As the tittle says im new to skinning and new to codding.

1. How do you change the text colour of things? Eg the text colour of string "61288".

2. I have the code

code:

---

<String Id="698">%1 just sent you a
nudge. I strongly recommend nudging them back for revenge!</String>

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mattisdada
3. Would anyone like to test my skin so far for messenger 8.5? I dont have it so im a little helpless(I have 9).

---

So ive heard. Well, does anyone have 8.5 packages that they can send to me So i can at least START to develop for them?

By the way, thanks for the quick reply

Here is the skin so far with minor 8.5 changes. It might work.... but heres me doubting it.

And if anyone is wanting to use it for 9.0 or just wants to bug test it, feel free to add it.

Thanks

hey matt

i know that screenshot is early days yet but it looks pretty good so far, i think the custom scrollbars were a nice touch i may try to implement something like that in the next version of my skin as its a pretty cool idea.

i have zipped up the 8.5 resources for you and attached them to this post, however its a 4.52 megabyte file so depending on how fast your internet connection is it might take some time to download, also im not to sure on the size restrictions on this forum for file attachments so it might not attach.

EDIT:

as i feared it didnt attach due to the size of the file, however i have got your email address from your profile and have emailed the resources to you, i do have 8.5 installed over here on my dads pc so am happy to do some testing for you.

Any WLM 9.0 UIfile will only work under WLM 9.0. It is not backwards compatible nor will it be compatible with say wlm 9.5 or 10 (the next major version)

The same goes for 8.5. 8.5 UIfile code is for 8.5 only.

I've explained the reason why it is like that so many times that i can't be bothered now so if you really wanna know just look at my tutorial thread.

http://shoutbox.menthix.net/showthread.php?tid=79906

*Also even if you didn't touch UIFile code and only did image replaces it won't work properly since 9.0 has a lot of image ID changes.

thats very true wills, in my skin i have compatability for 8.5 and 9.0 in total i noticed that 3 images had different id's in 9.0 to what they were in 8.5 but some did stay the same. if he created 2 subfolders in his skins directory 1 for 8.5 and 1 for 9.0 puts the relevant versions uifiles in the corresponding directory and creates a resgroup for each version then it should work on both.

now willz is a skin tutorial expert so i do recommend taking a look at his tutorial cause even if the answers you need arent in there now they will be eventually.

Thanks for all the great replys .

@stuartbennett. Thanks for your comments and thanks for the resource files!

@Willz I did understand this, but, i was looking through some of the simpler skins made, and there was only 1 or 2 restriction changes.

Thanks alot guys!

But i really need the first 2 questions ansewer also(and the 4th one)

EDIT: And i dont plan on making a skin as complicated as yours willz(Very talented skinner you are, i havent acctually used it(since its not for 9) but i had a look through your scripting, very nice )

Oh, and to get you on your way maybe use a different editor, one with syntax highlighting!

My preference is notepad++ and I recommend that you use it

http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm

Keep at it

I like UltraEdit(UEStudio in specific). Its great! I didnt really like Notepad++ 5 years ago. I might give it another go now though, should've changend at least a bit..... but yes, i need to have my first 2(and 4th) questions ansewered

you cant edit the colour of a string just by itself, you need to find it in the UIFile code under the styles section and then use the foreground tag to change its colour for each and every instance (and thats if its there)

secondly, any string you replace is static and can not contain any dynamic content in it.

Ok thanks for that, so what if i have a heavly modified login page made by someone else, that didnt have it stated? What should i do?

quote:

---

Originally posted by mattisdada
Ok thanks for that, so what if i have a heavly modified login page made by someone else, that didnt have it stated? What should i do?

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by mattisdada
2. I have the code

code:

---

<String Id="698">%1 just sent you a
nudge. I strongly recommend nudging them back for revenge!</String>

---

Im using  %1 as thats the variable they use(in the file msglang_strings which is how you find what each string says and does) to stick in someones name on that string. But aparantly, it doesnt work like that with the skinInfo page, as when someone nudges me it says "%1" instead of the name.

