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lovelyspanishwom...
Posted on: Jul 27 2007, 01:02 AM


Newbie


Group: Members
Posts: 2
Joined: 24-July 07
From: USA
Member No.: 15,628


QUOTE (runningtiger @ Jul 25 2007, 05:32 AM) *
Welcome to MGN and congrats on your first post! We all learn from each other, so dig in!!!

Is your phone a Motorola Q? Or, is it just something particular about this home screen that attracts you? I have no experience with the Q's home screen, so can't offer any assistance there. If that is your device, hopefully Smeg will pop in here 'cuz he had that phone and has posted some of his home screens. Check the "Show us your Home Screen!" post to see his most recent efforts. If you just want some basics on home screen editing, then I can offer some help and hopefully others will chime in with their .02

Basically, if you have a Smartphone (not a PocketPC), then home screen .XML files are located in the \Application Data\Home folder. Use ActiveSync to COPY that file to your computer then open it with Notepad so you can see how it's been written. You should see things like "schemes" being defined, "plugins" being inserted in the desired order, labels in different languages defined perhaps, etc.

Practice by starting with one of the default home screens that comes closest to what you want and then work at changing it one thing at a time so you can see what changes when you edit something. It's very much about trial & error. At least it was for me. WARNING: Be prepared for things not to go right. The very first time I had to hard reset my device was 'cuz I downloaded someone else's home screen and tried it on my phone and my phone would no longer boot. I had to hard reset, which means I lost every bit of customizing I'd done and I had to start over. <drag> So, if going back to square one is too depressing at this point, make a backup of your device now using something like Sprite Backup software for instance. It costs about $30 but is well worth it if you're gonna start tinkering under the hood of your device. It'll save you a LOT of pain and heartache. That said, what happens more often then crashing your device (if the code isn't perfect) is it just won't load right. You'll get a funky b&w screen with the message to change you home screen to one that works and once you do that you're fine. Just be ready to have it not go perfect...then go for it!

So, once you have made some changes to the .XML file you copied to your PC, save it with a new name then copy it back to your device, load it by going to "settings\home screen\home screen layout" and choose the file you created and see what it looks like and go from there.

If you start researching home screen .XML you'll quickly notice that a lot of the developers use plugins that are not included with your device. Some of these, like Fizz Weather and Facade, are not free. If you try to use a home screen that has a plugin on it that you don't have on your phone - it won't work. Obviously, right?

Anyway, much can be done with the free plugins included on your device and free ones that can be downloaded elsewhere. I'll wait until I read what you like about the screen you commented on before going into any more detail.

So, what do you want your home screen to look like? To make it more feminine do you just want a different wallpaper (background image)? Do you like the row of icons to launch your favorite programs? If so, do you want to see the same icons there all the time, or are your most recently used (MRU) program icons the ones you want to see? Be as specific as you can so we can offer specific advice.


Thank you for the kind welcome. I have so much to learn and what a great place to meet people who know so much and are so willing to share. I only wish I had something to share. I have talked with the gentleman that mad the homescreen above and he has been more helpful than I could have hoped for. So I have some lots of reading to do. Also, is there much buzz about animated homescreens for the motorola q?
  Forum: Motorola Q · Post Preview: #59349 · Replies: 16 · Views: 35,301

lovelyspanishwom...
Posted on: Jul 25 2007, 12:02 AM


Newbie


Group: Members
Posts: 2
Joined: 24-July 07
From: USA
Member No.: 15,628


QUOTE (:GS:Havok @ Apr 27 2007, 06:19 PM) *
Well,
This is a simple Homescreen of my favorite game Counter-Strike Source. I have used Ruttensoft's home screen developer but i quickly found out that editing XML files is quicker and easier task. Using my Gif animator (a Layer Picture editing Tool) i was able to create the background image, which is actually 3 images fused together with some transparency cropping. the Grenades, HE (red) and Smoke (Green) are actually tabs and can be selected. With the use of Facade plugin Here, I am able to select my current schedule, or my tasks. I dont know what kind i will create next...



WOW, this is a great homescreen. Can you teach me how to do this! I downloaded the programs that you suggested, but I have no idea where to even start! I have no real experience doing graphics and I know when you start to talk about layers I can never figure it out. Can you help me learn or perhaps right a short note on how to actually do something from beginning to end. Of course I am looking to create something a bit more feminine, but I think your Counter-Strike homescreen is awesome. Let me know if you can help me.

Lovelyspanishwoman smile.gif
  Forum: Motorola Q · Post Preview: #59325 · Replies: 16 · Views: 35,301


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