yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Flinston_Ger:
Since build 10586, Th2, Word, Excel, Powerpoint (all the office apps, using 2013) do have tiles with a custom background color, despite being native win32 apps.

It seems that there was a change in the xaml start menu somehow. This might be an oppurtunity to create custom tiles, where jump lists behave naturally.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] panospc:
Opera browser also has a custom tile in build 10586.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Flinston_Ger:
that's really interesting! thanks for the info. Maybe we can reverse engineer the shortcut?

For anyone interested: Pinning Opera to the startmenu gives a white tile with a red Opera icon in the middle that is different from the icon in the taskbar. It seems that not only background-colour is now customizable, but also the icon itself.

edit: It even has a jump list associated. So no hacks there.

edit2: FOUND IT!

Its a classic visualelementsmanifest.xml defined for the shortcut target, i.e., exe. This is the same approached used in Windows 8. Support got dropped since some 9000 build in Windows 10 and was the reason why OblyTile did not work anymore.

This means, OblyTile should work again! Can anyone check on that??

launcher.visualelementsmanifest.xml:

<Application xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">
<VisualElements
BackgroundColor="#FFFFFF"
ShowNameOnSquare150x150Logo="on"
ForegroundText="dark"
Square150x150Logo="Assets\150x150Logo.png"
Square70x70Logo="Assets\70x70Logo.png"
/>
</Application>

Edit 4:

IT WORKS! I just created a custom visualmanifest for a win32 application and pinned it to the startmenu: Custom background image, title, colour, textcolour and option to disable the label. Important is that the startmenu shortcut must be recreated (deleted and placed again)!

:D
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Dayanto:
Does this work with wide and large tiles as well? In Windows 8, desktop applications could only use small and medium tiles. Wide and large tiles weren't allowed.

"Tile design best practices specify that if your tile is not a live tile, it should not claim the extra screen space required for wide (310x150) and large (310x310) tiles. Because a desktop app's tile is always static and never live, those additional tile sizes are not supported in this schema."

(msdn.microsoft.com/sv-se/library/dn449733.aspx)

Are you sure about this? OblyTile did not launch exe files. It launched vbs scrips, which in turn ran applications and urls. There are no visualelementsmanifest.xml files where the vbs files are located and putting them next to the exe files wouldn't have mattered since the tiles only know about the scripts. I'm not exactly sure how OblyTile was able to create the actual tiles, but it seems like it used something completely different.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Flinston_Ger:
I am sorry for that misinformation. I read that somewhere, but after checking OblyTile it seems that you are right.

Nevertheless, visualelementsmanifest.xml does work for 70x70 and 150x150 tiles. Customizable image, background and foreground colour. Sadly it seems that wide and large tiles are not (yet) supported. (I tried using Square300x300Logo and Square310x310Logo, but the tile does not allow for selecting large).
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Flinston_Ger:
I hacked together a very tiny app that utilizes the (newly/old) available visualelementsmanifest.xml function. Please consider this as a proof of concept and as a prototype. I am posting this here, instead of a new thread, as without TileCreator I would have never created this tiny app and it is far from perfection. Maybe this can be integrated into future TileCreator releases.

The prototype goes as follows: The app is very simple and quite stupid. Select a ".lnk" from the startmenu list (top), select an image and click save. Then just pin the tile as usual to your startscreen directly from your startmenu. Jumplists are fully working. Sadly, wide and large tiles are not supported.

If any dev is interested in developing this to a real application, I am happy to share the source --- although it is insanely simple.

Attached a proof of concept screenshot.

Download: http://www.motzek.org/MyTile.rar (Disclaimer: You are on your own. I take no responsibility for whatsoever. App requests highest available rights.)

I moved it also here: http://xdaforums.com/windows-10/development/win10tile-native-custom-windows-10-t3248677
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] RE992:
Hi,

First of all thank you for taking time to create this app.

Unfortunately I am getting a No target selected error.

Could you help me out?

