Gadgets - Customize

How to Customize Existing Windows 7 Gadgets​

The question having been asked in the "post your seven desktop" thread, i thought it was maybe interesting to deepen that with a new and clear post...

So, the subject here is how to change icons and type/color of font in a windows gadget rb: to make it match better with your own style...

IMPORTANT NOTE : If you wanna follow these steps, remember that it's for personal use ONLY, please never share a customized gadget without the owner/creator permission!!! Thanks...
I could not be responsible for any exceed due to the use of this tutorial...

For the icons change, i choose the "BandwidthMeter" gadget, credits for this are for "RolRain".
For the font change, i used "PrestoHDMonitor_1.54" gadget, credits to "Preston Hunt" for the gadget and "SFKilla" for styles and graphics.

So here we go! First : how to change icon(s)...

Note : my system is in French but i'll explain with English terms, really easy to follow...

You need to have "7-zip" installed for these operations, Winrar doesn't show needed actions in the contextual menu...

So we're gonna make "up" become "down"

1- Create a new folder and name it as your original gadget.
To make it more distinctive, add something to the name...
My original is "BandwidthMeter" and i just added "2" :

2- Copy your original gadget in this folder (always back up the original, of course...), then right clic the gadget file > 7-zip > extract here

You obtain all the folders contained in your gadget.
You can delete the original now, we won't need it anymore.

3- Find the "images" folder and then the icon(s) you wanna change and check the size.
I made here a red selection of two icons, they are the icon of the gadget and the icon for the gadget management window (the one with all your installed gadgets)

4- Choose now new icon(s), with the same size (! - if needed, cut & resize with any image editor you want) and rename them as the original ones

As you can see, i had to copy my choosen icon twice...

5 - Replace the original icons by the new ones

6- To have the new name of the gadget after installation, you have to change it in the "xml" file, so right clic on it > modify

then change the name, close the windows and accept the modification

7- We have now to re-pack all the files;
So, select all of them, right clic > 7-zip > add to "BandwidthMeter2.zip"

Finally, rename the extension "zip" to "gadget" (to make appear the extension, go to "folder options" and uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types")

And that's it; you have now a new personal custom ready-to-use gadget!

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Add or Remove Desktop Gadgets in Windows 7
• How to Reinstate the Vista Sidebar on Windows 7
• How to Hide or Show Desktop Gadgets in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Gadgets in Windows 7
• How to Turn Windows 7 Gadgets Feature On or Off
• How to Allow or Prevent User Installed Gadgets in Windows 7
• How to Allow or Prevent Installation of Unsigned Gadgets in Windows 7
• How to Restore the Default Windows 7 Gadgets
• Trick to Moving Gadgets in Windows 7 Closer Together
• How to Create a Gadgets Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Change the "Get more gadgets online" Link in Windows 7
• How to Fix Gadgets not Displaying Correctly in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove "Gadgets" from Desktop Context Menu in Windows

 

[scoopeeedoo]

I make a second post for the tuto be clearer...

Here is now how to change font style/color, much easier again...
Really useful if you want to use clear gadget theme, for exemple..

So, to make "up" become "down"

Follow the steps described in the first post for extracting the gadget files, then find the "css" one and change font and colors where i've marked (note : you can write colors in words, "black", "red", orange" for exemple). You can also change "bold" to "italic", and so on... But i didn't here...

Of course, according to the gadget you wanna customize, "css" file can be a bit different but i think it's easy to find what to change, and if it doesn't work at the first time, just try again...!

When it's done, re-pack as described above...

This is it!

I hope this is clear enough and it will help someone...!
In that case, i will be happy and motivated for, maybe, a new tuto, one day...

Enjoy and, please, let me know if you liked it and find it helpful...

Thanks!!!

 

[Prisoner]

Really nice tutorial! I was wondering, among many other things, how to do this.

Moved my post down below your second.

 

[scoopeeedoo]

Really nice tutorial! I was wondering, among many other things, how to do this.