---

As people have said you will need to edit the definiton/style files like I have done for my skin
I had to change some of the black text to white so that they will show up
It's just a case of going through the styles and definitons to find the part you want to change
The changes I made in mine were to the 1001 definition file in which i changed the colour of the status text and the PSM aswell as the main name you use I am use someone can appoint ou to the correct file you need to change the text in the contact list window

Hmmm, am i in the right file?

code:

---

urlelem[id=atom(idForgetMeBtn)]
{
    Content:"(Forget &me)";
    accname:"(Forget &me)";
    accdesc:"Remove my sign-in information from this computer";
    shortcut:rcchar(61291);
}
Checkbox[id=atom(idRememberPasswordChk)]
{
    text:"&Remember my password";
    accname:"&Remember my password";
    accdesc:"Remember my password on this computer";
    shortcut:rcchar(61295);
    accdefaction:"Press";
    Margin:rect(4,3,4,3);
}
Checkbox[id=atom(idMakeDefaultUserChk)]
{
    text:"Sig&n me in automatically";
    accname:"Sig&n me in automatically";
    accdesc:"Sign me in automatically";
    shortcut:rcchar(61298);
    accdefaction:"Press";
    Margin:rect(4,3,4,3);
}
element[id=atom(idSignInHint)]

---

I am also trying to work out ow to change the text colour there but the Messenger Beta is a picture as I changed it in mine

I found the picture for when your not in the login screen, but so far i havent found the image for the login screen. What ID is it?

The ID I used is 703

Thanks

Its ok no problem and if i work out how to change the rest of the text colours on that page I will let you know but I am sure someone who knows could tell you

Thanks that worked .


Hmmm, a problem i have found. 701, 703 and 706. Are the images for the login screen at the top(Where it says Windows Live Messenger Beta normally)but there also the images of the WLM toasts.....

So the question is, whats the id for the backround image of the toast? Or is it a coded gradient or something simaler? If so, how do you make it an image?

quote:

---

Originally posted by mattisdada
Hmmm, am i in the right file?

code:

---

urlelem[id=atom(idForgetMeBtn)]
{
    Content:"(Forget &me)";
    accname:"(Forget &me)";
    accdesc:"Remove my sign-in information from this computer";
    shortcut:rcchar(61291);
}
Checkbox[id=atom(idRememberPasswordChk)]
{
    text:"&Remember my password";
    accname:"&Remember my password";
    accdesc:"Remember my password on this computer";
    shortcut:rcchar(61295);
    accdefaction:"Press";
    Margin:rect(4,3,4,3);
}
Checkbox[id=atom(idMakeDefaultUserChk)]
{
    text:"Sig&n me in automatically";
    accname:"Sig&n me in automatically";
    accdesc:"Sign me in automatically";
    shortcut:rcchar(61298);
    accdefaction:"Press";
    Margin:rect(4,3,4,3);
}
element[id=atom(idSignInHint)]

---

---

Ohhh, thank you very much CookieRevised. I had a look through alot of the skinning documentation..... alot of it i didnt understand .

Well in the folder Windows, and in the folders definition and style. Neither of the 947 documents there had what i was looking for.

Could someone give me an example of changing the text colour on the login page for one of thouse?

ok matt heres what you do open up your 947 styles file the block of code you need to edit is on lines 545 - 549 im using a text editor that shows line numbers (notepad++)

the code will look like this

quote:

---

Element[class="CommonLabel"]
{
Fontface:rcstr(20071);
Fontsize:rcint(20102)pt;
}

---

quote:

---

Element[class="CommonLabel"]
{
Foreground:rgb (255,255,255);
Fontface:rcstr(20071);
Fontsize:rcint(20102)pt;
}

---

Consolidated Definitions are Fine, just not consolidated Styles.
Unless you plan on restricting only to your language.

Thanks for the great and VERY helpfull post stuartbennett!! You've helped alot with this skin!

Hmm, didnt APPEAR to change anything... sure its "common lable"?

