Tips for new users!

Published on February 22, 2005 By Koasati In New Users

It was suggested that an article I put together should be placed in the New User section. I want to expand on that
What I hope happens in this thread is that the people I see helping others in the forums, will help me put together tips for the new folks.
This stuff can be confusing at first, and we see a lot of the same questions being asked often. So, we should be able to answer them in this thread, where they'll be easy to find.

The Problem:
Auto-installing Skin/Theme files are downloaded as zip files.

The Cause:
SP2 appears to be common factor here, but some people report no change after SP2.
What's happening is this... self installing file extension for most skinning programs are simply renamed ZIP archives. For some reason after SP2 is installed on XP, the extensions are renamed back to .zip when downloaded.
But it's easily fixed.

The Solution:

Step 1. File extension must not be hidden. If you're unsure what that means, open Control Panel > Folder Options > View tab > "Hide extensions for known file types" should be un-checked.

Step 2. Right-click the file and select Rename. Change the zip part of the name to the proper extenion. Example; skin1.zip = skin1.wba (for a WindowBlind skin)

DesktopX Themes = .dxtheme
DesktopX Objects = .dxpack
WindowBlinds = .wba
LogonStudio = .logonxp
BootSkin = .bootskin
CursorXP = .CurXPTheme
IconPackager = .ip

If you get a warning about changing the extention, click OK

Step 3. Double-click the renamed file.

Lantec pointed out that if you use Firefox (or Opera), this file extension won't be renamed when you download.

by Developer Lantec
Monday, January 03, 2005

Just a note;
I was having this problem constantly until I switched browsers.
Since I started using firefox all downloads autoinstall correctly and those that don't auto install have the right extension. There are a whole bunch of other advantages, but this one item makes it worth the trouble. SP2 has been a real pain.....

Jason Carver suggested this work around......... rename the files when you download.

by Citizen Jason Carver
Saturday, February 12, 2005

Heres a shorter shortcut ( well shorter in my opinion )

First write down the file extensions listed here. Next pick something to download. In this case , ill download a Window Blind file. When you click download. It shows the save as dialog. Below it , you have two choices from a drop down menu. "Zip files" and All files. Select all files , and add .wba to the end of the file name. When its done saving , you click open and TADA! its installed.

**UPDATE**

So, you like Internet Explorer....you don't want to switch browsers?
It appears that the problem can be fixed by installing a 3rd party archive program [WinZip, ZipCentral, IZArc, etc.] The problem seems to be caused by XP's built-in zip program.

Comments (Page 2)

Corky_O

on Feb 24, 2005

LittleBearJason

on Feb 24, 2005

I always thought that "is not a valid win32 app" error means a corrupt file.

charms55

on Feb 25, 2005

I had a huge crash when I tried to use a bootskin. took me many hours to get my laptop up and running again. Now, when it boots, the splash screen for Object desktop is mostly balck. Also, now I can7t get my Right click to work on this computer.HELP!

Corky_O

on Feb 25, 2005

charms55,

Please give some more details on what happened and what you have done so far to get up and running again.

Have you done any Uninstall > Reboot > Restore procedures with ODesktop software yet?

I don't own a laptop (yet), so may be of limited help if it is an issue which does not pertain to a desktop, but I am sure that someone will be able to help with a bit more information.

Koasati

on Feb 26, 2005

WINDOWBLINDS.. TOOLBAR ICONS WON'T CHANGE!

After you've set the new toolbar icons, open the Display Properties (right click desktop, and select Properties), choose another skin in the list, then go back to the skin you're using (this is to get the Apply button enabled) then click Apply. The new toolbar icons will be applied.

ryinof

on Feb 28, 2005

I have downloaded some suite from wincustomize to enhance the appearence of my lame Pc...HoweVer,I dont seem to be able to install it to my com as no program can open it...

What should b done to remedy tis???D file is in .suite form....

HeLp..

Koasati

on Feb 28, 2005

ryinof... for suite files you need the Theme Manager program, but you also need all the programs that suite file will apply.

