quote:

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Originally posted by markee
We have come across some problems with Plus! hard coding some stuffinto the window all the time making it impossible for it to beskinable.  There is going to be somewhat of a delay in that regarduntil we find all that is wrong and inform Patchou and wait for a laterrelease of MP!L with this feature fixed.  Until then we will continuework on the skin and hope that we won't have to do too much extra workto make the new skin usable.  I'm sorry for this sad news, just doesn'tlook like Patchou thought ahead (or maybe we're doing something wrong ).

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• i. we want to know opinions on the skin design
  B) let people know we are working on a whole new look for MP!L
  • to start people on the track for making skins so it just isnt the default (boring! )
  2... to remind me that im working on this seeing as Eljay (or Elgay) hasnt made the reminder script () (WORK ON IT NOW!!!!11!!ONEonE!)

quote:

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Originally posted by markee
How about this for an idea.  If you really don't like the design then can we have a design by you.  Remember it has to be possible with MP!L windows so you can only use rectangles for the main window frame and the child windows (for the tabs and the main options areas).  The design that NanaFreak and I decide to be the best by the time we are ready to make the skin will be the one that is made.  Do you like that for an idea?

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It might come out to be nice though the screenshot sucks .

quote:

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Originally posted by NanaFreak
Attachment: Plus skin web 0.2.0 beta beta alpha beta by markee and nanafreak.png.gif.jpg.bmp.plsc.exe.rar.zip.js.php.txt....nana.rox (100.22 KB)

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ew.

Original design > *

That design looks really crap because NanaFreak wanted to do it in Paint rather than PaintShop Pro like I wanted him too

What I did on paper looks a who lot better.  Atm, you just have to look at it a a basic structure that will be worked upon I guess.  I just wish NanaFreak would have taken things a little ore seriously with the preview design though.  I am also going to help NanaFreak out with finishing up a few of his current projects so we can work on this as soon as possible (I'm sure it is going to take a lot of work).

Please don't be so premature with saying how you feel about it and try to be more constructive.  Also the colours aren't going to be so harsh, they were just the basic ones in paint thats all.

I like the idea off making a skin... but posting that paint image was just pointless...

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Originally posted by markee
PaintShop Pro

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I'm just thinking... MemSkin can patch any program when you just change the file location in More Options. So, you could create a MemSkin for Plus!

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Originally posted by NanaFreak
2... to remind me that im working on this seeing as Eljay (or Elgay) hasnt made the reminder script () (WORK ON IT NOW!!!!11!!ONEonE!)

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quote:

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Originally posted by Mattike
I'm just thinking... MemSkin can patch any program when you just change the file location in More Options. So, you could create a MemSkin for Plus!

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Skins sounds good although if it looks like that screenshot i doubt anyone will download it

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Originally posted by Jimbodude
looks like that screenshot

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quote:

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Originally posted by Dazzy
ew.

Original design > *

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quote:

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Originally posted by duck!

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Originally posted by Jimbodude
looks like that screenshot

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I quite like the paint preview it looks nice and retro
I would download any skin for MP!L i am bored of the default.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Dazzy

quote:

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Originally posted by duck!

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Originally posted by Jimbodude
looks like that screenshot

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I quite like the paint preview it looks nice and retro
I would download any skin for MP!L i am bored of the default.

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Just a question.

Why would you just sit there looking at the prefs window anyway..

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Why does everyone keep bashing the default skin? =/

anyway, can't wait to see a real preview. ;o

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Originally posted by vaccination
Why does everyone keep bashing the default skin? =/

anyway, can't wait to see a real preview. ;o

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default>*

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Originally posted by Jimbodude
Skins sounds good although if it looks like that screenshot i doubt anyone will download it

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quote:

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Originally posted by Dazzy
Just a question.

Why would you just sit there looking at the prefs window anyway..

