anyone used Ave's Style Builder?

garbanzo · Aug 6, 2009

apparently, not only does it support Windows 7 visual styles, but it can import/translate XP and Vista visual styles. of course there would be some extra elements to skin, but that sounds awesome.

anyway i'm thinking of ordering it, and wondered if anyone here has used it. let me know what you think

Ave's Windows7 Style Builder

Generator · Aug 6, 2009

I havn't tried it mate, but I keep checking that site regular to see if they have added a demo version.
It's really missing that part and I think they really need to sort one out otherwise their sales might suffer from it IMO.

garbanzo · Aug 6, 2009

i just went ahead and ordered it. i guess i'll be the guinea pig here

i'm having paypal trouble at the moment though, so the money won't clear until next week...

i'm not too adept when it comes to making my own graphics, but i can edit existing stuff just fine. that's what i plan to use this for. right now i've got a great plan for a mod of aero. and i think that later on, as more and more styles come out, it will be nice to have this to mod them.

it's kind of odd that there's not a free app available to do this, but such is life i guess...

Generator · Aug 6, 2009

Lol!, temptation got the better of you?

You'll have to let us know if it's any good.. I might be tempted myself. It has to make it easier than using a conventional resource editor at the end of the day i suppose!
It's a right PITA going through a folder full of extracted resources with half of the images too small to even see.

garbanzo · Aug 6, 2009

well it has quite a lot of advantages really. first of all, you get live previews as you change resources, so you don't have to keep applying the theme all the time. it treats the Stream image as separate images, and lets you edit each bit individually, reassembling it all behind the scenes. plus, you can change things font and colour values along or sizing margins without having to mess with hex. it really does simplify the whole process.

but most importantly, everything is labeled, so you know exactly what each image is. look at the screenshots on their site to see what i mean.

i've used stylebuilder before for making/editing XP styles, and it was really wonderful to use. this one looks 10x better. i'm convinced it will be good to use - i just hope the windows 7 support is all i'm expecting it to be

REB · Aug 6, 2009

Yeah ive bought it too..

It makes visual style editing atleast 300 times easier and not only that its just pure smarter, fast to test your style without actually saving it, and stuff like that. KAPLA!

garbanzo · Aug 6, 2009

KAPLA! is the best review i could hope for

yeah like i said i won't get it until next week but i'm looking forward to it!

garbanzo · Aug 12, 2009

well i got my copy finally

i was expecting live previews/mockups like the old TGSoft StyleBuilder for XP, but no such luck. fortunately it's got an in-memory uxtheme patcher built in, so it's dead easy to apply changes and see how it looks.

the layout is a bit overwhelming, it's going to take some time to get used to where things are, fortunately, it's possible to search for elements in a variety of ways, including by the resource number of the actual image inside the .msstyles file.

overall it's quite nice, and it's going to make building styles a whole lot easier. you can assign an external editor, so you just hit a button and send the image out. edit, save, then go back to Style Builder and click OK - it imports it immediately. i guess it uses a temp directory someplace... easy!

you can even edit parts of images - just export the hover or pressed or inactive parts of a button for example - and the app will re-assemble things for you.

not tried to import Vista styles yet - no time, i'll try later today and report back.

overall i'd say it's definitely a good investment for anyone interested in making visual styles for 7!

Generator · Aug 12, 2009

Glad you finally got your hands on a copy garbanzo.

I guess you won't know until you've given it a proper bash when you do your next style on wether the live preview stuff is really needed.

The layout bit sounds a bit frightening mind!

garbanzo · Aug 13, 2009

holy smokes!

i finally got around to importing a visual style from Vista, and it basically works right out of the box. new UI elements are carried over from Windows 7 Aero, but everything else gets replaced. the only glitch i found is with the new start menu, but that's easy enough to repair...

this is awesome

RappyBMX · Aug 16, 2009

nice garbanzo could you upload the theme in the image

for win 7 x64 ?

garbanzo · Aug 16, 2009

sorry i can't, i didn't actually continue with the port. and my win7 machine is fried at the moment, it'll be a week before it's up and running again, i think it needs a new mobo. i'm stuck using my wife's old laptop for the time being

trvsnbl · Dec 9, 2009

@garbanzo

could you post some screen shots of the interface? I am interested in buying it but they are horrible sales people - no screen shots (that i can see), no demo version, wait period between buying and getting the software :huh:

sReKcAh · Dec 10, 2009

garbanzo said:
apparently, not only does it support Windows 7 visual styles, but it can import/translate XP and Vista visual styles. of course there would be some extra elements to skin, but that sounds awesome.

anyway i'm thinking of ordering it, and wondered if anyone here has used it. let me know what you think

Ave's Windows7 Style Builder

I've been try it but nothing happen when try to use theme from devian art.i guess maybe problem with patch....

