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Category: Outdated LotRO InterfacesBuildSkin
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Name: BuildSkin   Popular!
Author:
Date: 12-21-2012 07:44 PM
Size: 2.13 MB
Version: 0.99.9.20c
Rate File: 5 out of 5 with 2 votes  
Patch & Add-on List
File Name
Version
Size
Author
Date
Type
1.1
3.21 MB
12-21-2012 07:40 PM
Addon
3.1
27.26 Kb
12-21-2012 02:32 PM
Addon
1
28.30 Kb
12-21-2012 02:25 PM
Addon
3.2
7.67 Kb
12-20-2012 08:56 PM
Patch
4.1
510.39 Kb
12-20-2012 08:54 PM
Addon
3.1
23.98 Kb
12-20-2012 07:28 PM
Addon
3.0
4.16 MB
04-15-2012 01:50 PM
Addon
3.1
686.34 Kb
04-10-2012 09:31 PM
Addon
3.0
1.36 Kb
04-10-2012 08:17 PM
Addon
3.0
8.41 Kb
04-10-2012 08:16 PM
Addon
3.0
11.51 Kb
04-10-2012 07:51 PM
Addon
2,0
321.60 Kb
01-08-2012 05:59 PM
Addon
Pictures
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Size: 103.02 Kb
Dimensions: 600 x 472
Skins Tab
 
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Size: 21.90 Kb
Dimensions: 603 x 475
Addons Tab
 
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Size: 30.17 Kb
Dimensions: 602 x 473
Info/Settings Tab
 
Description
Just in time for the end of the world, I decided to dust off my Visual Studio and do a little updating.

Overview
BuildSkin is a utility that allows users to mix and match elements from different skins via drop-down menus in a GUI. It also automatically adjusts them (think toolbar) to your screen resolution.

What's New
  • In 0.99.9.20c - Fixed bug when refreshing local addons
  • In 0.99.9.20b - Fixed bug that prevented updating addons
  • In 0.99.9.20a - Added Invisible.tga I forgot to put in earlier
  • The addons system has been implemented. See 'Upgrading' below.
  • Code has been cleaned up and commented.
  • Skin renaming now works.
  • Checks have been added to reduce crashing.
  • The requested resolution has been added.
  • The preview box has been put back.

Future Features
  • Recycling centers
  • Functional links on the addons tab
  • Complete 'preset' skins includable with addons (e.g. everything set to your skin)
  • Possibly resized preview box / better addon descriptions

For Skin Users
Installation
This program requires the .NET framework, version 2.0 or newer. Most computers will already have it installed, but if yours does not, it is available for free here. To install this program, extract the "BuildSkin" folder in the zipfile you downloaded to "My Documents\The Lord Of The Rings Online\ui\skins". The exe file should end up at "...\ui\skins\BuildSkin\BuildSkin.exe". If you want a shortcut, you can right-click it and select "Send To" > "Desktop (create shortcut)".

Linux/Mac Users: BuildSkin works under recent versions of Wine with the .NET framework installed, and it should also work with Mono.

Upgrading
This update does not affect the settings file or how skins are built, but the new version does need to keep track of things in the "Elements" folder. Therefore, I recommend, unless you have modified files there, to delete your current "Elements" folder (inside the BuildSkin folder) and re-download the addons you want. If you want to start fresh, write down your skin configuration and delete everything. Since most of them will have been updated for Rohan anyways, you will still probably need to rebuild your skins.

Note: Until I have a chance to update all of the existing addons, they will not show up in the program. All addons that do show up are compatible.

General Usage
Some quick help is on the Info/Settings tab. I hope I've made the program easy to use, but if you have any issues, please comment and ask.

Selecting Your Skin in LOTRO
Go to UI settings in the Options panel. Scroll down to just above the "UI scale" section. There will be a drop-down box containing "None" or your previous skin (if you had one). Select the skin you just made. Images will change immediately. Sizes and layouts will change when you log back in (the toolbar may require a full game client restart).

Options
Most options are self-explanatory. Some notes, however:
  • You will have to check "Skip Recycle Bin" to delete skins in the app - that feature will come later.
  • The XML editor path is the program that opens when you click "Edit XML" on the Skins tab.
  • If your resolution is not in the list, close the program and add it to the long line, separated by a comma and no spaces.

For Skin Authors
I have provided a few addons as examples to get you started. However, users are encouraged to make their own add-ons and, if desired, please upload them to LOTROInterface. Soon you will be able to include a preset configuration (well, really you could now, by just putting the "Skins/<name>/BuildSkin" in your zip), so you can distribute your skin as a complete product.

XML Layouts
To make skins adapt for resolutions (or to just be easier to mod), you can set an attribute to, for example, X="{Travel_Window.Width-10}" or for toolbars since Rohan, Y="{Screen.Height-ToolbarField.Height}". You can use this method to set any value based on the screen size or any other defined value, and you can use any mathematical expression supported by NCalc. Simply surround the entire formula in curly braces, like above. Probably the most useful are Screen.Width and Screen.Height

Things to look out for:
  • Only variables you set are defined (I am not allowed to include Turbine defaults)
  • Divide by zero - undefined variables are set to 0
  • Circular dependencies

Art Assets
ArtAsset paths should be someting like "../../Elements/<Category>/<Name>/<my folder>/<blablabla>.tga" or something like that.

