manub

I may put it in a seperate file for download as i'm trying to keep the app size itself down (it needs to live in the windows folder at present as the DLL it uses also needs to be there so size is an issue)

The confusion is also cleared up somewhat by the preview buttons which are being added to each tab. If you change any colors and click preview you can see what difference it makes to the display. As you can imagine this is taking a while as in some cases i'm having to draw the image from scratch in code.

Just for the record i'll post here what each color option does

manub

Options explained -

Start
Bar Left - Background color of the left hand side of the start menu itself
Bar Right - as above but right (this is because of the fade effect from one color to the other)

Bar Text - The color of the text on the start bar itself, i.e. 'Start', time, WiFi icon etc

Menu Text - The color of the text on the start menu itself, i.e. link to programs, settings, apps

Today
Horizontal Bars - The color of the seperating lines between text on your today screen
Today Text - The color of teh text itself on teh today screen

System Tray - Color of teh system tray (bar at the bottom of the screen), this does not support fading so it's one color

Tap-Hold Dots - The color of the circle array of dots when you hold down the stylus (for some reason this setting is not valid when you tap&hold on the start menu??? don't you just love windows!)

Notification (the small windows that appear from the icons on your start bar)
Noticiation Bar Left - Background color of the left hand side of the notification title bar
Noticiation Bar Left - Background color of the right hand side of the notification title bar (supports fading)
Noticiation Title Text - color of the text on the notification bar
Noticiation Tray Background - Background color of the notification window itself (normally white)
Noticiation Icon Hightlight - when icon is tapped on Notification Tray
Noticiation Icon Hightlight - when icon is tapped to show Notification Tray
(two above options are not always visible)

Critical Notification
Critical Notification Bar Left - as above but for critical events like battery low etc
Critical Notification Bar Right - as above but for critical events like battery low etc
Critical Notification Text - as above but for critical events like battery low etc

Background (the faded background you see when you open pocket word, notes, excel etc, on the 'new' screen)
This is split into two lines, with the ability to set left and right colors to enable fading, generally speaking you only need to set one of these colors to show a faded lined background (default color is white). Lines are alternately repeated to draw the screen.
Background Left Line 1 - as described above
Background Right Line 1 - as described above
Background Left Line 2 - as described above
Background Right Line 1 - as described above

Profiles

Once you've set your screen colors (or indeed if you want to save your existing colors), you can save the entire color selection as a profile to recall at a later date.
3 profiles are supported (again this was done to keep the program/code down in size)

reset to saved (reset the colors to those set in the registry i.e. active)
reset to default (removes all registry entries (windows default))


Hope that makes sense of it :p

makuu

Originally Posted by manub

Done for next release. Does teh app crash just when you click the preview button or when it loads? (it goes through the same routine on both occasions)

When it loads it's OK. However I don't have the top bar display sample like I have in the previous version (in the start tab). If I change the settings and I hit "preview" it crashes.

Also in you first version you had setting for the bottom bar, will you support it for a new release?

manub

It supported in the version you have, under today, system tray.

The problem you are having seems to be with the draw routine itself, there should be a picture on the first screen, which is drawn from the colors you have set at the moment, or windows default if you have non. I'll look agaon at the code to see if it's not trapping an error.

aximbigfan

@manub... you are THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1



i say we change his tag from "rookie" to legend..


chris

manub

Originally Posted by makuu

When it loads it's OK. However I don't have the top bar display sample like I have in the previous version (in the start tab). If I change the settings and I hit "preview" it crashes. Also in you first version you had setting for the bottom bar, will you support it for a new release?

:exc:

Right, i've been through the code, changed a few things and added more exception traps.

I've also managed to implement individual preview drawing funtions, so previews for each tab are now available (previews show most, but not all color options as the screen is simply not big enough to fit the bitmaps on), also added 'busy' cursors.

Tthe exe is actually smaller than it was before as images are no longer embedded. The downside of this (because it does the drawing in code instead of being embedded) is if you have an old PPC it may take longer to load.
If anyone finds it's to long loading let me know and i'll look at embedding the pics again.

I've uploaded the new .cab file -


http://www.geocities.com/markj_nt/TP...Colors_RC1.CAB
(original link now points to this to)



If you need the old ones -
http://www.geocities.com/markj_nt/TP...olors_Beta.cab (original)
http://www.geocities.com/markj_nt/TP...lors_Beta2.cab (first update)


Let me know how you get one.........

manub

lol, i just foubd out there is a simliar app called tkcreator that lets you create themes (.tsk files) directly on your device.

It doesn't let you change colors on the fly (you have to set the task you create as the active theme), but offers most if not all these options and lets you set, and modify, the background image as well.

Got some coding to do to catch up..........

Still, at least you've only got 1 app/file with mine ;) no need to have loads of different .tsk files in your windows folder taking up space :p

makuu

I wanted to install it in BIS, but I think it has to be installed in RAM. ;)

manub

yup, because it calls a dll that needs to live in \windows. Might be able to add a path in so it could work in BIS, will have a look.

uncleinabucket

Anyway to change the system tray text/new button? Everything else is top notch Thanks :)

manub

Theoretically the settings there at the moment should change the color of text in the system tray, but in practice the 'new' text seems to stay the same color, so i't obviously getting the setting from something i've not been able to find.

To be honest i've not been looking to hard as i'm concentrating on reading a .Net CF programming book to bring me up to speed on the compact framework (been working with the desktop .Net framework).
There are quite a few restrictions in the CF as it's so cut down. The features i want to add to the app mean i have to read up to find the best way to do it :p
When i start to re-write it - the interface needs some improving in my opinion to make it more user friendly, and faster - i will look more into fonts, backgrounds etc.

So basically if you bear with me for a while i'll see what i can do :)

Thanks
Mark

Amy

Mark,

Thanks!

__________________
Axim X5 300Mhz :approve:
Ambicom CF Wireless Card
Micro Wireless IR Folding Keyboard
256 MB SD Card
128 MB CF Card
16 MB CF Card
Rhino Skin case
Belkin Screen Protectors
iBook & PC
iPod Mini

patrickem

Love this program. Are you still working on it?

manub

I've actually been concentrating on getting some other work done (a help desk system with active directory administration, task and project management, desktop management, audit and admin tools)

Whilst i've not been doing that i have been reading my way through a very fat .Net Compact Framework book. Once i've finished that i'll re-write this app to include all the things it should, and improve the user interface. Hopefully shouldn't be to long :p

I'll certainly let you all know when it's done.

cbs01

Great program.