Skinning the command prompt in WinXP

CMD Prompt Skinning

from WinCustomize Forums
I read that WindowBlinds 4.4 Enhanced can skin Windows XP so can someone shed some light as to how? I am currently using the the Mac OS X Panther by Xero (which very impressive). In the WindowBlinds interface I have gone to >User Overides >Advanced Settings >Skin Console Windows (UIS1 only) and re-applied the skin but the skinning does not take place. Also, since I have seen the screen shots of the sucessfully surface skinning of the command prompt I have to ask can WindowsBlinds skin the Command Prompt skin deep? That is to say I would like the command prompt to look like the Mac OS X Text Editor. If I could have my total wish list I would have the command prompt with a menu bar which would allow you to change the font (system fonts), the background image, the application transparency, and the option to change the command prompt entry area to different patterns; like the shaded and unshaded rows in an Excel spreadsheet. I downloaded a shareware app called Console v1.42 but I would prefer to you Stardock based products if I can. To get all that I want on my wishlist I am guess that I might have to use DesktopX to create a Widget to use instead of all the Ol' command prompt unless someone can come up with some better solution. lET ME SAY THANK YOU IN ADVANCE TO ANYONE THAT CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS ISSUE OR TELL ME WHAT APP COULD DO THIS WITHIN THE STARDOCK FAMILY. Warsong27 :D
windowblinds
3,830 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This program isn’t skinned – why not?

There are several reasons why a program may not be skinned by WindowBlinds. A few programs are protected by the operating system from skinning – for example, the DOS prompt or cmd windows. 16-bit applications are not skinned for a similar reason, and because it’s just not worth the trouble – pretty much all applications developed in the last five years are 32-bit.

https://www.stardock.com/support/support.asp?product=7
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I hear you loud and clear but in the ever anal persuit of skinning perfection I did find a third party app that allows me to do just what I was describing I wanted in my posting. Ultimately I would like to create an app that replaces using the command prompt all together but looks like a text editor but, that will take a minute because I will have to create a Widget to make something with those features.

(Console v1.42)http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/console...42.zip?download
Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm able to skin the console in 4.4 but somehow it broke when I upgraded to 4.5....
then I revert back to 4.4 and it remain broken!
I'm lost man.....
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Citizen Mocax I am not sure what happened to 4.5 because I am still using 4.4 but you should try doing a registry clean specifically for Windows Blinds and well as making sure that [Your Drive Letter\:\Program Files\Stardock\Object Desktop\WindowBlinds has been deleted before trying to install 4.5. But very careful about doing a registry clean since one wrong deletion can take out your whole system.

Good luck, eh!!!
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

At best, WindowBlinds can only skin what is there. It can't add any features to your command prompt, like backgrounds, transparency, or fonts. You would be better off using a third party program for that (I like eConsole), which WindowBlinds may have an easier time skinning.

I am using the latest build, and my command prompt is skinnned. However, that checkbox does say "Skin Console Windows (UIS1 only)", meaning that it should only work with UIS1 skins, of which there aren't a lot. UIS1 is a more widely compatible skin format, but it also has limitations, which is why most people choose to make UIS2 skins. I'm using a UIS2 skin now and my command prompt is skinned, but I suspect that it might not be fully supported and may cease to work in the future.

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Using the latest WB4.5 here. The titlebar, frame and titlebar buttons are skinned and the scrollbar is not, when I check the Skin Console Windows (UIS1 only) box and I'm using a UIS2 skin, but it isn't 100% correct, there is a minor difference. If I uncheck the box....it's not skinned....which is how I usually leave it.