CommunitySkin Skinning Tutorial

[Fatman_do]

I thought that with the Wiki, it would provide linking and TOC as a benefit.

Zehd, don't feel like you have to write it, but you are a better wiki organizer that is without question.

[zehd]

I thought that with the Wiki, it would provide linking and TOC as a benefit.

Zehd, don't feel like you have to write it, but you are a better wiki organizer that is without question.

Here's how I will start. It will be more like a FAQ, with intro, newbie questions, basic skinning, advanced.

Each point can be a Q and A, but we can cross reference that and set up a pdf manual later...

[roy]

And in the end, we may even end up with a GUI wysiwyg editor to boot...

OK, now you're just teasing us aren't you.

[zehd]

OK, now you're just teasing us aren't you.

Not really teasing. I'm already working on something. It's the very best way for me to understand how this skinning works, the architecture of the the xml scheme etc. I have noticed a lot of repetive actions, and that smacks of program time.

I already have a fast search and replace that runs througfh an eintire directory structure to cxhange font sizes. That's how I was able to take any skin and make it more High Vis fo the MVP. Of course I will now start to look at other tags and their placement and dimensions, because a bigger font needs more space...

And I've also already created a great file transfer setup where you can preview a picture on one side, and find the correct already existing file in the skin you are modding and then just copy it across.

I'me working on a new Star Trek LCARS skin. I start with the Avance skin. I call up the legacy LCARS skin on the left and the Avance skin on the right. I search each of the directory and sub directories for the art that I want to swap. The original doesn't even have to be named right. Anyway, it's a while for that to be released. It's easy to write software, difficult to userproof it.

THe next step is to load skin.xml into a treeview, just like the original skin util. That will be nasty...

On another note. Fatman_do, who or what is AdVisor, and can I take content fromk his or the tutorial from the wiki?

[zehd]

I'm gonna run two threads. I'll keep this one going gathering tutorial questions and answers, and another one in the developers corner where I can discuss the xml scheme from a programmers point of view. Hoping to use Whurlston's xml serializer for this...

[roy]

Not really teasing. I'm already working on something.

Looking forward to it

It's easy to write software

I'll take your word for it :o

difficult to userproof it.

I would say that's impossible :eek:

[zehd]

I'm gonna do some organizing on the wiki. Wanna ask a couple of questions first.

There several places to find skin docs and I want to consolidate

Skins section: for end users to download and install new skins. Mostly window shopping

Development section: I would prefer to have anything regarding the modding or creating of skins under Development and not have Skinning.

There will be pages to describe general skinning, and Community Skin light modding (from GUI) and heavy modding and creation.

Also, there's Tips, and other places...

Unless there are objections, I'll be having Blader_se remove a couple of sections

[pz1]

There several places to find skin docs and I want to consolidate

May I suggest to keep at least the latest Community Skin for version 0.99.x in frozen state for those who can not or do not want to upgrade to the 1.x series? For me CS is a good replacement for ContourHC, which was no longer maintained.
Pieter

[zehd]

May I suggest to keep at least the latest Community Skin for version 0.99.x in frozen state for those who can not or do not want to upgrade to the 1.x series? For me CS is a good replacement for ContourHC, which was no longer maintained.
Pieter

np

[Fatman_do]

On another note. Fatman_do, who or what is AdVisor, and can I take content fromk his or the tutorial from the wiki?

AdVisor is a skinning method developed by MixMan that pioneered separating the images from the xml part of skinning and controlling a great deal of the skin from the baseskin.xml.

Old Dog, another skin developer, created the first image swapping plugin (Appearance Manager) and skins that provided users with image sets.

The CommunitySkin is a marriage between the two.

I wrote the Advisor tutorial, and Appearance Manager skinning tutorials, so use whatever you wish.

I'll fact-check and help contribute content once I see how you set up the organization.