Shoutbox

Hi everyone,

I don't know if what I'm about to say is already known in the community, but the fancy new layout MS implemented in MSN6 is scripted. They quickly put together an easy syntax, and added plain text files as resources to the executable (partially XML). This may become a new hobby for some, because one is able to completely (and I mean completely) change the look of conversation windows (and possibly the main window). A new form of skinning could be born .

Neway, enjoy and for those who are curious, take a look (but don't break anything).

Greetz

PS. I found this thx to a friend of mine, so I take no credit whatsoever...

whers the xml sheet 4 convo windows? i kno all about tabs but nuthing else

Theres a lot of cool tricks to be done with MSN 6 scripting it's quite good fun most things can customisied very easily

HAH like that sad attampt over at xhaust, or whatever, he made that msn Xp 6 skin or whatever.  but what he forgot to do, is tell people that the windows don't actually look like that, you gotta get your own backround, lol, and go threw all the contacts and change'em... very lame.  but if someone could come up with an idea to change all the IM windows at once, i think they'd get more people trying to get there source code

Let me know when someone comes up with something, im keen to sample

how do i modify chat windwos with it. i hav only foudn 1 .xml file 4 msn 6 so im guessing its part of teh .exe 2 change chat windows. if so, how do i open it so i can modfiy it?

the .xml?  well notepad is good

First, the xp skin doesn't change any xml, just images.

Second, you can change the bg for all default windows at once through the menus in the contact list.

Awsome!!

Okay, a little more information then, since people seem to be confused.

The script (one of several) resides in the executable (that is "msnmsgr.exe").
- It is a plain text file, having the word "ui" in the resource identifier.
- It contains XML and an MS UI script.
- It contains the full layout of the chat windows (and possibly others, I haven't checked it out completely yet).
- thus: It allows users (or programmers for that matter) to change the look & feel of chat windows (and others?). For example: stretch the avatar and re-arrange the buttons.
- It relies upon a .tlb and a .dll (both ui-related) that handle some part or every part of ui design, skin loading (images and script), skin drawing, skin callbacks, I don't know.

Please, don't start asking to much questions, I don't know anything yet because I haven't examined it for myself yet. For those that know something about resources, get yourself a resource editor (www.google.com) and look for the file.

The script is easy and mostly self-explanatory, so have fun.

Greetz