BigClock ThemeCreator V1.0Beta

This program is © Copyright 2001 by Jens Rupp. You can use it and redistribute free of charge as long the zip archiv is not modified in any way.
This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

Download the latest version from the BigClock Theme Webpage.

Content

1.Introduction
2.Theme
3.Backgrounds
4.Numbers
5.Symbols
6.Theme Webpage
7.Donation
8.Frequently Asked Questions
9.History

1. Introduction

If you like BigClock and the ThemeCreator, write me an E-Mail.
If you really like it please read the Donation chapter.

IMPORTANT
To use themes created with the ThemeCreator you need at least BigClock V2.83 on your Palm.

A BigClock theme is a file containing background images and the big numbers font. All parts are optional but if you use background images you usally need to add a transparent font.
To install the ThemeCreator just unzip the archiv in any directory and doubly click bctheme.exe to start it.
The BigClock ThemeCreator should run on all windows compatible platforms (drop me a line if somthing doese not work or you get it running in a emulation on Linux or a MAC). The options for a theme are distributed on 4 pages.

2. Theme

2.1. Name

Displayed in the Theme & Color dialog of BigClock.

2.2. Info

Displayed when pressing the "Info" button in the Theme & Color dialog. Add your copyright information and E-Mail/Webpage here.

2.3. Default text color

When a theme is selected in the Theme & Color dialog the text colors are set to this values. Only used if the device is in 256 and 65k color mode. The user can change the values if he prefers other colors.

2.4. Handera high resolution theme

Check this if you want to create a theme for the handera.

3. Backgrounds

You can add any number of backgrounds you like. For each background you can select when (time) and where (set/page) it is displayed.

3.1. Colors

Select the color depth you want to store the images in. For maximum speed select the depth you plan BigClock running in. For 68k colors you need a PalmOS 4.0 device (e.g. m500, m505) or a Visor Prism.
A grayscale device can display color images converting to grayscale (e.g. a 68k image on a m500). This is very slow and normally does not look well.

3.2. Add/Edit


Add a new image or edit a existing one from the list. Images have to be in bmp format and 160*124 pixels (240*186 for the Handera).
The preview is a approximation how the image will look on the device in the selected color depth.
For 256 color images the palm default palette is used. For best results use a graphics application to convert the image to this palette (dithering) before adding to a theme. A palette.bmp containing the palm palette for importing in you graphic application is included.

3.3. Delete

Removes a image from the list.

4. Numbers

The numbers of the big font. You can create it based on a TrueType font or load a image. The image has to contain the numbers 0..9 each 24*40 pixels, together 240*40 pixels (for the Handera 36*60 and 360*60 for the complete image).

4.1. Color

Same as for the background images. Additonal there is a special option "Use colors set in BigClock". This stores the numbers in 1 bit color mode (black/white) and displays them later in the text color selected in the Theme & Color dialog. In this mode the transparent option is not available.
With the T/B buttons you can select the Text and Background color for the generated font image.

4.2. Font

Select the TrueType font to use for the image generation.

4.3. Size/Move

Set size and position of the numbers for optimum use of the available space.

4.4. Transparent color

Activate this if you want to use transparent images (slower). Suggested if you use background images. Click in the image to select which color should be transparent.

4.5. Load/Save image

Load a manually generated number image or save a auto generated one.
Tip: For multicolor fonts save a image and add colors then in your graphics application.

4.6. Clear

Clears the number image. If there is no number image in the theme the internal font of BigClock is used.

5. Symbols

The symbols part of the big font. It contains am and pm (48*40 each) and /:.- (8*40 each) with a complete image of 128*40 pixels (for the Handera: am/pm 72*60, /:.- 12*60, image 192*60).

5.1. Color

Same as for the numbers.

5.2. Transparent color

Same as for the numbers.

5.3. Exchange color

With this function you can exchange a color of the current image (the currently selected transparent color) with a new one. Useful if you want to use the default image with a different color combination without the need of a graphic application.

5.4. Load image

Loads a manually created symbol image.

5.5. Default

Sets the image to a default.

5.6. Clear

Clears the symbol image. If there is no symbol image in the theme the internal font of BigClock is used.

6. Theme webpage

There is a list with published themes at the BigClock ThemeCreator webpage: http://www.gacel.de/bigclock/theme.
If you want your theme added and displyed there i need your theme in a special format with some additional information. Because of the required work i cant accept themes in any other format.

Mail ONE zip file containing the following:

The Theme information file is a textfile containing some addional information about the theme:
<--- Cut here --->
zip=name.zip               (Name of the zip file)
pdb=name.pdb               (Name of the pdb file)
source=name_s.zip          (Name of the source zip file)
name=Name                  (Name of the theme)
size=10k                   (Size of the uncompressed pdb file)
back=1                     (Number of included background images or "no")
colors=256                 (Color depth the theme is designed for: 2,4,16,256,65k)
res=160                    (Resolution the theme is designed for: 160=normal 240=Handera high resolution)
info=Text                  (Any info text you want to be shown below the theme. May contain <br> and links)
###
name_screen1.jpg           (List of screenshots)
name_screen2.jpg
name_screen3.jpg
<--- Cut here --->

The theme list is auto generated out of the *:tin files.
Check out the list for examples.

7. Donation

If you like BigClock i would be happy about a small donation to support the future development. I have a lot of great ideas i would like to add but only a very limited time, so it depends on the support you show how fast the features will be added.

There are several options to show your support:

8. Frequently Asked Questions

Nothing yet.

9. History

V1.0 beta

Thank you for your support!

Jens Rupp,
17. June 2001