Trial version and IE tabs color?

from Stardock Forums

I hope I am missing something simple. I just downloaded the trial version of WindowsBlinds to check it out. I have been downloading some skins, putting the program through its paces and what not. Thing is none of the skins seem to change the color of the tabs in IE. Is there something I need to set? Reagrdless of the skin the tabs are light blue all the time. I know its a small thing but visually it really sticks out and is hard to ignore. :p Is it a disabled feature maybe because of the trial?

I even downloaded the skin editor to see if maybe I could see the problem myself. All it says for the tabs IE7 section is that the image is optional (if I am looking in the right place that is). Why would someone not skin the tabs?

Still a noob to these stardock products so sorry if the answer is obvious.

Thanks much.

windowblinds
5,602 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Arg! Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong here? I bought WindowsBlinds because I enjoyed it so much but the damn tabs on IE still won't change color to match the skins!! They are always light blue even though some of the skins I have downloaded clearly have screenshots of the browser tabs fitting the theme. Someone throw me a bone here! Its driving me nuts. :NOTSURE: 
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sounds like your OS is XP, IE7 on XP is not skinned by WB, if you are running Vista it may be a limitation of the trial version or the skins downloaded are not Vista ready skins.
WindowBlinds - Free yourself of the default settings, customize your desktop.
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I didn't even think about stating my OS. Yes I am using XP. I guess that explains it because I do have the purchased version of WB now. Thing is there is a place where the tabs are skinnable in SkinStudio. Maybe this is a new functionality? When I look at the skins it looks like the values just aren't set.

Thanks though for the reply.  :) 

I hope it isn't an OS thing though. I just bought his program only to have cool skins but an ugly browser. It really detracts from the look of everything.

Here is the other thing though. It does it in XP itself with no skins just the OS. I had never noticed it before I started messing with these skins because I always used the silver colored theme in XP so there was never enough contrast between the silver and the blue to see the difference. Here you can see the problem with a skin that really shows the difference:

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z11/FomarThain/Miscellaneous/damn_blue_tabs.jpg

Here is the same problem though with the standard XP setup with its olive color theme.

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z11/FomarThain/Miscellaneous/damn_blue_tabs_2.jpg

It does the same thing in the one without a skin as well.

Arg, I must really be slow or there is something I just clicked wrong that won't let this thing dang thing change. Does support read these boards?

Thanks again for the reply. I appreciate it.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The tabs will not skin in XP on IE7. It irritates me too, but even if you skin the tabs in Skinstudio, it will not show in IE7.  :( It is an OS thing.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
The tabs will not skin in XP on IE7. It irritates me too, but even if you skin the tabs in Skinstudio, it will not show in IE7.   It is an OS thing.
End of quote


Well damn. X-( 

Will have to find a theme that doesn't make it look so bad then heh. Anyway thanks a whole lot for that clarification. :) 

Back to looking for skins then....
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I hear IE8 is in beta... I have not had the courage to go try it out, I wonder if it shows in that?
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The tabs will not skin in XP on IE7. It irritates me too, but even if you skin the tabs in Skinstudio, it will not show in IE7. It is an OS thing.
End of quote


IE7 is hard coded on XP.
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
IE7 is hard coded on XP.
End of quote


That went right over my head.  :LOL: 
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
I don't now either but I did recieve a nice support email back when I sent this questions to them. You obviously know of this already but I thought I would post it for anyone who may look for this answer in the future.

Hello Fomar,

I have just spoken with the developers on this.

IE7 tabs can be skinned on Vista only. On XP, they cannot be skinned. The skin will obviously need this setting for the skinning to take place. Also, in IE8, there is a bug with the active tab where it is ignoring WindowBlinds. This bug has been reported to Microsoft.

If you have any additional questions, please let us know.

--------------------
[Stardock]

 :) 
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I didnt know that. So it looks like IE8 will skin them, at least partially.  :NOTSURE:  Oh well, guess I'll have to wait till I get a new 'puter with Vista on it.