DockShelf Manual
Themes

You can create custom dock themes for DockShelf by following this guide. You will need to have basic skills editing graphics (in Photoshop for example) and the ability to read/edit XML property list files using a GUI edtior or any text editor.

Contents

  1. About themes
  2. Theme properties

Editing themes.

Dockshelf themes are bundles, which are folders with a special extension (in this case .dstheme) which make them appear as files in the Finder. To edit a .dstheme file right-click on the file and choose "Show Package Contents" from the popup menu.

To create a new theme it's recommended to duplicate the default theme (found in DockShelf.app/Contents/Resources/Themes/Default.dstheme) but you can also make a new folder and add all the files as described below then rename with the extension .dstheme.

User created themes should be saved in ~/Library/DockShelf/Themes to be available in DockShelf. If you would like to make a theme public please send the file to info@dockshelf.com for consideration.

Theme bundles must contain the following files/folders:

BackgroundThis folder contains a 9-part image which forms the background. Each file must in .png format, of equal size and square (i.e. all files must 32x32 pixels) and be named properly (refer the default theme).
info.plistThe theme property file (see below for full description).
process_indicator.pngAn image displayed to the side of application items when the application is open.
separator_horizantal.pngThe horizantal separator image.
separator_vertical.pngThe vertical separator image.

Theme properties.

Each theme contains an info.plist XML property list which contains various properties specific to the theme.

colorInsetInset of the colored rounded rectangle which will be drawn over the background.
contentMarginMargin of the dock items from the background edge.
dragMarginMargin around the dock items icon for clicking/dragging.
fontFont to use for the dock title.
frameInsetInset around the entire dock to provide extra space for shadows.
interiorInsetInset of the interior backgroud frame (the portion without border, if this exists in the theme).
itemMarginMargin between items.
itemScreenMarginMargin between items against the edge of the screen they are positioned by.
opacityDefault opacity of the background image.
radiusRadius of the backgroud image corners (for apply color overlays).
screenOverlapThe amount of pixels to overlap the screen when the dock is auto-hiding.
shadowBlurBlur (in pixels) of the shadow.
shadowOffsetOffset of the shadow.
tabOffscreenMarginThe amount of pixels offscreen the dock is drawn when showing as a tab.
titleEdgePaddingPadding around the title on non-screen edges.
titleScreenPaddingPadding around the title on the edge nearest the screen edge.
titleOffsetOffset of the dock title.