Hey, does anybody know who started the 'compact start menu' thing?
Tuesday, April 6, 2004 by joetheblow | Discussion: WinCustomize Talk
Thanks I am trying to write a article. Although, maybe it will be to long if I include this... I know I'll just make it a side note... but a important side note.
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NightTrainthedark
Reply #2 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 9:05 PM
Reply #2 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 9:05 PM
I can narrow it down a bit. It was not me. 
Koasati
Reply #3 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 9:22 PM
Reply #3 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 9:22 PM
I can't find the thread, but a while back someone was saying "looky here, you can't do this with WB"..... there were a couple of MSStyles with compact menus out there. I remember the thread because I took it as a challenge, and did some tinkering. A while later I posted a screenshot of a WB compact menu, and said "sure you can". I never released a skin with a compact startmenu, and I'm not trying to take credit for it. And I can't answer your question, coz I don't know who did the MSStyles skins where it truly originated. But technically, I was the first to do it for WB. 
Z71
Reply #4 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 10:32 PM
Reply #4 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 10:32 PM
Koasati, might have been the first to do a compact start menu, but I believe the first one to upload a compact start menu for windowblinds was by a guy named (Sole Survivor) a little over a year ago.https://www.wincustomize.com/skins.asp?searchtext=Sole+Survivor&sort=Name&order=Descending&library=1
A little back story on this. He lived a couple of blocks from me and he also worked for me. One day he used my computer (since he didn't have one) to create this skin. I helped to get the compact SM to work, then he uploaded it. Sorry to say, he has since moved on to better thing. Hope he comes back someday.
About 4 to 6 months later, skin studio came out with the porting option and it's been all downhill from there.
Please, don't quote me on this. If you can find an older WB (not MSStyle) skin, than I will bow my head to you.
I hope this helps and is what you were looking for.
[Message Edited]
A little back story on this. He lived a couple of blocks from me and he also worked for me. One day he used my computer (since he didn't have one) to create this skin. I helped to get the compact SM to work, then he uploaded it. Sorry to say, he has since moved on to better thing. Hope he comes back someday.
About 4 to 6 months later, skin studio came out with the porting option and it's been all downhill from there.
Please, don't quote me on this. If you can find an older WB (not MSStyle) skin, than I will bow my head to you.
I hope this helps and is what you were looking for.
[Message Edited]
Koasati
Reply #5 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 10:59 PM
Reply #5 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 10:59 PM
I stand corrected....... that skin predates my compact menu. I wasn't aware of it, and obviously neither was anyone who participated in that old thread. His skin was uploaded 4/14/2003, I just checked the properties on my screenshot, and it's dated 5/4/2003. Sole Survivor is the first to do it for WB, and possibly THE first to do it, period. His skin may have inspired the MSStyles skins.
Essencay
Reply #7 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 3:02 AM
Reply #7 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 3:02 AM
When I first saw a compact menu....I said to myself...."Self, why, if there are compact menu's hasn't anyone made one with no user icon or user title?" So I did for the skin I entered in the GUIOlympics. I don't know if that has been done before or not, and I labeled it an ultra-compact menu
MarkMcQ
Reply #8 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 7:31 AM
Reply #8 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 7:31 AM
I'm certain compact menus started in the Msstyle scene. No idea who first played around with the idea though.
Sput
Reply #9 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 8:05 AM
Reply #9 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 8:05 AM
Essencay - Hmmm, I missed a trick doing my minimal entry for the GUIO didn't I? 
I did try and make a start menu without ANY text (I forgot to remove the user icon/user name bit)...but the moderators on the GUIO thought it was a bug (or just didn't like it) and rejected it until I put the text back
I did try and make a start menu without ANY text (I forgot to remove the user icon/user name bit)...but the moderators on the GUIO thought it was a bug (or just didn't like it) and rejected it until I put the text back
joetheblow
Reply #10 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 9:48 AM
Reply #10 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 9:48 AM
ah so it started in msstyle huh? I just think the whole thing is very interesting and unique. Someone saw a way to add something new to skinning.
I wonder what other innovations will come up next? The supper compact menu? The totally frameless window?
I hope adding plug-ins will be the next surge in skinning. I could use a windowblind with news rss feeds.
I wonder what other innovations will come up next? The supper compact menu? The totally frameless window?
I hope adding plug-ins will be the next surge in skinning. I could use a windowblind with news rss feeds.
CerebroJD
Reply #11 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 10:32 AM
ssh....experimenting with both.
Reply #11 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 10:32 AM
| The super compact menu? The totally frameless window? |
ssh....experimenting with both.
Essencay
Reply #12 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 1:37 PM
Reply #12 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 1:37 PM
It's too bad you can't skin the Classic StartMenu....It's perfect for a super compact menu.
Essencay
Reply #13 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 1:49 PM
Reply #13 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 1:49 PM
I just had a thought....a challenge....we should see who can make the smallest .wba file size WB skin, that skins the entire WinXP GUI, leaving the original animations and toolbar icons in place (I suck at graphics 
) that makes it through moderation here.
) that makes it through moderation here.
Sput
Reply #15 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 2:28 PM
Reply #15 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 2:28 PM
Hmmmm...interesting challenge...I suspect if I took the toolbar icons and animations out of my minimal skin that it would be down to <50Kb ...and taking out the user icon and tweaking the graphics to RLE bmps....I'd think people would have to aim for sub 10Kb...But would it be art?
MarkMcQ
Reply #17 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 4:50 PM
I tried that one already, sadly it doesn't work. Only the right pane can be compacted, the left one remains the same size and only the text is shortened.
Reply #17 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 4:50 PM
| The supper compact menu? |
I tried that one already, sadly it doesn't work. Only the right pane can be compacted, the left one remains the same size and only the text is shortened.
joetheblow
Reply #18 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 5:27 PM
Reply #18 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 5:27 PM
Haven't tried it yet but if you use magic pink on the left side then wouldn't it disappear?
Well, anyway, so far I am waiting for the skin that comes up with the new thing. Not sure what the new thing could be but... maybe it will happen in the GUIO
???
Essencay: That is pretty compact XP panel.
Well, I guess I better get started on that story... and it will be FULL of screenshots with compact menus.
Not that I am a compact menu freak or anything... I just like the ingenuity.
Well, anyway, so far I am waiting for the skin that comes up with the new thing. Not sure what the new thing could be but... maybe it will happen in the GUIO
???
Essencay: That is pretty compact XP panel.
Well, I guess I better get started on that story... and it will be FULL of screenshots with compact menus.
Not that I am a compact menu freak or anything... I just like the ingenuity.
--Gabriel
Reply #19 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 5:29 PM
Reply #19 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 5:29 PM
I think it was a result the of msstyles psuh for minimalism.
CerebroJD
Reply #20 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 5:47 PM
Reply #20 Wednesday, April 7, 2004 5:47 PM
Hippy and JtB: http://www.guiolympics.com/skins2004.asp?SkinID=83 Check out this skin. Its mine, but its still cool. Different compact idea.
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[Message Edited]
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Reply #1 Tuesday, April 6, 2004 8:45 PM
I am curious myself though about this since I don't see the point. I guess it allows more flexibility in the design of the menu, but personally I find it looks too weird.