FinEd · Dec 10, 2009

trvsnbl said:
@garbanzo

could you post some screen shots of the interface? I am interested in buying it but they are horrible sales people - no screen shots (that i can see), no demo version, wait period between buying and getting the software :huh:

Two screenshots:
Imageshack - win7stylebuilder01
Imageshack - win7stylebuilder02

The waiting period is something like 5mins if i remember correctly.

sReKcAh · Dec 10, 2009

can some1 teach me how to use style builder?

i already install it.turn off uac b4 install n restart then turn on back.after that i open style builder n try to import Devian Art theme but nothing happen.why?is there problem or what?or must use patcher first?i really2 confused now....plez......

edee · Dec 4, 2010

No demo version ??

I am really interested in trying syle builder but they do not offer a trial or demo version , what's up with that ?

I mean it's only twenty two bucks (U.S.) but I would certainly would like to test drive it before buying it ........ they must be REALLY proud of their software !

I am not a professional theme designer by any means but would like to start getting into it but before I shell out the dough I'd like to see if it is something that I can grasp . They wonder why people hack software

Bongo · Dec 4, 2010

edee said:
I am really interested in trying syle builder but they do not offer a trial or demo version , what's up with that ?

I mean it's only twenty two bucks (U.S.) but I would certainly would like to test drive it before buying it ........ they must be REALLY proud of their software !

I am not a professional theme designer by any means but would like to start getting into it but before I shell out the dough I'd like to see if it is something that I can grasp . They wonder why people hack software

I can tell you if you are going to start themeing it's the BEST $22 I ever spent for a program. It's a 1 man operation & after you buy it (need # to join) there is a forum there with a lot of help & some of us on the SevenForum can help too. Ask away
Jerry

Greg S · Dec 4, 2010

Bongo said:
edee said:

I am really interested in trying syle builder but they do not offer a trial or demo version , what's up with that ?

I mean it's only twenty two bucks (U.S.) but I would certainly would like to test drive it before buying it ........ they must be REALLY proud of their software !

I am not a professional theme designer by any means but would like to start getting into it but before I shell out the dough I'd like to see if it is something that I can grasp . They wonder why people hack software

Click to expand...

I can tell you if you are going to start themeing it's the BEST $22 I ever spent for a program. It's a 1 man operation & after you buy it (need # to join) there is a forum there with a lot of help & some of us on the SevenForum can help too. Ask away
Jerry

My opinion is opposite of that, worst 22 dollars I've ever spent. The app was supposed to have help file that would show detailed info/pics of the element that you click. I've found that it does do this for about maybe ten elements. Their forum is like SpongeBob Square Pants when Plankton took over his brain. You can't understand half of what they are trying to say. Most of their advice is dead on for the element that you want to change but it comes with side effects and will change something that you don't want to change. I only had about five things that I wanted to change but had already changed them using ResHacker. Style Builder is easy to use but it does have some quirks whilst using it.

edee · Dec 4, 2010

Greg S said:
Bongo said:

edee said:

I am really interested in trying syle builder but they do not offer a trial or demo version , what's up with that ?

I mean it's only twenty two bucks (U.S.) but I would certainly would like to test drive it before buying it ........ they must be REALLY proud of their software !

I am not a professional theme designer by any means but would like to start getting into it but before I shell out the dough I'd like to see if it is something that I can grasp . They wonder why people hack software

Click to expand...

I can tell you if you are going to start themeing it's the BEST $22 I ever spent for a program. It's a 1 man operation & after you buy it (need # to join) there is a forum there with a lot of help & some of us on the SevenForum can help too. Ask away
Jerry

Click to expand...

My opinion is opposite of that, worst 22 dollars I've ever spent. The app was supposed to have help file that would show detailed info/pics of the element that you click. I've found that it does do this for about maybe ten elements. Their forum is like SpongeBob Square Pants when Plankton took over his brain. You can't understand half of what they are trying to say. Most of their advice is dead on for the element that you want to change but it comes with side effects and will change something that you don't want to change. I only had about five things that I wanted to change but had already changed them using ResHacker. Style Builder is easy to use but it does have some quirks whilst using it.

Well judging from their site which by the way is VERY limited on information which is almost none , the writer of the software somewhere between a relationship that he is head over heels on , working on a degree in school and writing style builder, that tells me he is just juggling too many thing in his life at the moment ...... and if it does not have a complete help file then what good is it if you can't get help from the writer / forum / blog ?

You can't get into their blog or forum WITHOUT buying the software because you need the license number they give you to sign up or log in ?

Does anyone know where I can get this software to at LEAST try it without getting any "cooties" or another software that does similar?

anyone used Ave's Style Builder?

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