Oh and for future reference, how do i find out what these are? For example, jsut say i wanted to change the text colour of the text colour of the [screen name] says: part.

Btw, my code was

code:

---

Element[class="CommonLabel"]
{
Foreground:rcclr(20740);
Fontface:rcstr(20953);
Foreground:rgb (255,255,255);
Fontsize:rcint(20958)pt;
}

---

your welcome matt anything to help, its just like patchou said in the skinning documentation - you can ask people for help in the forums should you need it, all we ask is that when you get some experience you help others on the things you know how to do.

well that wasnt his exact words but thats more or less what he was getting at and i strongly agree with him which is why im always happy to help where i can.

Very good work.(It didnt work, see above post).

Oh and i know exactly what you mean! At the Sv2 forums(support forums for metaBB(great forum engine ) im always theres helping any users i can.

in the 9.0 version of the 947 styles file its on lines 554 - 560, code is shown below

quote:

---

Element[class="CommonLabel"]
{
Foreground:rcclr(20740);
Fontface:rcstr(20953);
Fontsize:rcint(20958)pt;
foreground:rgb(0,0,0);
}

---

Nope didnt work.....

Heres link to skin, see if you can fix it.(This is before i tried doing it, so freash slate)

http://shoutbox.menthix.net/attachment.php?pid=875858

Note: Thank you so much!!! when i get to 100 posts ill rep you.

in your resgroup for 9.0 compatability you had listed 2 instances of the 947 styles file, because of that it didnt know which copy to use, ive fixed that but still getting no joy.

the only thing i can think of that stands out is this block of code from your universal resgroup

quote:

---

                    <Windows>
                        <Styles>
                            <Style Id="1004"><File>1004.style.txt</File></Style>
                            <Style Id="44104"><File>44104.style.txt</File></Style>
                            <Style Id="45704"><File>45704.style.txt</File></Style>
                        </Styles>
                    </Windows>

---

Yeah i DID have them, ive still gotta clean up my skin info. I might bring em back though.

And removing them and another one that wasnt needed(1009) anymore didnt seem to change anything...

Stuart has my fix issued to you last night caused any problems with the dashboard, mine is now making the today button invisible

i cannot get rid of the today button for love nor money but cannot get sharingfolders button to display at all

All of mine are there...

its nothing to worry about matt, in my skin i added an options panel to allow users to say whether they wanted the word wheel at the top or the bottom, as a result of doing that its causing problems with both mine and anils dashboard buttons where buttons will go invisible when they arent supposed to.

Thats werid.

SERIOUSLY GET MY FREAKING NAME RIGHT!!!!!!!

What is with people spelling it wrong all the time now

My username is aNILEator my real name is Nile, just choose one and please don't mix about the CAPitals or change some letters about or whatever the hell is going on next

PS. Patchou is the worst I think

There just seems to be some really weird issues with 1001 Definition editing, Mine's playing up on random usually it's fine though, and the buttons haven't been "invisiblising" themselves in a while

Yeah theres this werid thing with the skinning engine, i have NO idea what goes wrong. But you change something, and then the skin just stops working completly, and i have to restore it. But nothing changes..... Its so werid, it has happened 3 times now.

But oh well. and

quote:

---

Originally posted by mattisdada
Yeah that wasnt what i was suggesting I was suggesting  more what i posted after he asked for examples

But yeah, the Plus! Options thing is going to be hard for me. Ill give it a go, see what i can do.

Well ive got this far

Ive added in the option

code:

---

<Options><Skin>       
   
        <Properties>
           
            <BoolVal Name="Funny">
                <DispLabel>Add In Humour</DispLabel>
                <DispHelp>Tick to replace certain words in messenger with funnier

things.</DispHelp>
                <Default>false</Default>
            </BoolVal>
        </Properties>       
         
       
    </Skin></Options>

---

And i know i have to add this somewhere in a deffinition file

code:

---

<*PlusSkin Conditions(Funny = true) *></*PlusSkin*>

---

Thats about as far as ive got. I have no idea where to put that file for strings and what not.

