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Create Windows Live Messenger 9 Skins.
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TheSteve
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O.P. Create Windows Live Messenger 9 Skins.
For those who don't care for reasoning, I'll get straight to the point.  From there I will explain further.

In order to use skins for WLM 9, you need to add a special key to the registry.
Option 1:
Step 1:  Open regedit and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft
Step 2:  Create a new key called "DUIDebug". Without the quotes of course.
Step 3:  Inside the DUIDebug key, create a DWORD value called "Binary"
Step 4:  Set Binary to 0
Step 5:  Restart messenger and any changes you make to the XML in msgsres.dll should take effect.

Option 2:
Step 1: Download and import the attached registry file.
Step 2: Restart messenger and any changes you make to the XML in msgsres.dll should take effect.


Ok, for those of you still reading, here's the deal.  Starting with Windows Live Messenger 9 (it's technically WLM 14, but yeah), the user interface XML is no longer loaded by default. Instead messenger is using a binary format to put together the interface.  While we are still examining this binary format (the easy part is done, just the hard part leff :P), however until we create an easier way to edit this binary information, I have discovered a hidden UI debugging mode which forces messenger to load the UI directly from the XML rather using this new method.  Because this is a debug feature, it probably will not be included in the final version of messenger.  So expect this to change.  Once we've got all the needed information we intend to share it with everyone. 

Thanks.

.zip File Attachment: DUIDebug.zip (276 bytes)
This file has been downloaded 1077 time(s).
09-20-2008 02:38 PM
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warmth
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RE: Create Windows Live Messenger 9 Skins.
lot of thanks dude...
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09-20-2008 06:59 PM
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ipab
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RE: Create Windows Live Messenger 9 Skins.
If you guys installed Sopair, this change is already made, and is left on, even after you uninstall for the sake of not conflicting with other patches.
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09-20-2008 07:03 PM
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Basilis
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RE: Create Windows Live Messenger 9 Skins.
Great work TheSteve. :) You are amazing!
[Image: logo1nu1.png]
09-20-2008 07:16 PM
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Ahmad
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RE: Create Windows Live Messenger 9 Skins.
Thanks TheSteve, I appreciate it. Gave you a shoutout on my website and included your name in A-Patch wo0t :p

This post was edited on 09-21-2008 at 03:00 AM by Ahmad.
09-21-2008 03:00 AM
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TheSteve
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O.P. RE: Create Windows Live Messenger 9 Skins.
At first glance, the newest build of messenger appears to have removed the DUIDebug. 

In this version UIB has changed from version 4 to version 5 bringing a shuffle of the "machine code" used to generate the UI.  So I don't currently have any documentation that will work for this version.  I will try and find some time to work it out.
12-16-2008 06:47 AM
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Basilis
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RE: Create Windows Live Messenger 9 Skins.
Sure Steve. Your work is highly appreciated anyway. :)
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12-16-2008 01:58 PM
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warmth
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RE: Create Windows Live Messenger 9 Skins.
quote:
Originally posted by TheSteve
At first glance, the newest build of messenger appears to have removed the DUIDebug. 

In this version UIB has changed from version 4 to version 5 bringing a shuffle of the "machine code" used to generate the UI.  So I don't currently have any documentation that will work for this version.  I will try and find some time to work it out.
I hope you find a way to do it dude... (yn)
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12-16-2008 02:47 PM
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Guena
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RE: Create Windows Live Messenger 9 Skins.
In the last build a skin can change a picture. For example the mail button as you can see on the screenshot.

[Image: SkinRC.png]
12-17-2008 04:09 PM
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warmth
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RE: Create Windows Live Messenger 9 Skins.
replace resources are not the main goal Guena... the important thing is to modify the whole XML code to add icons (MP!L icon for example), make real modifications of WLM UI, etc...
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12-17-2008 04:23 PM
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