VOGONS


First post, by Kahenraz

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I've been futzing around with themeing Windows XP and was a bit frustrated by Windows's appearance editor which not only doesn't provide feedback for every option, but also does not expose all elements which can be altered. It's also really slow to "apply" a new theme.

To solve this problem, I wrote a small command-line tool which provides an easy way to both import and export the full suite of Windows system colors. The export feature will output in a clear, easy to modify format with clearly-named elements. It's also possible to export in .reg format so that you can import themes later without the use of this tool.

Individual colors can be tested as well in a "preview" mode which alters your current desktop but will revert once the program ends.

Examples:
syscolors.exe --set button=0xFF00FF -p
syscolors.exe --import colors/classic.clr
syscolors.exe --export mytheme.clr -r

There is also a handy help entry which lists a short description of each configurable option.

Export, import, or set individual system colors for Windows. Supports comma-
delimited or hex values for colors. Any changes will be saved for the current
user unless the 'preview' option is specified.

Usage: systheme [[--import] file]|[--set <element=r,g,b|0x>] [options]
Options:
--help Display this information.
-o, --export [file] Export the current color scheme to a file or to the
console if none is specified.
--import <file> Import a color scheme from a file. Each element/color
assignment must be on its own line and in the format
of 'element=color'. The value of the color is in
either an 8-bit, comma-delimited triplet, or a
hexadecimal string with the preceding '0x'.
--set <element=r,g,b|0x> Change the color of individual system elements by
specifying an element and color set. Multiple sets
can be specified on the same line by separating
their assignment with a space.
-p, --preview <duration> Use this option to preview changes without making
them permanent.
-h, --hexadecimal Export element colors in hexadecimal form instead
of the default comma-delimited r,g,b.
-r, --registry Export the system color scheme in a format which can
be imported into the system registry.
--help-elements Display a list of all system elements which can be
colored, along with a description of each.

Reply 1 of 9, by leileilol

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Thanks 😀 I always hated managing .theme files just for transporting simple color schemes. Windows 7 made this worse.

apsosig.png
long live PCem

Reply 2 of 9, by Kahenraz

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Fixed some bugs with parameter processing and the --set option not being evaluated for a comma-delimited list.

Re-download from the same link to get the updated version.

Reply 3 of 9, by rfnagel

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MANY THANKS for this utility! 😀 As a person who is STILL using Windows XP as my OS, I've been looking for something like this for AGES now 😀

Rich ¥Weeds¥ Nagel
http://www.richnagel.net

Reply 4 of 9, by Stiletto

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One I've been looking for, for a while, is a screen geometry exporter or recommender or something. It's probably too difficult and too much math. But basically for old folks transitioning from an old PC to a new one:

"you liked 1024x768 at Normal DPI on your 17" CRT? Then that translates to ... 1440x900 at Large DPI on your 20.1" 16:9 LCD"
(just making something up here)

"oh, good - everything looks the same"

"I see a little silhouette-o of a man, Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you
do the Fandango!" - Queen

Stiletto

Reply 5 of 9, by NJRoadfan

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This comes in handy with Windows 8 which completely lacks the Advanced Appearance option in the Personalization control panel.

Reply 6 of 9, by Kahenraz

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Would someone with a clean install of Window 95 please run this tool with the options "syscolors.exe --export win95.clr" and "syscolors.exe --export win95.reg -r"?

I am on a Ryzen system and these processors have problems with Windows 9x in a virtual machine. I use VMware for VMs, and is incompatible.

Reply 7 of 9, by leileilol

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OK.

(should mention a clean Win95 install lacks msvcrt.dll, so had to yank that off my VC6 disc quickly)

apsosig.png
long live PCem

Reply 8 of 9, by MarkP

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I just set XPs theme to the ye Olde classic grey one and that does it for me.

Reply 9 of 9, by Kahenraz

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I've attached color templates for Windows 98, ME, 2000, and XP. I don't have a clean VM of Windows 8, 10, or 11, if someone would like to help with those. Is there any difference between Windows 8 and 8.1 or any of the server operating systems, including NT4?

The attachment winmeclr.zip is no longer available
The attachment win2kclr.zip is no longer available
The attachment winxpclr.zip is no longer available
The attachment win7clr.zip is no longer available