---

No it's all in the strings file yeah, take a look at how Sunny activates her options in the SkinInfo, you'll simple need your option to activate the strings replacement section in SkinInfo you shouldn't even need to touch the defs or styles for that

So put <*PlusSkin Conditions(Funny = true) *></*PlusSkin*> in SkinInfo?


I tried that it stuffed up.... maybe i stuffed up.. ill have another go.

EDIT: Yeah didnt work.... ill download sunny's skin and have a look at how she did it.

matt the easiest way i think of doing this is first plan your changes, go to the strings and colours folder of your messenger resources in there is a file called "msglang_strings.txt" now then go through this file writing down the id's of the strings you want to replace.

once youve done that open your skininfo file, i will assume that as your supporting 2 versions of messenger you have 2 seperate resgroups 1 for 9.0 and one for 8.5 yes?

if that is the case i need you to duplicate them so that you have 2 resgroups for 8.5 and 2 for 9.0, youll have the following groups

• 8.5 funny false
  8.5 funny true
  9.0 funny false
  9.0 funny true

quote:

---

        <!-- ResGroup for 8.5 funny true-->
        <ResGroup>
            <Restrictions>
                <MsgVersions>
                    <Version Major="8" Minor="5"/>
                </MsgVersions>
                <SkinOptions>
                    <OptionSet>
                        <BoolVal Name="Funny">true</BoolVal>
                    </OptionSet>
                </SkinOptions>
            </Restrictions>
            <Resources>

---

DIdnt work.... but at least it didnt error...

code:

---

<ResGroup>
            <Restrictions>
                <MsgVersions>
                    <Version Major="9" Minor="0"/>

                </MsgVersions>
            <SkinOptions>
<OptionSet>
<BoolVal Name="Funny">true</BoolVal>
<String Id="708">You cannot send a nudge to your contact because they're using a version of Messenger

that does not support this feature.</String>
</OptionSet>
</SkinOptions>
            </Restrictions>

---

firstly get the start of each resgroup to look like this

quote:

---

<!-- ResGroup for 8.5 funny true-->
<ResGroup>
<Restrictions>
<MsgVersions>
<Version Major="8" Minor="5"/>
</MsgVersions>
<SkinOptions>
<OptionSet>
<BoolVal Name="Funny">true</BoolVal>
</OptionSet>
</SkinOptions>
</Restrictions>
<Resources>

---

quote:

---

</New>
<Replace>
<Strings>
<String id="708">You cannot send a nudge to your contact because they're using a version of Messenger that does not support this feature.
</string>
</strings>
<Windows>
Definitions>

---

quote:

---

<String id="708">You cannot send a nudge to your contact because they're using a version of Messenger that does not support this feature.
</string>

---

So by the <BoolVal Name="Funny">true</BoolVal> being in that group it will check if thats true?

yes thats correct and you do a false version in the false groups, when you run a skin it first looks at the compatability tag to see if its compatable with your messenger if it is it looks for a resgroup for your version, in your skin itll find 2 of them it then looks at the 2 the false one and true one see if youve ticked the funny tickbox if you have it runs the true resgroup if you havent it runs the false resgroup.

Yay it worked.

Thank you SOOOO much for all your fantastic help. If i do release this skin i will defintly put your name in the who did it thing.

thanks mattis i really appreciate that, it was a pleasure to help.

Ok, so everything is working. Now i just need some ideas for things to replace. Anyone got any ideas?

Everything absolutely everything MWAHAHAHAHA!!!

HIS MAD!

Oh and when i said "what should i replace"

I meant replacing strings for funnys .

Eg.
"You should never give out your password or credit card number"
becomes
"You should never give out your password or credit card number, or unless you want to be scammed and robbed.... then please, send them immediately  to me at www.RRElive.com "

"Your messege could not be deliverd to all recipents."
becomes
"The message could not be delivered to all recipients, please check your number and try again."

"[name] has just sent a nudge"
becomes
"[name] just sent you a nudge. I strongly recommend nudging them back for revenge!"

