Converting XP Visual Styles to WindowBlinds Skins

from WinCustomize Forums
O.K., so I'm a newbie and most of you in this forum probably already know this, but this bears repeating for all of those who can say: "I knew that!"

Most of us already know that you can skin Windows XP without WindowBlinds. Simply hack the "uxtheme.dll" or run a program like StyleXP or StarSkin and you can load new Windows XP skins (called visual styles). This is cool. But what is even cooler is that you can import Windows XP visual styles (created by other programs) into the WindowBlinds .wba format. You don't have to give up "visual styles" that you can download from such sites as www.themexp.org. Simply have WindowBlinds installed along with Skin Studio. Just use Stardock Skin Studio to import the the Windows XP visual style (.msstyles file) and save it back out to a .wba file. That's all there is to it. You get the best of both worlds. You get access to all the .wba files on wincustomize.com plus you can use any of the many visual styles on all the other Windows XP visual style sites. What could be cooler than that?

I've successfully converted every visual style from these other sites. Even the ones that come with StyleXP. Now I wouldn't recommend posting these converted styles to wincustomize.com without permission from the authors. But heck, you can (at least) use these styles if you like 'em. Try it!

Michelle
windowblinds
14,093 views 30 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Great advice Michelle!
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I have done this also, and love it! It gives alot of variety. Very cool
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
But .... those converted styles can not compete with those designed by our artists. They rock everything. (No Offense just my experinece)
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If you like the look of your desktop, 'nuff said. That's what skinning is all about
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I would love some help converting a visual style. I have never done it before. If you have time, please contace me at [email protected]

I think a basic step-by-step tutorial for newbies would be a cool idea (if there already isn't one?) because I too have a visual style in mind that I would like converted to .wba (I asked the site where I found it but got no response about someone there converting it).
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I agree. The one I am working on is all complete with logoff etc. I just do not know how to get rid of some of the errors. I am a total noob at this.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Don Smith,

Windows XP visual styles can be downloaded from many web sites. Perhaps the largest site is:

www.themexp.org

Converting XP visual styles is easy with SkinStudio. Download a free version of Skinstudio at www.stardock.com.

First, be sure you are converting a file with a name that looks like this:
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Y'know, the SKS process brings up bugs with skins. It converts the XP tga's to bmps, loosing the per-pixel alph blending. It also converts fonts and colors poorly.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
About
Windows XP visual styles can be downloaded from many web sites. Perhaps the largest site is:

www.themexp.org



If you don't pay the $10 for a year subscription everything you download will be in exe. format, and come with many bugs and spyware. Trust me, I found out the hard way. The bugs will even change your IP address and change your browser page. Smile!
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
O.K. Let's take things one at a time.

1) I've found less errors with converted msstyles than with downloaded .wba files! The XP skinning engine is designed to use native Windows bmp's anyway. How often are msstyle files contructed with a plethora of tga files? Answer: Not very often. So how often are you going to lose much qualityby converting them with SkinStudio?

2) www.themexp.org. If you click a second time on the visual style link, the download is converted to a .zip file (instead of a dastardly, adware dropping, explorer hacking "exe" file.) I've complained so many times about the adware to themexp that they don't even answer my email anymore!

msteves
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hi
2) www.themexp.org. If you click a second time on the visual style link, the download is converted to a .zip file (instead of a dastardly, adware dropping, explorer hacking "exe" file.)


Hi, I tried that and it is still the exe file inside the zip. I just wanted to see what would happen. I already paid the $10 bucks a long time ago. Watch out for that spyware. I had to format my hard drive last year from that ....!
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
clwoods,
I click once on the link, then cancel out, then RIGHT click on the preview, not the link, and do a save target as...I do this from inside the more info view. And, I get the zip file. I unzip the file, and it only has the .msstyles file in it, and the shell style folder. And if wallpaper and icons are included, they have folders as well. I have never gotten the .exe file when downloading this way. And, I have never gotten any spyware either. You have to unzip the downloaded file before running skin studio. Hope this helps.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Jazzymjr, Thanks, it worked like a charm. Looks like I won't have to renew my subscription when it run's out! I have had (the other program) for a long time. Smile!
Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
clwoods,
You're welcome. My subscription ran out over there a few months ago. It took me awhile to figure out how to download stuff without getting the dreaded executable file. It will probably be just a matter of time before we are no longer able to get the zip files...
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hey guys, i tried this and even though it starts importing the msstyle file, I get an error msg that "A file of that format? It might be very useful, but here it won't work"... The msstlye file shows up in skin studion in the windows XP visual styles tree, but I get the same msg when I try to edit it or open it in any way. What am I doing wrong here? This worked worked before christmas before I upgraded all mys stuff, Any hints? (am trying to import some skins from navigatsio found at his deviant art site). Thanks Bet
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, the cable went down and this didn't get posted...so here it goes..I tried checking the different boxes under options to see what would work...the option "universal skins" appeared to work. It imported and so far it looked good, but then when I applied the skin, bit and pieces weren't working (ie the taskbar and menu didn't skin), but will keep trying. I know this worked before, because i imported some really neat skins.
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Boopish,
Did you do a "save target as" when downloading the VS? You need to unzip the file before you open skin studio. When you open skin studio, click on file > open. On the tree on the left, click once on the Windows XP Visual Styles, then click on the browse button on the bottom of the left tree. Browse to where you unzipped the file, then click on the .msstyle file, and it should come up. Under the options tab in the window that pops up, I usually check to import for best performance (or something like that...can't remember the exact wording though). It will then import into skin studio where you can tweak it, and skin the taskbar, logoffs, etc. Hope this helps, and didn't confuse you even more. Oh, and be sure to do a save after you tweak the skin, or your changes won't take effect.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Citizen boopish I have a file that Snidley Whiplash had given me that really helped me a lot. he explains in detail some of the basics . If you or anybody here would be interested in acquiring this, I would be more than happy to help out. After all Sidney was good enough to help me, I in turn believe I should try and help if I can. it would be more than a pleasure to help anyone.
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Not sure I agree with this public disclosure of how to get around another site's 'funding' methodology...no matter how heinous it might be.

This is no different to giving ways to bypass Wincustomize.com's download cap limitations.

Just remember.....NOTHING is really 'free'.....even 'theft'....

Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks for the help, everyone. Butch, got your e-mail and am busily fixing the skin (even tinkered a bit on some of the images..just to see what does what). I couldn't see any thing on the screen about "flat Menu's" - and I really looked, but since I really have no idea what I am looking at, I could have missed it! I might put up a screenshot of the one I am working on (if that's allowed) when it's done.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
couldn't see any thing on the screen about "flat Menu's"


Controls- Menus- Pull Down Background
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thanks--can you tell much that I am a real newbie at this ??!! I just knew it had to be right in front of me, I just couldn't see it, and I even had my multifocals on!! Thanks again for the tip!