Explorer as shell + some modules = possible? Thread last updated on 2004-05-18 02:42:19

Posted by member 161555 on 2004-05-16 18:54:40

Hi,

I tryed LiteStep and find SOME things of it really nice! I've tryed the KDE theme and I'd really like to use some of its feature with explorer. Is it possible?

I'd like to use the virtual desktops, the winamp control via the taskbar.

Does these modules require litestep to run? or can it just be run??

Thank you very much!

Posted by member 12025 on 2004-05-16 23:54:50 link

Look out for the newer XP-copying themes (like XP-lite). With xLabel doing so well as a desktop (folder) module, it should be possible to get 90% of the look/feel of Explorer but with extras. Litestep does have to be running. Techincally it can run on top of explorer, but this can also cause issues.

Posted by member 161555 on 2004-05-17 06:50:26 link

Techincally it can run on top of explorer, but this can also cause issues.

Even with just one or two feature? Like virtual desktops?

Having a "Classic Windows 2000" theme could do the job... I've looked in the theme section on this web site but didn't find a theme like this... Do you know of a site hosting it or the theme name that I could search of? (I search a bit but I have to go now, will look more later)

thank you! :)

Posted by member 157543 on 2004-05-17 10:27:24 link

I don't know if it has been done yet, but I am planning on making my own Windows 98 theme, mainly be a transitional theme to move new people into LiteStep. Don't wait on it though, because I probably won't get to work much on it until next week, and after the 30th I won't have access to my computer until August. :(

If nothing else, just find a stable theme that is similar to explorer and use that.

Posted by member 99 on 2004-05-17 10:51:04 link

Just those two things shouldn't cause trouble running on top of Explorer (be sure to run them "always on top"), but you can't actually change Explorer's taskbar from LiteStep. If you want to embed stuff into the taskbar, you'll have to replace the whole thing. (technically it's possible, but no one's bothered to write a module supporting it.)

Posted by member 182 on 2004-05-17 23:14:37 link

i dunno rabidcow, surely you could add some new toolbars to the explorer taskbar to create empty space, then run the litestep module over the top.

with some creative skinning, you could create the illusion the litestep module is infact part of the explorer taskbar.

Posted by member 99 on 2004-05-18 02:42:19 link

ahh... possibly. You could do even better if you could get the hwnd for those new toolbars and use lsbox hooks. Otherwise I suspect that the taskbar is already "ontop" and you'd have trouble maintaining z-order.