Thanks for the rep!!! And the move too...!

Really happy you liked it...

 

[Soul02]

Wow man.. you went all that far because i asked a simple question!! haha your a start! thank you so much...
Ill edit my gadget now and put a pic on here soon showing it to you!

Thanks again

 

[scoopeeedoo]

Wow man.. you went all that far because i asked a simple question!! haha your a start! thank you so much...
Ill edit my gadget now and put a pic on here soon showing it to you!

Thanks again

No prob', Soul02!
I'm enjoying to see that!!!

 

[Soul02]

No prob', Soul02!
I'm enjoying to see that!!!

Lol ok im stuck! haha... just trying this out but i dont get this part you said:

Finally, rename the extension "zip" to "gadget" (you need for this to uncheck "mask known extension" in the folder options)

Ive looked and cant find 'mask known extension' though i saved it .Gadget and it saved! but when i try to install it it says 'this is not a valid package' lol ... Help!

 

[D3ftOn3Z]

Although i'm not a big fan of gadgets. This is a good tutorial. Very detailed. Good work scoopeeedoo. +1 Rep.

 

[scoopeeedoo]

No prob', Soul02!
I'm enjoying to see that!!!

Lol ok im stuck! haha... just trying this out but i dont get this part you said:

Finally, rename the extension "zip" to "gadget" (you need for this to uncheck "mask known extension" in the folder options)

Ive looked and cant find 'mask known extension' though i saved it .Gadget and it saved! but when i try to install it it says 'this is not a valid package' lol ... Help!

If you did not uncheck the option, you will have a double extension... not good that!!!
See this : (sorry for French, this must be, in your window explorer : options > folders options > display > mask the file type extension known, or something like that...). I hope it will fix your prob'...

 

[scoopeeedoo]

Soul02 :
I guess you did select well ALL the files before re-packing...?

 

[Soul02]

Soul02 :
I guess you did select well ALL the files before re-packing...?

Ok... ive found what you mean, done what you said, and still its not working below is how i did it, just like you said! from pic 1 to 5.

Pic1: the folder itself.
Pic2: selected all files in the folder and went to folder options.
Pic3: i beleive the one you mean is the one which ive put the arrow there?
Pic4: renamed the file to .gadget in 7zip.
Pic5: pressed ok! it did it... but then pressed install and i get: 'this is not a valid gadget package'

Now in Pic3: do i need to restart computer for this? i did uncheck the 1st box at the top like you have done, though that didnt work i tried the other 2 below it also! still nothing ...

Sorry for all this trouble! lol

 

[scoopeeedoo]

Soul02 :
I guess you did select well ALL the files before re-packing...?

Ok... ive found what you mean, done what you said, and still its not working below is how i did it, just like you said! from pic 1 to 5.

Pic1: the folder itself.
Pic2: selected all files in the folder and went to folder options.
Pic3: i beleive the one you mean is the one which ive put the arrow there?
Pic4: renamed the file to .gadget in 7zip.
Pic5: pressed ok! it did it... but then pressed install and i get: 'this is not a valid gadget package'

Now in Pic3: do i need to restart computer for this? i did uncheck the 1st box at the top like you have done, though that didnt work i tried the other 2 below it also! still nothing ...

Sorry for all this trouble! lol

Really no problem!!! We are gonna fix that !!! Sorry for slow response, i just came back from work and i think we've just missed ourselves for a couple of minutes...

So, first, there's no need to select anything to go in the "folder options". They are general options, which means that if you do something in it, it's for all the files in your computer. Just open your explorer, go to the options and uncheck the options i've marked in the attached image below (i capt' your own image...), then you can leave the "folder options", next steps are out of it...

