Request for comments from skin authors
Tuesday, April 22, 2003 by Neil Banfield | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Now that WindowBlinds 4.0 for XP has been released and appears to be a nice solid base for us to build on, we would like some feedback from skin authors about what you would like to see added to WB 4.
We are aware of a demand for toolwindow skinning in UIS2 and MDI controls in UIS1, but would like to know what other features you would be interested in having in WB.
You can also report any bugs in how WB draws things if you wish (not crashes - post them in our newsgroups, just places where its not producing the results you expect)
If you do not wish to post in public here, then e-mail [email protected] with your suggestions / requests.
We are aware of a demand for toolwindow skinning in UIS2 and MDI controls in UIS1, but would like to know what other features you would be interested in having in WB.
You can also report any bugs in how WB draws things if you wish (not crashes - post them in our newsgroups, just places where its not producing the results you expect)
If you do not wish to post in public here, then e-mail [email protected] with your suggestions / requests.
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Fuzzy Logic
Reply #3 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 4:35 AM
Reply #3 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 4:35 AM
I'd like to be able to set margins for the titlebar text background. At the moment it disappears under the right margin of the title bar instead of contracting.
In start panel an All Programs button would be useful to match the rest of the start panel.
The ability to re-position or delete the shutdown/logoff dialog flag.
In start panel an All Programs button would be useful to match the rest of the start panel.
The ability to re-position or delete the shutdown/logoff dialog flag.
MikeB314
Reply #4 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 4:44 AM
Reply #4 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 4:44 AM
Here are a few things that come to mind right away.
I would love to see WB apply the user icon with the skin.
Also, I wish WB could change the fonts on the shellstyles bits, start menu, and grouped task menu.
Finally, I wish the panel item background and logoff button background images didn't override the mouse over font colors on the programs list, places list, and bottom bar of the start menu.
I would love to see WB apply the user icon with the skin.
Also, I wish WB could change the fonts on the shellstyles bits, start menu, and grouped task menu.
Finally, I wish the panel item background and logoff button background images didn't override the mouse over font colors on the programs list, places list, and bottom bar of the start menu.
Klatuu Berada
Reply #5 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 4:56 AM
Reply #5 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 4:56 AM
I totally agree with all of the above, also I would like to see explorer backgrounds put back in, not just dialog backgrounds.
paxx
Reply #6 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 5:09 AM
Reply #6 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 5:09 AM
I'd like the shellstyle panel, on the left of folders, to be more flexible to skin. Right now it's a pain. 
Also, same comment about the shut down dialogs. Also be able to specify a font colour.
And, maybe in some distant future, it would be so cool to use vector graphics for the skins, with smooth edges. Actually, if Windowblinds could in some wy totally take over the Windows GUI and convert it all in vector, that would be awsome. Then WindowFX animations could be extremely smooth, as it is in OS X. I know, I'm dreaming, but hey, there's no harm in that.
Also, same comment about the shut down dialogs. Also be able to specify a font colour.
And, maybe in some distant future, it would be so cool to use vector graphics for the skins, with smooth edges. Actually, if Windowblinds could in some wy totally take over the Windows GUI and convert it all in vector, that would be awsome. Then WindowFX animations could be extremely smooth, as it is in OS X. I know, I'm dreaming, but hey, there's no harm in that.
MikeB314
Reply #8 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 5:31 AM
Reply #8 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 5:31 AM
Perhaps paxx is referring to the header bars on the shellstyles panes. They can be quite tricky to get just right without the image stretching in undesirable ways. Along those same lines, margins for the shellstyles background would be nice, as would the option to tile rather than stretch.
Another little known fact is that the large folder backgrounds (My Pictures, My Music, etc.) need to be 8 bit indexed bitmaps in order to display. No suggestion there, I just thought I'd offer it up while we were on the topic.
Another little known fact is that the large folder backgrounds (My Pictures, My Music, etc.) need to be 8 bit indexed bitmaps in order to display. No suggestion there, I just thought I'd offer it up while we were on the topic.
paxx
Reply #9 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 5:45 AM
Reply #9 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 5:45 AM
Yes, and also the background. I haven't checked recently so it may have changed, but last time I played with it, it could only be stretched I think. I had a striped design in mind for the background, but couldn't do it.
c242
Reply #10 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 6:37 AM
Reply #10 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 6:37 AM
MikeB314 : You just saved me another hours of headache... 
I didn't know about the folder backgrounds...
I didn't know about the folder backgrounds...
Jafo
Reply #11 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:01 AM
Reply #11 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:01 AM
I'd like a full textual run-down of all the options in a UIS as were often done for button 'actions' states, etc....and colour lists....so manic old-timers can by-pass SkinStudio and stick with notepad...
treetog
Reply #12 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:10 AM
Reply #12 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:10 AM
"#1 by Hippy - 4/22/2003 3:27:59 AM
I'd like the see the usericon and userpane text be independantly positionable on the userpane.
