Skinning iTunes

[MasterSpy]

I've noticed that for MacOS you can download software that lets you create skins for iTunes, which then replace a file - or parts of it. There are/or none that i've found that can do this for the PC version. I've used Resource Hacker to have a rummage through the files in iTunes.exe etc but not all the skinable bmps/files are included - only one or two. Doesn't anyone know if it's possible to skin the Windows Version?

Master Spy.

[Verbose.]

I doubt there is such an application yet since most (if not all) of the skinning sites have zero skins for iTunes.

[MasterSpy]

I didn't just mean apps, perhaps something like Resource Hacker etc to edit the files.

Master Spy.

[Verbose.]

Not that I know of... :/

[agt]

http://www.aqua-soft.org/board/index.php?showforum=48

I think the closest someones got to skinning iTunes for Windows is adding a Apple-like menu-bar

[Tim Dorr Veteran]

I didn't just mean apps, perhaps something like Resource Hacker etc to edit the files.

Master Spy.

Nope, iTunes doesn't use resources. It's all embedded in the .exe, so it's probably going to require some tricky hacking to figure out...

[MasterSpy]

It appears, as timdorr says - all the resources are embedded in the .exe and therefore almost impossible to reach. Some people have tried decompiling and recompiling the code but it hasn't worked as Apple's C++ writers protected the code. The interface is created directly through C++ calls, and bi-passes the windows uxtheme.dll - which is apparently quite clever. Therefore until Apple include skinning for iTunes themselves... no unofficial iTunes skinning I'm afraid... unfortuantly.

Master Spy.

[smoke]

You don't need to be clever and "bypass uxtheme.dll" because any program can run without it the themes service (uxtheme) just intercepts and draws microsofts common controls. When you use custom controls of course then it doesn't. There are plenty of programs that do similar things with their embedded bitmaps and they where made all versions of windows.

All apple didn't do was make it so you can load the bitmaps and specifications for them from someplace else. And I doubt that they are going to do that anytime soon as they don't seem to be for skinning in general not even on their own OS. The author of the multiplugin though has got background skinning working with his plugin in his work in progress beta though he is still trying to figure it out because he wants to use it to darken itunes.