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View Full Version : HOWTO: Create your own WM5 keyboard skin.


aquaclear
27th September 2005, 04:21 PM
Tools you need:

1. WinCE CAB Manager (Trialware)
2. PE Resource Explorer (Freeware)
3. Image manipulation software (e.g. Photoshop)
4. A sample keyboard skin .cab file (From Buzzdev.net, thanks Buzz!)


Instructions:
-------------------
Run CAB manager.
Open the sample .cab file.
Extract the only file there. i.e. "msim.96.dll.0409.mui"
Do not close the manager yet.

Run PE Resource Explorer
Navigate to: Sections > .rsrc > Bitmap > 15361 > English (United Stats)
Right click on it, choose "Export Resource" and save the bitmap file.
Do not close the Resource Explorer yet.

Run your preferred image manipulation software.
Open the bitmap file.
Change the "hue", "levels", "brightness" or "contrast" etc etc to your preference.
When you have produced the result you wanted, save it.

Switch back to PE Resource Explorer.
Right click on the same resource you did earlier, choose "Import Image Resource"
A new folder will appear below with number "15362" and file in it is "Natural Language" or whatever.
Now, right click the original bitmap that still named "English (United States)", and choose "Delete Resource".
Then double click the bitmap you just imported.
In the dialog box, change the values to "15361" and "English (United States)"
Then exit the program and click save when prompted.

Switch back to CAB Manager.
Delete the only file that named "msim.96.dll.0409.mui".
Drag the newly edited resource file into the same space.
When prompted, under [General] set "Archive" and "System".
Under [Flags] set "Ignore date..." and "Warn user...".
Under [Location] choose "\Windows" but leave "Hard-coded path" unchecked.
Click OK or whatever to carry on adding the file.
Then double click "CAB Information".
In the dialogue box, change "Company Name" to whatever, "Application Name" to whatever, then click OK.
Now save and exit.

As usual, copy the newly modified .cab file to your WM5 PPC and click to run it. SOP.
Soft reset.
VOILA! New keyboard skin
:P

aquaclear
27th September 2005, 04:23 PM
BTW, this is my first post. Hello to all :)

Neet to thanks all xda developers here for their great effort at supporting the Himalaya! Especially buzz_lightyear for his 1.6c WM5 rom!

suwandi
2nd December 2005, 05:31 AM
hello aquaclear, as you said to chg keyboard we need cab manager (trialware). can you attach it for me? or any link to download it?
thx bro....

suwandi
2nd December 2005, 05:34 AM
hello aquaclear, as you said to chg keyboard we need cab manager (trialware). can you attach it for me? or any link to download it?
thx bro....

suwandi
2nd December 2005, 05:49 AM
is it possible to chg our keyboard without image manipulation s/w? if possible, how to do it?
the s/w image manipulation you mean is in our pda or in our pc? if in our pda, can i use s/w picture and video to do it?
thx... :D

Chagani
19th December 2005, 10:25 AM
I followed your guide, but I still get the standard keyboard. I even tried to install Buzz's skin, but again it didn't work. I am using a Universal (JasJar):

ROM: 1.13.53 WWE
Radio: 1.04.02
WM5: 5.0 OS 5.1.1700 (Build 14354.0.1.1)

Would appreciate your help! :)

Chagani

ZeBoxx
14th January 2006, 03:03 AM
No luck on my Qtek 9100 either. Does anything -besides- copying the CAB to the PPC and running it have to be done ? ( Other than waiting a while and then soft-rebooting )

funman
17th March 2007, 05:45 PM
Does anyone know about this as i have not been able to get it done aswell! It does not a thing!

encompass
24th April 2007, 09:34 PM
I installed a .cab I found on this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1220629 post number 7 has a link to www.miousers.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=1812. After installing the cab on my phone I did a soft reset and it worked for me. Hope this helps you guys out.

If anyone knows of any sites that have more keyboard skins please post a link I would love to match the keyboard with my today theme.

buzz_lightyear sheds more light on the situation on this thread. Enjoy :)

n3rxs
28th June 2007, 04:53 PM
I found a new white keyboard skin that installed fine, used it as base to make black one and mine still doesn't work.