yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Windows Mobile Themes] Rangemaster1:
I did not create the large bottom bar, Mskip must takes the credit for that, I just altered it to suite my needs. I can pass on the 2 types I have altered ( semi-transparent & fully transparent) to Mskip if he wants to make them avalable as an alternative option for Ultimate or Elegance, Large SelectorBar for (QVGA, WQVGA, VGA and WVGA) so as to keep it under 1 roof. At present i'm looking at my first option to get colour icons on the bar

back to you Mskip.
[Windows Mobile Themes] jimt007:
Wow....thanks for instant reply.

You are one incredible talent!
[Windows Mobile Themes] mightymouse2045:
Can you please pass them on to me also - I thought this was going nowhere until I saw your reply just now. I am also looking at icons instead of numbers as it makes more sense rather than remembering 1 is for this, 2 is for that etc etc. If you have a pretty little map or internet icon you know it must be the gps or internet page. It's also for when my GF or friends use the phone most are like ummm HTF to work this?!?

I will help you out where I can but I must warn in advance that I am going away in a couple of days for 2 weeks so will be unable to help during that time.

Here's my little mock up - but just as a concept only the buttons are just random

*edit - WVGA only at this stage 480 x 64
[Windows Mobile Themes] jimt007:
Installed MSkip ProPlus Ultimate. It seemed to install fine.

I tried to change the background using Change Background and my HTC Touch froze.

Also I have installed 3 different cabs of yours and uninstalled each because I couldn't find any widgets etc.

Now I uninstalled SPB Mobile Shell, re-installed it (clean), installed ProPlus Ultimate but I can't find any widgets, links, skins or backing panels.

Is there some special sequence to follow that a newby might not be aware of?

Figured out the widget issue but still can't change the background. If I try the Touch freezes.

Everything else I tried works as far as I can tell.
[Windows Mobile Themes] mightymouse2045:
Are you installing it to the \Device or \My Storage?

Has to be installed on the \Device to work properly - Only thing I can suggest is you read MSKip's FAQ and try uninstalling MSkip, then stop and uninstall SPB, make sure you edit the registry as stated soft reset, then reinstall SPB 3.5.1, then install Proplus.

FAQ is here http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=4639615&postcount=4
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
If you want to create a custom MEnubar with images instead of numbers then you have to keep the images within the same dimensions as the existing menubar. The Carousel and Menu images sizes are smaller and also built into the menubar so unless you want to start editing lots of code I would sugest leaving those 2 images alone and just altering the main page icons. The menubar image is also seperate from the selection image when the button is pressed so you have a few things to consider.

The main reason I didnt use icons is so that you can use the screens for anything rather than being stuck putting contacts on a contacts page, weather on a weather page and internet widgets on an internet page.

That said if I have time tonight I will make a mock up of the custom menubar using your template to see how you like it on your phone.

What resolution phone do you have? WVGA im guessing :rolleyes:
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
I havent heard of anyone elses phone freezing when trying to change the background image on lifestyle screens and I have made no mods to that part of the code so im not sure what the problem is. Does it work ok without ProPlus installed? Which method are you using to try and change the background i.e. picture file, local gallery or online catalog?

Glad you figured out where the new widgets are located lol the new change skin method isnt obvious if you have come straight from 3.0.1 and havent looked at the manual ;)
[Windows Mobile Themes] mightymouse2045:
Fantastic

Hey man,

Yeah that'd be great thanks - then the community can play with whatever icons they want to put on it. Your a legend man!

As you said there are a few things to think about when doing it I hit the selection problem also - can there be two sets of icons? 1 light and 1 normal, so when selected it changes?

I tried and failed lol so yeah if you can just do the base then much appreciated and I'd say there are others out there that are who will also. Beer anyone :P

Oh . Yeah I am on wvga but that is the same effectively for VGA ie 480 wide

Oh yeah and can we make it transparent where possible - that will need to be png though is that possible?
[Windows Mobile Themes] jimt007:
I uninstalled ProPlus Ultimate and I can change the background.

