Your skin would be pretty dull if your contact list had white background, so I'm going to show you how to change the background to a background-image.

Start off by extracting Messenger's resources. If you already have, don't bother doing this again.
We need to edit a definition/style file in order to apply new styles, as the background-image isn't supported by default. So copy the 1001-definition  into your skins folder (msgres_4004_1001.txt) from your extraction folder.

Open it up in a text editor of choice, and do a search for "<BuddyList" you will hopefully come up with this line:

code:

---

<BuddyList id=atom(abView) Layout=FillLayout() CmdGroup=guid("{16E32D35-5350-4805-B7F0-5E782510AF6F}")/>

---

code:

---

<BuddyList id=atom(abView) Layout=FillLayout() CmdGroup=guid("{16E32D35-5350-4805-B7F0-5E782510AF6F}") background=rcbkd(59000)/>

---

code:

---

                <New>
                    <Pictures>
                        <Picture Id="59000">
                            <File>background.png</File>
                            <Metadata>
                                <UMLeft>1</UMLeft>
                                <UMRight>1</UMRight>
                                <UMTop>1</UMTop>
                                <UMBottom>1</UMBottom>
<Colorize>true</Colorize>
                            </Metadata>
                        </Picture>
                    </Pictures>
                </New>

---

code:

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<Replace><Windows><Definitions><Definition Id="10001"><File>1001.txt</file></Definition></Definitions></Windows></Replace>

---

i tried this but it didnt work.

Could you add to the tutorial the way to do it to add a cut-out, non-repeating image as the background

at the moment i can only get it to replace the contact list, not appear behind the contact list

using your first method works, but provides the same problem i had on the logon screen when using transparent backgrounded pngs

i've tried similar work-arounds but can't find the appropriate position to put the code in.

i went through the skininfo file for nightfall and found one more block of code needed to make this work the code is

quote:

---

           <Replace>
              <Windows>
                 <Definitions>
                 <Definition Id="947">                <File>BlueGradientdef.txt</File>
    </Definition>
    <Definition Id="1001">
                 <File>1001.txt</File>
                 </Definition>
    </Definitions>
                 <Styles>
                    <Style Id="947">
                        <File>BlueGradient.txt</File>
                    </Style>
                </Styles>
                </Windows>

---

Can someone explain this in basic terminology? I'm too newb to understand

Basically, you need to create a new picture and give it an ID. That ID then may be used in the UIFile.

1. Create a new skins directory under your Plus! skins directory. Name it whatever you want.

2. Make a new file named SkinInfo.xml under the skin's directory and save the code below in it.

code:

---

<SkinInfo>
  <Information>
    <Name>Skin Name</Name>
  </Information>
  <MessengerSkin>
    <ResGroup>
      <Restrictions>
        <MsgVersions>
          <Version Major="8" Minor="5"/>
        </MsgVersions>
      </Restrictions>
      <Resources>
        <New>
          <Pictures>
            <Picture Id="59000">
              <File>yourimage.png</File>
              <Metadata>
                <UMLeft>1</UMLeft>
                <UMRight>1</UMRight>
                <UMTop>1</UMTop>
                <UMBottom>1</UMBottom>
                <Colorize>true</Colorize>
              </Metadata>
            </Picture>
          </Pictures>
        </New>
        <Replace>
          <Windows>
            <Definitions>
              <Definition Id="1001">
                <File>msgres_4004_1001.txt</File>
              </Definition>
            </Definitions>
          </Windows>
        </Replace>
      </Resources>
    </ResGroup>
  </MessengerSkin>
</SkinInfo>

---

code:

---

<BuddyList id=atom(abView) Layout=FillLayout() CmdGroup=guid("{16E32D35-5350-4805-B7F0-5E782510AF6F}")/>

---

code:

---

<BuddyList id=atom(abView) Layout=FillLayout() CmdGroup=guid("{16E32D35-5350-4805-B7F0-5E782510AF6F}") background=rcbkd(59000)/>

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by djdannyp
...the way to do it to add a cut-out, non-repeating image as the background...

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Sunshine

quote:

---

Originally posted by djdannyp
...the way to do it to add a cut-out, non-repeating image as the background...

---

Instead of rcbkd use rcimg, rest is same.

---

I have no idea how you manage to make it do that, it works fine here (following the steps exactly). Maybe you can post your code (1001 and Skin Info relevant parts)?

the 59000 image is the one i use on my login screen too, so it's not a problem with that one

code:

---

<Definition Id="1001">
<File>1001 Definition.txt</File>
</Definition>

---

code:

---

<BuddyList id=atom(abView) Layout=FillLayout() CmdGroup=guid("{16E32D35-5350-4805-B7F0-5E782510AF6F}") background=rcimg(59000)/>

---

Does it work on your login screen? Do you have any metadata set for the image?

