08-14-2008, 04:47 PM
So you want to make a skin? Well that is great. But there are a lot of things that you should know about before you even get started. So here I have compiled a list of the most commonly asked questions and issues that people come across while skinning. Hopefully it provides a bit of insight.
Q: So what do I need to know to be able to skin Windows Live Messenger?
A: Well all you really need to know is the basics of how to edit XML and CSS, it really all depends on what you want to do. Like if you are only going to replace Messengers images and nothing else then you don't really need to know much. You can easily get away with just editing Open Live without ever touching a line of code (though it won't turn out good).
Q: XML? CSS? Why?
A: The reason you need to know XML and CSS is because that is how Messengers interface and graphics are laid out. Think of it as a webpage, the xml tells where things go and the styles then define how the page is going to look. But thats not all, a skins main file (Skininfo.xml) is also an xml file so you will definitely need to be familiar with how XML works at the very least. Think of Skininfo as the engine in a car, without it the skin will go nowhere.
Q: Isn't there a skinning program I can use to make things easier? Like Stylebuilder or Skinstudio?
A: Yes and no. While there are skinning programs in development at the moment those programs will only be able to take you so far. Because of the way Messenger works, if you want to do something special and custom then you will have to manually code it in yourself. But remember Open Live has added a lot of these things in already so you are better off using Open Live anyway.
Q: So what's so special about Open Live?
A: Open Live is a skin in itself, but the reason it is so special is because it is a modified version of Windows Live Messenger that removes a lot of the things that makes skinning from scratch hard for new skinners. Open Live also contains comments and a lot of shortcuts that you can take (for example the color of text is mostly controlled in the one file). The other advantage is that Open Live has done a lot of the work for you (i.e User settings) so all you really need to worry about is your design and then modifying Open Live for those tricky parts.
Q: Ok this sounds good and all, so where do I get started?
A: The first thing you do is first create a plan of what you want to do. It is a good idea to draw up an idea of what you want to make. To start skinning download a copy of Open Live, select the version you want to work on (8.5 or 9.0) and then run that skin file. All the files of Open Live will then be extract to C:/Program Files/Messenger Plus! Live/Skins/Open Live/. From here you can then check out the images directory and start changing images. Please remember that for every change you make you must restart Windows Live Messenger in order to see it in action.
DOWNLOAD OPEN LIVE
Q: So do I need some sort of special image editor or anything?
A: No you don't, if you own a copy of Adobe Photoshop and possibly an icon editor then that is all you will ever need. But any image editor will do. However there are some things you should be careful of when you edit images.
Q: What? What do I need to be careful of?
A: Well the main thing to be careful of is the file types. While you can use any file type you want (as long as its a normal image) you must remember that if you do change the file type (i.e use jpg instead of png) to go into Skininfo.xml and change this otherwise you will get a broken link and your skin may not work. On the topic of broken links, you should also avoid using files from a patch such as MessPatch, APatch etc. This means that you should only skin on an original, unmodified, copy of Windows Live Messenger. Because these files do not exist in Messenger and are only specific to those patches it will just cause Messenger to crash if you do use these files in your skin.
Q: Anything else I should know when editing images?
A: Yes there is. Icon, BMP and GIF files must remain as their original file types or they will not work. So for example if you were to change a BMP to a PNG then Messenger would most likely crash. Another issue that Messengers image files have is that certain images must remain in their original dimensions or they will cause Messenger to crash. There are comments in Skininfo.xml which warn you about changing images that have issues so before changing any image it is recommended you check whether or not you need to do anything special. The other important thing to note is that you should NEVER use an image with an alpha channel as your windows main background.
Q: Alpha channel? What is that and why can't I use it?
A: Alpha channel is referred to with images, an alpha channel is what makes an image transparent or semi-transparent. If you use an image as your main background that has an alpha channel it will just cause random graphic glitches or cause the screen to go black. Messenger does not support transparent images as a main background so you can't create things like a glass skin.
