Search and Address Field Background

from WinCustomize Forums
Hi all.
Is there some kind of trick to this one? I apply an image to the search and address field background, and it does nothing. No change what-so-ever. I have set the margins right, I can skin just about any other part... but this one will NOT skin. Its really making me angry.
Any ideas?
-Ash
skinstudio
3,396 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
XP or Vista? SK5 or SK6? More info about the image you are changing (screenshot) would be helpful too.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Righto. I thought it would be obvious that I was trying to skin a Vista only feature, and consequently I could only be doing it in skin studio 6.
Anyway.
Im talking about the address bar and search bar in windows explorer (skin studio 6, vista 64)
Does anyone have a problem with this as well as me?
-Ash
Object Desktop - Get all of our enhancement utilities in one suite
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I know the one you mean now, under "Explorer and IE > Explorer Information pane > Search and Address field background".

Its just a bog-standard image which should show ok. Are you using a bmp or png?

Unless its a png and 'transparent part' or 'alpha channel' is not ticked, or, the png has the wrong colour depth, I don't know why the image would not show.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, I have downloaded a WB skin that DOES do this properly, went into the UIS file and copied the code, changed the image location (only mod to the code) and it did nothing.
Still no image.
Really getting frustrated at this. As bad as skinstudio 5 was, at least it worked. I have to tread through WB6 like a minefield lest it breaks my skin and I need to start again.
Surely it isnt meant to be like this? I have reinstalled many times...
Or is the address bar skinning a "pay for only" feature?
-Ash
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Ok, so I updated to WB 6.1, and now I can see my address images.
Unfortunately, skinstudio has stopped working altogether.
X-(
Is there a "skinstudio 6.1" or something that I should be using? the download page only has 6.0 available.
-Ash
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
reinstall skinstudio. I had some big hiccups with SKS6 after updating to WB 6.1 but it's working fine now.

The address bar should be skinned fine. Double check all your settings.
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Re-installed skin studio and is ok now.
As a side note: It took 3 reboots to get blinds 6.1 to skin windows properly. This product still feels very "alpha" to me. In my country it would not have been allowed on the shelves.
Anyway, lets see what I can cook up now that its all working.
-Ash