I install ProPlus and it seems fine but the Touch freezes up when attempting to change the background. It freezes when I attempt to select a picture.
[Windows Mobile Themes] mightymouse2045:
Hey MSkip - Are we trying to reinvent the wheel here...? Would it be possible to do this instead - Create some dummy shortcuts that call a specific page 1 through 7 on the pro plus home screen

That way we could assign specific icons to the shortcuts and then simply add those shortcuts to the home screen - they could be placed anywhere, but in this specific instance they could be placed in a line down the bottom of the screen, and people could either use the original thin bottom bar or no bar at all and just use a row of these shortcuts located either at the bottom or where ever they fancy to bring up 7 different windows of icons, or themed pages.

What do you think?

I don't know if it's possible but if we could some how use whatever code currently calls that specific page when a button is clicked in a shortcut or I have mortscript installed is that something that could be used perhaps?

Thanks in advance man!!! :D
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
I will play around with it and post something later tonight ;)
[Windows Mobile Themes] Dude!:
Mskip,

The Forum on Spb Mobile Shell is full of complaints from end users. Things like

- Performance

- Stability

- Major battery life drain

Many other problems

http://www.spbclub.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=48

Are you seeing these type of problems or have you fixed some of these in your code?
[Windows Mobile Themes] Darkchaser:
I'm using the VGA-WVGA version of this theme, really nice, but I can't seem to change the background in Lifestyle. I tried using the normal SPB menu option, but after choosing a picture, it just comes up with the waiting cursor, and then nothing. Do I need to change the background manually, i.e. copy the wallpaper to the SPB folder?
[Windows Mobile Themes] decalex:
SQVGA

Any plans for the SQVGA (320x320) folks? (or any recommendations?)
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
Try reading the first post :rolleyes:

Note2: You might have trouble changing the background on the lifestyle screen. A solution provided by degavi is to first select the image you want then exit the shell (spb menu, settings, spb shell, menu button, exit shell) then go in to the spb mobile shell folder and delete the background.dat file. Restart mobile shell and your desired image will appear.
[Windows Mobile Themes] Darkchaser:
Thanks, long process but it worked.
[Windows Mobile Themes] umasiva:
customized icon with invisible link

Hi Mskip,

Great job. I need an information. How to use other icons, other than what is there in your cab. The invisible link is great to link any shortcut. I can put my own icon behind invisible link and use it. How do I create these icons and where do I need to put it, so that I can select them to be used.
[Windows Mobile Themes] umasiva:
customized icon with invisible link

If the picture frame can be made for smaller size, then we can put any icon as a picture and put the invisble link above it and that should do the magic. If you can do that, it would be great
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
I dont know what exactly I changed that stopped it working sometimes, I have ripped Mobile Shell apart soo much its hard to keep track lol but I will get round to fixing it one day. Its not a major bug and since theres a workaround in place its not top on my list.

Glad you got it sorted :)
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
You would have to make some kind of shortcut in your Start Menu folder and then change its icon to the one you want but I dont have the time to look into it right now sorry. Try asking in the Mobile Shell 3.5 tips and tricks thread :)
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
Thats a good idea actually lol I will have a look and see if its possible :D
[Windows Mobile Themes] aypee3:
lifestyle page1 not responding fully

hi,

ITS URGENT !!! is it only me or other people as well???

on QVGA screen, after installing ultimate elegance version,the page 1 of lifestyle doesn't allow me to put widgets on the lower part & a rectangular space at bottom remains clear ( previously where all the carousel and menu buttons were present.) .

so i can put the widgets only above a certain height.

whereas on the other lifestyle screens, i can easily put any widget & anywhere.

can anyone fix this bug ???

i never had any sort of problem with any kinda proplus ultimate version previously.

:( :( :(
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
This was fixed a few pages ago :)

It was my error when I changed the screen sizes for the new space at the bottom I forgot to do it on page 1 lol. All the links in the first post have been fixed and changed or theres a fixed qa_layouts.dat file you can copy to your mobile shell folder to fix it *HERE*.
[Windows Mobile Themes] Darkchaser:
Just FYI, the same problem is in Elegance. Not in Ultimate though. And the wallpaper behaviour is different, in Ultimate it transititions through different parts of the wallpaper, whereas in Elegance and UltimateElegance it stays on just the one part of the wallpaper.

