A few Questions - Tabs, Menus and Menu-Items
Sunday, August 29, 2004 by J.SkinZ | Discussion: Skinning
I'm working on my second skin and, having found out how to get my skinned menus to appear in WinXP, its opened up a whole big can of worms for me. 
So, and I'm hoping these haven't been asked a trillion times B4 (searched but didn't find!), I've got a few questions that I hope you experienced skinners can answer...
1. Text alignment in Tab Controls
In the tab, I want the text to start about 14 pixels in from the left of each button. I've set the content margins and in the first frame for the control the text appears in the correct position. Problem is that in the remaining frames the text is only about 4 pixels in from the left and is overlapping bits of the buttons that I want to keep visible. Anyone know what causes this, and even better how to fix it?
2. Drop-down Menu Background
My drop down menus always appear with a wide vertical white stripe right down the middle from top to bottom. Either side is skinned correctly, and I've tried various painting methods (tile, stretch etc. - btw the one I want to use is stretch horz, tile vert) but nothing fixes it. Does the image have to be a minimum width that isn't specified or have I missed something obvious? Haaay-elp!
3. Drop-menu Top and Bottom item images
Menu-item images have three sections right? Generic items, top item, bottom item. My items are .tga's and use alpha transparency. The normal items show correctly in all frame states, but the top and bottom items show a black border for the first frame where the transparency should be. The other four frames are fine. I've checked the masks and they seem correct, so what's the deal? Transparent and translucent are switched on in all three item-sections.
Well, thats it for now, though I'm sure this won't be the end of it! Tough being new to the game...
Fanks a lot!
So, and I'm hoping these haven't been asked a trillion times B4 (searched but didn't find!), I've got a few questions that I hope you experienced skinners can answer...
1. Text alignment in Tab Controls
In the tab, I want the text to start about 14 pixels in from the left of each button. I've set the content margins and in the first frame for the control the text appears in the correct position. Problem is that in the remaining frames the text is only about 4 pixels in from the left and is overlapping bits of the buttons that I want to keep visible. Anyone know what causes this, and even better how to fix it?
2. Drop-down Menu Background
My drop down menus always appear with a wide vertical white stripe right down the middle from top to bottom. Either side is skinned correctly, and I've tried various painting methods (tile, stretch etc. - btw the one I want to use is stretch horz, tile vert) but nothing fixes it. Does the image have to be a minimum width that isn't specified or have I missed something obvious? Haaay-elp!
3. Drop-menu Top and Bottom item images
Menu-item images have three sections right? Generic items, top item, bottom item. My items are .tga's and use alpha transparency. The normal items show correctly in all frame states, but the top and bottom items show a black border for the first frame where the transparency should be. The other four frames are fine. I've checked the masks and they seem correct, so what's the deal? Transparent and translucent are switched on in all three item-sections.
Well, thats it for now, though I'm sure this won't be the end of it! Tough being new to the game...
Fanks a lot!
SelfExiled
Reply #2 Monday, August 30, 2004 1:10 PM
Reply #2 Monday, August 30, 2004 1:10 PM
Maybe your versions of Skin Studio and windowblinds are very far apart. It all sounds real strange to me. I've never had these sort of problems. Maybe you can try Adam on Stardock chat. He goes by the name of NoonienSong. He is a Stardock Skin Studio Developer employee. He might be willing to troubleshoot your skin for you if you are nice. 
J.SkinZ
Reply #3 Tuesday, August 31, 2004 5:23 AM
Reply #3 Tuesday, August 31, 2004 5:23 AM
WB is v4.4, SkS is 4.39.003rc (updated last night)
I've sorted out the vertical white stripe in the menu background - glyph images! Don't remember putting any in but I must have done, and that was messing up the graphics. Removed the glyph: no more vertical white stripe!
Still got no transparency on the first frames of the top and bottom menu items. And text in the tab items is still not in the correct place for anything except the first tab on the left.
I've sorted out the vertical white stripe in the menu background - glyph images! Don't remember putting any in but I must have done, and that was messing up the graphics. Removed the glyph: no more vertical white stripe!
Still got no transparency on the first frames of the top and bottom menu items. And text in the tab items is still not in the correct place for anything except the first tab on the left.
J.SkinZ
Reply #4 Tuesday, August 31, 2004 11:07 AM
Reply #4 Tuesday, August 31, 2004 11:07 AM
Ok...
Got rid of the menu-items with black borders by deleting the images for the top and bottom items. I guess this forces WB to use the normal item.
So just the text in the Tab buttons left to sort out.
Got rid of the menu-items with black borders by deleting the images for the top and bottom items.
I guess this forces WB to use the normal item.So just the text in the Tab buttons left to sort out.
SelfExiled
Reply #5 Thursday, September 2, 2004 11:25 PM
Try adjusting the content margins.
Reply #5 Thursday, September 2, 2004 11:25 PM
| So just the text in the Tab buttons left to sort out. |
Try adjusting the content margins.
Please login to comment and/or vote for this skin.
Welcome Guest! Please take the time to register with us.
There are many great features available to you once you register, including:
- Richer content, access to many features that are disabled for guests like commenting on the forums and downloading skins.
- Access to a great community, with a massive database of many, many areas of interest.
- Access to contests & subscription offers like exclusive emails.
- It's simple, and FREE!
Reply #1 Monday, August 30, 2004 11:43 AM
In question 1, I meant to say "The text appears correctly positioned in the first (leftmost) tab in a row, but not in any of the other tabs." Can anyone pleeeeaaaase tell me why this happens and how to fix it?