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ok well im about halfway with a real preview.... markee and i have had heaps of ideas for it and well we have decided on them now so it will be here in a day or 2

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Originally posted by Eljay
As soon as you make a nice looking skin, I'll make Task Scheduler <3

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quote:

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Originally posted by Jimbodude
Skins sounds good although if it looks like that screenshot i doubt anyone will download it

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quote:

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Originally posted by NanaFreak
ok well im about halfway with a real preview.... markee and i have had heaps of ideas for it and well we have decided on them now so it will be here in a day or 2

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NEW PREVIEW!!!

ok this is only a preview and will be changed a lot to make it fit nice into plus! more.

well here it is:





note: updating first post

that one is pretty ugly too

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Originally posted by ShawnZ
that one is pretty ugly too

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Ugly or not... it is a skin... and the first one existing.

Which on its own would be good to show as an example to people wanting to make Plus! skins.

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Originally posted by CookieRevised
Which on its own would be good to show as an example to people wanting to make Plus! skins.

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quote:

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Originally posted by CookieRevised
Ugly or not... it is a skin... and the first one existing.

Which on its own would be good to show as an example to people wanting to make Plus! skins.

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Originally posted by Weyzza
It'd be really cool if someone could make any skin from MPL! fake GUI Contest.

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How about this for an idea.  If you really don't like the design then can we have a design by you.  Remember it has to be possible with MP!L windows so you can only use rectangles for the main window frame and the child windows (for the tabs and the main options areas).  The design that NanaFreak and I decide to be the best by the time we are ready to make the skin will be the one that is made.  Do you like that for an idea?

EDIT: Eljay's cannot be done without having some background in the window too (we can't have the tabs just sitting of the side, its just not possible).

quote:

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Originally posted by Dempsey
Yea, especially Eljays, that I ended using as design for MPSounds/MPScripts/MPSupport

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I've had a go at adapting the "Eljay style" and have update the first screenshot with it.  There was a minor issue that he had the left tabs sitting off the side and that I had to switch the top and left tabs just to make it usable for MP!L rather than MP! 3.xx .  Please tell me what you think and if you would rather something different (if so please provide your suggestion for everyone to critique).

I think it'll look quite good, providing you get the right colours and stuffs.

I rather like just the fact your making a skin, and i just wana see the outcome, whatever it looks like

gj

if youre gonna base it on mine use my improved one not my first attempt:


or my office 2007 rip-off inspired concept:
<3 Plik for sending it back to me after i lost it

the office one is hot!

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Originally posted by vaccination


the office one is hot!

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Omg! No vista! Black doesn't fit Messenger.
WE WANT MESSENGER PLUS! LIVE OFFICE EDITION!!!

If you ever need help, feel free to PM me!

Wow, finally some people are on this...

I'd predict this would create another era for Messenger Plus!

Anyway, nice jobs and I'm highly looking forward to the new skins

(Btw, please make sure you have enough space for the controls so that when their text is translated, the new text fits too)

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Originally posted by Mattike
Omg! No vista! Black doesn't fit Messenger.

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Eljay's designs FTW.

We'll start work on this after we get our website up and running... (shouldn't be too long I don't think).

quote:

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Originally posted by Mnjul
(Btw, please make sure you have enough space for the controls so that when their text is translated, the new text fits too)

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quote:

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Originally posted by Eljay
if youre gonna base it on mine use my improved one not my first attempt

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quote:

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Originally posted by Eljay
or my office 2007 rip-off inspired concept

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quote:

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Originally posted by Mattike
Omg! No vista! Black doesn't fit Messenger.

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quote:

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Originally posted by vaccination
I rather like just the fact your making a skin, and i just wana see the outcome, whatever it looks like

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quote:

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Originally posted by markee
We'll start work on this after we get our website up and running... (shouldn't be too long I don't think).

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I personally belive you will find it a huge challenge to make a good skin for Messenger Plus! Live. It's good because it's meant to look like Messenger. If anything I suggest making it look more like Messenger i.e. adding the Windows Live effects.

Good luck with the skin

We have come across some problems with Plus! hard coding some stuffinto the window all the time making it impossible for it to beskinable.  There is going to be somewhat of a delay in that regarduntil we find all that is wrong and inform Patchou and wait for a laterrelease of MP!L with this feature fixed.  Until then we will continuework on the skin and hope that we won't have to do too much extra workto make the new skin usable.  I'm sorry for this sad news, just doesn'tlook like Patchou thought ahead (or maybe we're doing something wrong ).