Great work anyways. Using Ultimate now cos it looks the best and no bugs so far :)
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
The only real change made to Ultimate was to take away the boundaries from the bottom of the screen so that widgets can be placed anywhere. To make the pages selectable in Elegance and Ultimate Elegance I had to make 7 single pages that are linked together via the swiping action or the selector bar.

The wallpaper in the standard Mobile Shell and Ultimate is made from 1 very wide screen which is scrolled through as the page chages. Because Elegance and Ultimate Elegance have 7 single pages the image always stays the same.

Im glad you enjoy using ProPlus Ultimate :)
[Windows Mobile Themes] THAD LOVELACE:
would it be to much trouble to post all your widgets ONLY, for VGA/WVGA: in a cap? for Moblie Shell 3.5,

I have an Idea (watch out:-D) No but I would like to Install your widgets on top of this,

http://www.mobilecustom.fr/forum/index.php/topic,2899.0.html

his sence does not provide widgets, but with your work, it would look a lot better, I think THANK YOU SIR.
[Windows Mobile Themes] aypee3:
thanks a lot. it worked for me.

:)
[Windows Mobile Themes] gaulicin:
Picture frame for icons + invisible link

...I've done this and it works.

With picture frame is possible to load also PNG files. The only things for which at moment I have not found a solution is that doesn't work the trasparency of PNG's, so the icons will be always squared (black background for trasparent part of PNG files).

I'm trying at least to have rounded angles. If so it should be possible to use some set of squared icons like for example this one http://www.mobilecustom.fr/forum/index.php/topic,2900.0.html in the best way.

MSkip, if you can try to work on this; it should be very nice if we can find a way to have a masked background to make trasparent part of picture frame. In this way we could arrange picture frames for square rounded icons, picture frame for rounded icons etc.etc.
[Windows Mobile Themes] knaak:
could someone post a mirror, I am getting:

"You have reached the download limit for free-users. Would you like more?"
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
Which cab do you need a mirror for?
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
Ok what do you think of this? ;)

Download the attachment, unzip and copy across to your spb mobile shell folder. This version is only for VGA and WVGA and you must have ProPlus Ultimate Elegance for Mobile Shell 3.5.1 installed.
[Windows Mobile Themes] dustinb17:
Any chance of making something like this for QVGA and WQVGA, preferably with a solid background, as in NOT transparent for those of us running WM6.5.1 and have the black pixels at the bottom of our screens.

Thanks in Advanced if it's possible.
[Windows Mobile Themes] catman51:
Beautiful, would love it for QVGA!
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
Here you go for QVGA and WQVGA :)

Same instructions as before.
[Windows Mobile Themes] catman51:
Thank you! Will install as soon as I get home!!!
[Windows Mobile Themes] dustinb17:
Looks perfect. Thanks again Mskip
[Windows Mobile Themes] mightymouse2045:
Fantastic thanks! - what icon height/width did you use? and what is a good editor for editing these is there anything I need to think about as far as colour and background transparency when editing them?

Also what about my other post re creating shortcuts to specific pages so they can be added anywhere on the page and their icons can be changed? How possible is that if at all?

Thanks again :)
[Windows Mobile Themes] tacchan23:
Wow, I think this is a really big improvment! if you removed the turning page effect I would choose this for sure over Ultimate...:eek:
[Windows Mobile Themes] mightymouse2045:
Agreed - but tacchan you can change the turning page effect - if you go into launcher - then the SPB menu (middle button on the right) - settings - spb menu - animation. Change the bottom option to sweeping or any of the 4 there and it makes a nice change (I chose sweeping coz it looks cool). If you position certain favourite shortcuts in the same location it's sexy as it looks like it only redraws the other icons.

*Update - Oops sorry I meant sweeping not sliding above is now correct :))
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
Nevermind LOL
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
If you open the MSkipFiles.dat file (using b0fm18zq) which is where I store all the custom images then the files you want to edit are LifestylePage.bmp (selected page) and MenuBottom.bmp (menubar). These 2 files must be saved as 16bit RGB (R5G6B5). There arent many programs which can save bmps in that format but a good free one is Gimp which you can find by googling it.

I use PhotoImpact to edit the main image as I like its toolset and flexability, but it cant handle R5G6B5 so I save it as a standard 24bit image then load it into Gimp to change it to the correct format.

