Making a theme?

[bavman13]

So I'm new to all of this. I bought a touch diamond with Sprint just last week and stumbled upon this site for themes and apps. It seems to be a very cool site for customization, but i've been wondering where should i start if i want to make my own themes? I got CFC and Manila editor. Are there tutorials or manuals on using those programs? And is there a way to extract the preinstalled theme that came with my phone so i can modify it? Thanks for any help.

[jrodizzkool01]

So I'm new to all of this. I bought a touch diamond with Sprint just last week and stumbled upon this site for themes and apps. It seems to be a very cool site for customization, but i've been wondering where should i start if i want to make my own themes? I got CFC and Manila editor. Are there tutorials or manuals on using those programs? And is there a way to extract the preinstalled theme that came with my phone so i can modify it? Thanks for any help.

To extract your phone's TF3D files
To extract your phone's TF3D theme, connect it to your computer using Activesync (XP) or WMDC (Vista) and click on "Explore Files". While exploring your devices files, navigate to the Windows folder of your cell phone then sort the files by type. Look for a collection of files that end in "manila" (there should be ALOT). Copy EVERY file that ends with .manila from your device to a folder on your computer (give it a couple minute as there are many files to copy).

To copy manila files to a manila editor
Using either Manila Editor of CFC GUI (i personally think CFC GUI is much easier to use because it gives me less errors), click on "File" and "Select Folder" to navigate to the folder where you copied the manila files on your computer. Select the folder and the files will be loaded into the program

To make your own theme
Once you have copied the manila files and loaded them into either Manila Editor or CFC GUI, the next step is to replace some of the icons with the ones you want for your theme. In CFC GUI (I havent used Manila Editor and dont remember the buttons for this so I cant instruct how to use it), click on any of the files and you will get a preview of it. If you would like to SAVE that icon in a png format to edit (with Photoshop/Gimp etc.) click on "SAVE AS" and choose the directory in which you would like to save it. To replace a manila file with your own, click on the file then select "REPLACE WITH" and choose your file (NOTE: The file you choose absolutely MUST be the same size as the original. If the original file is 128x128, the file you replace it with must also be 128x128).

[Usper]

Thanks jrodi. Im thinkin of making one myself too. But I wasnt sure if the icon size has to be the same as original.

[jrodizzkool01]

Thanks jrodi. Im thinkin of making one myself too. But I wasnt sure if the icon size has to be the same as original.

you wouldnt believe how easy it is to make a theme once you get the hang of it. good luck on the theme youre making and if you have any questions or want any help feel free to pm me:)

[bavman13]

Cool, i cant wait to get started, but i have one final question. After im done do i just replace the files which i changed to where i got them off my phone?

[jrodizzkool01]

Cool, i cant wait to get started, but i have one final question. After im done do i just replace the files which i changed to where i got them off my phone?

There are multiple ways to install a theme to your device but ill go through the easiest and quickest method using Total Commander

1) Copy the manila files that you changed to a new folder on your phone (Give this folder the name of your theme). Turn off the TF3D plugin (Settings/Today/Items/ Uncheck Tf3d). Then use Total Commander to find the new folder and copy all of the files in the folder to the Windows directoty of your device. If you get a prompt, select "Overwrite All" and give it a minute to replace the files. Soft reset your device and youre done

[bavman13]

I was just looking through the windows folder of my diamond but there are no files ending in manila, is it because its the sprint version or something?

[greg17477]

I was just looking through the windows folder of my diamond but there are no files ending in manila, is it because its the sprint version or something?

"show hidden and systemfiles" in explorer..