Solving Problems With UIS1 WB Skins
Wednesday, September 25, 2002 by geekboy2000 | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Brad and a few other folks were good enough to tolerate my incessant ramblings about skinning issues I had with WB skins (and some apps), but wasn't seeing with MSStyles. I'll cut to the chase here. UIS1 skins make a world of difference! I can't say it'll cure every compatiblity issue, but if you (like me) just want to apply a skin globally without having to worry about exclusions, UIS1 skins may be the way to go for you too. SkinStudio allows for a quick conversion of skins, and offers the ability to save the resulting converted skin separately, or as a "compound skin" within the original skin folder. I think I'm going to do a lot of skin conversion tonight. 
Now, yes, you do give up some of the cool more feature rich skinning bells and whistles, but for me, this is a great solution. In fact, I would also like to encourage skinners to include the UIS1 format with the skins they create and distribute. Hopefully, this info will be of some use to others out there that just want to . . set it . and forget it!
Now, yes, you do give up some of the cool more feature rich skinning bells and whistles, but for me, this is a great solution. In fact, I would also like to encourage skinners to include the UIS1 format with the skins they create and distribute. Hopefully, this info will be of some use to others out there that just want to . . set it . and forget it!
geekboy2000
Reply #2 Wednesday, September 25, 2002 9:36 PM
Reply #2 Wednesday, September 25, 2002 9:36 PM
I'm so happy, I could just . . . well, you know, be happy! Thanks!
Thanks!
Tarkus
Reply #3 Wednesday, September 25, 2002 10:35 PM
Reply #3 Wednesday, September 25, 2002 10:35 PM
Yeah, I just noticed that conversion utility in SkinStudio earlier today myself, though I haven't tried it yet. I agree that it would be nice if more skin authors offered a UIS1 version of their skin, especially since it's now so easy.
davad70
Reply #4 Wednesday, September 25, 2002 11:03 PM
Reply #4 Wednesday, September 25, 2002 11:03 PM
Although there is a way to "convert" a UIS2 skin to UIS1 with Skinstudio, it is not so easy as just hitting "convert". In my experience with the converter, it still leaves a lot of work left to be done. Haven't tried it in a while though. Perhaps it produces a more accurate conversion in newer versions??
geekboy2000
Reply #5 Wednesday, September 25, 2002 11:26 PM
Reply #5 Wednesday, September 25, 2002 11:26 PM
Check out the "Visual Styles-> WindowBlinds" thread in stardock.windowblinds on news.stardock.com. What started out as a MSStyles to WB conversion thread, ended up with some good discussion, resolution, and ideas about UIS1 and UIS2 skins.
So far, the UIS2 skins that I have converted via the virtually one-click method using SkinStudio seem fine. I may be missing some finer points, but they look good in general. Certainly this (using UIS1 skins for problematic apps) is a good alternative to excluding skinning all together. Anyway, I don't have much to add, as I'm no expert skinner, but you folks are, and I'll bet you can contribute a lot of good ideas to the thread there on the news server.
So far, the UIS2 skins that I have converted via the virtually one-click method using SkinStudio seem fine. I may be missing some finer points, but they look good in general. Certainly this (using UIS1 skins for problematic apps) is a good alternative to excluding skinning all together. Anyway, I don't have much to add, as I'm no expert skinner, but you folks are, and I'll bet you can contribute a lot of good ideas to the thread there on the news server.
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Reply #1 Wednesday, September 25, 2002 9:15 PM