Some advice: don't put spaces in filenames, use an underscore(_) instead.

what has spaces in filenames got to do with anything sunny?

yeah, it works absolutely fine on my login screen, just sits nicely behind all the other elements on the screen......i don't have any metadata set at all, just the picture as is

also as for the spaces in filenames, this doesn't seem to cause any problem in XML, especially as they're in quotation marks anyway.....if it caused a problem I would change it

quote:

---

Originally posted by aNILEator
what has spaces in filenames got to do with anything sunny?

---

Nice tutorial, helped me alot creating my first skin



ps. Also, i want to make a option to have the background or not..

quote:

---

Originally posted by duck!
Also, i want to make a option to have the background or not..

---

Is it possible to make the contact list have a transparent background?

EDIT:

Nevermind, I figured it out after A LOTTTT of trial and error replacing strings and such. Finally I found out you need to:

1001 Style
Element[ID=Atom(ai558)]
Change to "Background:argb(128,255,255,255);" for a transparent white background ^_^.

quote:

---

Originally posted by davidpolitis

quote:

---

Originally posted by duck!
Also, i want to make a option to have the background or not..

---

Read the Skin Docs.

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by duck!

quote:

---

Originally posted by davidpolitis

the only does it for the sign in window
i want to make an option for the contact list =/

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I meant for you to read the skin docs for adding options. Anyway, add me on messenger if you need help

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nagamasa
Can someone explain this in basic terminology? I'm too newb to understand

---

can someone help me with this please?
tearsare.unspokenwords@hotmail.com

m4rt1n4 what exactly is the problem your having and ill try to help.

so my problem is i have nooo idea how to do it...
can u tell me the "for dummies" version?

quote:

---

Originally posted by m4rt1n4
so my problem is i have nooo idea how to do it...
can u tell me the "for dummies" version?

---

that wasnt too friendly thx anyways

Most people here are new to skinning like you and its best to read through the skinning documentation and look through the how to's to try and make your first skin if you do need help just ask and people will help you where possible

Oh once you have read the skinning documentatio n you may want to have a look at willz guide he is writing

What he's trying to say is that if you're new to computer development and techniques skinning is very advanced. And you don't really learn by having an example you don't understand, so start asking questions.
But I agree with you, this tutorial is pretty bad written, I'm sorry. It requires basic knowledge about skinning. Take my advice, read the documentation and start off with a more simple example. There's a dummies-proof chapter in the documentation on My First Skin.

m4rt1n4, i have added you to my contact list on messenger, i am lylatwars19 [at] hotmail [dot] com, as stated above we cannot write one of those "xxxxxxx for dummies" books on skinning its too vast and some things are just so complex that you cant really dumb them down easily.

however if your having trouble doing something specific then we can of course try to guide you through it, now then our conversation on messenger you said you wanted to change the background image in your skin, now im answering on here as its easier to control the layout on here than on msn.

in your skininfo file you need it to look roughly like this.

quote:

---

<SkinInfo xmlns="urn:msgpluskins"
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xsichemaLocation="urn:msgpluskins PlusSkins.xsd">
    <Information>
        <Name>test Skin</Name>
        <Description> A skin that has themes for all of your favourite TV Shows that you would put on your Sky+ Planner.</Description>
        <Version>1.00</Version>
        <Compatibility>
            <MsgVersion Major="8" Minor="5"/>
        </Compatibility>
        <TraceFile>true</TraceFile>
    </Information>

        <ResGroup>
            <Restrictions>
                <MsgVersions>
                    <Version Major="8" Minor="5"/>
                </MsgVersions>
            </Restrictions>
            <Resources>           
                <Replace>
                    <Graphics>
                        <Pictures>
                            <Picture Id="20061">
                                <File>Atlantis\Atlantis.png</File>
                                <Metadata>
                                    <UMLeft>5</UMLeft>
                                    <UMTop>5</UMTop>
                                    <UMRight>5</UMRight>
                                    <UMBottom>5</UMBottom>
                                </Metadata>
                            </Picture>
                        </Pictures>
                    </Graphics>
                </Replace>
            </Resources>
        </ResGroup>
       
    </MessengerSkin>
</SkinInfo>

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by keikonium
Is it possible to make the contact list have a transparent background?

