WSB and import all of the icons from the old theme over to the new one based on the breakdown of image categories WSB provides?

Any help is appreciated.  I'm new to actually trying to upgrade / make themes.