(Additional) Android Theming Variables Glossary
DOYLEIntroduction
While creating themes for Telegram for Android, you could find some parts of the app which variable you didn't know or you could face some variables you don't know what they change. And there are no descriptions below variables in the in-app editor, so you had to ask someone who knows more about theming than you.
We decided that this shouldn't be so and started working on a glossary that would have descriptions of all variables in Telegram, and you can see the result here. This glossary has descriptions of many variables and is still being completed.
We're also looking for people who also think that the variables should be described or that the glossary must be translated in your language. If you're the one we need, check the "Team that works on the glossary" section.
Background
While I was creating my own theme for an Android Telegram app - Dark Sky Blue, I happened to have many questions. I asked them at Telegram Themes на русском (RU) and received decent explanations that helped me in creating my theme. As a "thank you" I decided to help to add some more variables that are not in the main Variables Glossary.
If you happened to find any mistakes in variables or in their descriprions, make sure you contact me - DOYLE, or SnejUgal, so we can correct them.
Before you begin, I would recommend to use built-in search feature in your browser — Ctrl+F.
Useful stuff
Articles
- Creating Android Themes — getting started with the in-app editor.
- What's wrong with theming on Android — an article directed to the developer, but may be useful for others to get to know what they can't change.
Webtools
- .attheme editor — a more comfortable editor that both the text and the in-app ones.
- compare .attheme's — a tool that compares two themes and says for how much they are similar.
- attheme.lungers.com — an .attheme editor by @YouTwitFace.
Themes groups
- Telegram Android Themes — the official themes group.
- Themes Chat — an unofficial themes group by @themesandroid.
- Telegram Themes на русском — an unofficial themes group in Russian.
- Temas en español (PC & Android) — an unofficial themes group in Spain.
- Telegram Themes ITA — an unofficial themes group in Italian.
- Telegram Android Themes FR — an unofficial themes group in French.
- ID Telegram Themes — an unofficial themes group in Indonesian.
Bots
- @atthemeglossarybot — gives a short and easy access to the glossary and its translations. Works inline and by /variable command in groups.
- @themepreviewbot — creates previews of .attheme's you send to him. Works in groups automatically.
- @themesporterbot — converts .attheme to .tdesktop-theme and vice versa.
Translations
Not only translations but also analogous articles in other languages.
Variables
dialogRadioBackground - Settings → Notifications → Vibration
chat_recordedVoiceProgressInner - Audio Message → Lock → Stop → Progress bar color
chat_messagePanelVoicePressed - Icon of the microphone when pressed
chat_serviceLink - Name/nickname of the person that joined a chat
chat_serviceText - Text/message "...joined the group"
chat_secretTimerText - Color of the text, when you set a timer at a secret chat
musicPicker_checkboxCheck - Checkmarks when you attach music
picker_disabledButton / picker_enabledButton - Color of the buttons Cancel/Send when you attach music
avatar_actionBarIconViolet - In a group description header gets different colors, the group gets it's color during the process of creating. If the color of a header is violet, you use this variable to change the color of icons (same for default avatars)
chat_stickerNameText - Color of the name/nickname of the person when someone replies with a sticker/video message
dialogScrollGlow - The shadow that occurs when you scroll attachments panel fast
dialogProgressCircle - Progress icon when you clear cache of messages/images
dialogTextLink - Color of the link at a stickerpack name (if there is one)
groupcreate_onlineText - Text when you create a group(?)
chat_gifSaveHintBackground - Quick pop-up message (hint) when you tap on microphone/camera icon
chat_emojiPanelMasksIcon - *honestly have no idea what it does*
chats_menuName - Color of your name/nickname at the left menu (bar). P.S. profile_title - in settings
chat_serviceIcon - Round icon "forward" near messages that include media
sharedMedia_linkPlaceholderText - Background at one bot preview (picture below)
avatar_backgroundGroupCreateSpanBlue - When you create a group, you chose a contact - there is a span where one's name is
chat_mediaMenu - Three dots at media content (i.e. GIFs)
chat_mediaLoaderPhoto - Loader icon when a picture is loading (duh)
chat_messagePanelShadow - Shadow at a message panel (not really visible at dark themes)
chat_mediaProgress - Loader icon when loading media (duh [2])
chat_botButtonText - Color of the text on one's bot buttons. As an example pool via @like
chat_recordedVoicePlayPause - Play/Stop icons on recorded unsent voice messages (Voice message → Lock → Stop)
chat_stickerViaBotNameText - Name of a stickerpack
chat_botProgress - Loading icon when bot is processing actions
chat_mediaInfoText - Color of views (views counter) on channels
dialogTopBackground - Pop-up window background color when you chose for how long you are going to share your Live Location
Obsolete variables
These variable once were used, but now they've been removed from Telegram because the elements were removed or replaced with other variables.
- listSelector, replaced with listSelectorSDK21;
- player_seekBarBackground, the element was removed;
- player_duration, the element was replaced with player_time.
Unused variables
These variables aren't used by Telegram for unknown reasons. This is found by searching through the entire source code that's published on GitHub. If through time they get used, please contact the team head @snejugal on Telegram.
- chat_mediaBroadcast
- chat_outBroadcast
- windowBackgroundWhiteBlueText2
Team that works on the glossary
- @snejugal, the team head;
- @SventraPopizz, helps describing a lot;
- @NeoKio, studies theming very good;
- @AlexStrNik, can find the exact place where a variable is used.
People who contributed but weren't in the team
- @Paveloom described some dialog, submenu and stickers settings section variables.
- Fabio Capuano helped us to find what windowBackgroundWhiteBlueText3 sets.