WindowBlinds need the WindowBlinds program, CursorXP sets need the CursorXP program, and so on...... suites are collections of skins that are applied as a theme with Theme Manager.

Click the Software tab above, or use this https://www.wincustomize.com/software.aspx to access the downloads of the programs needed.

I know this is a rather simplistic explanation, but I hope it gets you started. Others more familiar with Theme Manager may be able to explain it better. (I don't use it, being more of a do it yourself kind of guy)

Corky_O

on Feb 28, 2005

Dropped by during lunch and am feeling a bit adventurous, so here is a bit of a Theme Manager overview:

Theme Manager is a sort of component coordinator. It looks at a .suite file and communicates with all the individual programs responsible for applying the different components of a theme.

For example, the computer needs the WindowBlinds program to change the appearance of the Start Menu, Taskbar, Explorer shell (the window frame, menu bar, tool bars, toolbar icons, as well as animations (like when you download a file, you have a nice little dialog box with a progress bar or animation).

The computer also needs Icon Packager to change the system icons (folders, start menu icons, file type icons, etc.), it needs DesktopX (until gadgets get going) to display widgets on the desktop, (such as the weather, a calendar, an analog clock to name a few), it needs Cursor XP to change the cursors, and of course you may want to change the wallpaper on the desktop.

These are a few of the programs that Theme Manager can communicate with, and instead of the user having to load each program individually and select and apply a skin or package - Theme Manager handles all the loading and applying for you by looking at the suite, writing the files to their correct locations and instructing all the individual programs to apply the components of the suite.

You just load Theme Manager, select a suite, and click apply - Theme Manager handles the rest. It will also allow you to save a theme as a ".suite" file for uploading and sharing with others.

Note - as Koasati indicated, you will need the relevant programs installed on your computer because they are the softwares that actually apply the changes.

I hope this made sense, and is not too long-winded.

XP crazy

on Mar 01, 2005

Thanks some of these tips have really helped me

havakazoo666

on Mar 01, 2005

im a new user and i dont no a thing about applying these skins. i have changed the format into a wbx file but i dont know how to apply the differences. can u tell me how?

havakazoo666

on Mar 01, 2005

ok fair enough, i forgot to download the software lol whoops

Koasati

on Mar 01, 2005

ok fair enough, i forgot to download the software lol whoops

LunaHa1o

on Mar 02, 2005

As a new user who has, of this post, only submitted 3 skins am wondernig why my skins (objectdock icons) do not show up in the objectdock catagory.

They do show up under my skins submissions as well as if I or anyone else specifically searches for them by keyword, but do not show up as "new created objectdock icons" in the objectdock catagory.

The only thing I can think of for as why this occurs is that I am not at the proper member level to have my submissions show up like that. I really think that if I am doing quality (my opinion I guess) work and generally show an interest in continuing that what I submit should show up in the catagory without requiring to do a specific search for them.

If I am just missing something here or perhaps there is a really obvious answer to this then I apologize and would very much appreciate it if anyone could help me out with this.

P.S. If this is not the correct thread please move this message to the appropriate place.

Bebi Bulma

on Mar 02, 2005

Citizen LunaHa1o - I see them just fine.

charms55

on Mar 02, 2005

Hi Corky O,

Thanks for any help you can give. I did get the laptop up and running following the crash. I did do a system restore (XP) but mostly I think it was just a qustion of going through safe mode and letting XP mend itself.

The splash screen is more an annoyance than anything else. it looks fine on my desktop at home and had looked ok on the laptop until my crash. The rightclick menu worked fine on both until the crash and now doesn't seem to load properly on the laptop. It could be that all of these things are somewhat unurelated, but seems suspicious.

in going to the bootskin site it mentioned two other versions of the program if there were problems. I guess I am a little gunshy about making a change if it means another sleepless night bringing my system back, but that could be the issue.

I guess I am a little unclear on how to uninstall and then reinstall DO. Will I lose the settings I have now? I have built a basick desktop now and don't realy want to start from scratch.

Hope this helps in your diagnosis.

charms

Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:

Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums.
Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
It's simple, and FREE!