Hi!
Sorry if this has been asked before - I searched but could not find the answers (though i fear I know what they are already... )
1) Is it possible to extract individual parts (WB skin) of a MyColors theme and apply them separately through "their own" application (WB) ?
2) If yes: Is it in any way possible to download MyColors themes without first installing MyColors?
if no: Is it possible to deselect/disable individual parts of a MyColors theme before applying them?
I ask because usually I'm just interested in the WB skin and not icons, walls, widgets etc. and there are some nice looking MyColors themes that I would be interested in trying out... Also it seems like a waste having to install MyColors when I'm just interested in the WB skin... AND since the free OD subscriber skins now come as MyColors themes....
(I'm not in any way trying to say that MyColors is a bad product, it's probably a great way to freshen up the desktop! I just don't need/want ALL of it... )
regards, Erlend
Edit: Yup, I'm stupid. Just TRIED downloading a few of the free themes and renaming them to .zip. Happy with the result!
But that still leaves the free OD subs themes that seems to require Impulse and MyColors installed to download....
Edit 2: Sorry for wasting your time. Found answers to all my q's.
Renaming .mycolors to .zip solved first problem and using direct download link (requesting copy of serial numbers from SD support) allows me to download OD subscriber skins without installig MyColors. Hurrah! I assume this works for any themes I eventually purchase as well...
Rename Theme name.MyColors to Theme name.zip and extract.
You should be able to, save to disc instead of open with MyColors.
From settings tab in MyColors, check I want to see advanced options when applying suites. When apply a suite you will get a dialog that lets you select what to apply.
Thanks Cavan1! Found out some of this about 2 sec. after first post....
If you install and manage them through MyColors and/or Impulse you'll get notified if there's an update for a theme though. Doesn't happen very often, but it's something to consider.
Hmmm...
Of course there had to be a catch. I'll have to check manually from time to time then...
That reminds me, if someone "on the inside" read this: I miss some of the more detailed info and sorting options ("details view?") from SDC in Impulse... Instead of having to first select an application in order to get version and date info. And it would also be cool if Impulse could remember sorting options between sessions...
Thanks for the tip, DaveRI!
You mean it's actually possible? Anytime I've gotten a MyColors theme, I only got a link to download MyColors itself, which would then check the registration and download and install the theme that way. Didn't think you could just download a .zip file.
That's what I got too, first.
But then, in desperation, I tried the second download link from the support mail, which was a direct link to the .zip-file!
Edit: Only tried with Burgundy Desktop. I hope/assume it works with other themes too...
Doesn't work with mine, Outlook won't open it, like it's not a real link. When I view the source, it only goes to a href="Install" which is bogus, no zip (this is for the purchased themes).
what i do, is the mycolors i have purchased, and installed, well i dont run mycolors, i just run windowblinds, and apply theskins that way, it works for me, maybe i am just lucky i guess, i am a huge fan of mycolors, and when i get bored i tend to experiment,
Darn... Maybe some of the many 's and 's higher up should be replaced with 's and 's...
Of the different suites/applications I have registrations for, only the Burgundy Desktop link seems to work like I said...
Then I'm out of ideas for now... Maybe what you sugguest jpmurph1 is the easiest solution...
Any Stardock officials willing to offer their proffesional advice? If it isn't possible today, then maybe allowing downloading of MyColors-suites as .zip files could be an idea for the future?
Ya as long as MyColors is installed and the theme has been extracted jpmurph's method works fine, it's not a fluke.
plzz somebody tell me the diff between windowblinds , my colours , object desktop ... impulse got free version of my colurs to install but i dunno xactly wat my colurs will do to my system different from window blinds....
MyColors applies a compete theme with limited user interaction. It has the Windowblinds engine (along with IconPackager engine and Gadgets) embedded in it. https://www.stardock.com/products/mycolors/
Windowblinds allows you to apply many windowblind skins like in the gallery:https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?libid=1
Object Desktop is a subscription to a application suite that allows you to change many parts of yoru desktop. (Winndowblinds is included in this suite) https://www.stardock.com/products/odnt/
And on the pratical side (i.e., money) with MyColors the MyColors application is free, with a few free themes, and you pay for the other themes. With WB and Object Desktop, you pay for the applications and can get a lot of free skins (don't know for sure how much you can get free without buying a subscription to this site) and also buy some other premium skins and suites if you like.
Me, I'm a pig, I use both.
Any of the licenced MyColors themes will have encrypted images and I doubt your going to be able to extract and install them without installing them through MyColors.
Any MyColors only need be installed with MyColors, other than the free ones which download as a .MyColors file. Once installed you can then go to ThemeManager folder, which on XP is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Documents\Stardock\ThemeManager, and rename the .MyColors to .zip and extract and move folder for WB to WindowBlinds folder, folder for IP to IP folder etc and apply using WB, IP etc, no need to apply with MyColors. I have a licensed NHL theme and have tested this.
All the encryption does is prevent usage of the images.
Cavan- You do know that all that manual shuffling isn't necessary, right?- All you have to do is apply the theme once through MyColors to get it extracted, then you can just apply the WB via WB if you want to. I'm thinking you were just making a point, but I have visions of a stray reader thinking that's what they have to do to apply through WB...
thank u so much zubaz and dave ri for reply .... can i have both window blinds & my clours installed in my system... i.e using skins of WB and icons & gadjets of my colours / my colurs quest desktop / my colurs think green desktop ... .. as there is free version available in impulse ... i want to install it but i am scared whether it will affect changing variety of window blinds themes thro WB
Absolutely. Yes. No problem. Do not hesitate because of that concern.
I'm not trying to be funny, I'm trying to be clear. I wondered about that myself and I've had them both installed for months.
Enjoy!
Yep.
Applying thru MyColors still unchecks Show tray icon in WB config, needing have to recheck it and a reboot for the change to hold.
I have a few times after applying thru MyColors, got busy doing other things, forget to recheck Show tray icon, rebooted for other reasons then when remembering had to reboot again to get WB Tray icon back after rechecking it.
They are aware of this issue at Stardock, hopefully they will find a fix for it soon.
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