ZLauncher ThemeMaker Beta2

[Festus440]

The last beta I received from ZZtechs was beta1, so the program doesn't have the new gadget button.

Although the program runs fine on my Win98 test machine, I had one person who had some problems. Let me know.

For those people unfamiliar with this program, here is basically what it does:

The program creates ZLauncher theme files from a set bitmap images. The program includes sets of bitmaps for all resolutions and color depths. The bitmaps are arranged in folders according to type, and the most of the bitmaps have filenames that are recognizable.

To create a theme file, modify some or all of the bitmaps with a paint program. Then run the program and click “Make Theme File” to create the theme.

The first beta of this program only had one real bug that I’m aware of, but ZZtechs suggested some changes to make the program more flexible and to allow for future changes. I wound up going beyond that, so I’m releasing another beta version.


Bug fixes:

Fixed a problem with high res 256 color themes created in project folders

Empty strings (theme comment, etc.) are now removed from the theme file

Overhaul of my compression engine to allow multiple double density bitmaps in “bitmap families”. This isn’t used in any of the current default themes, so this is more for future changes or custom themes.

Changes:
Added front panel control to compile for Palm OS 3.5+ or Palm OS 4.0+. This controls if Packbits compression is available to the compression engine. The most likely setting is automatically picked for each theme in the drop down list, but can be easily changed if needed. (Such as for PDA’s that support 16 bit images, but are still running Palm OS 3.5) Click on the “?” in the program for more info.

Every theme now has it’s own unique UI color table. (Also unique for project folders.)

Added controls to save, reload, and clear the strings.

Help button now loads the html instruction manual.

Every theme now has it’s own sets of string resources. (The theme comment, default icon set, and back image strings. These are also unique in project folders.) In Beta1, one set of strings was used for all of the themes.

Added a front panel control to allow viewing the final build. This is for troubleshooting only. See the manual for more info.

Renamed bitmap folders to resolution and color depth. (ex: HR64K is now 320Res-16Bit)

Added advanced option screen:
Although this is mostly to allow for future changes, this will let you to do things such as allow a 16-bit theme to be used on a monochrome PDA. (According to ZZtechs. How well this works will depend on your artwork.)

For the “die-hard” advanced users, customize just about anything in the ThemeMaker:

Change the names of the “Theme Types” in the drop down list.

Change the default Windows filenames for each theme.

Change the default Palm database names for each theme.

Change the default Palm OS compile option. (3.5 or 4.0)

Change the filename of the RCP file used for any theme.

Add up to 8 additional “Theme types” or iconsets that show up in the drop down list. (Total of 16.) Any combination of themes or icons sets can be configured. These settings are in the config.ini file. (To add a custom theme you need to supply a new or modified rcp file. The program will create new ThmI, tver, string, and colortable files for you, but you need to give them unique filenames in the config.ini file.)

If you are using Beta1, backup any of your bitmaps and uninstall the old program.

ToDo list:
Add names to some of the new bitmaps.
Add the new gizmo button when I get it.

The program can be downloaded here:

http://www.festus440.happypalm.com/


Screenshots:

http://www.festus440.happypalm.com/B2_Screen1.jpg


































http://www.festus440.happypalm.com/B2_Screen2.jpg






























http://www.festus440.happypalm.com/B2_Screen3.jpg

[honolulu]

WOW !!

BRAVO !!

[LaStigmata]

Festus I say it again, YOU DA MAN!!!!!!!!!!!

I will be running this thing around the block a few times today.

Thanks Festus for the great work.

[kennyd]

Allright!! Thanks for the work. I have used the wassup skin maker. That certainly made it a lot easier to make skins than the method implied with the app. I'm excited about making some ZL themes.

[Festus440]

Thanks. I'll be anxious to hear if everything goes alright.

[dunn]

i love you Festus440!!
^O^

[Festus440]

OK I was wrong. The new popup all gadget is in there, and it is named in all of the function button folders.

However, the bitmaps for this are blank. When I got this info from ZZtechs, they didn't have an image for it yet.

[the_iceman]

LaStigmata pointed me to this... from a question I had in another discussion area ...... Thank you Festus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We all appreciate the hard work you put forth to make our lives easier!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Festus440]

I write these programs for free, so I really appreciate knowing that they are being used.

Thanks.

[the_iceman]

I Use Corel's Painter... seems I'm having problems opening many of the .bmp files ...... strange.... I may have to break down.. and go with Photoshop...... I love painter much more though... :(

[LaStigmata]

Copy the images to your clip board then paste them in painter.

