Index Key Link
action Click to view
add Click to view
affiliation Click to view
align Click to view
alignment Click to view
alpha Click to view
analog clock Click to view
animated image Click to view
app drawer Click to view
app group Click to view
application Click to view
audio Click to view
background Click to view
backup Click to view
beginner Click to view
behavior Click to view
blur Click to view
calendar Click to view
card Click to view
checklist Click to view
circle indicator Click to view
clean slate Click to view
clock Click to view
code block Click to view
code of conduct Click to view
color picker Click to view
communities Click to view
compass Click to view
compatibility Click to view
complementary color Click to view
conceptual learning Click to view
configure Click to view
contact Click to view
contrast Click to view
contribute Click to view
date Click to view
date / time Click to view
default launcher Click to view
delete Click to view
desktop Click to view
developer Click to view
discussion guideline Click to view
distribution Click to view
drawer Click to view
drawer handle Click to view
dual-screen Click to view
dynamic color Click to view
dynamic image Click to view
dynamic text Click to view
edit Click to view
editing Click to view
edit mode Click to view
export Click to view
feature Click to view
file naming Click to view
flip-style Click to view
foldable Click to view
folder Click to view
font Click to view
full screen Click to view
gaussian Click to view
gesture Click to view
getting started Click to view
gradient Click to view
group Click to view
heading Click to view
help Click to view
hide Click to view
html Click to view
hue Click to view
icon Click to view
import Click to view
install Click to view
installation Click to view
instructable Click to view
intellectual property Click to view
issue Click to view
key Click to view
keys & gestures Click to view
label Click to view
landscape mode Click to view
launcher action Click to view
layout Click to view
liability Click to view
lifetime purchase Click to view
light source Click to view
link Click to view
list Click to view
luminance Click to view
macro Click to view
macrodroid Click to view
margin Click to view
mask Click to view
media controller Click to view
mobile Click to view
month/year/day Click to view
move Click to view
multi-screen Click to view
namespace Click to view
navigation Click to view
object Click to view
object design menu Click to view
official Click to view
official blog Click to view
offset Click to view
option Click to view
ordinal Click to view
page Click to view
page indicator Click to view
paste Click to view
performance Click to view
permission Click to view
pin Click to view
png Click to view
quoting Click to view
radius Click to view
registration Click to view
reminder Click to view
remove Click to view
resource Click to view
rotate Click to view
rss Click to view
save Click to view
scroll Click to view
search Click to view
select Click to view
shadow Click to view
shape Click to view
share Click to view
sidebar Click to view
slider Click to view
sliding drawer Click to view
spacing Click to view
stretch Click to view
syntax Click to view
system setting Click to view
system ui Click to view
table Click to view
table of content Click to view
tasker Click to view
taxonomy Click to view
temperature Click to view
termination Click to view
terms of use Click to view
text Click to view
theme Click to view
toby Click to view
trademark Click to view
transform Click to view
transparency Click to view
transparent Click to view
troubleshooting Click to view
typeface Click to view
ui Click to view
user conduct Click to view
user interface demo Click to view
variable Click to view
wallpaper Click to view
warranties Click to view
weather Click to view
webp Click to view
website Click to view
welcome Click to view
widget Click to view
wiki Click to view
wiki editing Click to view
window Click to view

How to Prepare and Export a Clean Object Sharing Setup in uiTLM

Learn how to build a lightweight, conflict-free “clean slate” configuration for object sharing and distribution. This guide details the essential architecture and cleanup protocols for purging hidden application metadata, defined styles, and unused resources before file export.

Adding card 1

===== Introduction to the “Clean Slate” Setup ====-

Creating an “Object Sharing” setup requires more than simply clearing the visible screen. Similar to deleting a desktop shortcut while leaving the source file intact, merely removing icons leaves metadata, defined styles, and unused resources in the application's storage. To ensure a lightweight, conflict-free distribution file (best-effort “clean slate”), a thorough “Clean Room Protocol” is required to purge these background remnants.

Disclaimer & Usage Warning
This procedure guides the creation of the “Clean Slate Default” shell and provides background on the architecture. Note: Device configurations may vary; review the process carefully before proceeding.

Skip the work: The finished product and the procedure for using the shell is found at:
How To: Share an Object With Other TL Users

Pre-start: Create a Safety Backup

Before initiating the purge, create a backup of the current configuration to prevent accidental data loss.

