Hi guys i see that a lot of people seem to be asking the same questions so i figured i would post all the ones i know answers to over here. for the sake of Tidiness please only post answers. if you have a question open a new topic and when we find the answer. it can be updated here
ok here goes: --------------------------------- HOW DO I MAKE A THEME if you go to this link it will tell you all you need to know. http://code.google.com/apis/themes/docs/dev_guide.html ---------------------------------- THAT ALL SOUND VERY HARD. IS THERE AN EASIER OPTION? There sure is! http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2008/01/creating-igoogle-themes.html i use the second option as it allows my to update my code if i need changes ----------------------------------- WHERE CAN I HOST MY XML FILE AND IMAGES any web server, though i suggest you use the google code dev centre right here http://code.google.com/apis/gadgets/docs/tools.html#Host ----------------------------------- THEME SUBMISSION ERROR: Problem: this error occurs when submitting a theme to the ig themes directory. it will throw an error saying "file not found error" or something similar. (lots of red text). this is due to google checking your web server too quickly Solution: as long as you have tested your theme and are completely positive there are no missing images. it will eventually work. just keep trying and trying...and trying and.... well you get the idea ----------------------------------- NEW ICON COLOURS DO NOT WORK Problem: when you use the attribute <Attribute name="gadget_area.icons.icon_color">#ffaa00</Attribute> the icon colours remain as the default blue. Solution: none! this is a known issue and google are apparently working on it. it has been months and months now though. the best thing you can do in the mean time is use the old deprecated icon code. which is: <Attribute name="gadget_area.menu_icon.image.url">http://igoogle- themes.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/000000_menu.gif</Attribute> <Attribute name="gadget_area.menu_icon.hover_image.url">http:// igoogle-themes.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/000000_menu_hover.gif</ Attribute> <Attribute name="gadget_area.delete_icon.image.url">http://igoogle- themes.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/000000_delete.gif</Attribute> <Attribute name="gadget_area.delete_icon.hover_image.url">http:// igoogle-themes.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/000000_delete_hover.gif</ Attribute> <Attribute name="gadget_area.collapse_icon.image.url">http://igoogle- themes.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/000000_collapse.gif</Attribute> <Attribute name="gadget_area.collapse_icon.hover_image.url">http:// igoogle-themes.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/000000_collapse_hover.gif</ Attribute> <Attribute name="gadget_area.expand_icon.image.url">http://igoogle- themes.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/000000_expand.gif</Attribute> <Attribute name="gadget_area.expand_icon.hover_image.url">http:// igoogle-themes.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/000000_expand_hover.gif</ Attribute> just replace the 000000 with one of the allowed colours found here http://code.google.com/apis/themes/docs/reference.html#Ref_Icons [UPDATE] Turns out the new code only works if you are using the sandbox or the new iGoogle layout. I haven't tested what would happen if you use the new colour code and the old deprecated stuff in a single theme xml. I do however know that using the deprecated code seems to work for both the new and old iGoogle layout. --------------------------------------- HOW DO I KNOW IF MY THEME IS SUBMITTED Alot of people want to know google's selection criteria for themes. Read through the disclaimer. it says things like no trademarks, nudity, logos, copyright infringement, obscenity. You know the usual no no's there is also no way of checking to see if your theme has been accepted. the only way is to keep checking the new themes in the directory and look out for yours. (or do a search every now and again) -------------------------------------- MY THEME IS TAKING FOREVER TO BE PUT IN THE DIRECTORY some themes take months to be updated other less than a week. the official word from google is no longer than two weeks. this figure is often wrong. You used to be able to tell Kathleen, a google engineer in the old themes group but she has not posted anything in a while. your only options are to be patient and maybe try resubmitting your theme. though that may push you back to the bottom of the cue. -------------------------------------- WHY ARE MY CUSTOM MINIMIZE/MAXIMIZE/ETC BUTTONS NOT WORKING? Google no longer supports custom icon images. Please use the aforementioned syntax for ------------------------------------------------------------- CAN I CHANGE THE BACKGROUND COLOUR OF THE WHOLE PAGE? In short? No. The current API does not allow for the whole pages background colour to be changed. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Google Themes API" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/google-themes-api?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
