Msstyle
Encyclopedia
MSSTYLES is a Microsoft
file format, that contains the bitmap
s and metadata
for the Windows XP
skinning
engine, first introduced in Windows Whistler
Build 2250.
The engine, in its unmodified state, only fully applies .msstyles files that have been digitally signed by Microsoft
, such as Luna or the Zune theme. The default Windows XP style is known as Luna, but additional custom-made styles are available on the Internet - however, few are digitally signed. Four other signed styles include Royale (Media Center Edition
) (Energy Blue), Royale Noir, Windows Embedded Standard CTP Refresh, and the Zune Style.
Custom-made styles can be used using different methods, by means of manual replacement and automation by executable files. One such example is the ever-popular UXTheme Multi-Patcher, available from numerous sites like CNET Download.com.
Windows Vista
and Windows 7 also use .msstyles files for skinning (like the Aero.msstyles file), however the format of these files is completely different, so .msstyles files are not transferable between Windows Vista and Windows XP. This version of .msstyles file contains PNG images and metadata
.
There is a manual way to replace three DLL files (uxtheme.dll, shsvcs.dll and themeui.dll) to use unsigned custom visual styles in Windows Vista.
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
file format, that contains the bitmap
Bitmap
In computer graphics, a bitmap or pixmap is a type of memory organization or image file format used to store digital images. The term bitmap comes from the computer programming terminology, meaning just a map of bits, a spatially mapped array of bits. Now, along with pixmap, it commonly refers to...
s and metadata
Metadata
The term metadata is an ambiguous term which is used for two fundamentally different concepts . Although the expression "data about data" is often used, it does not apply to both in the same way. Structural metadata, the design and specification of data structures, cannot be about data, because at...
for the Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
skinning
Skin (computing)
In computing, a skin is a custom graphical appearance achieved by the use of a graphical user interface that can be applied to specific software and websites to suit the purpose, topic, or tastes of different users....
engine, first introduced in Windows Whistler
Development of Windows XP
Development of Windows XP started in 1999 in the form of Windows Neptune. Windows XP was developed for 18 months, from December 1999 to August 2001, and was released on October 25, 2001.-Neptune and Odyssey:...
Build 2250.
The engine, in its unmodified state, only fully applies .msstyles files that have been digitally signed by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
, such as Luna or the Zune theme. The default Windows XP style is known as Luna, but additional custom-made styles are available on the Internet - however, few are digitally signed. Four other signed styles include Royale (Media Center Edition
Windows XP Media Center Edition
Windows XP Media Center Edition is a version of the Windows XP operating system designed to serve as a home-entertainment hub. The last version, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, was released in October 2004.-Versions:...
) (Energy Blue), Royale Noir, Windows Embedded Standard CTP Refresh, and the Zune Style.
Custom-made styles can be used using different methods, by means of manual replacement and automation by executable files. One such example is the ever-popular UXTheme Multi-Patcher, available from numerous sites like CNET Download.com.
Windows Vista
Windows Vista
Windows Vista is an operating system released in several variations developed by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablet PCs, and media center PCs...
and Windows 7 also use .msstyles files for skinning (like the Aero.msstyles file), however the format of these files is completely different, so .msstyles files are not transferable between Windows Vista and Windows XP. This version of .msstyles file contains PNG images and metadata
Metadata
The term metadata is an ambiguous term which is used for two fundamentally different concepts . Although the expression "data about data" is often used, it does not apply to both in the same way. Structural metadata, the design and specification of data structures, cannot be about data, because at...
.
There is a manual way to replace three DLL files (uxtheme.dll, shsvcs.dll and themeui.dll) to use unsigned custom visual styles in Windows Vista.