It's a total nightmare trying to get it to line up right, sometimes."
totally agree, vertically, Neil, horizontally we allready have it.
"#4 by Moderator MikeB314 - 4/22/2003 4:44:01 AM
I would love to see WB apply the user icon with the skin"
this would be very cool, since most of us makes user picks for every new skin
request: the ability of changing the logoff/shutdown text collor other then white.
I'd like the see the usericon and userpane text be independantly positionable on the userpane.
It's a total nightmare trying to get it to line up right, sometimes."
totally agree, vertically, Neil, horizontally we allready have it.
"#4 by Moderator MikeB314 - 4/22/2003 4:44:01 AM
I would love to see WB apply the user icon with the skin"
this would be very cool, since most of us makes user picks for every new skin
request: the ability of changing the logoff/shutdown text collor other then white.
Neil Banfield
Reply #13 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:27 AM
Reply #13 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:27 AM
Changing the logoff/shutdown dialog text may not be easy to achieve. We will look into it, but I know its unlikely to be something simple to change.
eieio
Reply #14 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:42 AM
Reply #14 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:42 AM
Maybe this a already a feature but it doesn't seem to work if so. Mouseovers on scrollbar buttons? I believe the image state says every 4th image for the buttons is the mouseover image but it doesn't seem to change in actual use. Could be I'm missing something.
DavidK
Reply #15 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:43 AM
Reply #15 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:43 AM
WB4 is awesome. You guys did a great job getting everything skinned.
If it's possible, make the user name text position fixed so on a domain without a user icon it still aligns from the same laft margin.
Make the mouse-over text color seting work for menu backgrounds on the programs list and 'special' menus where there are icons in the list.
Bring back the explorer backgrounds and give more color options for transparent explorer backgrounds (like shades of grey).
Allow animated button mouse-overs for titlebar buttons.
Tile the shell styles background image.
Titlebar text effects like shadows on UIS1.
Activate the mouse-overs on scrollbar thumbs (which it does do in the shell styles area).
Mouse-overs on scrollbar arrows and maybe add one for the corner re-size grabber thingy in the arrows images.
tell us what "glyphs" are...
Document all the standard or recommended sizes for windows elements.
Increase the number of buttons possible with plugins and Shift/Ctrl functions in a skin. (30 is not nearly enough)
If it's possible, make the user name text position fixed so on a domain without a user icon it still aligns from the same laft margin.
Make the mouse-over text color seting work for menu backgrounds on the programs list and 'special' menus where there are icons in the list.
Bring back the explorer backgrounds and give more color options for transparent explorer backgrounds (like shades of grey).
Allow animated button mouse-overs for titlebar buttons.
Tile the shell styles background image.
Titlebar text effects like shadows on UIS1.
Activate the mouse-overs on scrollbar thumbs (which it does do in the shell styles area).
Mouse-overs on scrollbar arrows and maybe add one for the corner re-size grabber thingy in the arrows images.
tell us what "glyphs" are...
Document all the standard or recommended sizes for windows elements.
Increase the number of buttons possible with plugins and Shift/Ctrl functions in a skin. (30 is not nearly enough
)
DavidK
Reply #16 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:49 AM
Reply #16 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:49 AM
oh and another - the "throbber" in explorer windows, can that be added to the UIS format? I know the one in IE gets skinned by WebBlinds but I mean the one in an explorer window. It's not animated - I think it's only one image.
DavidK
Reply #17 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:53 AM
Reply #17 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 7:53 AM
Maybe add an image (or at least a color setting) for the little arrows on menu items with fly-outs. Right now they seem to be a text item and the color is not changeable. Changing the color would be nice but an image with a mouse-over state would be even better.
GreenReaper
Reply #18 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 8:09 AM
Reply #18 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 8:09 AM
DavidK: [MenuItem.Extras] - see Blackcomb for an example.
voo
Reply #19 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 8:25 AM
Reply #19 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 8:25 AM
DrawingStyle=4 Text with Blurred shadow, does not work for username on start menu shadow is still crisp, and ofcourse i know many people have asked this and i dont want to be a pain, but lock taskbar when changing skins comes back the gripper, and look in your C\ drive shellnomodify image is not showing, it should be
Plus first state image on Panel Item is not displaying, Take Mike Bryant's spectre for example it use to show first state image.
I think thats only important things i wish for
Plus first state image on Panel Item is not displaying, Take Mike Bryant's spectre for example it use to show first state image.
I think thats only important things i wish for
voo
Reply #20 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 8:31 AM
Reply #20 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 8:31 AM
Ah David your Glyph images see if you take a look at BBX Mercury see scroll bars and spinner buttons they are using Glyphs, actual arrows over top of scrollbars and spinners so they dont get squashed.
Bit hard for me to explain
Not sure if many skinners have used glyphs yet..
Bit hard for me to explain
Not sure if many skinners have used glyphs yet..
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Reply #1 Tuesday, April 22, 2003 3:27 AM
It's a total nightmare trying to get it to line up right, sometimes.