Shoutbox

Quick Question:

Plus! uses the <Compatibility> tags to gray out the skins that don't work with a certain version of Messenger, correct?

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If so, shouldn't a skin must have at least 1 Messenger version under the <Compatibility> tag? It could give a user who isn't paying much attention to the skin compatibility mentioned in the skins database some trouble, or perhaps they do not know which version of Messenger they have. Perhaps this thread could be avoided if Compatibility tag was mandated.

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Originally posted by Nagamasa
Quick Question:

Plus! uses the <Compatibility> tags to gray out the skins that don't work with a certain version of Messenger, correct?

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Yes you are right...

quote:

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Originally posted by Nagamasa
If so, shouldn't a skin must have at least 1 Messenger version under the <Compatibility> tag?

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Yes it must... do you have any skin that doens't have compatibility info in the skininfo file??? wich one???

quote:

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Originally posted by Nagamasa
Plus! uses the <Compatibility> tags to gray out the skins that don't work with a certain version of Messenger, correct?

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Yes (and disable apply skin in the import window).

quote:

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Originally posted by Nagamasa
a skin must have at least 1 Messenger version under the <Compatibility> tag?

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Technically it isn't required, when you leave out <Compatibility> completely Plus! will assume it's compatible with any Messenger version.

quote:

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Originally posted by Nagamasa
It could give a user who isn't paying much attention to the skin compatibility mentioned in the skins database some trouble

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True. When checking skins submitted to the db i try to always check if the <Compatibility> tag is used, if it isn't i ask the creator to add it.

quote:

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Originally posted by Nagamasa
Perhaps this thread could be avoided if Compatibility tag was mandated.

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Doubt it. As far as i know all skins in the DB already use the <Compatibility> tag. The problem is that Plus! isn't clear enough IMHO. When a skin is incompatible users can still import it, just the option to apply the skin directly is disabled and in the preferences the skin name is grayed out. You can still apply the skin if you wish, mainly for skin creators testing purposes.
When users see the skin import window and press ok they assume the skin was imported successfully, and when they look in the preferences it isn't clear why the text is grayed out. A nice incompatible warning which shows which Messenger version the user is currently using, which Messenger version(s) the skin is compatible with and a link to the official Messenger download site may be a good improvement.

EDIT: If a incompatible warning is added, link it to microsoft.com/downloads instead of the live.com site. Live.com fails to show version numbers, microsoft.com shows 8.5 as "Version 2008" but at least that's something.

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Originally posted by warmth

quote:

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Originally posted by Nagamasa
If so, shouldn't a skin must have at least 1 Messenger version under the <Compatibility> tag?

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Yes it must... do you have any skin that doens't have compatibility info in the skininfo file??? wich one???

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I had a very old version of Duck! Live...(or maybe I accidentally took out that part )

quote:

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Originally posted by MenthiX
Doubt it. As far as i know all skins in the DB already use the <Compatibility> tag. The problem is that Plus! isn't clear enough IMHO. When a skin in incompatible users can still import it, just to option to apply the skin directly is disabled and in the preferences the skin name is grayed out. You can still apply the skin if you wish, mainly for skin creators test purposes.
When users see the skin import window and press ok they assume the skin was imported successfully, and when they look in the preferences it isn't clear why the text is grayed out. A nice incompatible warning which shows which Messenger version the user is currently using, which Messenger version(s) the skin is compatible with and a link to the official Messenger download site may be a good improvement.

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That would be useful. Perhaps having an extra pop-up saying that it is not compatible would help.

I have Windows Live Messenger 8.1 (8.1.0178.00) and none of the skins work!
Why nobody makes skins for WLM 8.1??!

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Originally posted by dexter1992
Why nobody makes skins for WLM 8.1?

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Because 8.1 is an old version. It takes skinners a lot of time to make their skins work with multiple versions, so most will only make it for the latest public version (8.5).

You can download WLM 8.5 from http://get.live.com/messenger, most skins will work with that.