EDIT:

Nevermind, I figured it out after A LOTTTT of trial and error replacing strings and such. Finally I found out you need to:

1001 Style
Element[ID=Atom(ai558)]
Change to "Background:argb(128,255,255,255);" for a transparent white background ^_^.

---

Probs can't do transparent, hence the grey (adds black behind the white)

It is sure that it can be transparent. Blessedguy has it on his Aurora live Messenger skin

check how he did is basilis, you see it could be a deception, lets say he cuts out a bit of his background thats supposed to cross the point where word wheel is normally located, then then sets background to use that image as opposed to a rgb value and viola you fake a transparency.

i am not saying thats how he did it but its a possible work around that might have been used.

argb = alpha, rgb

If you set the alpha to 0 you get complete transparency, if you set it to the highest(of which i can't remember the exact number) it will be completely opaque(not transparent)

therefore you need:

code:

---

Background:argb(0,255,255,255);

---

Thanks for that, but do you know exactly which element I have to edit in order t o have a transparent background in my contact list?

ok basilis where your going wrong is your using 1001 the actual contact list is in 1004 and 1009 style files for making that transparent, based on your earlier post i thought you were attempting word wheel transparency.

and heres the block your looking for

quote:

---

Element[id=atom(listitem)] // this element has been added in
{
    Background:argb(0,0,0,0); // added in
    Foreground:rgb(255,255,255); // 0,0,0
}

---

Thanks for trying to help but that didn't work either. This transparent background drives me crazy.

It's actually one of the easiest things in Skinning. It's like anything else. It's only about adding another style-attribute.

In the 1001 and 1004 definition change this line:

code:

---

<BuddyList id=atom(abView) Layout=FillLayout() CmdGroup=guid("{16E32D35-5350-4805-B7F0-5E782510AF6F}")/>

---

code:

---

<BuddyList id=atom(abView) Layout=FillLayout() CmdGroup=guid("{16E32D35-5350-4805-B7F0-5E782510AF6F}") background=argb(0, 0, 0, 0)/>

---

Fortunately I found it. Y ou have to make the background that way
argb(0,255,255,255) below the abLayout in the 1001style .I have been told that but I realized that the picture I was using was just a color so the change was not big. I tried to put a theme image and it worked. Thank you all for your help. Finally, this headache got out of my head.

I'm glad you sorted it out.

800th post!

Wouldn't simply putting/creating a "lvback.gif" file in WLM's folder be much simpler?

No, because giving that advice to every skin user is much more complicated that doing this (since it's automatically replaced my Messenger Plus! upon installation). Also you can give this picture meta-data, so it'll be stretch-able etc.

Ok, there's so many opinions here that I've gotten kind of lost. I want to make the background of my contacts slightly transparent. I know the alpha code I want, but I just can't figure out where to put it.

Open up the 1001 style file and find the element ai558 at the end of it. Change it background from rcbkd; to argb(125,255,255,255) and you will have the result you want.

Is it just that change? It won't work for me for some reason D: Even if I put it to (0,255,255,255) it won't go completely transparent. Also, I have a really busy background on the main skin on all the toasts and sign on window...Does that not go to the contacts table? I was sure it did because when I tried some things it wouldn't show the contact table and would instead show my background.

change it to (0,0,0,0)

I just tried that, nothing changed in the contact window. I'm wondering if something is interfering with it...do you have something changed in the definition file as well?

EDIT: Nvm..I don't know what I was doing wrong the other times, but now it works O.o

EDIT: Or I thought it did o.o now I can't get the contacts window to show up...ok, when it's rcbkg it works, but when I change it to argb it disappears...

quote:

---

Originally posted by Soardra
I just tried that, nothing changed in the contact window. I'm wondering if something is interfering with it...do you have something changed in the definition file as well?

EDIT: Nvm..I don't know what I was doing wrong the other times, but now it works O.o

EDIT: Or I thought it did o.o now I can't get the contacts window to show up...ok, when it's rcbkg it works, but when I change it to argb it disappears...

---

blessedguy, what you mewan is when you have your curser selected on a group or a contact and it has the blue highlighter bar with black text right? jason is the one who cracked that in our skin on the dark style files, if you go into my 365 skin and open up 923 Styles Dark and look for any blocks where colour is being set to (0,0,0) as that will refer to the bar in question, al our text in that specific file we made white to show up against the dark backgrounds.

quote:

---

Originally posted by stuartbennett
blessedguy, what you mewan is when you have your curser selected on a group or a contact and it has the blue highlighter bar with black text right? jason is the one who cracked that in our skin on the dark style files, if you go into my 365 skin and open up 923 Styles Dark and look for any blocks where colour is being set to (0,0,0) as that will refer to the bar in question, al our text in that specific file we made white to show up against the dark backgrounds.

---

Hey,Thanks to all about that help for making the background transparent ... but ... it's not working . Here is what i wrote :

Background:argb(120,13,97,200);

Please help me,it's very important

quote:

---

Originally posted by ResourcE
Hey,Thanks to all about that help for making the background transparent ... but ... it's not working . Here is what i wrote :

Background:argb(120,13,97,200);

Please help me,it's very important

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by Nagamasa

quote:

---

Originally posted by ResourcE
Hey,Thanks to all about that help for making the background transparent ... but ... it's not working . Here is what i wrote :

Background:argb(120,13,97,200);

Please help me,it's very important

---

If you've jacked the code from Vista Beta 5112, then you already have a transparent background...

Where did you put that code?

---