How to change theme when new site is created

Some of you have this requirement to create a new theme for your customer. And obviously this theme will be used automatically if a new site is created.

One of the stupid way is to include the step to change the theme as part of the operating mannual, but let me show you the tricks.

If you understand the concept of branding on how to change the .master page, you will find this theme changer feature is very similar.

What you need to do is to :
1. Create a new theme (i.e. NewTheme) and put it in 12hive\ Themese folder
2. Create a new .vb file which inherit SPFeatureReceiver and override FeatureActivated method to include the below coding.

Dim objWeb As SPWeb
objWeb = properties.Feature.Parent
objWeb.ApplyTheme ( " NewTheme " )
objWeb.Update()

3. The above is to ensure that newtheme is being switched when the code is feature is activated.
4. Compile it with strong name and deploy to GAC.
5. Package this .dll as feature
6. Locate the onet.xml for site template that you have 12hive\template\sitetemplates\SITE NAME\xml
7. locate to include the feature ID which you have created earlier.

The idea of this theme changer is very similar to branding.