Kind regards

RE992
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Dayanto:
Although all tile sizes aren't available, having the ability to retain the context menu of the application (for example the uninstall button) could be pretty helpful, and if Microsoft ends up dropping the size restrictions, this might perhaps become the standard way of creating custom tiles one day. (considering that it utilizes the official api, that would actually be pretty nice)

Anyhow, just thought I'd drop a tip based on the screenshot you posted. When you're grabbing the start menu shortcuts, be aware that they're split between two different locations. You can use following snippets of code to get their respective folder paths:

Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.CommonStartMenu)
Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.StartMenu)

It's also worth mentioning that some shortcuts are .url files (I've only encountered this with steam games, but this applies for any applications that are launched using a URL protocol), so if you want to support those, that's also something to look into. Actually, never mind. Those shortcuts wouldn't be able to use the visualelementsmanifest.xml styling anyways, so they're not relevant.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Flinston_Ger:
Thank you :) I was quite lazy yesterday so I hardcoded that.

I fixed it and uploaded a new release: http://www.motzek.org/MyTile.rar (I also edited the first post)

Maybe one can create a .bat file which launches the url (in a default browser or something) and then create a visualelementsmanifest.xml for the .bat?.

---------- Post added at 07:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:27 AM ----------

Did you click on a .lnk in the upper list and it writes a target to the textbox?

Sometimes the .lnk has a wrong target (some compability stuff with x86 and x64). You can manually alter the application target to the correct exe (most likely, remove the x86 in the application target) and then click save.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] gabrielmop:
Great man, working good, no errors until now, i can finally pin all my games on Start again, thank you

here's how's my start menu are now:
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] urosP:
Games stay in background processes section of TaskManager or start but crash

i have a problem with tilecreator, everything is fine if i want to open folders with custome tiles, but when i want to launch games, the process is running in the Background processes section of the task manager, and the game wont start, ,some start but crash (ex Fallout 4)other programs work.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] bigworld12:
For the Developer :

there is a property called "WorkingDirectory" in ProcessStartInfo,if it isn't set the working directory will be the Tile Creator directory , and most of apps will fail because of this , is there any way i can set it in the args ?
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] exnokiafan:
Hey, is there any updated tutorial?

I've seen one online but there's no dedicated folder in c: ... I've tried a couple of things but they did not work. And I'm no noob XD
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] imDCStar:
cool... thanks
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] exnokiafan:
well it does not create the specified folder in c: even if I run it as admin
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] fromBzh:
My current start Menu

img11 dot hostingpics dot net/pics/21927620151218094944ProgramManager.png

Sorry I can't post the link.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] rangipetur:
While TileCreator is great, I have one small issue with it. When I open a desktop application using it, and already have another desktop application open and maximized, the new application doesn't receive focus, and winds up behind the old one. The TileCreator window that flashes up for a second, does receive focus, but not the application it starts.

Plus, I have one feature suggestion. The full screen TileCreator app that flashes up when you start something can be a bit jarring, one "slightly hacky" way to get around it would be to take a screenshot, then composit the TileCreator logo on top, and flash that in full screen instead, making it look like an alpha overlay of the logo on the current screen. Though I have no idea if this would be easy to implement or not. :)
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Sil3ntspy:
that is cause he is not doing the main works before the actual window gets created. i really like tileCreator but we should be without a splash when you launch a tile
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] lavacano201014:
I believe this is a limitation of UWP apps, and Windows will always, always show some sort of logo before starting the app to tell the user that the app is loading. Something something user friendliness something something
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] LTD___:
Hello,

Tile Creator appears excellent and single handedly turns the " new" Start-bits into something that could actually be fun to customize. However, I have bit of a concern;

Does this program do something that could appear as " suspicious activity" on radar of a Massively Multiplayer Online game admins and such? Does Til Creator somehow modify or launch anything having to do with the original exe routine of a game client in some false-alarm fashion? Does it appear as " third party activity" on environment where hacking a game's exe is daily and monitored threat? Can it appear I am trying to launch some malicious in-game gold farmer bot, instead of your excellent app?
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] jimcrack68:
I have a similar issue. The app that TileCreator launches for me doesn't receive focus. It launches but Windows returns to the tile screen. I have to find the icon in the taskbar (or use TaskView) to switch to it. Any idea why this happens?

