Intro | With MS Plus | Manually | Creating the
Theme Pack
Cursors | Icons | Fonts |
Backgrounds/Boarders/Tiles/Textures/Wallpaper
Screensavers | Sounds | Overall Appearance | Last Notes
Intro
Installing Themes
Windows 95:
You should have Microsoft's MS Plus Installed to use these themes.
If you use Office 97 then be sure to have the new theme patch installed.
It's on the disc with instructions.
If you do not have MS Plus then you will need to apply
all parts of the theme file manually.
You can discard the .theme file.
Windows 98 & up:
You should have MS Plus installed
If you don't then install it via the Add/Remove Programs-Windows tab
or during the custom setup of Windows. You'll need your Windows disc.
There are several themes to choose.
You don't have to install any themes to install the MS Plus Application,
but take one anyway.
If you do not want MS Plus installed then you will need to apply
all parts of the theme file manually.
You can discard the .theme file.
To use these themes simple extract them with an unzipping utility such as WinZip into a folder.
Then copy or cut & paste the folder into Program Files\Plus\Themes.
If you are applying everything manually then create a folder called Themes
& store all the themes folders in it.
With MS Plus:
To enable/disable a theme, click on the Start Menu, go to Control Panel,
then double click on Desktop Themes.
When the window opens, at the top you will see the Currant theme.
Click the arrow beside the Current Theme and you'll see a list of themes.
If you want to return to the standard windows theme choose it here
Otherwise select Other from this menu and go to the folder
you previously copied/cut & pasted with the theme.
Double click to open the folder and then select the .theme file.
It will load the file and it will appear in the display window.
Click apply and then ok.
If you did not download the accompaning screensaver then
remove the checkmark beside screensaver.
If you did then unzip it & install it.
To disable an item in a theme pack simply open Desktop Themes in the Control Panel
and remove the checkmark beside the items you don't want to use. Click apply then ok.
Remember if you want to return to the standard windows theme
choose it from the drop down menu.
Manually:
Creating
the Theme Pack
I have to manually set up each item before creating the theme file.
For this purpose I have also left the .bmp file in the theme pack.
I usually work on the graphics first, that would be the desktop wallpaper.
Then I create a folder and copy the wallpaper there.
I then go threw all the icons I have & copy the ones over to the theme folder.
I do not create my own cursors. I get them from the web or from Win 98 themes.
Eventually I have the whole pack. Sometimes I will add a font.
Below you will learn how to enable/disable an item.
To enable/disable Cursors:
Click on the Start Menu, go up to Settings, then go over to Control Panel,
then go to Mouse, then double click to open it, go the Pointers tab.
Click on a pointer, Select browse to choose your own from your theme folder.
Each pointer must be entered in. Click on the pointer click browse.
When all are in click apply and ok. They should have all changed.
Or select default at the bottom to return to standard Windows Cursors.
There are also a few cursor schemes available in the top area.
Click the arrow beside the window and select a scheme from the drop down box.
To enable/disable Icons:
Right click your Desktop, go to Properties.
When the window pops up select the Effects tab.
Click on the icon you want to change.
Select browse to choose your own from your theme folder.
Click apply then ok. Do this for each Icon. Click apply then ok.
All Icons should be changed.
Or click on the icon you don't want to use, then click Use Default Icon.
A Windows icon should be applied.
Do this for all icons you don't want to use then click apply, then ok.
To install/uninstall Fonts:
Click on the Start Menu, go up to Settings, go over to Control Panel,
then over to Fonts, then double click to open it.
On the Menu select File then select Install new font.
When the window opens go & find your folder.
It will scan for them, list them, then click on Select All, then click on Add.
Make sure there is a checkmark in the copy font box, there usually is.
The maximum fonts allowed by Windows is approx.1012.
If you become a dingbat/font fanatic then you'll need some software.
I use The Font Thing it has a load of options.
You never want to touch the Marlett font, it's the font that is used
for Windows buttons. Leave the standard fonts alone as well.
To uninstall - click on the font in the Font window, right click & delete.
It should go to the wastebasket.
To enable/disable Backgrounds/Boarders/Tiles/Textures/Wallpapers:
Right click your Desktop, go to Properties.
When the window opens you will be on the backgrounds tab.
Select the picture you want from the list or browse to your theme folder.
Then either tile it, stretch it or center it then apply, then ok.
Unless Active Desktop is set you can not use .jpg files.
Only .bmp is recognized. Jpg can only be applied via your internet browser.
To use just the .jpg file open the file in your browser then right click and select Set as
Wallpaper.
To use just the .bmp it's as easy as copying or cutting it & pasting it into your
Windows folder.
Right click the Desktop & select Properties. From the list select the pic, see it
above,
center it, click apply, then ok.
Or select none.
To enable/disable Sounds:
Click on the Start Menu, go up to Settings, go over to Control Panel,
then over to Sounds, then double click to open it.
Click on a sound, select browse to choose your own from your theme folder.
For each sound you want to hear do the same.
When you're done click apply, then ok.
Or click on the sound you don't want to use,
go down to the window where you see the present sound
and click the arrow beside it and select none.
You will be asked if you are sure you don't want to use a sound for this item, click yes.
Do this for each sound you don't want. When you're done click apply, then ok.
Depending on the sounds you selected, you may not hear them till you use them.
To enable/disable the Overall Appearance:
Which is basically the colors & text used:
Right click the Desktop, go to Properties.
When the window opens select the Appearance Tab.
A preview window shows you the present color scheme.
In the preview window click on the background/desktop.
Below on the left you will see Desktop in the window
and on the right of it a box with the present color.
Click on it and select a differenet colour or click other to create your own.
In the left top window there is an arrow to which, if you click on it,
a drop down box appears and you can select any other item
you want to change the color or font of.
Please be careful, some items can ruin the way a program looks.
Above this window is another window which is blank.
Click the arrow and a drop down box appears with several color schemes.
Select one to see the appearance.
Always apply once you are comfortable with your selections.
If you've created a cool scheme you can save it once you've created it.
Or from the drop down Colour Scheme box select Windows Default
Always click apply, then ok.
To enable/disable a Screensaver:
Right click the Desktop, go to Properties.
When the window opens select the Screensaver Tab.
Select one from the menu.
Some are configurable.
If you downloaded a screensaver, after you've installed it, it will automatically be in
your Windows folder and can be selected from this drop box.
Last Notes:
To create your own theme packs you must apply all items manually
then go into Desktop Themes and Save it. Save it to the folder with all the theme items.
& You have to have MS Plus installed.
There are several other theme creater programs out there.
I personally have not added any startup or shutdown screens within my theme packs.
With Windows 98 +, when the theme file is created it may or may not include
pics for Windows Explore Window, it depends on the theme info. If it does have these
pics it's ok, they are standard & won't change anything in this area.
Print these instructions before you begin to play :) |
