How can I create a skin for SysMetrix?

Have you downloaded the program for Sysmetrix? Part of the package is a manual which is actually pretty good at describing how to skin Sysmetrix. You can also learn a great deal about how Sysmetrix is skinned by loading a theme that is close to what you like, or at least has features you like, and then examining the theme in the configuration dialogue. Changes happen in realtime on the screen, so you can see as you make adjustments to the settings.

Beyond that, it's a matter of making one bitmap as your background, and other bitmaps for buttons, sliders, etc. You can get ideas of the technical aspects of these other graphics by reading the manual, and examining other skins.

It can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. Have fun and experiment. If you have more specific questions, feel free to email me or leave a message on the board. Click on my name to see my email address.

That was very helpful, thank you. However i have come across a new problem. I cant get to the images I created for the histogram and for the slider images. I have them named histrogram.bmp but when I go to use it in the design I'm not sure how i can get to it.

When you create a new theme, a new folder is created with the name and specification you put in the Theme Settins window. All images you want to use for the skin must be imported/placed inside this folder.
In this case, you have to place the histogram.bmp image inside the skin folder, then on the Configuration window click on Histogram from the tree menu and from the Image File menu, the histogram.bmp image.

i got all that to work, thank you. but once again i have another problem. now i an trying to get it to "doack" at the top of my screen and ican get it to do it every now and then but it always goes away and im not exactly sure how i do it when i do get it to "dock" my question is how do i get it to dock?

You can do this through the Sysmetrix Configuration dialogue. Under "Preferences", click on "Positioning".

The first box gives you the option to use theme specific positioning. If you want all themes you use to dock in the same place, leave this unchecked.

The second checkbox should be checked ONLY if you don't want windows to cover your Sysmetrix when maximized.

The H,V offset spinners which are immediately below the second checkbox allow you to move and position your Sysmetrix skin in realtime and fine tune the positioning.

The Screen-edge Snap To box lets you set a tolerance for how close the object gets to the Screen-edge before defaulting to a docked position.

The Movable and Locked position radio check boxes are self explanatory.

Also, Don't overlook the Window Position combo list box in the next section. This sets the Z-order for your Sysmetrix skin. On Bottom means nothing but the desktop will ever be under the Sysmetrix, On Top is similar to Always On Top, and Normal means it acts like any other window and will vary position relative to the desktop.

P.S. Don't forget to save your settings when you're through.
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it's very easy to make a sysmetrix skin

I have tried all of the Shameless Designs but my desktop and my windows still go under sysmetrix. is there anything else i can do.

I have tried all of that Shameless Designs but my desktop and my windows still go under sysmetrix. is there anything else i can do.