I apologize if this question might not be the brightest to some user on BBforum but after going through the forum all night, I haven't been able to find an answer in the existing threads.

My question is in regards to the reason behind Jibi's blackberry.alx page. As I understand it, it is more or less a repository for links to all the available OS for each device to download. But what does the modified blackberry.alx file have to do with it?

Specifically, I was trying to get the themes from other mobile providers (t-mobile, vodafone, O2) on my 8100. I remeber when I had the 7100, there was a .cod file that cointained the different service provider themes. All I had to do was install it through the app loader. I'm trying to do the same for my 8100 and I thought Jibi's page might be the answer. But I still haven't been able to make sense of it. If someone could please clarify these two issues for me, that would be great.

Thanks alot

You're on the right track here with your past experience; Jibi's page is basically a helper to do the same thing.

When you download a carrier OS upgrade, the stock Blackberry.alx file has vendor codes listed inside; what that means is the XML file says inside it "this theme is intended for T-Mobile devices"; your phone has hard-wired into it the specific vendor ID that it was sold to/through, like '100' is T-Mobile USA.

So when you do a standard, as-designed-by-RIM upgrade the upgrade software queries your phone for the Vendor ID, then walks through the Blackberry.alx file and matches everything up, then installs those themes where the Vendor IDs match; T-Mobile people get the T-Mobile ZEN theme, e.g.

Jibi's Blackberry.alx basically does a complete match of everything; so, even though the upgrade software is looking for a unique vendor ID theme, the modified file just matches all themes, so the upgrade process installs them all. It's just a little bit of sleight-of-hand to fool the upgrade process into installing all themes on any device and ignore the unique Vendor ID alltogether.

Good explanation Rivvie...

Basically, as far as Jibi's post goes, he links the OS to save time for those who don't have their specific OS installed to the PC. You need it installed to access the Blackberry.alx.

If you have your OS already installed to your PC, all that is required is to replace your Blackberry.alx with the matching (match OS version numbers only-pay little attention to the carrier name) Blackberry.alx file from Jibi's thread. Once you've replaced it (most people just move or rename their old blackberry.alx so that it's easily available if they want it back) then just plug in the BB, run Desktop Manager and open Application Loader. You should see that an update is available for "Core Applications." Just finish the installation and you should have all the vendor themes loaded on the BB.

~John

another confusing part of that thread was regarding the PTT software. I just purchased an unlocked 8800 for use on tmobile and would like to get all the themes on my new device, but the process is really confusing. im glad this thread popped up. any advice would be much appreciated

disregard any reference to the PTT. When you download the .zip file it will contain a Platform.alx and a Blackberry.alx. Just throw away the Platform.alx Jibi created. TMo doesn't have Push to talk. The platform.alx he created will add the PTT application for Cingular if one doesn't already have it.

so, download the .zip, and use the app loader to install the blackberry.alx? i already erased the XML...is that right? erase that? lol thanks

Not quite.

Download the .zip. Extract the files. REPLACE your Blackberry.alx with the extracted one. Delete the "Vendor.xml" only. That is the only thing to be deleted.

Then open Desktop Manager and run Application Loader. It will pick up the change automatically. Do not use the "Add" feature to install the Blackberry.alx. You shouldn't have to do anything after replacing your BlackBerry.alx with Jibi's.

is the existing .alx in the same place as the XML?

I am having trouble with this.
There isnt a vendor when I go to search for it. I got to the folder that he states and i try the search feature, but dont find anything!
then when i go to replace the blackberry.alx file, its not there. I just input the modifyed one in there.
Also,
I do the AL but its just not there...

perhaps I already have the theme??
What theme is it suppose to be?

I did match the .alx to the software version.

ignore.

I found it, it was in a different folder all together. Have no idea why. It's loading now,
I hope it was the right one...sigh

Let's find out!

edit:

worked well. Wow this is so cool...sorry have never seen so many themes! Are all the themes same on all of the software versions? Like if I moved back to the Tmobile version, would I still have the same themes that I have on the Tim Italy version??

Err, Blackberry.alx *is* an XML file; XML is a spec/standard, not a BlackBerry specific file -- it's a way to write a text file so programmers can use it. Blackberry.alx is written in the XML 'language'.

If you have installed the Desktop Manager, then the firmware download file, there should be only one Blackberry.alx file - this is the one you replace, it was put there on your harddrive from the firmware install process.

so, since i deleted the XML, i should just drop the modified .alx in there right?

Ok I think I figured this puppy out. So this leads me to a particular yet related question.

IS it possible for me to bring themes from MANY vendors (Say Rogers, O2, Cingular - sans push to talk as I don't want it, Vodafone, Orange, etc) from other OS versions to the one I'm currently using? Even if its a minor update (from say 4.2.069 to 4.2.089? or closer?)

Also IS IT as SIMPLE as moving copying net_rim_theme_109_240x260_b.cod" from the 1.69 into the 0.89 java folder? However where exactly in the blackberry.net file SHOULD I put the needed .cod file references? (for the vendors Rogers, O2, Cingular, Vodafone, Orange, etc)?

Thanks.

one quick question. I followed the step and everything works fine but then i look in the themes and I dont have the cingular theme? I had it before i upgraded, thanks.

I'm sorry i dont see where anyone answered this question. i would also like to know if there was a way to get all the themes together on any one of the OS that i so choose to use? and if so how.

Thank you

well i followed jibi's instructions and now i have all the themes but the cingular one, so theres your answer. some good ones in there too - i like the TMO zen myself, just had to change the wallpaper.