Win 8.1 Aero - how to set colors of focused tab on taskbar

[markd89]

Hi All,

I'm new to VSB and am running Windows 8.1 and the Aero theme.

I want to change the colors of the Focused taskbar button (the button of the currently focused application).

I made a copy of the aero files and opened with VSB.

So questions...

1. I think I should be under TaskBand, Basic, TaskItemButton then maybe Pressed or NormalSelected?

2. There are no properies listed in the bottom right Pane. Do I need to add one for the color?

lastly..

3. Once I have my mod made, can I apply this to my system without having to install UxStyle?

Any help, much appreciated!

Mark

[3am]

1) You have to use the beta if you are modding an 8 msstyles:     http://vistastylebuilder.com/forum/index.php?topic=2130.0

2) You have to use UxStyle or a theme patcher

3) You have to edit the images at Taskbar & System Tray > TaskBand > Basic > TaskBand > TaskItemButton

4) Also Taskbar & System Tray > TaskBand > Basic > TaskBand > UncombinedTaskItemLeft, Center and Right if you aren't combining

5) Best thing to do is just splash different colors on the different images. Press Test and see which images you need to change by
 
how the colors change as you test the states of the buttons. Then Undo or don't save the colors. Lastly go back and change the button

images you now know you need to change

[markd89]

<Post removed as I was not using the beta. Please ignore the attachment and see the next message.>

[markd89]

I tried again with the beta and do not see how to change the colors. I'm embedding some pictures so you can see what I see. I don't have UxStyle installed yet but I don't need that until after I need to apply the theme, right?

I appreciate your help!!

Mark

[3am]

That's aerolite msstyle. You want aero msstyle. You have 10 images to edit:



Install UxStyle or a theme patcher or you won't be able to test in WSB

[markd89]

Thank you, that's super helpful!

I'm now making the changes and see what they effect.

Where can I find the color of the taskbar itself - both the background and the text?

Thanks again for all your help!

Mark

[3am]

There's a whole Maps section you should check out:

http://vistastylebuilder.com/forum/index.php?board=18.0

Particularly:

http://vistastylebuilder.com/forum/index.php?topic=2024.0
http://vistastylebuilder.com/forum/index.php?topic=1437.0

[markd89]

3am, I think you must know this stuff better than the Redmond people who build it 

I have almost everything figured out, except one part...



I drew the red line with paint.net. I want to make this line grey but can't see where to make the change. Do you have a clue for me again?

Thanks!
Mark

[3am]

Could be in Taskbar & System Tray > System Tray > Basic > Horizontal > TrayNotify > Background

If not then just search for the color in WSB

Here's an old video where I show how to do this and some other stuff:

http://vistastylebuilder.com/forum/index.php?topic=1268.0

[markd89]

Could be in Taskbar & System Tray > System Tray > Basic > Horizontal > TrayNotify > Background

If not then just search for the color in WSB

Here's an old video where I show how to do this and some other stuff:

http://vistastylebuilder.com/forum/index.php?topic=1268.0

Thanks, it was the background. What had me confused was that the old image was 1 pixel. I was able to replace it with 1x40 pixels which lets me make the dark line at the top.

I will check out the video too.

Thanks again!!
Mark

[markd89]

OK, I'm making a lot of progress.

Really what I am trying to do is make the current focused tab grey. This is *mostly* working.

Here's an example of it working:


Where it breaks is when one app has a child window tab. In the following screenshot, Microsip also has focus but because of the additional tab Lisa (for the same application), I am not getting the grey color. I have played around with many of the colors and can't seem to find the setting.


Any suggestions much appreciated!

[3am]

 Taskbar & System Tray > TaskBand > Aero > TaskBand (8) > UncombinedTaskItemRight
 Taskbar & System Tray > TaskBand > Aero > TaskBand (8) > UncombinedTaskItemLeft

[markd89]

Taskbar & System Tray > TaskBand > Aero > TaskBand (8) > UncombinedTaskItemRight
 Taskbar & System Tray > TaskBand > Aero > TaskBand (8) > UncombinedTaskItemLeft

Thanks, 3am. I threw some colors on those and then "Test", but it still performs the same. Is there something special that needs to be done to apply these?

Thanks,
Mark

[markd89]

Ah, found it here!

Taskbar & System Tray > TaskBand > Aero > TaskBand (SmallIcons8) > UncombinedTaskItemRight/Left

Thanks for the clue!!

Mark