After a little digging into OblyTile and VBS, is this new version trying to use SendKeys and Windows 10 is sandboxing... not allowing the escape key to be sent?

The root cause of the issue may be ending the process causing Windows to return to Start.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Endoroid:
Proxy app suddenly won't launch. I noticed when clicking a pinned tile, i could see tilecreator launch briefly, but the target app doesn't. When i tried to run the proxy it's self, nothing happens. Un and reinstall, no change, also running as admin doesn't make a diff. Any thoughts?

Thanks
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] PokMahPok:
Tiles have no images

I downloaded Tile Creator Proxy and followed all the instructions, but I dont see a C:\TileCreator folder.

When I pin my tiles with my desired images they also turn up blank with no images. Help?
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] lavacano201014:
Nope. All TileCreator and its proxy do is launch the app like you were double clicking a shortcut (well, TCProxy does it bizarrely, which my Tilandis project is meant to address, but I digress). Neither program does any sort of process modification or DLL injection or anything resembling that. You're more likely to get flagged for launching your game through Steam than you are through TileCreator (because Steam injects an overlay).

I can't reproduce this with my replacement proxy, so I'm thinking the problem is something to do with the way TCProxy launches applications.

The ShellExecute() function takes an argument at the very end, "nShowCmd", that decides what sort of state to launch an application in. In fact, users have had access to a watered down version of this particular argument for some time, I think dating as far back as Win95.

Now, I'm working on the assumption that the current TCProxy is written in AutoHotKey, just because the old one was. And I'm thinking AutoHotKey by default (no idea if it can be changed) launches programs in the background, because it's meant for automation; the way the AHK devs want you to use that function is to launch an app, automate all your tasks, and then close it behind you. This can take place entirely in the background. I'm pretty sure AHK has a call to bring a window to the foreground, and I swear up and down it used to do that, but if it isn't doing that, then maybe the developer (if he ever reappears) should fix that.

Of course, that whole paragraph up there should be disregarded if the new TCProxy isn't actually written in AHK.

Stop. Do not pass go.

You're following the old instructions. I don't know where you're reading the old instructions, since they aren't in the OP anymore, but those are the old instructions, for the old proxy. What you want to do instead is simply download the proxy from the OP, run the installer, then run the proxy (I think it makes a start menu shortcut). You should see a GUI appear with a bunch of textboxes. I don't have TCProxy installed at the moment, for reasons I won't repeat three times in the same post, but I remember the GUI was fairly straightforward.

You have to, have to, have to set a medium image. If you have a larger image, you can just plug that into the "medium" box, and it will autofill the large box (and the small) just fine. If you don't set it, it will be blank for all sizes, no matter whether you set an image for that size or not. I think it's a Windows bug, and I don't reckon it would be hard for TileCreator to compensate, but the developer seems to have disappeared. I personally figure he has real-world engagements taking up all his time, so don't expect a fix soon.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] jimcrack68:
The issue with TileCreator, I believe, is that it exits too early. I have a developer that was able to recreate this app for a special purpose (thanks for not obfuscating) and he found that if you put in a little delay, Windows would not return to Start when the original app exited.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Roxr123:
Can anyone help me?

After I link the applications properly I can crreate the tiles which then get pinned in the start menu but when I click them the TileCreator Proxy opens up and I get a notification saying " ERROR OUT OF TABLE RANGE"
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] rafaelima091:
Hello. Sorry if this problem was been saw before, but the Tile Creator Proxy are not working for me. Today i opened my PC, and none of the tiles i created was working, and when I tried to open Tile Creator Proxy, he just wont open. The program opens, then closes it selfs. [sorry for the bad english]
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Endoroid:
I have the same problem. I commented earlier in the thread but got no replies
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] benswinden:
Just started using the tool and so far everything is working well. I was able to do pretty much everything I wanted.

