Problem!

You'll need to download different programs, depending on what you want to use.....
WindowBlinds skins require the WindowBlinds program.
Icons, don't actually require IconPackager, but it makes changing icons easier.
DesktopX requires the DesktopX program.
etc., etc.

Koasati,

You are so patient! I know you have to be cut/paste for as many times you have to repeat those (same)directions.

What a guy!

Just get Object Desktop. With that you can download all the programs you need to apply the LunarBase suite (with WinStyles, a part of OD).

Micheal........I just checked out LunarBase, and it's WindowBlinds, ICQ Plus and a wall.
You won't get ICQ Plus with OD, and you don't need it for the wall. OD is great, but your statement is misleading.
WinStyles supports programs that are not in OD.

Too much there for me to take in. Still, you can't have everything.

Thanx Risky!

Winstyles does not work except for just a few themes. I know this is still Beta but the great advantage of the idea is exactly to be able to download and apply Suite.

Windowblinds works well with every theme but, of course, without the wallpaper so again the purpose of changing the appearance completely is defeated.

I suggest you do not accept any longer any uploads unless the wallpaper is included (one can change if he does not like it but the entire desktop is changed).

The advantage of SkinBrowser is not so much to get a faster download but in my humble opinion to change the entire look of the desktop directly on line (great idea). This is why WinStyles becomes the ultimate goal.

Regards,

Ezio

I have similar problems to Ezio. Lunar Base and Radiant show 1KB whether downloaded through SB or from the Wincustomize site. Unlighted DL fine 1410 KB.

Some pretty cool suites - if they can be accessed.

Unlighted works fine. Some way to get all the winstyles themes working?

whoa... some serious misconceptions here...

/me goes off to get a cup of coffee to settle down and write a long response to this thread...

First gwall's problem -

The Winstyles suites come in different formats. If it has a .suite extension, it doesn't include any of the skin files, it just points to them on a skin site for downloading. That would explain the 1kb filesize as it's only an ini file.

Suites that have a .theme extension include the skin files so they are usually up in the 1Mb range of filesize. The use of a .theme extension is limited to themes that are uploaded by the artists that created the skins in the theme. If anyone wants to upload a Winstyles theme that has skins or a wallpaper which they didn't produce themselves, they would have to do it as a .suite type of file so there is no redistribution of another artist's work, or they would have to include written permission from the original skin artists.

Which brings up another point. If you are uploading a suite for Winstyles or even just a screenshot, it's considered bad form to not give credit in your description to the artists who created the work you're using. This is often overlooked in screenshots but should Never be overlooked in a Winstyles theme. In fact, DesktopX seems to be rampant with people taking someone else's work and 'adapting' it to their own use, uploading it under their own name and not giving credit to the person that actually created the work they're using. Bad form is the polite way of saying it...

Ezio says: "Windowblinds works well with every theme but, of course, without the wallpaper so again the purpose of changing the appearance completely is defeated.
I suggest you do not accept any longer any uploads unless the wallpaper is included (one can change if he does not like it but the entire desktop is changed)."

The skins, themes, suites and wallpapers you find on this site are not "themes" in the Microsoft Windows color scheme sense. These are skins created by someone for a particular skinnable program. There are some artists whose work covers many programs thus creating a "suite" of skins. Often they will have a wallpaper available for the suite or at least a recommendation with directions where to find it. Most of the best wallpaper artists don't make many (if any) skins. Most of the best skin artists don't make a lot of wallpapers. Recently, with the release of WindowsXP, Windowblinds gained a few extra components that needed to be shown in the preview. In order to show the taskbar and start menu you have to use a screenshot which will inevitably show a wallpaper in the background. It's nice when the artist tells you whose wallpaper it is, but it should never be included with the skin unless the skinner created it or as a collaboration with the wallpaper artist.

The screenshot section is where people can show what they've done to their system with the various works and programs available here. Winstyles is a program that will allow you to make a screenshot actually become a theme and load itself on your computer. In both cases what you are seeing is the result of someone using the resources available here on this site. Individually loading a wallpaper, a Windowblinds skin, etc.

We could not require that a wallpaper be included with a skin submission any more than we could require that all skins be blue. I think you'll find that most NextStart skins include a wallpaper as do most Litestep themes, but not many other skins typically include one.

Customizing the appearance of your computer is a very personal thing. Some people like to change the wallpaper and the icons only, others go for a drastic overhaul that would make it hard to tell if Windows is even installed on their machine. For example, I'm using Windowblinds, ICQ+, Winamp and NextStart right now (Icons & cursors also changed). The wallpaper I'm using now is one of my own photos that no one else has seen and won't ever be uploaded anywhere.

