[APP/CHT-Suite] Layout Switching in CHTS 2.30 - Windows Mobile Apps and Games

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MichelDiamond has given us such a wonderful tool in CHTS 2.30. Of the many functions available in the application, Layout Switching is an amazingly powerful part and it seems to be relatively unused, with the exception of file backup. BHSInterceptor and I have been successful at changing our phone themes on the fly from such popular themes as Touch of Glass to Sencity. All without having to install a cab on our phones. The key to this switching are XML files that are saved in the windows directory when you install CHTS. I will upload copies of these files here for you to look at, along with some additional ones for other tabs and applications on your phone. These XML files can be added, removed or edited as you need for your themes.
CHTS Layout Saving Options
In the CHTS Menu, there are a couple different options that use these XML files for saving. There is Full Sense Backup, Layout Saving and Baseline Saving. The Full Sense Backup and Baseline saving are both there as a fallback, in case you need to restore your phone to a previous state.
When saving your layout with CHTS, there are several options to choose from. What exactly you want to save will determine which method you will use. You can save a "Standard Layout" or an "Extended Layout". Both methods will save your CHT settings, the difference is that "Standard" will only save the items associated with your Home Tab, including all widgets and add-ons. Extended will save items for all Sense Tabs, this includes everything that would be saved with the "Standard". With either one of those layouts, you can also save all of your start menu icons. One other option you will see there is to save your "CHT(E) Settings Only".
When you first install CHTS on your phone, I recommend you first save a Baseline and then save an initial Full Sense Backup.
Baseline Saving: This is the most basic Layout you can save. Baseline will save the same files that are defined in the XMLs for the "Layout - Standard", except it won't save any of the quicklink information.
Full Sense Backup: This is the most complete Layout you can save. Full Sense Backup will save ALL manila files in your Windows directory, in addition to all other files defined in the XML files. With this method, all of the manila files will be zipped and stored to save space. This compression happens on the fly as you save the Layout.
Layout Saving - Standard: This will save all of the items from your Sense Home Tab. Including the following: Widgets, Clocks, Quicklinks, Freelinks, Positions of all of them, configuration,... All xml files that are CHTWidget_**.xml will be backed up here. This would be the method to use if the only thing you are themeing is your home tab.
Layout Saving - Extended: This will save all items saved in the Layout - Standard, in addition to items from other tabs defined in the XML files CHTTheme_**.xml. In the release of CHTS 2.30, this includes most of the standard sense tabs. All xml files that are CHTWidget_**.xml and CHTTheme_**.xml are backed up here.
In the CHTS 2.30 release cab, the following XML files are included:
CHTTheme_BasicWeather
CHTTheme_Calendar_Tab
CHTTheme_CommonFiles
CHTTheme_Email_Tab
CHTTheme_Home_Tab_Subs
CHTTheme_Internet_Tab
CHTTheme_Messaging_Tab
CHTTheme_MusicPlayer_Tab
CHTTheme_People_Tab
CHTTheme_Photo_Tab
CHTTheme_Settings_Tab
CHTTheme_Stock_Tab
CHTTheme_Twitter_Tab
CHTTheme_Weather_Tab
CHTWidget_Basic
CHTWidget_BasicHometab
CHTWidget_CHTS
CHTWidget_TabSlider
The attached zip file contains all of the CHTTHeme files listed above and also includes the following tab files:
CHTTheme_Documents_Tab
CHTTheme_Facebook_Tab
CHTTheme_Footprints_Tab
CHTTheme_Mode9_Lua
This zip files will be updated periodically as I add more xml files and add file names to the ones that already exist. The version number will be the date on the file. I will be going through some available themes to verify that they work with CHTS when using this group of files. The goal is that if you install a theme and want to change back to where you started, you will be able to use CHTS to switch back and forth.