Each file also has a '_m.bmp' with it which controls the mask and must be 8bit greyscale. The lighter the mask the more solid the main image, the darker it is the more transaprent.

With Elegance and Ultimate Elegance it is possible to make shortcuts to individual pages but I will need to spend a bit of time to do it so it will have to be done when im not soo busy lol.
[Windows Mobile Themes] mightymouse2045:
Sweet man thanks for the info - I like the buttons you created, and now I can have a play at making some of my own.

Yeah I like the idea of having shortcuts to the specific pages, removing the bottom bar, and use invisible links to pages (hidden pages if you like) to fool the casual passerby who happens to want to check out the sexy new phone ;)
[Windows Mobile Themes] nuhc:
hey skip,

Thanks for the great work! Love the new bar at the bottom. I'm trying to do a quick contacts page but I realised I don't have a nice picture of home. Do you have like stock avatars? like an icon I can choose to make home, or work?

Cheers!
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
Sorry I dont but im sure you can google something up quite easily :)
[Windows Mobile Themes] Rangemaster1:
Nice job Mskip the new v2 button bottom bar is looking very cool.

my icons: lol did not say this was the Mask.

To clean up spb mobile shell it self is there a way to change the bottom bar centre background on all screens to a total transparent or semi transparent so as to let the main background picture to show through it. would this be to much work.
[Windows Mobile Themes] mightymouse2045:
LOL - I was going to say read post earlier where MSkip says "Each file also has a '_m.bmp' with it which controls the mask and must be 8bit greyscale. The lighter the mask the more solid the main image, the darker it is the more transaprent."

But I tried adjusting the brightness level of the MenuBottom_m.bmp file to darker so it would be more transparent but the bar doesn't load up any more. Am I missing something MSkip?

I edited the file in photoshop and just adjusted the brightness down by 20 and left everything else alone, but the bar doesn't display at all now....
[Windows Mobile Themes] mightymouse2045:
Ummmm what am I doing wrong? I changed one icon to test and then used 7zip to recreate the zip and renamed it to .dat then copied it over and the bar doesn't display. So I copied all the originals back in, and used 7zip to create the zip copied it over and still doesn't work.

If I copy your original .dat over then the bar comes back - what do you use to create the zip file, and does it need to be signed after changing it or something?

Cheers

**** UPDATE1 - I just did another test. I extracted your original, made no changes and used 7zip and WinRAR to zip it back up with the password protection, and both of them do not work. I noticed even though I made no changes the files came out as 166kb instead of 164kb. So perhaps it is your zip application you are using and the settings you are using?!?!?

**** UPDATE2 - Ok I opened your dat file and edited that directly - removing the old files and adding in mynew ones then copied that to the mobile and it works that way - however all the buttons are green - I just edited it in photoshop - so what i will do is try your method with gimp mentioned above and see if that works for me :P

***** UPDATE3 - SUCCESS - Obviously photoshop doesn't handle the format R5G6B5 - Thanks again man - just waiting for the shortcuts to specific pages now :)) I will post my bar once it's done :)
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
Im pretty sure photoshop does support R5G6B5 (for main image) but you have to specify it in the advanced options when saving the image.

I always use winzip to extract files and add them back to .dat files. The compression method must be different for WinRar as I know that has problems but im not sure about 7zip I guess if that didnt work then it has problems too.
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
Im not quite sure what you mean. Do you mean the main background in the menubar is transparent so just the buttons are solid (like the attached image) or that the background within the buttons iis transparent?
[Windows Mobile Themes] Rangemaster1:
LoL Not with your button bar m8, but mobile shell as a whole.

make the centre of the spb shell bottom bars transparent ( MenuBackgrd.bmp & its mask).
[Windows Mobile Themes] hdaackda:
Hi,

I am a total newbie when it comes to SPB MS.

Can someone guide me, how can I edit the bottom left button (i find it useless.. the one that shows all the screens in a circle..) and use it for something else.. also, how can I add another shortcut/button in between contacts and launcher?