Q: Wait what? So I can't make a skin that you can see the desktop through?
A: Correct, this has come up so many times and several methods have been tried. Messenger does not support transparency so you can forget about any skins that let you see the desktop. You can still use transparent images, just as long as the windows main background is an image that does not have any transparency.
Q: But Messenger Plus! has a transparency feature! So what you talking about Messenger not supporting it?
A: Yes Messenger Plus! has a transparency feature, but it is not true transparency . Messenger Plus! uses something that has been around since Windows 2000. The feature lets you make a whole window transparent BUT it does not let you make only certain parts of a window transparent and no there is no way of making it work like that. It's better to forget about glass altogether, but you can always simply suggest to your users to use the Plus! transparency feature.
Q: OK fine..... so what else can't I do?
A: There are a lot of things you can't do. One thing people forget is that Messenger was never designed to be skinned at all, the only reason we have skins is because we have had a lot of dedicated people who have made it a reality. Anyway here is a brief list of things you can't do that you might be thinking of (there are heaps of others by the way).
* Use animated gif's (asides from the ones that Messenger already has)
* Use video files
* Use flash files
* Make a window use "Aero" or Glass
* Move the information bar back to how it was back in Windows Live Messenger 8.1 (technical limitation)
* Make custom buttons that do custom actions (not without coding your own plugin anyway)
* Making custom windows (not without coding your own plugin anyway)
* Make Messenger work like an older version of Messenger (for example WLM 8.0 beta or MSN Messenger 7.5)
* Make Windows Live Today link to your own website
Q: Wow so you really can't do that much when it comes to skinning can you?
A: Well don't be discouraged by all these restrictions. Remember Messenger was never meant to be skinned, but if skinning does become popular it might very well one day be made mainstream.
Q: I noticed you didn't list ad-removal, does this mean we can remove ad's in skins?
A: Yes you can, but I am not going to show how to. The reason is because if you do plan to submit a skin to the skins database then that skin must not have any ad-removal in it otherwise it will be rejected.
Q: Well that kind of sucks, I hate ads.... why is that rule there?
A: Yes most people hate ads, but look at it this way: The reason Windows Live Messenger is free in the first place is because of those ads. Running the Messenger network is not cheap so ad's would be their way of keeping it free, just like a lot of other services. This is why the creator of Messenger Plus! decided to not allow ad-removal in skins as if it did get popular it would land him and others in trouble if too many people were removing ad's from Messenger.
Q: So I have to live with ads then? Why even bother to skin then?
A: Most people have that cynical view about things, but they forget that just because you can't have ad-removal in the official skins database doesn't mean you can't do it for yourself in private use. Just remember that by doing so you aren't supporting the people that support you.
Q: Ok I get it now. So you mentioned patches being a big no-no? Why?
A: Patches should totally be avoided in skinning for a very good reason. Say you were to base a skin on a patch and base it on the settings that you like in that patch. These changes would then carry over to your layout files. Now while you won't see any problems since you patched your Messenger to match those settings, when another person uses your skin it will cause their Messenger to crash simply because they aren't using the patch or patch settings that you use. Another big reason is that patches will be ignored and a skins files will always overwrite the settings of a patch. So for example if you were to use a skin and then apply a patch to remove ads it would not work because the skin has ads enabled and will always overwrite a patches settings.
Q: But I love patches, does this mean I can't use patches anymore with skins?
A: Correct, if you are going to use or create skins you will not be able to use any patches. It's the price you have to pay to make your Messenger look awesome.
Q: Any other rules that I should know about?
A: Yes there are a few. One of them is the stealing / ripping rule. Any skin that is a direct copy of another skin will be rejected from the database.
Q: So I can't modify an existing skin I like to make it better and then submit it?
A: Yes that's right thats called ripping. Skin makers work really hard on their skins and the worst feeling is when someone takes their work and then changes it to something they think is better. Skinning is like artwork, you should respect the original authors design decisions and not touch the work at all. Besides if you do do things like this you will not learn anything and people will catch you out.
