How can I apply a visual style, but keep the default taskbar?

[dracho]

See attached screenshot - these are all the files contained in the download for Placebo Ashtray (found on deviantart). Can I delete or edit the files pertaining to the taskbar? Which ones? I cannot open the .msstyles file with any program I've tried so far.

Alternatively, I would keep the Ashtray taskbar if the icons were closer together. On default Windows installations, without tweaked themes, I run 7+ Taskbar Tweaker to remove extra space between icons, and the spacing that results is perfect. However, that feature does nothing when I have a visual style applied.

Thanks very much!

(P.S. for anyone wondering, I use Directory Opus, with my own custom toolbars, as my Windows Explorer replacement.)

Edit: See second screenshot. I opened the .msstyle in Resource Tuner and I may have found a graphic that looks like the taskbar... possibly... ? I wonder if I could edit the graphic to make that smaller... or if the width is stored as a variable somewhere...

 

[Bongo]

Welcome to the Seven Forums


The spacing on the tasbar buttons is hard coded.
The numbers for the taskbar and buttons are below(these numbers may or may not be the same in other custom themes.


bottom
926-1171-1173
top
927-1172-1174
left
928-1175-1177
right
929-1176-1178
button-1155-1156-1157-1158
vertical button-1165-1166-1167-1168
The buttons have up to 10 states(see screen shot).


Jerry

 

[dracho]

Thanks so much, Jerry!

Unfortunately, I only have Resource Tuner 2, but I believe I'm on the right track... My next thought is to save those resources (1155 - 1158 and 1165-1168) as .PNG files, edit them to be physically thinner, cutting out the middle section, then... I guess I would Delete those resources in the style and then Add my edited resources back in...? I've never actually used the program.

It seems like if I could manage that, I wouldn't need to mess with the rest of the taskbar at all... (I do like it, I just wanted less wasted space horizontally.) Would you concur?

Thanks again, this is an amazing start. I've asked similar questions several times and no one has helped like you already have! Just out of curiosity, how did you find which numbers (resources?) to look for? Also, are you sure there aren't any you missed? (I guess I will find out once I test my editing and replacing theory!)

 

[Bongo]

Just about any Resource editor will work to replace the images. I use windows style builder Ave's Windows7 Style Builder it makes editing the .msstyles very easy, and that's how I find the images numbers. That should be all the numbers for the taskbar and buttons unless you need the tray and clock.


This tutorial may help using a Resource editor Icons - Change Using Resource Hacker




Jerry