[Suggestion] Skin previewer - Printable Version
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+----- Thread: [Suggestion] Skin previewer (/showthread.php?tid=89227)
[Suggestion] Skin previewer by DennisMartijn on 02-17-2009 at 09:23 AM
Yup. Have a build-in skin-previewer.
The preview window will continue to reload the skin, so after each saved edit it auto-reloads to preview. No need to login, the previewer draws seperate windows you get to choose.
Example. You are so tired of the advertisement at the bottom of the contact list, but you aren't entirely sure how to remove it. You use the previewer, fool around with the skin files, save, and just a few seconds later you see what you did in the previewer.
The previewer should also have error-replacement - Meaning if some element(s) aren't properly coded to be drawn, then the preview window will be a plain color with the text (just an image): "Unable to preview. Please check .....xml/txt/uib/etc and correct the problem" (or similar).
Then I get to another idea. You click on a part of the window in the previewer, and the previewer then tells you what files are related to that part. It will spin out the UI files related, but aswell the image file in question. If you get to preview the default look of messenger aswell that way, it will be alot easier for skinners to know what to edit.
Discuss.
RE: [Suggestion] Skin previewer by djdannyp on 02-17-2009 at 09:38 AM
I'd be massively behind this idea
It'd be so much better than having to load a new instance of messenger and sign in with a dummy account each time.
There could be huge limitations behind it......but I'd really like to see something like this, even if very basic at first, introduced into Messenger Plus! Live
Version 5's big new feature perhaps?
RE: [Suggestion] Skin previewer by ryxdp on 02-17-2009 at 10:05 AM
Hmm...Do we know how to parse the UIBs properly? This is the first question that should be asked before anything is started; we wouldn't be able to start anyway without a "Yes" for this.
RE: [Suggestion] Skin previewer by Willz on 02-17-2009 at 11:09 AM
quote:
Originally posted by DennisMartijn
Yup. Have a build-in skin-previewer.
The preview window will continue to reload the skin, so after each saved edit it auto-reloads to preview. No need to login, the previewer draws seperate windows you get to choose.
Example. You are so tired of the advertisement at the bottom of the contact list, but you aren't entirely sure how to remove it. You use the previewer, fool around with the skin files, save, and just a few seconds later you see what you did in the previewer.
The previewer should also have error-replacement - Meaning if some element(s) aren't properly coded to be drawn, then the preview window will be a plain color with the text (just an image): "Unable to preview. Please check .....xml/txt/uib/etc and correct the problem" (or similar).
Then I get to another idea. You click on a part of the window in the previewer, and the previewer then tells you what files are related to that part. It will spin out the UI files related, but aswell the image file in question. If you get to preview the default look of messenger aswell that way, it will be alot easier for skinners to know what to edit.
Discuss.
Too many variables to deal with and would be a pain to update for every new build of Messenger. Somehow I don't think Patchou would invest the time in something like this with other stuff that could be done.
RE: [Suggestion] Skin previewer by blessedguy on 02-17-2009 at 04:32 PM
quote:Thought the same =P
Originally posted by Willz
Too many variables to deal with and would be a pain to update for every new build of Messenger. Somehow I don't think Patchou would invest the time in something like this with other stuff that could be done.
But wouldn't it be possible to reload messenger resources without the need to login?
Only closing the window, for example.
(Like if you are editing the ConvoWindow, so you would activate a "test mode" in your skininfo and Plus! would load that window's resources everytime it is opened...)
RE: RE: [Suggestion] Skin previewer by Willz on 02-17-2009 at 11:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by blessedguy
quote:Thought the same =P
Originally posted by Willz
Too many variables to deal with and would be a pain to update for every new build of Messenger. Somehow I don't think Patchou would invest the time in something like this with other stuff that could be done.
But wouldn't it be possible to reload messenger resources without the need to login?
Only closing the window, for example.
(Like if you are editing the ConvoWindow, so you would activate a "test mode" in your skininfo and Plus! would load that window's resources everytime it is opened...)