[the_iceman]

Yep Yep.... I can do dat .... :)

Thanks :)

[ClieMarty]

Thanks for the new version Festus! Any plans for a Beta3/Final regarding ZL 3.00.1 final release? [don't know if necessary, just downloading your Beta2 right now ;-)]

[Festus440]

I believe everything is there for ZL 3.00.1. The only slight exception is the new popupall gizmo. It's in the ThemeMaker, but the supplied bitmap is just blank. Not a big deal unless you didn't plan on changing it. I'll add the image from the new Aquawood theme in the next release.

ZZtechs is testing the ThemeMaker now, I'll see if they find anything missing.

I also discovered something I didn't know. I mentioned this in another thread. Perhaps it's no big deal. You can configure the iconset to replace ANY icon, not just system icons. I was able to change the icons for Filz, Mail, and MegaLauncher, just with a modified iconset. No simple way to do the mod yet, and I'm not sure if there's even any interest.

[ClieMarty]

So, you may use the icon-set to replace app icons (of apps in ram/rom/on-stick) as well?

[Festus440]

Yes.

Tried that this morning.

[ClieMarty]

how do you do that? need any creator-id's or something like that? do you compile the iconset with constructor?

[Festus440]

Well….. the “instructions” come with the newest version of ZLauncher (see the IconSetDoc.htm.) You might be able to change the icons with Constructor, but you also need to edit the “iTbl” resource. You have to put in the Type and Creator ID’s in hex, and then they have to be in the correct order in the resource. No way to do that with Constructor that I know of, you have to get out your hex editor.

For my “tests”, I used my ThemeMaker program. I edited the “ZLauncher IconSet.rcp” so that it only had one pair of icons (small and large), and only one line in the “iTbl” resource. Then I put different Type and Creator ID’s in the iTbl to see if I could change a particular program icon. I did it with only one pair so I wouldn’t have to worry about the correct order of the icons. Worked every time.

Definitely not a “user friendly” process.

Besides, it wouldn’t make sense to distribute IconSets with non-system program icons, since everyone has different requirements.

What’s needed is a program to quickly create an IconSet without having to edit an rcp or iTbl file.

That way people could just distribute the bitmap images of the icons. The user could pick out the ones they needed for their PDA, assign them to whatever application they like inside this program, and generate a new custom iconset with just the icons they need.

[ClieMarty]

Sounds good; now - will you make such a program? I might add some graphics. It's just that I'm limited to Photoshop; no programming from my side ;-)

[Festus440]

To be honest, I don't know.

I've only heard from perhaps 5 people since I released the first alpha version of ThemeMaker :( (My thanks go out to those who did respond.)

I don't have a counter on the happypalm web page, so I don't even know how many times any of the versions have been downloaded.

I guess what I'm saying is I would work on it if there seemed to be enough interest.

[LaStigmata]

me!me!me!me!me!me!me!me!me!me!me!me!me!me!me!

But I was one of the five, do I still count?

Go for it, if not for us five then for yourself.

What you create could turn out to be the next Zlauncher. And yes I would pay for what you have done or for a new Icon editor just let me know where to send the cash.

[LaStigmata]

Festus, there is one thing that I would like to see in the ZL skin maker. I know that you went through alot of trouble to rename all the Icons but I would like it if they would retain there original Tbmp file name. It would just work better for me.

Thanks man. You the best.
Dave

[riversen]

How do I become a beta test for this theme manager program and icon maker or changer? I would love to change a few very old icons that old developers don't want to change the icon for.

I wanted to add one thing... I am very interested in this type of application if you develop it. Thank you in advance many times over!!!!!

[ClieMarty]

Hi Festus, downloaded the first beta as well. Sorry for not responding ;-( Anyhow, make my no. 6. And I do would not mind paying a little money for an expanded tool with icon changing capabilities.

[riversen]

I checked out the beta program for making skins, etc. I am not technically savvy enough right now. I would like to second myself by saying that I would gladly pay for your time, effort, and development of an icon app. Thanks for considering it. I hope there is enough interest for you to justify it.

[Festus440]

LaStimata, of course you count!

Riversen, I don’t know if I would or even could charge anything for this app because I use the PilRc resource compiler, mainly to handle the color palettes. PilRc is a free utility, but there are some licensing issues about using it with a program for sale.

If I decide the write the program, it would probably be a separate app. It might then have broader appeal than the ThemeMaker because it would be pretty easy to use. Here is how it might work:

1) Load an existing iconset (Or create a new one)

2) Add or remove icons. Add icons by using the normal windows file / open dialog box and picking a bitmap for the large (High res) and small (low res) icons. These would be normal Windows bmp files, located anywhere on your hard drive. I would have the program check the bitmap to make sure it was the correct size, and verify the color depth.

