Abstract: A system theme schema file format includes declarations of enumerations, properties, control parts, and control part states for providing extensible theming of the visual appearance of a computer operating system's user interface components. Custom theme schema files can extend the system theme schema by adding declarations of custom enumerations, custom properties, custom control part, and custom control part states, thereby participating in theming of the visual appearance of components of the computer's operating system. The schema files establish the allowable form and content of data that specifies how user interface components should be displayed in accordance with particular themes. Themes are defined and user interface components are displayed by the operating system in accordance with the information specified in the schema files.

Abstract: A method of communicating between a graphical component library and an appearance manager is provided that includes issuing a request, that includes component defining parameters, for rendering services by a graphical component library. The appearance manager receives the request for rendering services and assigns appearance characteristics to the graphical component based upon the provided parameters. A method of rendering graphical components on the display of a computer system is also provided that includes rendering the requested graphical component according to the appearance characteristics assigned by the appearance manager. A method is also provided for communicating between a graphical component library and an appearance manager that includes issuing a request that includes component defining parameters, for information about the defined component.

Abstract: A system and method are described that use theming functions of a theme manager to render graphical components in a themed fashion. The theme manager uses a theme file that has theme properties for graphical components of all types. When an application is started a system is provided that determines whether the application supports theming. If the application supports theming a dynamic link controls library that supports theming is linked to the application. If the application does not support theming, the non-theming controls library is linked. If an application supports themes, application user controls and shell common controls are rendered with themes by using the functions of the theming controls library that interact with functions of the theme manager. Non-client window components are rendered using themes by intercepting render messages to windows and sending the messages to the theme manager.

Abstract: A system theme schema file format includes declarations of enumerations, properties, control parts, and control part states for providing extensible theming of the visual appearance of a computer operating system's user interface components. Custom theme schema files can extend the system theme schema by adding declarations of custom enumerations, custom properties, custom control part, and custom control part states, thereby participating in theming of the visual appearance of components of the computer's operating system. The schema files establish the allowable form and content of data that specifies how user interface components should be displayed in accordance with particular themes. Themes are defined and user interface components are displayed by the operating system in accordance with the information specified in the schema files.

Abstract: A method of communicating between a graphical component library and an appearance manager is provided that includes issuing a request, that includes component defining parameters, for rendering services by a graphical component library. The appearance manager receives the request for rendering services and assigns appearance characteristics to the graphical component based upon the provided parameters. A method of rendering graphical components on the display of a computer system is also provided that includes rendering the requested graphical component according to the appearance characteristics assigned by the appearance manager. A method is also provided for communicating between a graphical component library and an appearance manager that includes issuing a request, that includes component defining parameters, for information about the defined component.

Abstract: A system and method are described that use theming functions of a theme manager to render graphical components in a themed fashion. The theme manager uses a theme file that has theme properties for graphical components of all types. When an application is started a system is provided that determines whether the application supports theming. If the application supports theming a dynamic link controls library that supports theming is linked to the application. If the application does not support theming, the non-theming controls library is linked. If an application supports themes, application user controls and shell common controls are rendered with themes by using the functions of the theming controls library that interact with functions of the theme manager. Non-client window components are rendered using themes by intercepting render messages to windows and sending the messages to the theme manager.

Abstract: A method of communicating between a graphical component library and an appearance manager is provided that includes issuing a request, that includes component defining parameters, for rendering services by a graphical component library. The appearance manager receives the request for rendering services and assigns appearance characteristics to the graphical component based upon the provided parameters. A method of rendering graphical components on the display of a computer system is also provided that includes rendering the requested graphical component according to the appearance characteristics assigned by the appearance manager. A method is also provided for communicating between a graphical component library and an appearance manager that includes issuing a request, that includes component defining parameters, for information about the defined component.

Abstract: A system and method are described that use theming functions of a theme manager to render graphical components in a themed fashion. The theme manager uses a theme file that has theme properties for graphical components of all types. When an application is started a system is provided that determines whether the application supports theming. If the application supports theming a dynamic link controls library that supports theming is linked to the application. If the application does not support theming, the non-theming controls library is linked. If an application supports themes, application user controls and shell common controls are rendered with themes by using the functions of the theming controls library that interact with functions of the theme manager. Non-client window components are rendered using themes by intercepting render messages to windows and sending the messages to the theme manager.

Abstract: A system theme schema file format includes declarations of enumerations, properties, control parts, and control part states for providing extensible theming of the visual appearance of a computer operating system's user interface components. Custom theme schema files can extend the system theme schema by adding declarations of custom enumerations, custom properties, custom control part, and custom control part states, thereby participating in theming of the visual appearance of components of the computer's operating system. The schema files establish the allowable form and content of data that specifies how user interface components should be displayed in accordance with particular themes. Themes are defined and user interface components are displayed by the operating system in accordance with the information specified in the schema files.

Abstract: A system and method are described that use theming functions of a theme manager to render graphical components in a themed fashion. The theme manager uses a theme file that has theme properties for graphical components of all types. When an application is started a system is provided that determines whether the application supports theming. If the application supports theming a dynamic link controls library that supports theming is linked to the application. If the application does not support theming, the non-theming controls library is linked. If an application supports themes, application user controls and shell common controls are rendered with themes by using the functions of the theming controls library that interact with functions of the theme manager. Non-client window components are rendered using themes by intercepting render messages to windows and sending the messages to the theme manager.

Abstract: A method accesses and updates information from a library of optical discs and includes a step of cataloging optical discs. The cataloging step includes the generation of a unique value for each of the cataloged discs. The unique value is produced by iteratively reading data from each disc and iteratively combining the data. The cataloging step includes the generation of catalog data streams. The catalog data streams include fixed length data representing file and directory attributes and variable length data representing file names and directory names. The method includes the further step of producing limited depth catalogs representing file and directory information on the optical discs. The limited depth catalogs have a fixed number of subdirectory levels and file types. The fixed number is selected by a user, and the file types are selected by a user. The method includes the further step of caching optical disc data to a hard disc.