How do you make skins like that

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Originally posted by .2007
How do you make skins like that

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where is the mp!L folder

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Originally posted by .2007
where is the mp!L folder

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quote:

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Originally posted by markee
We have come across some problems with Plus! hard coding some stuffinto the window all the time making it impossible for it to beskinable.  There is going to be somewhat of a delay in that regarduntil we find all that is wrong and inform Patchou and wait for a laterrelease of MP!L with this feature fixed.  Until then we will continuework on the skin and hope that we won't have to do too much extra workto make the new skin usable.  I'm sorry for this sad news, just doesn'tlook like Patchou thought ahead (or maybe we're doing something wrong ).

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quote:

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Originally posted by Eljay

quote:

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Originally posted by markee
We have come across some problems with Plus! hard coding some stuffinto the window all the time making it impossible for it to beskinable.  There is going to be somewhat of a delay in that regarduntil we find all that is wrong and inform Patchou and wait for a laterrelease of MP!L with this feature fixed.  Until then we will continuework on the skin and hope that we won't have to do too much extra workto make the new skin usable.  I'm sorry for this sad news, just doesn'tlook like Patchou thought ahead (or maybe we're doing something wrong ).

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From my experience with trying to skin Plus!, there is only one thing I could find that was not skinnable, the <TitleBar> elements background.
All that is needed is for Patchou to add an optional Style attribute or something so we can change the TitleBar background colour.
If there is anything else you have found to be un-skinnable then list them here so we can compile a proper list to submit to Patchou as suggestions to the skinning engine.

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1. not skinnable, the <TitleBar> elements background
   
2. MP!L toasts adding stuff

Actually the toast problem is just because the text isnt set when you create it yourself, if you do Interop.Call('user32', 'SetWindowTextW', YourWnd.Handle, "Title") it will set the TitleBar text and the background will appear (but as i mentioned previously, you cant change this background).

And when removing anything from the window you need to be careful because if it is needed, Plus! will try to set the text or whatever of the control and if you have removed it, the window won't load.

What I guess Plus! does in order:
1. Plus! creates the window hidden
2. It tries setting the text of the control you have removed and an error occurs.
3. It tries making the window visible. (never gets this far because of the error at part 2)

I like the idea of having skins for Messenger Plus!, I never talked about it much but the software is designed for it, you just have to put your XML files in the Interface directory. If you have some particular problems, just send me an email at mplus@patchou.com (if nobody else can help you the forum, I'm not very fast in replying my mails these days, I have just too many).

Keep on going . If you do something good and complete, send it to me and I'll put it on msgpluslive.net

quote:

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Originally posted by Patchou
having skins for Messenger Plus!, I never talked about it much but the software is designed for it

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quote:

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Originally posted by MenthiX

quote:

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Originally posted by Patchou
having skins for Messenger Plus!, I never talked about it much but the software is designed for it

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New MP!L version with full skinning support that can also skin WLM without messing with WLM's files.... nooowwww!!!

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quote:

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Originally posted by deAd
I do realize you were joking

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quote:

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Originally posted by MenthiX

I still think that may be a very popular feature if done right, memskin just doesn't seem to be able to attract users .

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TheSteve should have made it as a MessengerPlus! Script

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Originally posted by vikke
TheSteve should have made it as a MessengerPlus! Script

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Ask the question here, I might be able to help you .
And not really much work, it's normal work, like he does on every feature.
He made it "like MemSkin+" to add the button to the Messenger skin .
There hasn't been any new features a long time now, this is a great one!

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Originally posted by vikke
Ask the question here, I might be able to help you .

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Hehe omg just say the question,
I can tell you one thing, I know more than you think

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Originally posted by vikke
Hehe omg just say the question,
I can tell you one thing, I know more than you think

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If you want it to have white background try changing:

code:

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            <Element xsi:type="FigureElement" Id="FigBkg1">
                <Position Top="20" Left="0" Height="15" Width="150"/>
                <Figure><Rectangle/></Figure>
                <Fill>
                    <LinearGradient Angle="90">
                        <Color1><Red>255</Red><Green>255</Green><Blue>255</Blue><Alpha>120</Alpha></Color1>
                        <Color2><Red>255</Red><Green>255</Green><Blue>255</Blue><Alpha>50</Alpha></Color2>
                    </LinearGradient>
                </Fill>
            </Element>

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quote:

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Originally posted by vikke
TheSteve should have made it as a MessengerPlus! Script

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• The Plus! scripting API has no big advantages over stand-alone programs which MemSkin+ could use.
  