3) Select which app the icon is for from a drop down list of common apps, or for an app that isn’t on the list by typing in the Palm Type and Creator. The list of apps would be stored in a text file that you could easily add new programs to. Or maybe I could set up the program so that you could also just point it at the new app, and it could pull out the Type and Creator automatically and add it to the list.

4) Save the new or modified iconset.

As I mentioned before, people would distribute collections of icon bitmaps rather than Zlauncher Iconsets.

[LaStigmata]

You make it sound easy. Ha! Ha! Let me know if I could help.

[thenightfly42]

I took only a passing quick look at the beta, I'll spend more time later. Is it possible to "open" an existing theme that you want to adjust, or is it only for creating new themes from scratch? (Compeletely new to themeing, please excuse.)

[Festus440]

ThemeMaker is for creating new themes. It doesn't open existing ones. Just modify some of the bitmaps and click on "Make the Theme File". The other things such as the theme comments Default UI Colors, etc. are optional. The instruction manual still needs some work, but there is a "Quick Start" section to get you going.

[the_iceman]

Put me down as well!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your programs rock Festus!!!!!!!!!

I'll certainly be willing to add to the 'tip-jar' for the programs you write!!!!!!!!!!!

[riversen]

Festus, I appreciate anything you could do. It would be an awesome thing to be able to change icons. I am not exactly sure that I understand everything that you just said (I would need to really study this a bit), but I like the concept and hope that it could be adopted.

[Festus440]

Perhaps tonight I'll throw together something that would approximately show what the program would look like. That would help people get a better idea of what I was thinking of.

I'll put that in a new thread to see what the reaction is.

[riversen]

By the way... I want to reiterate what others have said. I would gladly donate (to the 'tip-jar') if you publish this as freeware. I don't know if that makes a difference. Thank you, again.

[ClieMarty]

Festus, description sounds quite good. That kind of tool could work great not only with zLauncher I would say.

I have to admit that I begin worrying about myself though. I mean, being over 30, having a kid, and then starting to have happy feelings regarding a hopefully upcoming app that would enable me to replace some icons on my €500-gadget just for the heck of it. Are there any psychiatrists frequenting this board ? ;-)

[Festus440]

Actually, this would only work with ZLauncher.

And if you need a shrink, I hate to say what I need! I have a grandson!!


And today my financial adviser (wife) gave the thumbs up for a new PDA! Looks like the old N760 is going into retirement.

Wonder what I should get?

[LaStigmata]

"The Brick" NZ90

Thats what I'm saven for. Can't wait.

[riversen]

Festus,

Can your wife talk to my wife? I would like a new PDA also, but alas she will not say yeah anytime soon. By the way, I am turning 34 and have a 4 year old going on 10. I must need psychotherapy and medication if you all need shrinks. You know, I was really excited when I was talking to my company's Finance manager about how excited I am to be a beta tester for several different pieces of software. They just looked at me with an unsure curiosity. I guess, I may need a long visit to the Betty Ford Clinic... LOL

[Festus440]

Well I don't have time tonight to start a new thread. Thought maybe I would start a poll to guage interest.

Also I emailed ZZtechs to make sure I'm not out of my mind! (Very possible.)

But here is the "Concept" screenshot:

(This is not a program! It's just a bunch of controls tossed on a form.)


http://www.festus440.happypalm.com/ZLIF_Concept.jpg

[riversen]

I like it and vote a hearty, "YES!!!!" I like the concept very much.

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by Festus440
http://www.festus440.happypalm.com/ZLIF_Concept.jpg [/B]


support^^
i am waiting for the real product^^

thanks~~

[LaStigmata]

Go! Festus Go!

[ClieMarty]

now this looks cool; please add the background code, from the looks, 95% are done ;-) (just kiddin')

as a matter of fact zztechs should just rise their price a little and let you participate for adding theme-making tools. i can not understand that pocket sensei for example did not offer any skin-making support initially and is now charging money for themester as an extra app.

[Festus440]

I asked ZZtech a bunch of questions yestereday and I receieved an answer from Li this morning. Of course the big question is, does this really work. Here is my question and his answer:

"Festus440"
>It seems that you can use the icons (in a ZLauncher iconset) to replace any program icon,
>not just the system icons. (Is this true?)

"Li"
YES.

Your screenshot makes sense. It's very nice for end-users to create
their own iconsets without program knowledge required. I'm looking
forward to the iconset maker.