Q: OK so can I use code from another skin and then just make the graphics all myself?
A: Again that's ripping because you didn't actually make the core of the skin yourself. But it's fine if you contact the author who makes the skin and ask for permission to do this. If you do get permission and credit the original author then it is not seen as a rip. That is one of the main reasons Open Live was created in the first place, so that people would have something to base their skins off without being rejected or called rippers.
Q: OK I think I am ready to start. Where do you think I should start first?
A: The best place to start off at is the sign in window. This is the very first window you see when you use Windows Live Messenger so the best thing to do is to start skinning it as you don't have to be signed in to see it. Then you move on to the other Windows until your skin becomes complete.
Q: Help! My skin does not work! What's going on?
A: This is something that you will come across quite often. Whenever you make a mistake in any of the layout files or xml files it will cause Messenger to crash. Here are some quick steps into figuring out the problem:
* Go to your skins directory (where skininfo.xml is) and check if there is a file called SkinTrace.txt. If there is then that means your problem is related to Messengers layout files or images. If there isn't it means your SkinInfo.xml file is wrong somewhere.
* Check that all XML tags are open and closed properly. Remember that they are case sensitive
* Check that all style code is structured properly (uses colons and semi colons).
* Check that the file names in SkinInfo.xml match with the images in your skin directory
* Check SkinTrace.txt, it will tell you the UIFile number and line where an error occurs.
If you still can't figure out your problem then post up on the Design Evolved or Messenger Plus! Live forums.
Q: How do I package my skin?
A: Packaging a skin is easy. All you have to do is zip up the contents of the folder (excluding the skin folder itself) and then rename the file extension to .plsk. Remember it MUST be a ZIP file and the skins files must be a the start of the zip and not inside a folder.
Q: I have more questions.
A: If you still have a few questions then the best place to start is the forums. Usually you will get an answer within 48 hours so please be patient.
Resource Websites:
Download Open Live
Messenger Plus! Live skinning resource site
Design Evolved skinning forum
Messenger Plus! Live skinning forum
Q: So what do I need to know to be able to skin Windows Live Messenger?
A: Well all you really need to know is the basics of how to edit XML and CSS, it really all depends on what you want to do. Like if you are only going to replace Messengers images and nothing else then you don't really need to know much. You can easily get away with just editing Open Live without ever touching a line of code (though it won't turn out good).
Q: XML? CSS? Why?
A: The reason you need to know XML and CSS is because that is how Messengers interface and graphics are laid out. Think of it as a webpage, the xml tells where things go and the styles then define how the page is going to look. But thats not all, a skins main file (Skininfo.xml) is also an xml file so you will definitely need to be familiar with how XML works at the very least. Think of Skininfo as the engine in a car, without it the skin will go nowhere.
Q: Isn't there a skinning program I can use to make things easier? Like Stylebuilder or Skinstudio?
A: Yes and no. While there are skinning programs in development at the moment those programs will only be able to take you so far. Because of the way Messenger works, if you want to do something special and custom then you will have to manually code it in yourself. But remember Open Live has added a lot of these things in already so you are better off using Open Live anyway.
Q: So what's so special about Open Live?
A: Open Live is a skin in itself, but the reason it is so special is because it is a modified version of Windows Live Messenger that removes a lot of the things that makes skinning from scratch hard for new skinners. Open Live also contains comments and a lot of shortcuts that you can take (for example the color of text is mostly controlled in the one file). The other advantage is that Open Live has done a lot of the work for you (i.e User settings) so all you really need to worry about is your design and then modifying Open Live for those tricky parts.
Q: Ok this sounds good and all, so where do I get started?