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CHTS XML Files
The XML files for CHTS are lists of files that should be backed up. These can be any files in the "Windows" directory on your phone. These XML files can be added and removed from you phone and you can change the files listed in them as you see fit. These files can also be a great way to figure out what "manila" qtc files are used for the gaphics on most of the sense tabs. We spent a lot of time going through each tab so that we could layout these XML files, so they are also a great starting point for anyone who wants to skin sense.
An example of one section in the XML files is:
<AnalogClock
Description="Analog Clock"
SubDescription="Clockface and hands"
analogclock ="20F62884_manila"
hourHand ="0AB9C3F4_manila"
minuteHand ="4BDFBA48_manila"
secondHand ="2A87D392_manila"
ClockDot ="7126E342_manila"
analogclocknight ="3C87827D_manila"
hourHandnight ="5CCDF1ED_manila"
minuteHandnight ="5E305741_manila"
secondHandnight ="4B1CC00B_manila"
ClockDotnight ="6294D3BB_manila"
Co0kieAnalogClock_mode9 ="1E1A6CCD_manila"
LuaScript_HomeAnalogClock ="1EC5924B_manila"
/>

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How to for the users.
A basic step by step of how I change my Layouts
1. Copy the XML files from post 1 to your Windows folder. This will add and update the XML files from the original CHTS install.
2. Perform a Baseline Save, a Full Sense Save and then save your current layout extended style before doing any switching. I usually do all three after each flash of my phone. This way I know that I can always go back to where I started.
3. Copy one of the pre-built themes from below to your _CHTScheduler folder on your Storage Card. Or, install your favorite theme cab files to change your phone.
4. Once these new theme files are on your phone, you can tweak this layout to what you like and then save it as a new Layout that will include all of your CHT settings as well.
Once you have a couple Layouts saved on your SD card, you can use SwitchGUI to change between them.
I will expand on these steps with some screen shots. Also, please give me some feedback and questions so I know what isn't clear. It is a bit tough to start writing, since I have been doing this so long I take for granted how easy it can be.
Also, if you have a theme you like and want me to either setup a folder for it or at least check to see if it is fully switchable, just post a link in this thread to the theme and I'll check it out!
Themes Already Set Up For Layout Switching
Sencity by _LeCiel_
Touch of Glass by DJCedric

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How to for theme builders
How to for theme builders. Showing them how they can check to make sure their files are all listed in the XML files.

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Tools For Theme Switching
CFC GUI by Chainfire
First tool I will list here is CFC-GUI. This tool will allow you to look at, identify and edit all of the qtc image files that are saved as manila files. For more explanation, see the thread here. You should also check out the version of this program that I updated to include almost all of the image files found on the newer Sense 2.5 ROMs. You can find that in this post here.

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Reserved Six
Reserved Six

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Way to go
Muchas gracias amigo for putting all this together. reading between the lines and looking at the files, you "unveiled" some tabus

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Come back of WinMo and CHT Suite
It´s a pleassure coming back and playing again with my HD2 and HD Mini. Really enjoying all the feautures and themes available atm

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BHS Interceptor said:
It´s a pleassure coming back and playing again with my HD2 and HD Mini. Really enjoying all the feautures and themes available atm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ber, you're back! Sad to say, I got bored with the lack of development on the WinMo and I bought myself a HTC Inspire 4G. I still have the HD2 sitting here, but I have not even powered it up in a couple months now.

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Yes my friend, I know how you feel.... I´m thinking to get me a new set atm, a Flyer, a Sensation and a small Wildfire S. Guess it´s time to move on to the dark side, but with Sense
Probably will get them for x-mas, so I´ll be playing around for another month. Take care and "read ya"

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BHS Interceptor said:
Yes my friend, I know how you feel.... I´m thinking to get me a new set atm, a Flyer, a Sensation and a small Wildfire S. Guess it´s time to move on to the dark side, but with Sense
Probably will get them for x-mas, so I´ll be playing around for another month. Take care and "read ya"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, you take care too. I'll see you over on the dark side, I am just starting to get a feel for how Android is set up. But it is all still so new, I am happy with it. I am sure I'll get the itch at some point to dig in and change stuff. Later.