Packaging
Refer to the MMUI zip for an example. Although the example paths below include "Buildskin\", there should be no BuildSkin folder in the zipfile. The Elements folder and anything else go directly in the root of the zip.

The folder structure extensible - you can add whatever categories and elements you feel appropriate, and they will automatically appear in the list. It goes like "BuildSkin\Elements\<Category>\<Name>\<your option>.xml".
Previews go at "BuildSkin\Elements\<Category>\<Name>\<your option>.jpg" - notice the lowercase jpg.

For Tinkerers
Full somewhat-well-commented code is included in the zip. The program is MIT licensed, so you can do whatever you want with it.

Source code is also available at svn://svn.lotrointerface.com/BuildSkin-744, but it is old - so use what's in the zip. NOTE: Until I can figure out SVN's branch thingie, it won't be updated on there.




BuildSkin Portal (FAQ/Bugs/News)
Archive List (Old Versions)
File Name
Version
Size
Author
Date
0.99.9.20b
2.13 MB
Mevordel
12-20-2012 09:06 PM
0.99.2.10
993.70 Kb
Mevordel
04-10-2012 08:15 PM
0.9
1.03 MB
Mevordel
01-08-2012 05:08 PM
0.5.0
938.05 Kb
Mevordel
01-03-2012 09:17 PM
0.0.4.2-4
930.69 Kb
Mevordel
10-30-2011 01:40 PM
0.0.3.99
415.64 Kb
Mevordel
10-20-2011 09:39 PM
File Statistics
User Rating:
5 out of 5 with 2 votes
Downloads: 22677
Views: 71113
Favorites: 12
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Last Modified: N/A

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Unread 04-15-2012, 08:20 PM  
Mevordel
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Forum posts: 3
File comments: 5
Uploads: 14
Re: An answer to your question

Adding the resolution won't be a problem. For now, you can just add your custom resolution to the end (or wherever) in the long line in the BuildSkin.conf file. (Make sure it is separated by commas).

For the preview, I thought that was the case. I was just trying to make the program fit better on small screens. Still, I can't decide where to put it....
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Unread 04-15-2012, 06:24 PM  
Kinless
The Wary

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An answer to your question

•A QUESTION: Should I put the preview pane back? If so, on the bottom or side? (I plan to use the status bar for descriptions of addons when I implement them)

Yes, please. I have not memorized each of the looks of the various UIs to know what I'm getting. The preview of uibuilder and your 0.5 was essential.

Too, could you add the resolution for the 27" iMac? It runs 2560x1440.
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Unread 03-06-2012, 10:17 PM  
Mevordel
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Uploads: 14
The reason you were not able to select your mods is that you had the folders next to the BuildSkin folder. They should be inside it. Just merge them with the pre-existing ones.

Sorry for the late reply, my laptop had broken and I hadn't been on.
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Unread 02-15-2012, 08:07 AM  
Cordeval
The Wary

Forum posts: 3
File comments: 27
Uploads: 0
Does anyone know why all of the options in the BuildSkin main window would be grayed out (with "Default" showing) for me?

I've triple checked that everything is installed correctly. There are mod folders next to the BuildSkin folder in /ui/skins. I'm able to use the "Name" and "Resolution" fields.

I'm using Windows 7 64 and a newer version of .Net. Is this the problem? That my .Net is not the older version? I tried to install the older build, but it was not compatible with Win 7 64.

Theories? Solutions?
I installed BuildSkin last week on my Win 7 64 machine and had the same trouble along with other issues (missing images in the game).
I fixed them all, but am not sure exactly what the fixes where.

Here are three issues I recall focusing on:
1) Be sure to have the referenced .NET applications installed.
2) Be sure about your directory structures and names. Example from mine goes "...\BuildSkin\Vitals-Player\". In the Vitals-Player directory are XML files and also folders for each option.
3) Within each XML file, be sure the resource directories are correct. Some of the XML files may have the directory names from the older UIBuilder software, ie "PlayerVitals".
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Unread 02-15-2012, 03:44 AM  
celt
The Wary

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File comments: 5
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Does anyone know why all of the options in the BuildSkin main window would be grayed out (with "Default" showing) for me?

I've triple checked that everything is installed correctly. There are mod folders next to the BuildSkin folder in /ui/skins. I'm able to use the "Name" and "Resolution" fields.

I'm using Windows 7 64 and a newer version of .Net. Is this the problem? That my .Net is not the older version? I tried to install the older build, but it was not compatible with Win 7 64.

