Visual XLobby Skin

by **dalanik** on Mon Sep 13, 2004 8:47 am

knfevg wrote:The links to 0.43 and 0.44 are dead

I messed up the extensions, 43 was a rar and 44 a zip :-)

It should be OK now.

D.

by **knfevg** on Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:23 am

Gr8, I just downloaded the 0.42 skin and made some changes to it (like I dont need games or films cause I only use my HTPC for movies and music)
However, 2 more problems I have:
1. The news doesnt seems to work and there is no news.xml file. Where do I get it or how do I build it.
2. the weather isnt working (the pictures are static links to the web).

Thank you,
and btw, thank for the girder answer, I didnt understand that the GML file you made was so gr8!!

by **dalanik** on Mon Sep 13, 2004 11:45 am

Sorry I can't help much with weather and news - I created thos pages from jowaldo's first skin and since I'm behind a firewall (proxy) I can;t get those to work. It'll be the next thing I have to redesign, guess I'll have to use dialup at home :-(

by **knfevg** on Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:12 pm

ok, gr8.
btw, I am starting to translate your skin to Hebrew.
It will take me some time cause I am going to a vocation on friday but I hope to finish it after that

by **dalanik** on Wed Sep 15, 2004 12:48 pm

OK, I know this is probably happening too fast and that the changes are too small, but this time it might be worth the download.

What I did this time? Well, it seemd to me such a waste having every button in 3 separate PNG files, especially when most of the buttons are the same except the icon representing what the button does, so i just took different approach, and managed to reduce the size of my skin by 800Kb.

I just made a new tt font containging all the symbols, and this font is used on all buttons which now use the same PNG file - therefore less filesize. (from over 5 to 4.3Mb!).

Please install the font in WINDOWS\FONTS folder of the archive before using the skin.

If you want to use it or modify, there is an excel file with mapping of each symbol in font included in the archive.

Version 0.47.

http://www.freewebs.com/lanik/download.htm

by **dalanik** on Tue Sep 21, 2004 9:01 am

Steven, could I ask you to update my skin in the skins section? I've advanced to v04x and in the skins section there's v0.2x :- ) a bit outdated...

Also, if You can update the text on the skin page:

Thanx!

---------cut here----------------
You can notice (see snapshots above) that all buttons are blue, buttons that are active (cursor over them) are red, and active radio-buttons (switches) have active switch green. This is to make buttons easily visible on screen so you can immediately spot where your cursor is.

It is optimized for 800x600 resolution - in my tests, though my PC/TV display 1024x768, the picture is not of such quality as in 800x600 - so I decided to use 800x600.

Also, I tried to keep the design as uniform as possible. The EXIT button is always at the same spot, as well MUTE, SEARCH (filter), VOLUME/PLAY control button, etc.

Since the lists (categories in xlobby jargon) are scrollable by page from left to right, all buttons are BELOW or ABOVE the lists, to make navigation easy.

I also implemented lists for music/movies, which I consider easier to search/navigate with larger collections of MP3s and/or movies.

I haven't implemented PPC sections yet, because I don't own PPC. If anyone wishes to help me out with those, you're welcome.

Hope you like the skin.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To do:

* Finish Help screen
* Finish Events screens for WinAmp and FooBar
* Finish Games screen
* Finish Guide/TV/PVR screens
* Change Weather/News sections
* Redesign graphics (layout stays the same)
* Implement PPC screens

by **chriiis** on Tue Sep 21, 2004 7:26 pm

hello dalanik,

I just test your skin : very cool...

But I didn't find the font and the Excel file in your archive???

Please install the font in WINDOWS\FONTS folder of the archive before using the skin.

If you want to use it or modify, there is an excel file with mapping of each symbol in font included in the archive.

could you send me the files or share it ?
Thanks in advance...

Chriiis

by **dalanik** on Wed Sep 22, 2004 8:01 am

Ah, sure... I'll upload it in the v47 archive and separately so you don't have to download the whole package again. I probably forgot when I uploaded newer version of the skin.

here:

http://www.freewebs.com/lanik/download.htm

and download fonts.zip archive.

D.

by **dalanik** on Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:50 am

Version v0.48 available.

http://www.freewebs.com/lanik/download.htm

If you're "upgrading" from previous version of Visual skin, please re-download the Fonts archive as some symbols were added.

I finally got to redoing my graphics. I played with alpha transparency and changed overlays a bit. Changes...

* overlays have border
* changed graphics - using alpha transparent elements
* no more "now playing screen" - moved to overlay
* redesigned picture viewer to use new alpha transparent elements
* redesigned TV GUIDE page
* redesigned HELP a bit to reflect changes in buttons, etc.
* redesigned TEST SCREENs to use alpha transparent elements
* checked all buttons if they really had events assigned (there were a few with missing events)
* redesigned main screen so that it displays now playing/weather info
* redesigned ZONES, VOLUME and EQUALIZER overlays so they're consistent
* you have the option of using OLD main screen as well - just rename menu_classic.xml to menu.xml if you don;t like the new look.
* added progress indicator screen when downloading photos from camera (requires to run via PowerPro which captures finish dialog and displays "copied successfully" or "error" overlay after copy)

huh... just download and seen :-)

I hope you like it.

"CLASSIC" LOOK:

"NEW" LOOK:

I advise that you download (if you're using) all other archives as well, since there have been changes in .vbs scripts to download photos.

Enjoy,
Dalibor

by **jmatienzo** on Wed Sep 29, 2004 12:11 pm

Hi Dalanik I been using your original skin for a while and I wanted to try your new one, but when i try to download it from your website it's downloaing really slow is there any way you can put it in the Skins section, thanks.

by **dalanik** on Wed Sep 29, 2004 12:33 pm

I'd love to, but I'm afraid we must ask Steven to do it :-)

D.

by **jmatienzo** on Wed Sep 29, 2004 11:34 pm

Ok, I'm sorry. I thought Steve gave you permission long time ago, thanks. Oh by the way, I have your original skin(v10) on my Home Theather and it still working great, thanks again for the skin.

by **stevenhanna6** on Thu Sep 30, 2004 6:48 am

dalanik, you can upload whatever you want to the server. Send me an email I will send you the info again.

by **Naylia** on Mon Oct 25, 2004 1:17 pm

Is it possible to get the most up to date copy of the classic version anywhere?

by **dalanik** on Tue Oct 26, 2004 8:10 am

The only difference between "classic" and new one is the menu screen. You'll find it in the same archive as "menu-CLASSIC.xml" Just delete menu.xml and rename "menu_CLASSIC.xml" to "menu.xml"

The difference is that "classic" has bigger pictures and no info on playing song on menu screen....

D.

Visual XLobby Skin

Visual skin Problem