Without installing MSkip pro etc.. I want to start skinnin somethin of my own..
[Windows Mobile Themes] donfano:
Mskip - can you make a rounded corners version of Panel Medium (Black) please! I know you made one for the grey one (Panel Medium Grey2), but it would be nice to have black one. Thanks
[Windows Mobile Themes] skinnypupp:
How do we uninstall this? The memory usage is absurd
[Windows Mobile Themes] hdaackda:
read the first page... uninstall method is mentioned...
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
Is it not letting you uninstall it? See the FAQ if you need to uninstall manually :)
[Windows Mobile Themes] saeba:
There's a new release of Mobile Shell:

Current version:	3.5.2

Release date:	Dec 09, 2009

Anyone tried it? Is it compatible with UltimateElegance?

Thanks!
[Windows Mobile Themes] donfano:
I would wait for Mskip's confirmation before trying it, or I'll simply wait for the next version of UltimateElegance. Last time, I ran into shuffles between uninstalling and installing the 2 pieces in different orders, not mentioning an issue to uninstall UltimateElegance.
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
Going by the changelog im pretty sure the new build only contains bug fixes for the HTC HD2 so if you dont own that phone then I wouldnt bother updating. If you really want to go for it then it should be compatable with the latest ProPlus packs as theres no changes to the widgets but I havent tried it yet personally.

Version 3.5.2 (Dec 09, 2009):

Fixed issue with SMS opening on HTC HD2

Fixed issue with alarms on HTC HD2

Fixed issue with settings opening on HTC Windows Mobile 6.5 devices

Backlight support for new devices

Added a possibility to send MMS from an unnamed calllog entry
[Windows Mobile Themes] bootheresa:
I noticed on their forum that it has also fixed the issues so complained about on the HTC TP2 dialer. But it also says it has a bug with the HTC Task manager.

Forum: http://www.spbclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27307&start=45

BOO B)
[Windows Mobile Themes] MarkAtHome:
The update to 3.5.2 was uneventful. Everything seems to work fine.
[Windows Mobile Themes] catman51:
Same here, no problems!
[Windows Mobile Themes] Fuze1969A:
Updated to 3.5.2 and WOW, no visual diffrence or anything (not that I should have expected, just wishen). If you don't have to upgrade, don't waste your time. :cool:
[Windows Mobile Themes] saeba:
OK. Thanks to everyone who responded :-)!
[Windows Mobile Themes] nap007:
how can I access these cube/hexagon menus, launcher and settings directly from lifestyle menu???

edit

how can I make the correct background, I have a 480x800 pic but when I select it as background it doesn't stick in the center?
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
You want to make an image whose dimensions are 960x748 and then put your image in the left side. It should be displayed fine then although you might have to play around with it a bit.
[Windows Mobile Themes] nap007:
960x748? :eek: can u give example on which area should be focused to make an object in the pic centered? :o

another noob question, how do I decrease the number of lifestyle pages?

and also as my previous post, how do I access cube/hexagon, launchers, settings, etc directly from lifestyle menu?
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
I dont know what you mean by cube launcher.. if you mean the carousel its the left button in the menubar.

If you have a 480x800 pic then put it in the left half of the 960x748 image.

You cant decrease the lifestyle pages in Ultimate Elegance its set to 7.
[Windows Mobile Themes] nap007:
the carousel menu, and the launcher menu I meant.....I admit this SPB is very confusing compared to the old version 3 :( so how do I access launcher and spb menu without having to press the extreme tiny carousel shortcut :confused:

and I can't understand about the pic? what did you mean by I should put a pic in the left half of pic? perhaps I will figure this myself....
[Windows Mobile Themes] mskip:
Ultimate Elegance is designed for people who dont want the spb links at the bottom of the screen so they can add whatever they want in the free space at the bottom. If you want the more standard layout then try Elegance which has the 3 standard links at the bottom. You dont need to uninstall just copy the files from the variations section and see which you prefer.
[Windows Mobile Themes] nap007:
I see, thanks for the great customization then...
[Windows Mobile Themes] nicovolley:
Problems with weather widgets

Hello, I'm sorry about my english, I'm french...

So I can't read all the forum about pro plus, and so, I don't know if my problem has been resolved. I'm sorry if you already talk about..

I install the mskip proplus ultimate for spb 3.5.1, and it's very great for me but i have a problem with the weather widgets, when i want to update, i have an error message which tell me that : No meteorological data were able to be downloaded...

I hope there's a solution!!

Thanks