The issue I have is that when you select a tile, it seems the tilecreator app needs to open briefly. So everytime I select a tile it shows the TileCreator splash screen briefly, but this splash screen is super ugly ( i'm sorry!! : } ) Is there anyway to not have this splash screen pop up everytime?
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] fromBzh:
+1 with previous question,

and in the meantime you can reduce its size to a minimum,

And could anyone tell me what is the adress to run the TileCreator app, because that's the obly one I can't change the icon.

Thx
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Dayanto:
Well, that's how the program works. It launches the app which then runs your program and closes. There isn't really much you can do to affect the process as a user.

However, I've tried a couple of other programs (I hope it's ok to mention them here), and out of those, Pin More (paid) and Better StartMenu (free) do a very good job of either closing the window quickly or not showing it at all.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] fromBzh:
Mine :

[IMG="start menu tile creator"]http://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/281752201153459.png[/IMG]
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Roxr123:
Can anyone help me?

After I link the applications properly I can create the tiles which then get pinned in the start menu but when I click them the TileCreator Proxy opens up and I get a notification saying " ERROR OUT OF TABLE RANGE"
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] se.lisa86:
Is this app/program still being supported?
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] lavacano201014:
Kinda sorta not really. The developer's gone inactive.

I'm one of a handful of people trying to usurp the throne. :V
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] vjonckeere:
Oui sava

Envoyé de mon ONE TOUCH 4015X-orange en utilisant Tapatalk
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] roostaamir:
HI there all

When I click on a tile I created using this program, a "Tile creator" windows will be showed and closed first, and then the desired application is opened.

Does anyone know a way that the first window won't show up?
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] lavacano201014:
not possible under current UWP limitations
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] InfinitePlus:
I tried to use this with Witcher 3 and everytime I link the .exe file and click the tile nothing happens, I tried to link it with the Steam shortcut but I just get the ''Catastrophic Failure'' error. Can someone help me?
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] kawisphoenix:
im using windows 10 pro 64 bit , and at the first time the tilecreator works well, but after a while, i dont know why , i cant open the tilecreator proxy , i try to reinstall it and still got the same result, i still cant open the tilecreator proxy , can you help me pls ?
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Goncalo29:
Any ideia how to solve the "eded" error?
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] thanhtu150:
I am waiting for this :)
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] btm710:
What did you do to fix the eded error?
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Twinkling82:
Also waiting to get any idea on how to resolve the "eded" popup.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] gitarero19:
hey, thanks for this. can I uninstall the store or metro apps after installing this program?
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] FlemishDroid:
You can do this very easy in power shell

http://www.nextofwindows.com/how-to-uninstall-windows-10-default-metro-universal-apps

Sent from my lightning fast SM-G930F (S7)
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] jeremyto:
Hello, thanks for that app it works great for me !

Just a small problem :

-> I'm using the tablet mode (because i have 6 pc like this, for the public who wants to check internet and play web games),

so i made couples vignets for games like (agar.io etc). When people clic on them, chrome is launching but in background, we have to ALT TAB to see that chrome opened with that game.

how can i do that ? like force to open Chrome but in the front line of metro ?
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] matt_xav:
So I created some files to use with this

Honestly this is so great. I ended up turning all the desktop apps on my start menu into tiles.

I want to share the tiles I made in the thread. they are all white with transparent backgrounds, simply upload them and select the color you want behind them.

to find the images go to imgur dot com and then type /a/l9jar

This was a lot of fun. If anyone needs other icons or would like to suggest ones for me to use, I'd be happy to make them.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Umair Ibn Farooq:
help

Thanks For The App It Works F9. Bt Some Of Games Won't Open in Tiles neither In Tile Creator Proxy Whn I Test Them..

Plzz Help...

