Skinning Drawer

My memory is foggy, but I will try to get to my main rig today and skin a little so I can remember then answer your question.

Not only have I not skinned in a while, but I also suffer from what my doctor says is brain fog due to long covid.  Or ADHD, pick one....lol....same treatment.

Thanks red. Dropped you a pm must off gone to junk.

When you replace a file in your working folder (theme folder) you confirm the save, and then you need to reload the theme to see results.  File names MUST be exact.  

So this is what I found out by changing images and seeing what happens.

The Title and Endcap files are to do with Nextstart. Nx files are for the Dock. The files I need to change were wsFullBody and wsFullTab. So As I don't want a tab on the drawer or need a button to close it or open preferences I want to get rid of wsFullTabA/I/ML/MR and I think the ws Prefs.ico/wsHide.ico. You can't just delete the images as you are left with a black area(like a template). 

I should also say that I am not worried about the affect this will have on the Workshelf as it will not be on show.

Does anyone have any ideas on how this is done.

Thanks

Don't know if this will help you. It has an explanation of the file extensions.

https://forums.winstep.net/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?p=7907

Then, there's this:

https://forums.winstep.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9759

I'll ask Jorge what's up with the skinning module.

Hello everyone...
Wow, I doubt that Jorge will follow up with a favorable response for a skinning module, on the winstep site it's the kind of thing you shouldn't talk about like in "Harry Potter". To build a theme you have to deal with the different configuration files in the theme yourself.
1. Download and install the latest version of Winstep.
2. Download and install a recent theme as a reference.
3. Go to the theme file C:\Users\Public\Documents\WinStep\Themes\Theme Name
4.Open the different configuration files with Notepad++ .nxs "Docks", .wsa "Weather Module",.wsc "Clock Module",.wsf "Wanda Module", .wsi "Calendar Module", .wsl "Module Moon phase", .wsm "Cpu module, .wsn "Ethernet module, .wsp "Mails module", .wsr "Trash module, .wst "Menu block, task bar, btn start, tabs, tray section and all its contents", .wsu "Battery Module", .wsw "Shelf with its tabs" and .wsy "Ram Module". Change the different settings in these various files and save the change without closing Notepad++, restart the theme on the shelf open Themes tab If the change is not satisfactory, return the old setting and save to Notepad++.
This is how we get there, certainly in small steps but with time it becomes easier and we understand the different settings, in the absence of a "Skinning Module" there is no other solution.
5. The "Aero LowRes" theme is a very good theme that works but too old and not up to date as a reference for learning.
Avoid .ico and .bmp skins "Except theme thumbnail", all in .png with transparency with the software of your choice "Photoshop, Gimp or others with layer management..."
This is a start and with patience we can get there, we must never despair...

FYI: the Shelves, Drawers and Grid Stacks (which are all variations of the same thing) are compatible with themes for ObjectDock tabbed docks. Click HERE to figure out how to apply a theme from a 3rd party dock.

Winstep skinning module is an old alpha that has not been worked on for years, it can only skin Nexus docks.

DrJBHL - Thanks for the links . I have seen them. As Picco14 says I would'nt ask about the Skinning Module it's not something that is spoken about on winstep forums.

Picco14 - Thanks for the complete config breakdown list. I used Notepad++ to compere Aero LowRes and K-TEK 4D as the Aero was displaying the wsFullBody correctly  and the K-TEK was not .But the K-TEK when closed completely disappeared where as the Aero left a visable line. I did'nt know what I was looking at but I change settings that were different and got what I wanted. As you said a lot off experimentation. I also made new wsFullTab transparent to hide the tab.

It is with pleasure aceuk007...
Strange, k-Tek 4D works very well for me without any modification of the original theme...
You have chosen reference themes with a fullbody consisting of wsFullTabML and MR, it is not the easiest to configure, it would be better to download a theme with a fullbody without. You have the choice on the site...

LOL I don't mind you speaking about it on the forums, you're just going to get the standard answer that it's in limbo and has been so for a very long time.

But don't loose hope - back in the early 2000's and also for a very long time, Nexus (the dock component) was also a mythical beast, all we had then was the shelf and the desktop modules. Look at the dock now - so we never know.

Sorry to all involved that I haven't been much help. 

I am hindered by health conditions, post covid energy levels, and my job.

I'm really sorry I put you on the spot, Red. I didn't know about the health matters. What really mattered was your willingness to try, despite that. You're a great community member in my eyes and in the eyes of others. I hope your health improves, old friend. 🖖

Red thanks for your offer .

Look after yourself.

I have been doing just that using Atmospherica theme. I have replaced the wsFullbody image with my own dimensions as using one the same size as in theme distorted the image due to to detail on it.The problem I'm having now is in Atmospherica the image is ok but when the drawer is closed you can still see a very small edge of  it showing down the side (see pics below).The strange thing is that it makes you think it has gone behind the Utilities image but it is all part of desktop backgroud pic.If you compere this to the pics of K-TEK you can see the side edge is clear.

But the problem with using K-TEK is image not as good (sides look stretched) and icons not not positioned right as well. The icon spacing is the same on both themes. I have looked at the .wsw file in both and changed settings on both trying to get the right settings from both but could not achieve this. Don't know what I'm looking at.

So hoping someone can  help with Atmospherica make so you don't see that edge or on K-TEK get icons displaying correctly and improve image (I might be able to sort this by making the image bigger so it is not stretched). Doesn't matter what theme is used as I'm only using it for the drawer. 

Here are the pics order:-

Atmospherica open, Atmospherica closed, K-TEK open, K-TEK closed.

Thanks guys.  Due to health issues, I'm afraid I have let down BDBF as well, which I deeply regret.