  1. Enter Edit mode (long-press empty area or use pinch-in gesture).
  2. Go to Launcher options > Backup center.
    1. Select the Add icon to initiate a new backup.
    2. Select New backup.
    3. The Title dialog defaults to backup_yyyymmdd. Change this to Safety_Pre_Wipe_yyyymmdd.
    4. Select OK to save.
      1. Verification: Confirm the new file appears at the top of the backup list before proceeding.
  3. Optional but recommended:
    1. Export the safety backup:
      1. Tap the 3-dot menu to the right of the Safety_Pre_Wipe… backup.
      2. Select Export backup.
      3. Navigate to a secure storage location (SD Card or Cloud) and save.
      4. Reasoning: This ensures that even if you accidentally delete files in the following steps, your original setup is safe outside the app.

Prepare the Clean Slate Shell

To achieve a true zero-state, the cleaning process must address both visible elements and internal definitions.

Phase 1: The Visual Purge (The Easy Part)

This phase focuses on removing active elements from the workspace and resetting core resource pointers to their lightest defaults.

  1. Clear Screen Objects:
    1. Navigate to the “Home” page.
    2. Long-press any object (icon, widget, or graphic) to select it.
    3. In the Object Design menu (top), tap the Delete icon .
    4. Repeat this process until the page is completely empty.
      1. Hidden Objects Check: Check for invisible elements (like transparent spacers) by tapping empty areas in Edit mode.
      2. Batch Delete: To verify the page is empty and clear everything at once:
        1. Tap the Select icon in the top-left corner.
        2. Drag a selection box from the upper-right to the lower-left corner.
        3. If any objects are caught, tap the Delete icon.
  2. Purge Resource Containers (Pages):
    1. Open the Page Manager using the pinch-in gesture to view the setup's Edit On mode .
    2. Tap the Edit icon .
    3. Horizontally scroll through the pages.
      1. Delete all pages, except the one designated as “Home”.
      2. Tap the Delete icon and confirm.
      3. A single-page setup is now shown.
    4. Tap the Option icon on the remaining page.
      1. Set Label to Home. Tap OK.
Phase 2: The "Warehouse" Purge (The Invisible Data)

This is where actual personal data hides. Total Launcher keeps a library of every image or icon ever imported, even if it was deleted from the screen.

  1. Enter Edit Mode and tap the Launcher options tab.
  2. Select Resources.
    1. For each of the resource areas shown (•Shape, •Image, •Dynamic image, •Shadow, •Typeface, •Sound, •Window, •Sequence):
      1. Tap the category to review the list.
      2. Tap and hold a single object to enter selection mode.
      3. Tap the “Select All” icon (✔✔) in the top-right corner.
      4. Tap the Delete icon in the bottom-right.
        1. This can be later verified by using a file manager (such as miXplorer) to inspect the system folders as follows:
          1. Backup: /Internal_storage/Android/data/com.ss.launcher2/files/backups
          2. Dynamic Images: /Internal_storage/Android/data/com.ss.launcher2/files/backups/.NameOfBackupFile/dynamicimages
          3. Fonts: /Internal_storage/Android/data/com.ss.launcher2/files/backups/.NameOfBackupFile/fonts
          4. Images: /Internal_storage/Android/data/com.ss.launcher2/files/backups/.NameOfBackupFile/images
          5. Sequences: /Internal_storage/Android/data/com.ss.launcher2/files/backups/.NameOfBackupFile/sequences
          6. Shadows: /Internal_storage/Android/data/com.ss.launcher2/files/backups/.NameOfBackupFile/shadows
          7. Shapes: /Internal_storage/Android/data/com.ss.launcher2/files/backups/.NameOfBackupFile/shapes
          8. Sounds: /Internal_storage/Android/data/com.ss.launcher2/files/backups/.NameOfBackupFile/ sounds
          9. Windows: /Internal_storage/Android/data/com.ss.launcher2/files/backups/.NameOfBackupFile/wnds
        2. Total Launcher will strictly prevent the deletion of system defaults (built-in assets) or resources currently in use by the active Home page. If it refuses to delete an item, it is likely a required dependency—leave it.
      5. Repeat for all remaining categories.
  3. Reset Launcher Options: (Resetting to neutral defaults)
    1. Enter Edit Mode > Launcher options:
      1. Select Behavior:
        1. General: Uncheck all boxes.
        2. App Drawer:
          1. Sort order: Set to Name.
          2. Reset icon and label: Tap and confirm (removes custom renaming).
          3. Badge Count: Turn all switches OFF.
        3. Advanced:
          1. Lock level: Set to Weak.
          2. Password: Clear any text (Ensure it is empty).
          3. Menu lock: Unchecked.
          4. GPS interval: Set to 0 (or default).
      2. UI & Animation:
        1. Wallpaper: Select No wallpaper.
        2. Animation: Set to System default.
        3. Status bar & Navigation bar: Uncheck (Hide) for a clean look, or check for the default.
        4. Page transition: Sliding.
        5. Sliding Drawer: Uncheck all directions except On the bottom (this ensures the user can swipe up to see their apps).
          1. If the end-user is not to have access to the sliding drawer, uncheck On the bottom as in this video. (If on mobile, triple-tap the initial image to view it full screen.)
      3. Icon style:
        1. Text color: Set to White (#FFFFFFFF).
      4. Key & Gestures:
        1. Home key: Set to Select action (or Do Nothing).
        2. Back key: Set to System default.
      5. Backup Center:
        1. Do NOT delete backups here. The export process only captures the *current* layout, not the list of backups stored on the device. Deleting these puts data at risk with no benefit to the shared file.
  4. Clear App Drawer Metadata:
    1. Open the App Drawer using a swipe up (or use the assigned gesture).
    2. Enter Edit Mode and tap “Edit Off” to turn editing on, or long-press an empty area to toggle the Edit switch.
    3. Select the drawer by tap/hold on the edge boundary of the drawer where the apps are listed. A selection box will appear around the grid of icons.
    4. Tap the Options icon on the top toolbar.
    5. Look for “App group”.
      1. Scenario A: If “App group” is visible, set it to “All apps”.
      2. Scenario B: If “App group” is MISSING (as is common in some setups), look for the checkbox Group items. Ensure it is Unchecked. This confirms the widget is displaying a flat list of apps, which is the correct default behavior.
  5. Clean Up Custom Items (Crucial Step):
    1. Close the options menu and look at the App Drawer grid.
    2. If any custom folders like “Social”, “Games”, or “Banking” are visible
      1. Select these custom folders and tap Delete.
    3. The App Drawer should only display the raw list of apps installed on the device. It should not contain any organized folders, as those are personal preferences that would be saved in the backup.