[riversen]

That is very cool. I have a couple of old programs that need a newer icon that is readable, crisp, and don't look so out of place. I have contacted the developers of these older app's and have not gotten a lot of response from them. If I can by pass them, then I would be happy to do with your application. If you need a beta tester, let me know. I would be happy to help in any functional way.

[Wolfsmoke]

The IconSet Factory looks like an AWESOME concept! And the theme maker.... ok, if we get the snow they say we will this weekend, I'm gonna give it a whirl! Festus - YOU ROCK!!!

[ClieMarty]

Sounds great. Looking very much forward to a first alpha. Just hope you are willing to invest the time Festus.

[Palm Freak]

Hey Festus, I've just crossed over from Brighthand after reading a thread on Screenshots, man, I am a Tungsten user and have been using Silver until I finally realised that I'm sacrificing too much of my memory just to look good and HEy! Thanks to ppl like you ZLauncher now looks just as good if not better ! I'm running a trial version and already loving every minute of it. Count me in as the next in number as I'd love to create themes for my TT too!

[Festus440]

Palm Freak, thanks for giving the ThemeMaker a try.

I've been spending some time playing with my new toy (NX70!) I'll finally get to try some of my grafitti skins!

I'm going to go ahead start playing with the Icon Factory idea. I've asked ZZtechs for some addtional information and advice.

In the ThemeMaker, I frankly didn't know what some of the icons in the iconsets were for, so they have tAIB filenames. Here is a list of most of them that I got from ZZtechs. The actual file names will have either -8 or -16 suffixes (for color depth). The -144 just means "double density":

tAIB0DDC, tAIB0DCD, 0; // Clie Demo

tAIB0DAC, tAIB0DAD, 0; // Treo PhoneBook

tAIB0DAE, tAIB0DAF, 0; // Handspring Calculator

tAIB0DDA, tAIB0DDB, 0; // PG Pocket

tAIB0DC8, tAIB0DC9, 0; // Audio Player

tAIB0DDC, tAIB0DDD, 0; // MS AutoRun

tAIB0DCA, tAIB0DCB, 0; // MS Gate

tAIB0DD0, tAIB0DD1, 0; // MS Backup

tAIB0DCE, tAIB0DCF, 0; // MS Import

tAIB0DD8, tAIB0DD9, 0; // Clie Paint

tAIB0DD2, tAIB0DD3, 0; // Photo Stand

tAIB0DDE, tAIB0DDF, 0; // Quickword <--- Custom app

tAIB0DD6, tAIB0DD7, 0; // Clie Camara

tAIB0DD4, tAIB0DD5, 0; // Sound Utility

tAIB0DE0, tAIB0DE1, 0; // QuickSheet <--- Custom app

tAIB0DAC, tAIB0DAD, 0; // Address

tAIB0DAE, tAIB0DAF, 0; // Calculator

tAIB0DB0, tAIB0DB1, 0; // Card Info

tAIB0DC4, tAIB0DC5, 0; // Web Clipping

tAIB0DB2, tAIB0DB3, 0; // Date Book

tAIB0DC6, tAIB0DC7, 0; // JEDict

tAIB0DB4, tAIB0DB5, 0; // Graffiti

tAIB0DB6, tAIB0DB7, 0; // Mail

tAIB0DB8, tAIB0DB9, 0; // Memo Pad

tAIB0DBA, tAIB0DBB, 0; // Preference

tAIB0DBC, tAIB0DBD, 0; // Security

tAIB0DBE, tAIB0DBF, 0; // Welcome

tAIB0DC0, tAIB0DC1, 0; // HotSync

tAIB0DC2, tAIB0DC3, 0; // Todo List

[Palm Freak]

Festus, sorry to bother you with a simple question, but I don't seem to be able to find out where can I create ONLY the Background image for ZLauncher on your Thememaker? Except for the filename for Default back image.

Thanking you a million in advance!

[the_iceman]

PalmFreak,

With Zlauncher... you can use .jpg images... or .bmp images... just make the images.... the size of your screen display (320x320) or (320x480) ..... copy them into your MS in the /PALM/PROGRAMS/ZLAUNCHER/BACKIMAGE directory.

[the_iceman]

Festus,

I must be stupid or something........

I'm working on a skin, and lets say I select my MS as a tab. It comes up with the "PATH" in a bar down at the bottom of the ZLauncher window (Directly above the small bottom bar). When I click on that bar it takes me to a listing with a heading of CHANGE PATH.

From there it shows the Palm Device, and then my MS. It has "-" and "+" buttons to the left of the folders names.