Skin sites provide a varied and unique collection of ways to change how your computer looks. Ultimately, it's up to you to choose each element and decide how you will use the different resources available. Even a Winstyles theme may have skins for programs you don't use, or you might have a wallpaper that you wouldn't change for any suite of skins. The application of a wallpaper is so easy, and so fundamental to customizing your desktop, that it doesn't need to be included with a skin, just be available for download.

--- I said it would be a long response...

And he was true to his word...

Dear David,

I appreciate your long response an the reasons behind it but let me just say that it is so very nice to download a NextStart theme which always include a wallpaper (whic anyone can still change if he wants) and see the entire desktop change with no further efforts.

But Next Start does not produce a bottom bar like in Windows XP and that's a heavy draw back.

To me Windowblinds would be exceptional and unbeatable if it would change the whole Desktop like NextStart.

If the people at NextStart have given answers to your points I am sure you could do the same or better.

Sorry to insist but it honestly goes towards the direction mutual interest.

Ciao.

Ezio

Ezio:

Windowblinds and NextStart are intended to do two different things. NextStart is a replacement shell (replaces or supplements explorer, the usual shell). Since it's purpose is to change the entire interface experience, wallpapers and the like, usually being a part of that experience, are generally part of the theme, as well.

Windowblinds is intended to change the look (and some behaviour) of the windows graphical elements (titlebars, menus, etc.). While some Windowblinds skins work best with a particular wallpaper, many are very nice with just about any wallpaper, etc.

You can even use both at the same time, for maximum effect (pretty much what I do)

Since they have different goals, what works for NextStart would not necessarily be a good move for Windowblinds, and vice versa. And in the case where both are used, you don't want them competing to try to change the desktop, each in their own (possibly competing) fashion.

Enjoy

Actually, Windowblinds already has the capability of changing the wallpaper, fonts and icons when you load a theme (sounds too). I think there was a skin from treetog or adni18 that used all those capabilities. I don't know if many people are using those features or not since I have them all turned off on my machine.

My point was that it's rare that an artist that creates a Windowblinds skin will also create icons and a wallpaper to go with it. More likely they would have one or two wallpapers or sets of icons for every twenty Windowblinds skins they make. It would be a waste of bandwidth to include the same wallpaper and icons in a bunch of different skins.

NextSTART is not a shell.....it is a powerful replacement for the Windows Start Menu, System Tray and Taskbar.

Koasati sounds like an ad for NextSTART

I stand corrected

I tend to use the word shell to represent the primary UI of any sort (I consider explorer to be a shell, and NS, as well (in that sense)).

Enjoy

Whoops, forgot to close the FONT tag!

Thanks David - I never was too clear about the difference between a theme and a suite. As long as I have all the bits, then loading a suite will load all the bits in one go, right?

The next round's on me!

yep, it should. As long as you have the skinnable apps installed a Winstyles .suite will download the skins and apply them. I'm not sure what it does with skins you don't have the apps for. I assume it just ignores those but maybe it offers to go get the software for you?

/me realizes he must try out Winstyles...

Aleatoric...
Exploder, er, Explorer IS a shell..[no 'considering' needed]..

Enhancements, themes, add-ons, launch bars, etc can all be added to Exploder to change the shell's appearance and various functions too.

Windowblinds is a powerful graphical modifier of Exploder's windows, with the clever ability to provide added functionality.....and can be used in conjunction with alternate REAL shells, such as LiteSTEP.

Most REAL shells prefer NOT to be run in conjunction with the standard Exploder, but can be made to behave themselves if you do.
Their intention is to totally replace Exploder and its methodology of accessing the OS kernel, and purists [fanatics] will then replace the file-manager component of Exploder as well with the likes of Powerdesk...and even toss out 'I Explode' in favour of Opera.
If you do all that you'll never again see a 'Explorer.exe has performed a self-lobotomy and must shut down and cry' sort of message...

Koasati sounds like an ad for NextSTART

hehe....NS roX !!

Jafo,

Exploder! My sentiments exactly


I've tried most of the alternative shells I could find in the past, and so far, I like Litestep and NS the best. Haven't played with LS in a while, last I tried, it was great when it worked, but I never really had time to chase down all the issues. Might check it out again soon.

Right now, my desk is NS and WB (both with essorants' Skink suite) Mind you, it confuses the heck out of my coworkers

Enjoy!

Okay, me and HTML are going to have a little session out back!

Sounds of /me thwapping HTML into submission