1. Introduction

Theme file is RAR archive containing an alternative set of graphics and winrar_theme_description.txt file.

2. Name format

Theme file must have .theme.rar extension, so its name format is:

basename.anytext.theme.rar

WinRAR creates a folder for theme graphics using 'basename' name part, so you need to select something sensible and unique as basename to avoid overwriting already installed themes. 'Anytext' part is optional and ignored by WinRAR. You may use it, for example, to include the version information. Here are a couple of possible theme file names:

Snow.ver21.theme.rar - it will be installed to 'Themes\Snow' folder

Marine.theme.rar - it will be installed to 'Themes\Marine' folder

3. winrar_theme_description.txt file

Theme file must contain winrar_theme_description.txt file in the root folder. It is a plain text ASCII file containing the following commands:

a) 'title' command

Format:

title=

where is a text string displayed as a theme name in the "Options/Themes" menu. If you provide several themes with different toolbar sizes, it may be a good idea to include the toolbar size into the title text.

Examples:

title=Snow 32x32

title=Snow 48x48

title=Marine

b) 'about' command

Format:

about=

where is information to display in WinRAR "About" dialog. For example, it can be a copyright string or theme author name. You can use '\n' characters to split the theme description to two lines in the desired position. Do not use more than one '\n', because "About" dialog has enough space only for two description strings. Also do not use too long string, otherwise it will not fit into the dialog.

Examples:

about=Marine by Peter

about=© 2004 AlexDesignStudio.\nwww.AlexDesignStudio.com.

4. Graphics files

Theme file should contain the following graphics files.

In the root archive folder:

AboutLogo.bmp - 256x64 logo in "About" dialog
DiskOff.ico - 16x16 "inactive disk" icon in the status bar
DiskOn.ico - 16x16 "active disk" icon in the status bar
DragCopy.cur - 32x32 "copy files" cursor for drag and drop
DragMove.cur - 32x32 "move files" cursor for drag and drop
DragNo.cur - 32x32 "drop prohibited" cursor for drag and drop
Estimate.bmp - 48x48 "estimate compression" image for file "Info" dialog
FolderUp.bmp - 16x16 "go one folder up" toolbar button
PasswordOff.ico - 16x16 "inactive password" icon in the status bar
PasswordOn.ico - 16x16 "active password" icon in the status bar
RAR.ico - 16x16, 32x32, 48x48 general RAR icon
REV.ico - 16x16, 32x32 recovery volumes icon
Setup.ico - 16x16 setup icon for "Add and remove programs" list
SFX.ico - 16x16, 32x32 or larger SFX module icon (see notes below)
SFXLogo.bmp - 93x302 SFX module logo
WizardLogo.bmp - 64x64 logo for Wizard dialogs


In the 'Toolbar' folder:

Add.bmp - "Add" toolbar button
Benchmark.bmp - "Benchmark" toolbar button
Comment.bmp - "Comment" toolbar button
Convert.bmp - "Convert" toolbar button
Delete.bmp - "Delete" toolbar button
Exit.bmp - "Exit" toolbar button
Extract.bmp - "Extract" toolbar button
ExtractTo.bmp - "Extract To" toolbar button
Find.bmp - "Find" toolbar button
Info.bmp - "Info" toolbar button
Lock.bmp - "Lock" toolbar button
Print.bmp - "Print" toolbar button
Protect.bmp - "Protect" toolbar button
Repair.bmp - "Repair" toolbar button
Report.bmp - "Report" toolbar button
SFX.bmp - "SFX" toolbar button
Test.bmp - "Test" toolbar button
View.bmp - "View" toolbar button
VirusScan.bmp - "VirusScan" toolbar button
Wizard.bmp - "Wizard" toolbar button


Notes:

1. While we mention .bmp files everywhere, you can also use .png files for WinRAR 5.60 and newer.
2. Though it is better to keep original sizes, the size of many bitmaps can be slightly changed without hurting WinRAR look. You can check the outcome of such change experimentally if necessary.
3. You can use any reasonable size for toolbar buttons. WinRAR will detect it automatically.
4. You can use 32-bit PNG or bitmaps with alpha channel for toolbar buttons and for FolderUp button.
5. One theme file can include only one set of toolbar buttons. If you wish to provide themes with buttons of different size, create several theme files.
6. It is allowed to omit most of graphics files. In this case WinRAR will use the default graphics instead. The only exception is Add.bmp file. WinRAR uses it to detect toolbar button dimensions, so it must be present.

5. Contacts

Please send your questions and theme files to dev@rarxlab.com (Please remove x from the middle of 'rarxlab'. Sorry, spam protection).

If your theme is based on someone's else graphics, we need to have a permission of original graphics copyright owner to use icons in WinRAR theme. Please send to us a copy of such permission by email.

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