[DEV] SkinPlugin

[McBainUK]

Yeah, when the slick view is used in the video or music plugin. Then list-background.png (currently located in the relevant plugin folder) gives the frame and curved line on the screen and it would be quite useful to be able to alter that for different themes.

Would it be one choice for both music and video or individually selectable?

[Hairy]

Would it be one choice for both music and video or individually selectable?

The same graphic would work for both, but presently it'd have to be copied into both the video library and music library folders. We could move the reference to the _CoreImages folder (in the xmls)and only need one copy, but that might break compatibility with sub's Blue xml formatting. Fatman_do might want to weigh in on that one.

[Hairy]

I was wondering if the task images list in the resource folder could be trimmed. Of the attached below what can be cut while still leaving enough options to cover the plugins. Obviously the double ups can go, but things like cinema and video actually use the same graphic.

[McBainUK]

I did have a list of Task images but seem to have lost it. The idea was to split up thje plugins into categories and have a task image for each (and the ability to have custom ones for each plugin).

In the current theme Cinema and Video use the same graphic but this wouldn't always be the case - as they could be quite different.

Fatman_do: I think the task image list used to be in the _docs folder of the old SkinPlugin - do you still have a copy?

[McBainUK]

Fatman_do/Hairy: Can you think of a sensible EditableSkinItem name for this list-background.png? My first thought was "SlickListBackground". Options?

[McBainUK]

Like merge the "MoreItemsButtons" and the "UpDownButtons" folders into a "NavigationIndicators or Indicators " folder with (more?) up/down/left/right graphics and let the plugin copy/duplicate/rename the relevant graphics needed to maintain compatibility with sub'd Blue.

Looking at the common images list I think these are separate because the UpDownButtons are actual buttons while the MoreItemsButtons (should be renamed as are not actually buttons) are just left / right arrows.

Am I right in thinking that for more items up/down then you use the Up/Down buttons? Not all plugins have these as actual buttons mind so it doesn't make sense to make them look like buttons. So perhaps they could be merged into one EditableSkinItem - with a name like "ListIndicators" or something. And the files it edits are: More_Left.png, More_Right.png, Up.pnd and Down.png.

...???

[Hairy]

Fatman_do/Hairy: Can you think of a sensible EditableSkinItem name for this list-background.png? My first thought was "SlickListBackground". Options?

Yeah I'd go with something like that, and rename the old listbackground selection to Listview.

Oh and I really did do a poor job of explaining the new list-background.png and how it's used in slick, sorry :o

You've probably got what I was getting at, but for clarity:

The new Slick view in the three main plugins (music/vid/pic) use as graphic called list-background.png. It can be different for each plugin and is kept and referenced in each respective plugin folder. The graphic is used like the background mask.png in the main menu.

It would be cool if, from the skin plugin different list-background.png's could be selected for different Slick layouts and different themes. How exactly we go about that I'm not sure and that's why I raised it (poorly :o). To maintain compatibility with sub's blue each list-background.png should be placed in the plugin's folder.

You could have a slicklistbackground folder in the plugin that contains themed folders (like CS_Blue, reflect, glow) with a set of the three graphics needed in each, say list-background_picture, list-background_music and list-background_video. When the user selects a themed list-background all three are loaded into their relevant plugin folders in the community skin.

[Hairy]

So perhaps they could be merged into one EditableSkinItem - with a name like "ListIndicators" or something. And the files it edits are: More_Left.png, More_Right.png, Up.pnd and Down.png.

Depending how they're referenced through out the skin (fatman_do would probably know better than I) but, as you say, it could just be one set, up, down, left and right png.

[Hairy]

Quote:"And what, to flog a horse, that if not dead is at this point in mortal danger of expiring, does this little square represent?"

Okay final suggestion re the whole list-background thingie (and the winner if you ask me ).

The list-background.png graphic is included in the "plugin\Resources\Layout\..." folder and the plugin is altered to load not only the skin.xml but also the list-background.png. That way theme developers can create different looks both formatting and graphical wise and know that they'll be loaded together.

Definitely the winner

[Fatman_do]

I did have a list of Task images but seem to have lost it. The idea was to split up thje plugins into categories and have a task image for each (and the ability to have custom ones for each plugin).

In the current theme Cinema and Video use the same graphic but this wouldn't always be the case - as they could be quite different.

Fatman_do: I think the task image list used to be in the _docs folder of the old SkinPlugin - do you still have a copy?

Here is my list:
Cinema -TheaterListing, UK Cinema (Cinema related plugins)
DVD-DVD, DVD Ripper, XDVD (DVD related plugins)
Email-Check Email, Gmail (email related plugins)
Exit-Exit, Shutdown
Games-Solitaire, SportsScores, SuDuku (games/sport plugins)
House-Homeseer, Security Cam (any other home automation plugins)
Internet-WebViewer, WebCams (Internet related plugins which don't fit the any other titiles)
InternetMedia-NetRadio, UbuStream (streaming media plugins)
Music-Music Libary, CD Player, Music Albums II, MVP Music Box, Music Libary 2, Music Player, My Music (music related plugins)
News-RSS, Stock (news related plugins)
Organise-Address Book, Calculator, Calendar (PIM/Outlook type plugins)
Phone-Caller ID (any future messenger plugin)
Photo-Photo Libary, My Photos, Photos (photo related plugins)
Program-My Programs (program/windows related plugins)
Radio-FM Radio (radio plugins)
Recordings-Recordings, Recordings2 (recordings related plugins)
Search-Search Guide, ShowSearch (search plugins, be it web or TV listings)
Skin-SkinPlugin, AM, ThemesManager (skin related plugins)
System-System, SystemStatus, Volume OSD, Xplorer (system plugins)
Television-Live TV (TV related plugins which don't fit the any other titiles)
TVGuide-TV Guide, TV Listings (TV guide and alternatives)
Video-Video Libary, My Videos, VideoArchive (Video related plugins)
Weather-Weather (weather related plugins)

Some of the plugins listed here are going to be dropped.