At the bottom of this screen there are 4 buttons (OK, Cancel, New, Rename). These buttons will follow my Scheme in the UP Position. There are, however, no default bitmaps for when any of those buttons are pushed 'DOWN'. It ends up looking like a Pushed AQUAWOOD Button(yellowish/brown). I've gone through all my graphics.... and cannot find anymore 'aquawood' like buttons to change over to my new skin look. Did these not make it into your zlauncher default bitmaps?

If I'm missing them... could you please let me know what the names of them should be... the Size of them... and where I should place them so your ThemeMaker program will pick them up when I compile it?

thank you in advance... I hope I made sense here. :)

[the_iceman]

Here is a screen copy of what I was talking about... I should have put this with my question... about what graphic this is... which I need to re-do.

[Festus440]

I believe the images you're looking for are in the scrollbar folder. At the time that I did this version, those bitmaps were marked for future expansion, and I guessed that was where they went. (Obviously wrong.)

Tbmp5590.bmp, Tbmp5591.bmp,Tbmp5592.bmp

Any bitmaps that were like that have "Tbmp" file names.

[the_iceman]

I did modify those...... whatever I modified... satisfied the 'UP' position... but not when 'pushed down'. I did modify them... and perhaps those are the ones... which show up correctly in the UP position.... I don't know for sure... all I know... is when any of those 4 buttons are pushed DOWN... they look like the good ol 'Aquawood' Pushed buttons. :(

[Festus440]

I just tried it here and it worked. Are you sure you're in the right color depth folder? I modifed both the up buttons (Which have names.) and the brown down buttons.

[the_iceman]

well.. poop then..... I modified the Tbmp5590.bmp (12x24) for the left ... the Tbmp5591.bmp (12x24)for the right ... and the Tbmp5592.bmp (24x24) for the body ... but doesn't seem to pick it up.... :(

[the_iceman]

ok..... I got it to work...... Normally... what I do... when I alter the .BMP files is I rename them from say... abc.bmp to abc.BMP. I make the .bmp file extension all in UPPER-CASE. This way I know what I've done and what I still have to work on. I went into these .BMP files and renamed then putting the lower-case .bmp file extensions back in... and it compiled just fine.

These seem to be the only 3 bitmaps so far... that I've come across which need the extensions to be in lower-case.

[Palm Freak]

Hey Iceman, thanks a million!

[bigalex]

Originally posted by Festus440
I asked ZZtech a bunch of questions yestereday and I receieved an answer from Li this morning. Of course the big question is, does this really work. Here is my question and his answer:

"Festus440"
&gt;It seems that you can use the icons (in a ZLauncher iconset) to replace any program icon,
&gt;not just the system icons. (Is this true?)

"Li"
YES.

Your screenshot makes sense. It's very nice for end-users to create
their own iconsets without program knowledge required. I'm looking
forward to the iconset maker.

As creator of iconset I have to say that your project look very nice and friendly.

I wish to have it - if you try to make a icon set without it you will know what I'm talking about. Please let me know when the proggie is ready.

If you like go check my iconset : http://www.palmgear.com/software/showsoftware.cfm?prodID=48770

PS: Lot of thanks to Li from ZZtechs !

[Festus440]

It's too early to know when the first alpha will be ready.

The first thing I'm writing is the routine to extract the bitmaps out of an iconset (prc) file. I knew this would be a bit of a pain to write so I wanted to get it out of the way first. I'm about half way throught that.

BTW this routine might be useful as a little stand alone utility to extract bitmaps out of skin files. I ususally use PRCExplorer to do this, but PRCExplorer saves the bitmaps with the ID numbers in HEX. This routine does it in decimal. (ex: Tbmp1000.bmp instead of Tbmp03E8.bmp)

[bigalex]

Originally posted by Festus440
It's too early to know when the first alpha will be ready.

The first thing I'm writing is the routine to extract the bitmaps out of an iconset (prc) file. I knew this would be a bit of a pain to write so I wanted to get it out of the way first. I'm about half way throught that.

BTW this routine might be useful as a little stand alone utility to extract bitmaps out of skin files. I ususally use PRCExplorer to do this, but PRCExplorer saves the bitmaps with the ID numbers in HEX. This routine does it in decimal. (ex: Tbmp1000.bmp instead of Tbmp03E8.bmp)

I'm searching for tool like this long, long time. I'm using also PRCExplorer and sometimes old version of PRCEdit. I think if we have the "extract bmp" option in the latest PRCEdit this will be great - you can decompile, edit the images and compile again :rolleyes:

[madken]

Bravo & Thanks !