Ive got tones more allready

Yeah I gave up on strings replacement, I edited the whole strings.txt then realised I gotta do each one separately in SkinInfo Beaver and Steve Skin was designed to have lots of strings changed to include the word "unfeasible" "adventure" "Beaver says" "Blame Steve"

"There appears to be a problem with your connection. Blame Steve"
"Beaver says that you're about to send a potentially dangerous file"
"Your contact appears to be away. Maybe they're having an unfeasible adventure"

etc. You get the drift,

In the comic beaver is fairly sensible and almost like a mother figure to Steve who will most likely conduct a science experiment that will go horribly wrong, or bake a demon summoning cake or 2, so my edits played on their traits

Hahah cool as!

I wish you could just use the index, itd make the whole process a bit quicker. But meh, you just have to add <String Id=""> and </String> to it...

My Status away one is"%1 is %2. But we all know there lying,there on there but just ignoring you... nudge em!"(%1 name)(%2 status)

Your spelling and grammar is terrible then

Shhh, its not that bad! . Its spelt right in my officiall one.

Hehe, i just made my "[name] is typing..." thing. To "%1 is writing a detailed plan to rule the world."

Anyone ever find a solution to mattisdada's problem with editing the colours of the strings on the logon window?

I am looking specifically to change the colour of the "Remember me" "Remember my password" and "Sign me in automatically" strings. I changed the element ComonLabel, but that only changed the colour of the "E-mail address:" and "Sign in as <status>" strings. I've tried editing everything else in the 947 Style that has anything to do with font but none seem to change the strings I want.

Help please (Smilie)

Using 8.5 btw.

quote:

---

Originally posted by vaccination
Anyone ever find a solution to mattisdada's problem with editing the colours of the strings on the logon window?

I am looking specifically to change the colour of the "Remember me" "Remember my password" and "Sign me in automatically" strings. I changed the element ComonLabel, but that only changed the colour of the "E-mail address:" and "Sign in as <status>" strings. I've tried editing everything else in the 947 Style that has anything to do with font but none seem to change the strings I want.

Help please (Smilie)

Using 8.5 btw.

---

quote:

---

61288=Remem&ber me
61289=Saves your e-mail address and status on this computer
61291=(Forget &me)
61294=Remove my sign-in information from this computer
61295=&Remember my password

---

quote:

---

Checkbox[id=atom(idRememberMeChk)]
{
text:rcstr(61288);
accname:rcstr(61288);
accdesc:rcstr(61289);
shortcut:rcchar(61288);
Margin:rcrect(20048);
Foreground:rgb(255,255,255); // added in
}

---

quote:

---

Checkbox[id=atom(idRememberPasswordChk)]
{
text:rcstr(61295);
accname:rcstr(61295);
accdesc:rcstr(61296);
shortcut:rcchar(61295);
accdefaction:rcstr(20068);
Margin:rcrect(20048);
Foreground:rgb(255,255,255); // added in
}

---

Ah, thanks! The ids is just what I needed, thanks again.

your welcome vaccination glad i could help.

Thanks Staurat!! TGhat helped me alot!(I sorta paused my skin devolpment for a bit, i got a book on php and mysql coding for christmas... sorta distracted me )

your welcome mattisdada, you see me and jason just keep playing with thing, we are very curios about what things do we also have big ideas we may not know how to do them at first but we have great fun trying to find the solutions ourselves, its great cause we keep emailing each other skin packs so if we break something we can you reload the last working skinpack from before we messed up

we have learned alot about skinning in the past few weeks and continue to learn and of course we are both happy to share whatever we learn with anyone who needs our help.

Awesome! . Your help is always apriccated

your welcome mattisdada its nice to be appreciated and to get that warm fuzzy feeling inside from knowing i have helped someone. for years now ive also looked up to people like cokkierevised etc because they were helpful in areas where i couldnt be and always felt bad about not being as smart as them, now that ive exceled in an area of messenger plus i now strive to make up for years of not being able to contribute help.