Windows 7 Custom Explorer Background using Windows Style Builder 1.5

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  1. Posts : 9
    win 764
       #1

    Windows 7 Custom Explorer Background using Windows Style Builder 1.5


    Hi everyone!

    I have an existing custom Win7 Theme and it works as is (with ExplorerFrame.dll replaced and Universal Theme Patch installed). It has a distinct Explorer background image for each type of Folder views in Windows 7 i.e. Small Icon, Content, Large Icons, Tiles, and Details. Two out of the six views do NOT have an image, while four of them do. See some examples here:

    http://www.animesurreal.com/ex01.jpg

    http://www.animesurreal.com/ex02.jpg
    http://www.animesurreal.com/ex03.jpg

    However, I want to add two background images to the above two types of views which does not have one. I use Windows Style Builder and managed to find the location of these images in the .msstyle file. Here's is what's weird: If I add an image larger than 200x200 pixels, Windows Style Builder will say "Error Testing MsStyles File!". Yet if I shrink the image to less than 200x200 pixels, everything works. Is there an area where I must adjust the maximum image size allowed?

    Here's the location of the item I am trying to edit in Style Builder. I've already imported the image but no matter what the style will NOT test or work at all with the image size I want.

    http://www.animesurreal.com/ex04.jpg
    http://www.animesurreal.com/ex05.jpg

    Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. This error is driving me insane and I've tried every method I can find on this forum and no luck. And I know for a fact this can be done because I have another theme with 6 distinct images. Maybe I am not using the right software? Thanks again for any suggestions!

    Thanks!!
    Ryan
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 9
    win 764
    Thread Starter
       #2

    I will even offer to PAY someone to teach me this. However, you must teach not do it for me. I want to be able to do this in the future. I will gladly pay a "tuition" if that's what you want. Thanks!
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 12,120
    Win 7 Pro x64 / Win 10 Pro
       #3

    Welcome to the Seven Forums
    Are you using the 1.6.0 XMLs? I have 1.5
    Windows 7 Custom Explorer Background using Windows Style Builder 1.5-about-vista-style-builder.png

    And I do not have that location
    Windows 7 Custom Explorer Background using Windows Style Builder 1.5-win7-style-builder-cwindowsresourcesthemes11.msstyles.png

    I did not think you could do that with WSB

    Jerry
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 9
    win 764
    Thread Starter
       #4

    I have no idea how the original author did it. I am also using 1.5. When I opened the msstyle file, this location is already there. Apparently there must be a reference to this section for it to work properly but I don't know where the reference could be or which software he used.

    UPDATE: I partially got it to work. It seems that there is a HARD 700KB limit on the total size of all 6 images. I shrink all other images and then I can add more or remove one add another. However I am pretty sure this limit can be controlled by user because I have another theme with all six images going way over 700KB.

    Thanks,
    Ryan
    Last edited by angelgz; 21 Oct 2011 at 21:22. Reason: forgot to answer
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 12,120
    Win 7 Pro x64 / Win 10 Pro
       #5

    angelgz said:
    I have no idea how the original author did it. I am also using 1.5. When I opened the msstyle file, this location is already there. Apparently there must be a reference to this section for it to work properly but I don't know where the reference could be or which software he used.

    UPDATE: I partially got it to work. It seems that there is a HARD 700KB limit on the total size of all 6 images. I shrink all other images and then I can add more or remove one add another. However I am pretty sure this limit can be controlled by user because I have another theme with all six images going way over 700KB.

    Thanks,
    Ryan
    Cool would you post a link to those themes I would like to look at them.
    Jerry
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 9
    win 764
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Be my guest. Till this day I do not understand how these Chinese people can make such themes which I have no seen on any American theme sites. Upon further research, I found that they patch 4 additional files:

    ExplorerFrame.dll (in both the system32 and sysWOW 64 folder)
    Explorer.exe
    Shell32.dll

    Unfortunately the original site is written in Chinese and requires registration so I ported theme to my site here:

    http://www.animesurreal.com/Aria_Theme.7z

    Note that the ExplorerFrame.DLL must be patched for the explorer background to work. I have a feeling that the ExplorerFrame.DLL file has a reference to that <6> item that you do not have. Please kindly let me know if you are able to figure this out.

    Thanks,
    Ryan
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 9
    win 764
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Bongo said:
    Cool would you post a link to those themes I would like to look at them.
    Jerry
    Guess what dude, I found it. The reference to that field <6> in Itemsview is in the ExplorerFrame.dll file. HOWEVER, I am still at a jab to understand why I cannot add or replace the existing images in that msstyle file.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 12,120
    Win 7 Pro x64 / Win 10 Pro
       #8

    What did you find in the ExplorerFrame.dll?
    I opened it up in Windows Style Builder without installing the ExplorerFrame.dll and get the <6> now. I know it's very confusing to me also.
    Jerry
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 9
    win 764
    Thread Starter
       #9

    You realize that under <6>, sub-paths 2 and 6 does not have an actual image but only a 31x25 white square. Try adding your own pictures -- you'll fail to test if the file is too big. I had success only with files smaller than 100kb in size.

    The ExplorerFrame.DLL has a reference in it that says something like:

    </UIViewHeader>
    <element id="atom(UICollectionHost)" layout="filllayout()" background="themeable(dtb(ItemsView, 6, 1), argb(0,0,0,0))" padding="rect(4rp,0,0,0)"/>
    </LineScroller>

    There are six of those references pointing to the each of the six sub-paths of the msstyle file under <6>.

    I am very sure that the size restriction does NOT come from the ExplorerFrame.DLL file because the same file can be used with a different theme with bigger explorer background images in it.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 9
    win 764
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Bongo said:
    What did you find in the ExplorerFrame.dll?
    I opened it up in Windows Style Builder without installing the ExplorerFrame.dll and get the <6> now. I know it's very confusing to me also.
    Jerry
    Here's the other one I am talking about that has an entirely different set of images under <6>, using the same ExplorerFrame.DLL.

    http://www.animesurreal.com/Aria_Dark.7z
      My Computer


 
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