Thanks
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Djigael:
Clearing tile images paths

Hi, I am a newbie using TileCreator :D. I have a question. If I create a tile asigning an image to each four tiles' size, and if I want to create another one only with images in medium and wide size (for example), the values in small and large are kept from the last tile I created. I can't delete the values of that size I do not want to. Is there some way to clean the image path boxes? Or I have to restart the app to clear the values each time I want to create a new tile? regards..
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] moninml:
customize folder and system shortuc

Can I customize start menu and change icon (tiles) of systems shortcut like recycle bin or my computer? Can I add folder to start menu tiles and change icon of this? I want to change apperance of whole tile. Use Properties > change icon of file/folder is not solution of my problem. I use tilecreator but this app can add only .exe files. I try to find program like oblytile for win 8.1 where I can add any tile what I want...

Sorry for my english. I hope that you understand me.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] moninml:
Find it!

I find better app for customize tiles in start menu. This app solve all my problem with start menu.

Look for WinTileR in shop.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] ViniciusKTZ1580:
Opera in version 42 applies tiles in the start menu.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Eliteoomph:
I had a custom exe built for me that links out the exe to a url and opens in chrome and the exe works great on it's own but i get the eded error when trying to use in TileCreator. Has anyone solved the eded issue?
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Ryknex:
After the update of the new Windows 'creator's update'

The companion app 'tile creator Proxy' is not working, please need an update of this software, I really love to use this app, and advance sorry for my english
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Lin223:
Where can I get a link in a Proxy?
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Antidote03:
help

can you tell me from where you got the plugin setup for wintiler i already purchased it but the link is broken and the dev not responding
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Batero2000:
I've searched the "TileCreator" on the Windows 10 Microsoft Store, but there is no such app. Is there an external link to download?

Thanks.

EDIT: Plus I've open the Store's web link of "TileCreator" & says "not found", I think they deleted the app.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] FcoEnrique:
Hi,

Does anyone knows how to make custom tiles to work ONLY in the star menu, I mean, leaving the default icons for the taskbar when they are running but changing the shortcut .ico only for the star menu
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] fallen_:
I think this app was deleted :crying:
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] rajalot:
Hey Team,

Yeah it seems l TileCreator has been removed from the store :(

Any chance to grab the .exe file?

Cheers
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] siema44:
ill pack it in rar and upload here if i can and don't break any rule (.appx) to install with Windows store app backup (or something like that) i've just installed it in my freshly new Windows 10 installation right now ^^

EDIT: if i'm breaking any rule just let me know or delete the post, but here's the promised:

https://mega.nz/#!M9hTVChA!W9_zDfPkeIrr4RxsbkhUcOd19hUVaGISLm-cSYBC71A

there are two appx files, i've installed the neutral only versión and it Works afaik, you have to open this appx file with WSAppPkgIns.exe inside the WSApp folder and have the testing install enabled on dev options of Windows 10. It would be really sad if this precious app were lost, so feel free to do mirrors (again, only if this doesn't break any rule) and my most sincere thank you for the TileCreator and WSAppbak tool devs!

Bye! :D
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] cjleonard:
edgeTile alternative?

Looks like TileCreator isn't in the Windows AppStore anymore. I was able to find an alternative that works similarly, named edgeTile. Hope this helps someone.

Alternative AppStore App: edgeTile
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Qzinxa:
After "Tile Creator App" was remove from Windows store I've found one similar and easier use AND FREE!!!

[YOUTUBE]wiidUnMx9HA[/YOUTUBE]
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] donthateme702:
https://www.microsoft.com/it-it/sto...2459594)(je6NUbpObpQ-fQ2D1bv1A.rKk2e8L1YFJw)(),link to app on Microsoft Store. And the Name is Edge Tile Creators.
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] Demi4857:
Customization

Can i add different pictures for each tile size?
[Windows 10, 8, 7, XP etc.] iexist:
Can't find in the store

Is this program up in the store yet?