Getting started with Generals Style
5 min read
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Generals Style lets you design how Command & Conquer: Generals – Zero Hour looks and feels, then install that design with one small program. You build your style in the web Studio, make a personal installer, and run it on the PC where you play. It applies your design to every copy of Zero Hour it finds and keeps a backup of everything it changes.
Generals Style is a fan-made tool. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by EA.
What can you change?
Everything happens in the Studio, with a live preview next to your settings.
| Part | What you can do | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Control bar | 18 colour themes, 18 modern templates, metal or chrome frames, neon edges, your own picture on any panel, and game-menu colours | Control bar |
| Loading screen | Your own picture behind the skirmish and online loading screen, shaped for widescreen | Loading screen |
| Hotkeys | Move any button to the key you want, start from a preset, get clash warnings, and show the letter on each button | Hotkeys |
| Tab shortcuts | Tab for the next dozer or worker, Shift+Tab for the previous one, Ctrl+Shift+Tab for the players screen | Tab shortcuts |
| Maps pack | Pick from about 295 community maps; the installer adds them for you | Maps |
You can style one part or all of them. Your other keys, files and mods stay as they are.
How does it work? The 3 steps
- Design in the Studio. Open the Studio, pick a theme or template, add your pictures, change your hotkeys and choose your maps. Changes save as a draft while you work, and you can keep several designs under "My designs".
- Make your installer. Press Make my installer, tick the parts you want, and confirm. Your personal installer starts downloading by itself. It works once, on one PC.
- Run it. Open the file on the PC where you play. It finds your Zero Hour copies, backs up the files it will change, applies your style and shows a result for each copy. The full walk-through is in the installer guide.
After that, start the game and check your new bar, loading screen and keys. If a game update or GenPatcher later replaces some files, open Generals Style from the Start menu and click Re-apply my style.
What do you need?
- Zero Hour on a Windows PC. Steam, EA app, Origin and CD copies all work. If several copies are installed, the installer finds all of them.
- Control Bar Pro, only for the control bar style. Control Bar Pro is installed with GenPatcher. Loading screens, hotkeys, Tab shortcuts and maps work without it. Read GenPatcher explained if you have not used it yet.
- A free account to save designs, upload pictures, change hotkeys and make an installer.
- A plan to make installers. You can start with the free trial (one installer, no maps pack) and move to a monthly or yearly plan later. See pricing and plans and billing.
Your game does not need to be in English. Hotkeys are changed inside your game's own language, and where the new letter is not in a button's name it is added like [R].
Can I try it without an account?
Yes. Anyone can open the Studio as a guest and see the previews for the control bar and loading screen. Saving, uploading pictures, My designs, changing hotkeys and making an installer ask you to sign in. Your guest changes are kept in your browser and come back after you sign in, so nothing is lost.
Is it safe for online play?
Only pictures, button labels and key bindings change. No game-rule files are touched, so your style does not cause a mismatch online. The installer changes only what your design needs inside your own files, keeps a backup and can restore your originals at any time.
Where to go next
- Control bar - themes, templates, pictures and menu colours
- Loading screen - your own picture while the match loads
- Hotkeys - change any button's key and add letters on buttons
- Tab shortcuts - jump between dozers with Tab
- Maps - choose a community maps pack
- Installer - download, run, restore and re-apply
- Plans and billing - free trial, monthly and yearly plans
- Troubleshooting - when something does not look right
- FAQ - short answers to common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is Generals Style?
Generals Style is a fan-made website for C&C Generals – Zero Hour. You design your control bar, loading screen, hotkeys, Tab shortcuts, menu colours and maps pack in a web Studio, then run a personal installer that applies them to your game.
Does Generals Style work with the Steam and EA app versions?
Yes. It works with Steam, EA app, Origin and CD copies, and the installer finds every Zero Hour copy on your PC.
Do I need GenPatcher?
You need Control Bar Pro, which is installed with GenPatcher, only for the control bar style. Loading screens, hotkeys, Tab shortcuts and maps work without it, and your GenPatcher setup is kept.
Can I undo the changes?
Yes. The installer keeps a backup, and "Restore my original files" puts your game back the way it was.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. The free trial gives you one installer without the maps pack. The monthly and yearly plans are listed on the pricing page.
Make Zero Hour look and play your way
Design your control bar, loading screen, hotkeys and maps pack in the studio, then install it with one click.