Return to CursorFX Product Page

1. Welcome to CursorFX
    Features of CursorFX
    System Requirements
    Upgrading
    Importing Cursor Packages
    Updates
    Additional Cursor Themes
    Documentation
2. Introduction to CursorFX
    CursorFX Menu: My Cursors
    Cursor Themes
    MyCursors Quick Reference
3. Effects
    Adding effect to mouse event
4. Trails
5. More Cursors
6. Settings
    Appearance Tab
    Shadow Tab: Dynamic Mode
       Dynamic Quick Reference
    Shadow Tab: Static Mode
       Static Quick Reference
    Options Tab
    Blur Transparency (Vista Only)
       Options Quick Reference
7. About
8. Theme Editor
    CursorFX File Formats
    Overview
    File Menu Quick Reference
    Theme Quick Reference
    Animation Scripts
    Looping
Appendix A:
    Language Translation
    Languages Already Translated
    Submitting a Translated File

Introduction to CursorFX

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To run CursorFX, locate on your Start menu and click on it.  You will see the CursorFX Control Panel, which consists of: a menu on the left side and a list of cursor themes on the right in the main window.  The Current theme box is empty at first, until you select a theme.  Once you select a theme it is placed in the box so you know what theme (skin) your cursors are wearing.

 

CursorFX Menu:  My Cursors

From the CursorFX menu you select the theme (graphics) to skin your cursor for different states (i.e. normal, help, busy, resizing windows, ...).  Each state will skin your cursor with something different, but similar in theme.  From other options on the CursorFX menu, you can add animated effects, download additional cursor packages (themes), change settings and get more information about CursorFX. 

Cursor Themes

The main part of the CursorFX Control Panel consists of: a box displaying the Current theme, a list of themes available, and two buttons (New Package and Apply).  When you run CursorFX for the first time, the Current theme box will be empty.  Once you select a theme, it will be copied into the box, so you always know what theme your currently using.

 

The Windows Default is whatever skin you were using prior to running CursorFX.  Typically these are the graphics that came with your Windows installation.  If you ever want to return to the Windows default, you simply select this theme, click , and your cursor will return to normal and the will be changed to Windows Default.

 

Each cursor theme consists of: a sample of the theme (normal state of cursor), Name (i.e. CursorFX Default), Version Number (i.e. v1.0) and Author (or Company that created it) (i.e. by Stardock Design).  When you click on a theme, six buttons will appear.

 

The first button provides information on the Theme Properties.  This will display the following: Name (of the theme), Author, Version, Website (of the Author), Email and a Description.  Clicking either the button or the close icon in the upper right-hand corner, will close it and return you to the Control Panel.

The second button is the Delete button, which allows you to delete the selected theme from CursorFX.  Your options are either Yes or No.

 

The third button launches your default web browser and displays the Stardock Design www.stardockdesign.com website.

The fourth button in the group runs your default Email program (i.e. MS Outlook).  It automatically addresses an Email to Stardock Design.

The fifth and sixth buttons are on the far right side.  They consist of the Theme Preview, which allows you to see the skin for each state of the cursor.  From here you can click the button to change to this theme, this will return you to the Control Panel main screen and copy that theme into your Current theme box.  You will need to click the button to make the changes. 

 

Alternately, if you click the button on the Theme Preview screen, it will make the changes immediately and move the theme to the Current theme box on the Control Panel. 

Click the button to return to the Control Panel main screen.

 

The sixth and final button is the Theme Editor, used for changing the: skin (graphics), frames for animation, hot spots X and Y, scripting and special effects.  The Theme Editor will be covered in depth in the Theme Editor section.  Either click on the File menu, then Exit or click on the close button to close the Theme Editor and return to the Control Panel.

 

 

After selecting a theme and applying it, you can close CursorFX using the close button. 

 

On the bottom of the Cursor themes Control Panel is the button.  Clicking this button will open the Theme Editor, which allows you to create your own theme of skins.  The editor will be covered in the CursorFX Theme Editor section.

MyCursors Quick Reference

Action	Do this
Select a cursor theme.	Locate the desired theme from the list, single left click on it, then click on the button.           Alternately,  Locate the desired theme from the list, and double left click on it.  No need to click the Apply button.
Preview a theme.	Locate the desired them from the list, single left click on it, then click on the Theme Preview button.  This will change to the preview screen and display the skins for each state of the cursor.  To return to the main screen of the Control Panel, click on .  Otherwise, if you want to select this theme, continue with step 2. To Select a theme on this screen, click on the button.  You will be returned to the main Control Panel screen, and your the theme will be copied into the Current theme box.  Now click on the button for the change to take effect.  Alternate Method (Step 2), on the Theme Preview screen, click on the button and CursorFX will make that active and copy it into the Current theme box.
Change back to the Windows Default.	Click on the Windows Default at the top of the list of Cursor themes in the Control Panel. Click on and the changes will be immediate.
View theme properties.	Locate and click on the desired theme to highlight it. Click on the icon and the Theme Properties window will open with information about the theme. Click or to close the window.
Visit Stardock Design website.	Locate and click on a theme to highlight it. Click on the icon and it will open your web browser with the Stardock Design web address: www.stardockdesign.com
Send Email to Stardock Design.	Locate and click on a theme to highlight it. Click on the icon to open your Email program.  It will automatically be addressed to StardockDesign@stardock.com.
Delete a theme.	Click on the theme you want to remove from CursorFX and click on it. Click on the icon.  A dialog box will open asking for confirmation. Click on button to delete the theme.  Or click on not to delete it.
Close CursorFX.	Click on the close button, located in the upper right-hand corner of the CursorFX window.