What Software can I use to create homescreens?

[Guest w411y]

heya all i was just wondering what software i can use to create my own homescreens? and is it free? any help appreciated :)

[Guest nickcornaglia]

One option is from ruttensoft.com.

There are a couple of new ones as well. Try a search on this site.

[Guest arman68]

You can't better than a simple text editor. And your brain. And a calculator. And a pen + paper. And photoshop.

Seriously.

I don't use notepad, but a great freeware text editor: SciTE from http://www.scintilla.org/SciTE.html

[Guest cold_fire]

You can't better than a simple text editor. And your brain. And a calculator. And a pen + paper. And photoshop.

Seriously.

I don't use notepad, but a great freeware text editor: SciTE from http://www.scintilla.org/SciTE.html

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...and programming skills ...

[Guest drblow]

:) I wouldn't really call xml editing 'programming skills'! Thats the kind of thing that will put off any newcomers to homescreens. I am no programmer, and have learned everything I know about xml from trial & error, and examining other xml files & code segments.

It's the kind of thing anyone can learn, without any kind of programming skills. If you have any idea about html that might help with the basic understanding of tags etc. But xml is not complex, and is certainly within the grasp of any enthusiast, whether they have programming skills or not. ;)

To answer the original post, in my opinion you can do so much more by simply learning to edit xml using notepad or whatever, that you ever could with things like ruttensoft. Don't get me wrong, its a great app & if you don't want to learn about xml it will still allow you to produce reasonaboly interesting themes. But it is very limited in what it can do in comparison to just editing the xml directly. I think since ruttensoft came out, there is a great lack of interesting & dynamic themes which we used to see coming out.

Edited August 15, 2005 by drblow

[Guest cold_fire]

:) I wouldn't really call xml editing 'programming skills'!  ...

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Ok u mayb right but i do not think that all are as good as you ...

Edited August 15, 2005 by cold_fire

[Guest nickcornaglia]

Even though I mentioned the program above, I hate them all. You can literally learn homescreen XML just by opening one in notepad and "reading" it. After a little trial and error. You'll know what you're doing.

I'm still trying to get my head around some plugins to the level that drblow has, but other than the orange one, they all work basically the same.

Download a homescreen that is close to what you like. Edit the xml and create some custom graphics and you'll be set.

[Guest Confucious]

Does Ruttensoft work with the C550? (Which is what the orriginal poster has)

If it's that simple how come there aren't more C550 homescreens?

I used to knock up the odd one with ruttensoft for my C500 but kept on going back to eithert animated homescreens (which I haven't seen any of for the C550) or the Lo Simpsons theam which is great - someone want to mod that so it works on the 550 for me?

I don't have the time to play around with xml but I supose I ought to rather than relying on you guys all the time!

[Guest drblow]

Ok u mayb right but i do not think that all are as good as you ...

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:( Thanks, but that's not what I mean! What I'm trying to say is that in reality I'm a rank amateur!! :) I have just spent the last 3 years playing with xml files nearly every day, and have gradually built up a reaonable understanding of how plugins work. I have no background in programming or anything, so what I mean is that anybody with some time & an interest in learning, can start to make homescreens.

To answer the questions abou the c550, the only real difference is the screen size. So background images need to be 293x240 (full screen is 320x240, but the sofkeys take up the bottomn 27 pixels). All th eplugins work in exactly the same way, as long as you add ;)

[Guest cold_fire]

:) Thanks, but that's not what I mean! ...

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Ok i might try to edit .xml files if my time will allow me ...

[Guest Confucious]

I have just spent the last 3 years playing with xml files nearly every day, and have gradually built up a reaonable understanding of how plugins work.

I will start now but reckon I can only spend 1 day a week playing. So expect my first homescreen in , let's see, I make that 21 years....

:)

[Guest cold_fire]

I will start now but reckon I can only spend 1 day a week playing. So expect my first homescreen in , let's see, I make that 21 years....

:)

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Nice ETA time ,indeed time is an "enemy" to some of us ...

[Guest chrisbpr]

:o I wouldn't really call xml editing 'programming skills'!  Thats the kind of thing that will put off any newcomers to homescreens.  I am no programmer, and have learned everything I know about xml from trial & error, and examining other xml files & code segments.

It's the kind of thing anyone can learn, without any kind of programming skills.  If you have any idea about html that might help with the basic understanding of tags etc.  But xml is not complex, and is certainly within the grasp of any enthusiast, whether they have programming skills or not. :(

To answer the original post, in my opinion you can do so much more by simply learning to edit xml using notepad or whatever, that you ever could with things like ruttensoft.  Don't get me wrong, its a great app & if you don't want to learn about xml it will still allow you to produce reasonaboly interesting themes.  But it is very limited in what it can do in comparison to just editing the xml directly.  I think since ruttensoft came out, there is a great lack of interesting & dynamic themes which we used to see coming out.

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i have done some html code, do you know were i can get a guide to the codes used in xml ? thanks

[Guest SinisterJunkie]

Here's some information on the Standard Microsoft plugins.

Customizing the Microsoft Smartphone 2002 Home Screen

Most 3rd party plugins will come with documentation on their specific formating options.

[Guest simonkerridge]

I'm afraid that this is all beyond me.

Is it possible to alter the Microsoft Windows basic homescreen so that in the space set out for next appointment, I could have appointments for next say 7 days that I can simply scroll down though, still leaving the profile and text messages spaces in place?

Simon