Adding Custom Colors to a

THMX ϐile
You can add your own custom colors to an Office 2007
theme (.THMX file extension). In the screenshot below, you
can see three custom colors in their own sec on on the
color picker.

© 2007 Echo Swinford

 1a
Show File Extensions
(Windows XP)

We’ll be cracking open the THMX file

to get at an XML file inside. To open
the THMX file, you must rename
it with a ZIP extension. Therefore,
you must turn on file extensions in
Windows.

In Windows XP, open My Documents.

Choose Tools on the menu, then

select Folder Op ons.

On the View tab, uncheck Hide

extensions for known file types.

© 2007 Echo Swinford

 1b
Show File Extensions
(Windows Vista)

In Windows Vista, open Documents.

Click Organize, Folder and Search

Op ons

On the View tab, uncheck Hide

extensions for known file types.

© 2007 Echo Swinford

 2
Determine
Your Hex
The custom colors
in the color picker
are described
using Hex values,
so you need to
have the hex
values for each
color you want
to add.

Download a color-picker u lity, create This screenshot shows Pixie. You can
an object that’s the color you want, see that the hex value for this golden
and then use the color-picker to get yellow color is 00ADF0.
the hex value.
While you’re at it, be sure to decide on
Pixie by Na yware (h p://www. names for your custom colors, so you
na yware.com) is a good color-picker, have appropriate informa on in the tool
as is Pixeur (h p://www.veign.com/ p when your users hover the mouse
applica on.php?appid=107) over the color chips.

© 2007 Echo Swinford

 3
Right-click the THMX file
and choose Rename. Move
your cursor to the end of
the file name and type .ZIP.
A warning asking if you
really want to change the
file extension will pop up.
Say yes.
Now Module.THMX has
become Module.THMX.ZIP,
and it can be opened like
any other ZIP file.
Double-click the Module.
Opening the .THMX File THMX.ZIP file.
Now that you’ve done the background Double-click the theme folder. zip\theme\theme). You may not see
work, you’re ready to crack open the Double-click the next theme folder, too. this full path in Windows XP.
.THMX file. Right-click the theme1.XML file and
If you have WinZip installed, you may
To begin, make a copy of the .THMX need to right-click the Module.THMX.ZIP choose Copy. Then right-click back in
file and paste it into a folder that will file and choose Open With Compressed your working folder and choose Paste.
serve as your working folder. (The (zipped) folders instead of double- You now have a theme1.XML file
themes that ship with Office 2007 are clicking the file and internal folders. outside of the ZIP file. We’ll modify
located in C:\Program Files\Microso the theme1.XML file to add our
Office\Document Themes 12.) We’re Finally, you’ll see something that looks custom colors.
using the Module.THMX file for this similar to this screenshot (the full path
is Your Working Folder\ Module.thmx. Leave the Module.THMX.ZIP file folder
tutorial.
open.
© 2007 Echo Swinford
 4a
Modifying the theme1.
XML File
Right-click the theme1.XML file in
your working folder and choose Open
With. I use Notepad to modify XML
files, but if you have an XML editor,
add this code:
<a:custClrLst>
<a:custClr name=”Dark Blue”>
feel free to use it if you wish. <a:srgbClr val=”1F497D” />
</a:custClr>
Scroll to the end of the file. </a:custClrLst>

Just above </a:theme> (which is, and This adds a Custom Color sec on to the color picker and places a dark blue chip
should remain, the last line in the file), (with hex value 1F497D) in that sec on.
© 2007 Echo Swinford
 4b
<a:custClrLst>
<a:custClr name=”Dark Blue”>
<a:srgbClr val=”1F497D” />
</a:custClr>
<a:custClr name=”Mint Green”>
<a:srgbClr val=”99DB73” />
</a:custClr>
<a:custClr name=”Girly Pink”>
<a:srgbClr val=”FF99FF“ />
</a:custClr>
</a:custClrLst>
The color names inside the
Adding More Color Chips quota on marks are what the
If you want to add more than one tool p will display.
color chip to the sec on, follow this
pa ern: A er you’ve added all your chips,
choose File | Save to save the changes
you made to the theme1.XML file in
your working folder. Close the file.

© 2007 Echo Swinford

 5
In Windows Vista, you’ll be
prompted with a dialog box
like the one to the right.
Choose Copy and Replace. In
Windows XP, you’ll be asked if
you really want to overwrite
the file. Say yes.

Close the Module.THMX.ZIP

file/folders.

Replacing the Original

theme1.XML File
Back in your working folder, right-click
the theme1.XML file and choose Copy.

Remember the Module.THMX.ZIP file

folder you le open in step 3? Right-
click inside the theme folder and
choose Paste.

© 2007 Echo Swinford

 6
Add a rectangle
shape and choose
Drawing Tools
Format | Shape
Fill to see the
color picker. Your
custom colors
should be in the
new “Custom
Colors” sec on.
Note that Office is
very picky about
its XML. It’s case-
sensi ve, and the
Rename and Open the spelling must be
Modified Theme correct. If your
modified THMX
In your working folder, right-click file won’t open, double-check your spelling and typing in the theme1.XML file.
Module.THMX.ZIP and choose One thing you can also try is double-clicking the theme1.XML file and le ng it
Rename. open in Internet Explorer; you might see some informa on there that will help
Delete the .ZIP extension. you troubleshoot the problem.
Say yes when asked if you’re sure you Here is a text file with the code you can add to theme1.XML:
want to change the file extension. h p://www.echosvoice.com/PPTFiles/code.txt
Double-click the Module.THMX file. It Here is a modified THMX file with custom colors for you to deconstruct:
will open in PowerPoint. h p://www.echosvoice.com/PPTFiles/Module.thmx

© 2007 Echo Swinford