Second : i see that your folder (the one which contains all the files shown in pic 1) is called "MyGadget.gadget"; it must be named only "MyGadget" (see my capt')

Third : in your pic 4, i see a window which has not to be..., all you have to do is select all files of your pic 1, then right clic on one of the files (this will open the contextual menu), then slide your mouse on "7zip", this will open a new menu, then left clic on "add to MyGadget.zip" (i join the corresponding pic of my tuto). This will make a zip archive named "MyGadget.zip" (it will appears just between "gadget.xml" and "settings.html" in the files shown in your pic 1). This the file you have to rename, just select the "zip" and write "gadget"


Don't worry, i stay tuned for more info if needed...!

Good luck...

EDIT : thanks for your observations, they allow me to shape my tuto...

 

[Soul02]

hehe i done it! thanks so much... the problem i was doing was, i didnt know i had to make it to a .zip file first! THEN rename that one to a .gadget file! haha... ill post on here soon as ive made a new and better one! thanks again man! 5*

 

[scoopeeedoo]

hehe i done it! thanks so much... the problem i was doing was, i didnt know i had to make it to a .zip file first! THEN rename that one to a .gadget file! haha... ill post on here soon as ive made a new and better one! thanks again man! 5*

My pleasure! Glad you solve the prob'... I hope to see that soon!!!

 

[Soul02]

My pleasure! Glad you solve the prob'... I hope to see that soon!!!

Ok update! here is the first ... im really just testing but im thinking now to add my own touches, like some new fetures etc, ideas please everyone??? lol

Gonna add a few versions too, game, stars, cars, etc ...

Thx again, let me know what you think :huh:

Edit: released 2 versions of it ver1 is the all black with some tweaks! and ver2
is the blue tattoo design one with alot of tweaks!

Id love to know how to put in a core temp app on it! and also a backgroud change option if anyone got any ideas on how? thanks...

 

[scoopeeedoo]

My pleasure! Glad you solve the prob'... I hope to see that soon!!!

Ok update! here is the first ... im really just testing but im thinking now to add my own touches, like some new fetures etc, ideas please everyone??? lol

Gonna add a few versions too, game, stars, cars, etc ...

Thx again, let me know what you think :huh:

According to me, really much smarter!
Good work, Soul02!

 

[scoopeeedoo]

My pleasure! Glad you solve the prob'... I hope to see that soon!!!

Ok update! here is the first ... im really just testing but im thinking now to add my own touches, like some new fetures etc, ideas please everyone??? lol

Gonna add a few versions too, game, stars, cars, etc ...

Thx again, let me know what you think :huh:

Edit: released 2 versions of it ver1 is the all black with some tweaks! and ver2
is the blue tattoo design one with alot of tweaks!

Id love to know how to put in a core temp app on it! and also a backgroud change option if anyone got any ideas on how? thanks...

Please remember what i said in the tuto :
You are not allowed to share customized gadget WITHOUT the owner's permission!!!

Adding more options means that you must be able to make programmation... The subject here is to make a gadget closer to your own style, for your own use, if you need more, than learn how to make a gadget (from a to z) by yourself...
Maybe this will help you : create your own windows gadget
As you will can see, this is not a simple job, so, PLEASE, respect the author's work!!!
Generaly, you can find links to the creator in the gadget's options or in the inside files (like a "read me" file, for exemple)

 

[Soul02]

Please remember what i said in the tuto :
You are not allowed to share customized gadget WITHOUT the owner's permission!!!

Adding more options means that you must be able to make programmation... The subject here is to make a gadget closer to your own style, if you need more, than learn how to make a gadget (from a to z) by yourself...
Maybe this will help you : create your own windows gadget

Yep i know what you mean mate, ill not change anything untill ive spoken to the right guy whatever, though ive only changed the style its not the gadget itself!

I have sent an email asking about weather i can change stuff etc and waiting for a reply! ... for now only the style though!

 

[zxcvbasdfg]

Hey sir TS~
What is your theme?
I love the transparency lol

 

[scoopeeedoo]

Hey sir TS~
What is your theme?
I love the transparency lol

Hi!
If you're talkin' of the theme in the tuto, it is "Meridian" for Windowblinds7