Theories? Solutions?
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Unread 01-08-2012, 09:36 PM  
The Old One
The Undying
Interface Author - Click to view interfaces

Forum posts: 54
File comments: 50
Uploads: 10
Very nice work. This is better than my UiBuilder. I wish I could update my stuff but my motherboard died so I'm down to using my phone for everything.
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Unread 11-22-2011, 02:35 AM  
Modnar
The Unscathed

Forum posts: 16
File comments: 30
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BuildSkins Usage Instructions - a forum topic

I've had a bit of trouble understanding this application's use. As I learn the application I'm writing up instructions which can be read in the BuildSkin Usage Instructions forum topic. Feel free to question, comment, contribute or criticize the Instructions within the forum.

The information is posted in the forum, rather than here, so it doesn't take over these comments.

Last edited by Modnar : 11-22-2011 at 02:35 AM.
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Unread 11-10-2011, 10:16 PM  
Mevordel
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Forum posts: 3
File comments: 5
Uploads: 14
Thank you everyone for your comments and support! Developing this program has been really fun and challenging for me as a developer. The next version (0.0.5) will take a while to implement, because I will be making a few improvements in addition to just adding a couple of dialog boxes.

Concerning the map code, I didn't want to upload a file with that tiny amount of code in it, so if you want to use it, simple copy and paste the italicized text (using notepad, etc.) into a file named "Windowed Map.xml" or something similar. Then put it in the "Interface-FullMap" folder, and it will show up the next time you run BuildSkin.

Happy Modding!
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Unread 11-02-2011, 12:38 AM  
Adra
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Congratz for your productivity !

You could also have a look on virtues organised

and to the windowed map code from Eclipse :

<!-- Map Window -->

<PanelFile ID="ID_UISkin_MapPanel">
<Element ID="MapBackground" X="0" Y="0" Width="1024" Height="768"> </Element>
</PanelFile>


(must be left at X="0" Y="0" to keep a correct locator display)

Last edited by Adra : 11-02-2011 at 12:45 AM.
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Unread 11-01-2011, 02:31 PM  
The Old One
The Undying
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Forum posts: 54
File comments: 50
Uploads: 10
Very nice! Thank you for this.

I have been struggling to get the features I wanted into UiBuilder with my programing ability (I have only had classes in QBasic and VB.net but have been using online resources to help) my lack of free time and the fact that I have needed to rebuild my system after multiple hardware problems.

I have been working on an update for UiBuilder that had a list for every panel in the game but have not finished the tedious background code to make them all work.

Edit:
I don't know C# but I do know Visual Studio and was able to get it to compile for .Net 2 and tested it in a XP VM without .net 3.x or 4.x installed with no problems.

Last edited by The Old One : 11-01-2011 at 09:20 PM.
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Unread 10-30-2011, 09:59 PM  
Adra
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Excellent !
Great job

(Added to favorites !)

Last edited by Adra : 10-30-2011 at 10:48 PM.
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Unread 10-30-2011, 08:42 AM  
Mevordel
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Quote:
Shouldn't it be possible to set it compliant with .Net Framework 3.5 in order to be directly usable from a standard windows 7 system ?
Yes. I originally wanted it to work with version 2.0 and up, but I'm still working on getting Visual Studio to cooperate.

Quote:
and shouldn't it be simpler to keep it compatible with UIBuilder addons
Currently, the process is pretty simple, and similar to converting a normal skin to UiBuilder. The problem was when I added so many folders that they bacame hard to find.

Quote:
in addition to running that batch file, you would also need to edit all of the art asset references to match the new name
That is really as simple as doing a "Find and Replace" with the folders on the line of the batch file that applies to your add-on. For example, just replace \Bags\ with \Interface-Bags\ for a bags addon.

Quote:
or delivering it with all addons presently included in UIbuilder ?
I am currently working on that. However, If anyone else successfully converts something, please feel free to upload it as an add-on!

Last edited by Mevordel : 10-30-2011 at 08:43 AM.
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Unread 10-30-2011, 05:27 AM  
Adra
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Hi,

As many people, I'm using windows 7 (SP1), which includes by default Microsoft .Net Framework 3.5, and as many people I hate Dot Net , so I didn't updated it to v4 to save a lot of space on my SSD.

But I especially installed Dot Net 4 by curiosity to check BuildSkin improvements differences with UIbuilder. (I don't understand english very well so I didn't read all the description and explanations)

After Dot Net 4 installed and a reboot => 900 mo free space less from C:\ compared to Framework 3.5
And it must be several gigas for people running Windows XP and and Dot Net v2

The fact is I installed it for noting since there are no content in the default folders, and only one addon is available to put in (it looks interresting btw, but i didn't tested it).
(I uninstalled Dot Net faster than the light )

Quote:
"As of version 0.0.4.2, it is no longer compatible with UiBuilder"
"However, addons made for UiBuilder can be converted to BuildSkin"
"in addition to running that batch file, you would also need to edit all of the art asset references to match the new name"
I'll pass my turn for now

Shouldn't it be possible to set it compliant with .Net Framework 3.5 in order to be directly usable from a standard windows 7 system ?
and shouldn't it be simpler to keep it compatible with UIBuilder addons, or delivering it with all addons presently included in UIbuilder ?

Last edited by Adra : 10-30-2011 at 07:08 AM.
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Unread 10-23-2011, 09:06 AM  
MrJackdaw
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Fascinating! I really must have a look at this one.
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