I've talked to Patch about quick reloading a skin in the past and he has said that there are issues and that not all resources can be reloaded that way. I'm not sure how it would even work with UIB in the picture now.
RE: [Suggestion] Skin previewer by blessedguy on 02-17-2009 at 11:15 PM
quote:nice to know =)
Originally posted by Willz
I've talked to Patch about quick reloading a skin in the past and he has said that there are issues and that not all resources can be reloaded that way. I'm not sure how it would even work with UIB in the picture now.
who knows... maybe he discovers some way to do it =D
RE: [Suggestion] Skin previewer by Nathan on 02-17-2009 at 11:56 PM
I don't see why (as mentioned previously) you can't load another instance of messenger (with the new theme), and login using a fake email address (one that you supply, maybe?).
Nothing can go wrong with that, really...
RE: [Suggestion] Skin previewer by blessedguy on 02-18-2009 at 12:00 AM
quote:Yeah, that's right. but its still opening Messenger again... and then closing it again... it is OK but a quicker way would be welcome =)
Originally posted by Nathan
I don't see why (as mentioned previously) you can't load another instance of messenger (with the new theme), and login using a fake email address (one that you supply, maybe?).
Nothing can go wrong with that, really...
RE: RE: [Suggestion] Skin previewer by Willz on 02-18-2009 at 12:04 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Nathan
I don't see why (as mentioned previously) you can't load another instance of messenger (with the new theme), and login using a fake email address (one that you supply, maybe?).
Nothing can go wrong with that, really...
We can already do that ourselves
its called a testing account. What people want is a way to do it without having to constantly launch messenger.
RE: [Suggestion] Skin previewer by Th3rmal on 02-18-2009 at 12:06 AM
quote:Its just time consuming and repetitive, thats the problem. I think they are looking for a fast way to see changes. For example if you change something really small in your skin, you dont want to exit and reload WLM just to see it, it just gets annoying after a while.
Originally posted by Nathan
Nothing can go wrong with that, really...
RE: [Suggestion] Skin previewer by blessedguy on 02-18-2009 at 12:13 AM
quote:Worse is when something you've done just freezes messenger, then you force-close it, and you forgot to disable that thing in registry, and then, you have to enable scripts and skins all over again! =D
Originally posted by Th3rmal
quote:Its just time consuming and repetitive, thats the problem. I think they are looking for a fast way to see changes. For example if you change something really small in your skin, you dont want to exit and reload WLM just to see it, it just gets annoying after a while.
Originally posted by Nathan
Nothing can go wrong with that, really...
RE: [Suggestion] Skin previewer by coolzee on 02-18-2009 at 01:14 AM
I would like a skin previewer, if its not possible, then its okay. I can live without it.
RE: RE: RE: [Suggestion] Skin previewer by DennisMartijn on 02-18-2009 at 08:04 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Willz
quote:
Originally posted by blessedguy
quote:Thought the same =P
Originally posted by Willz
Too many variables to deal with and would be a pain to update for every new build of Messenger. Somehow I don't think Patchou would invest the time in something like this with other stuff that could be done.
But wouldn't it be possible to reload messenger resources without the need to login?
Only closing the window, for example.
(Like if you are editing the ConvoWindow, so you would activate a "test mode" in your skininfo and Plus! would load that window's resources everytime it is opened...)
I've talked to Patch about quick reloading a skin in the past and he has said that there are issues and that not all resources can be reloaded that way. I'm not sure how it would even work with UIB in the picture now.
Well, I think it is certainly worth the try. Messenger can - of course - skin itself. Messenger isn't just a .exe, but it's also a load of .dll's. If the important dll's can be used by Plus!, and if necessary even a stripped down msnmsgr.exe, then it wouldn't be that hard for coders, would it?
RE: [Suggestion] Skin previewer by Nagamasa on 03-26-2009 at 03:18 AM
A skin preview will DEFINITELY help! It sometimes become a routine to click the same thing a million times...quite a hassle.
But of course, I'm still skinning, so I can live without it.
RE: [Suggestion] Skin previewer by Blah.Kid on 04-17-2009 at 01:33 AM
this is a great idea.