Phase 3: The "Autopsy" and Export

This step ensures the file is valid and contains no personal data.

  1. Method A: Standard Export (Try this first)
    1. Go to Backup center > Add > New backup.
    2. Name it Clean_Slate_yyyymmdd.
    3. Tap the 3-dot menu > Export backup.
    4. Check the file size: If the resulting file is 0 bytes, the export failed (common with empty shells). Proceed to Method B.
  2. Method B: Manual Export (The Reliable Method for Empty Shells)
    1. Open the file manager (such as miXplorer).
    2. Navigate to: `Android/data/com.ss.launcher2/files/backups/`
    3. Tap to open the folder `.Clean_Slate_…` (do not select the folder itself).
    4. Select all contents manually by tapping.
    5. The archive the contents:
      1. Tap Menu (3 dots) > Archive.
      2. Configure the Archive Dialog:
        1. Enter the name: `Clean_Slate_Shell.zip`.
        2. Format: Ensure Zip is selected.
        3. Compression: Leave as Deflate.
        4. Password/Key: Leave Blank.
        5. Delete source: Ensure this is Unchecked.
    6. Tap OK.
    7. There is now a valid `Clean_Slate_Shell.zip` located inside the backup folder. Move this file to the Downloads folder for easy sharing.
  1. Inspection (The Autopsy):
    1. Tap on the new ZIP file to view its contents.
    2. Open the `images` subfolder.
      1. This folder should be empty. If filesare here, they are personal images overlooked previously. Go back to Phase 2.
Phase 4: Re-Pack (Optional)

If Method B in Phase 3 was used, the file is already packed and ready. Move it to a public folder (like Downloads) for easy sharing.

Phase 5: Test the "Clean Slate" Shell

Before distributing, verify the shell functions as a neutral base on a device.

  1. Import the Shell:
    1. In Total Launcher, go to Backup center > Import backup.
    2. Select the Clean_Slate_Shell.zip.
    3. Tap Restore.
  2. Evaluate:
    1. Check that the screen is empty.
    2. Open the App Drawer to ensure it loads the current device's installed apps (verifying the “All apps” group is active).
    3. Note: When navigating to Add > Graphic and viewing the “Saved” tab, the presence of personal icons, photos or objects may appear. Do not worry. This tab is simply a file viewer looking at a specific folder on the current device. It is a local library, not part of the setup.
  3. Restore The Daily Setup:
    1. Go to Backup center.
    2. Locate the Safety_Pre_Wipe… backup.
    3. Tap Restore

Discussion

Enter your comment. Wiki syntax is allowed:
Please solve the following equation to prove you're human. 142 +3 =