How To Create and Install Theme Files in Windows 7.

[HappyAndyK]

This document discusses the format of Theme (.theme) files used in Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows XP. A .theme file is a .ini text file that is divided into sections, which specify visual elements that appear on a Windows desktop. Section names are wrapped in brackets ([]) in the .ini file.

Windows 7 supports new features including the Desktop Background Slideshow. Unrecognized sections of a .theme files are ignored by previous versions of the operating system. A new file format, .themepack, has also been introduced with Windows 7 to help users share themes.



Theme files have a number of required and optional sections. The document from Microsoft, describes the sections of .theme files and provide examples of how to specify changes for the different elements like themes, image, colors, sound, slide show, metrics, visual styles, etc.

A very useful must-read for themers !

Click : MSDN.

[knightrider™]

It was informative never created a theme i am using win 7 on Vmware...

[alsiladka]

Thanks Andy! Am on holiday for a week, but i have plans of making a few Windows 7 themes with a slideshow of wallpapers consisting of pics i have shot myself
Without saying, WVC will get to experience them first

[HappyAndyK]

^ Look forward to experiencing them

[Doug_72]

But creating a basic theme is easy. customize your desktop the way you want it to be. click “save theme” on the Personalization page. choose the theme pack type in the drop down list. thats all, i am guessing.

[iMav]

Here is a much more readable method of creating a theme:

A theme pack is essentially a single compressed file containing one or more desktop background images, along with optional customizations for the Aero glass, sounds, screen saver, icons, cursors, etc. To create one, all you do is set your own desktop up with the appropriate choices, and then click the “Save theme” link on the Personalization page in Control Panel. (One important caveat: make sure you choose the “theme pack” type in the drop down list – otherwise it will save just the theme choices without the images themselves.)

[dmudgal]

nice and informative