How manage theme collection for Google Chrome

Tutorial. How to add themes to Chromium Theme Creator's collection by vhanla If you are not satisfied with the default theme that Google Chrome comes with, then you might want to change it. However, you have themes but don't want to change it manually, with Chromium Theme Creator you can switch that theme easily and also keep a collection of them.

First and foremost, Google Chrome comes with a file called “default.dll” which lies inside a directory named “themes” which is also located inside the installation directory but inside a special directory whose name depends upon the version of the Chrome version installed.

For example: x:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\0.3.154.3\Themes\

For Windows XP x:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\0.2.149.27\Themes\

For Windows Vista So, inside of that directory, there is a file named “default.dll” which basically is a resource file linked to a DLL file. As you noticed, I highlighted the version folder which changes according to updates. So it would be common to have more directories with different numbers in Chrome\Application directory, that is because there were updates done, but only one is valid.

Now that you know that, replacing that only file with a new theme, Google Chrome will use that instead.

Don't worry about changing manually because with Chromium Theme Creator you can replace it with just one click, literally.

1. Download and Install Chromium Theme Creator v2 You can obtain that software for free from http://www.codigobit.net/software/themeren.php Install as usual, but maybe administrator privileges would be required.

2. Set up correctly the paths.

In settings page you MUST, set up correctly the paths.

Chrome's path: This is used to launch the browser usually when changing a theme.

Theme Path: This is the path I mentioned above, is where the new theme will be copied to, in case existed (which is for sure) it will be overwritten only if Chrome is not using it or any other program.

Project Path: Just in case you want a special directory where all your theme projects lies, then this could be done here. However, it's not mandatory to save your projects in that directory, you can use any other location when saving your project.

Image Editor: This tool, needs an external image editor. So you can use your favorite editor with it.

Finally, save the changes to remember and not doing this again.

Notice that if you are upgrading your browser version, Theme Path MUST be updated too.

3. Adding more themes to list.

There is a themes directory in the installation directory of Chromium Theme Creator, you can then copy your themes there, they must be DLL files, with any name you like.

But if you don't want to do so, there is another way.

Let's I download a new theme from ThemesforChrome.com

What I will do is to open it and drag that theme file onto this tool

Then, you will see something like this, a preview of it, it also tells you which version of Chrome can use this theme.

A new button has appeared next to Apply button, click it and it will be added. However, if there already exists another theme with filename exactly the same as the new one then you will be prompted to provide a new name.

Click yes and

Give the name you want for it (this name must be compliant to filenames, don't use :\/?* or any other strange characters).

Notice that you can use an existing name in the list anyway to replace that theme with this one.

To DELETE a theme in the list just hit DEL key...

4. Switching themes on real browser.

The next thing to do, is replace it on the real browser.

Just hit Apply (make sure the browser isn't running) and this tool will replace the default.dll file in the theme folder of the browser's path (which must be set up in settings page, remember to update that entry each time you upgrade your browser version), then it will be launched using the new theme.