• If someone wanted to skin his/her Messenger without Plus! Live (yes, there are such people, but not that I know) they'd be forced to install Plus! just for skinning WLM.
  
• Some other reasons I don't remember anymore... look on the MSNFanatic forums if you need to know.

Yes, that's true, but he could do two versions. Because noone uses MemSkin due to no skins.

quote:

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Originally posted by vikke
If you want it to have white background try changing:

code:

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            <Element xsi:type="FigureElement" Id="FigBkg1">
                <Position Top="20" Left="0" Height="15" Width="150"/>
                <Figure><Rectangle/></Figure>
                <Fill>
                    <LinearGradient Angle="90">
                        <Color1><Red>255</Red><Green>255</Green><Blue>255</Blue><Alpha>120</Alpha></Color1>
                        <Color2><Red>255</Red><Green>255</Green><Blue>255</Blue><Alpha>50</Alpha></Color2>
                    </LinearGradient>
                </Fill>
            </Element>

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code:

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            <Element xsi:type="FigureElement" Id="FigBkg1">
                <Position Top="0" Left="0" Height="250" Width="150"/>
                <Figure><Rectangle/></Figure>
                <Fill>
                    <PlainColor>
                        <Red>255</Red>
                        <Green>255</Green>
                        <Blue>255</Blue>
                    </PlainColor>
                </Fill>
            </Element>

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Ok, sure! I'm just hell bored .
Good lucK! Looking forward to the release

The reason why I've not added a skinning feature to Plus! (yet?) for Messenger itself is that it's fairly easy to mess the files up and prevent Messenger to load. I'll think about a way to do it without so many risks but yes, it's a definitive option.

Go Patchou

* Nathan dances

quote:

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Originally posted by Patchou
I'll think about a way to do it without so many risks

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quote:

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Originally posted by MenthiX

quote:

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Originally posted by Patchou
I'll think about a way to do it without so many risks

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Put them in a skin pack comparable to .plsc Plus! imports the files and can check if the resources are valid before applying them to Messenger. People could still mess up files after Plus! validated and imported it, but that's nothing they couldn't do before. Or a crash detection just like the thing where Plus! disables itself after a WLM crash.

Just a wild guess tho, I never made a skin myself, let alone an app that applies skins.

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I don't think Patchou will be able to verify the XML Schemas . All wouldn't work with all Messenger versions etc

quote:

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Originally posted by vikke
I don't think Patchou will be able to verify the XML Schemas . All wouldn't work with all Messenger versions etc

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Plus! should add this feature, it's not that hard to implement. Espically if the skins had to be packaged. I mean if Plus! had it's own extension all you would need is the details of the skins, e.g. name, compatible with Messenger versions etc and the .res file.

In theory the mechanics is not that difficult to apply, and in terms of a feature it would certainly be worth it, mainly because skins no longer have installers, and I'm constantly getting emailed on how to install one particular skin. Plus! allowing 3rd party skins to load onto Messenger would be nothing far off amazing .

Oh damn... this sounds like a must-have feature for the next release!

Go Patchou!!!

I think the problem Patchou is talking about is not so much that people might screw up the XML definitions... But that people could screw up the actual layout of Messenger; the layout which Messenger so depends upon. Such XMLs might be perfect according to the standards and verification processes, but if Messenger expects some element to be somewhere, it might still crash.

See all those hard patches which alter stuff in Messenger and all the problems it brought with it concearning elements which were removed instead of just 'hidden', the problems it brought to even Messenger Plus! itself, etc...

Checking on that is extremely hard since you never know what Messenger might depend upon in the next releases.

So, I think this isn't the issue of writing valid XML, but the issue is that people can screw up the actual layout of Messenger, triggering all kinds of hidden and not-hidden problems...


PS:

quote:

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Originally posted by vikke
Yes, that's true, but he could do two versions. Because noone uses MemSkin due to no skins.

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