A: The first thing you do is first create a plan of what you want to do. It is a good idea to draw up an idea of what you want to make. To start skinning download a copy of Open Live, select the version you want to work on (8.5 or 9.0) and then run that skin file. All the files of Open Live will then be extract to C:/Program Files/Messenger Plus! Live/Skins/Open Live/. From here you can then check out the images directory and start changing images. Please remember that for every change you make you must restart Windows Live Messenger in order to see it in action.
DOWNLOAD OPEN LIVE
Q: So do I need some sort of special image editor or anything?
A: No you don't, if you own a copy of Adobe Photoshop and possibly an icon editor then that is all you will ever need. But any image editor will do. However there are some things you should be careful of when you edit images.
Q: What? What do I need to be careful of?
A: Well the main thing to be careful of is the file types. While you can use any file type you want (as long as its a normal image) you must remember that if you do change the file type (i.e use jpg instead of png) to go into Skininfo.xml and change this otherwise you will get a broken link and your skin may not work. On the topic of broken links, you should also avoid using files from a patch such as MessPatch, APatch etc. This means that you should only skin on an original, unmodified, copy of Windows Live Messenger. Because these files do not exist in Messenger and are only specific to those patches it will just cause Messenger to crash if you do use these files in your skin.
Q: Anything else I should know when editing images?
A: Yes there is. Icon, BMP and GIF files must remain as their original file types or they will not work. So for example if you were to change a BMP to a PNG then Messenger would most likely crash. Another issue that Messengers image files have is that certain images must remain in their original dimensions or they will cause Messenger to crash. There are comments in Skininfo.xml which warn you about changing images that have issues so before changing any image it is recommended you check whether or not you need to do anything special. The other important thing to note is that you should NEVER use an image with an alpha channel as your windows main background.
Q: Alpha channel? What is that and why can't I use it?
A: Alpha channel is referred to with images, an alpha channel is what makes an image transparent or semi-transparent. If you use an image as your main background that has an alpha channel it will just cause random graphic glitches or cause the screen to go black. Messenger does not support transparent images as a main background so you can't create things like a glass skin.
Q: Wait what? So I can't make a skin that you can see the desktop through?
A: Correct, this has come up so many times and several methods have been tried. Messenger does not support transparency so you can forget about any skins that let you see the desktop. You can still use transparent images, just as long as the windows main background is an image that does not have any transparency.
Q: But Messenger Plus! has a transparency feature! So what you talking about Messenger not supporting it?
A: Yes Messenger Plus! has a transparency feature, but it is not true transparency . Messenger Plus! uses something that has been around since Windows 2000. The feature lets you make a whole window transparent BUT it does not let you make only certain parts of a window transparent and no there is no way of making it work like that. It's better to forget about glass altogether, but you can always simply suggest to your users to use the Plus! transparency feature.
Q: OK fine..... so what else can't I do?
A: There are a lot of things you can't do. One thing people forget is that Messenger was never designed to be skinned at all, the only reason we have skins is because we have had a lot of dedicated people who have made it a reality. Anyway here is a brief list of things you can't do that you might be thinking of (there are heaps of others by the way).
* Use animated gif's (asides from the ones that Messenger already has)
* Use video files
* Use flash files
* Make a window use "Aero" or Glass
* Move the information bar back to how it was back in Windows Live Messenger 8.1 (technical limitation)
* Make custom buttons that do custom actions (not without coding your own plugin anyway)
* Making custom windows (not without coding your own plugin anyway)
* Make Messenger work like an older version of Messenger (for example WLM 8.0 beta or MSN Messenger 7.5)
* Make Windows Live Today link to your own website
Q: Wow so you really can't do that much when it comes to skinning can you?
A: Well don't be discouraged by all these restrictions. Remember Messenger was never meant to be skinned, but if skinning does become popular it might very well one day be made mainstream.
Q: I noticed you didn't list ad-removal, does this mean we can remove ad's in skins?
A: Yes you can, but I am not going to show how to. The reason is because if you do plan to submit a skin to the skins database then that skin must not have any ad-removal in it otherwise it will be rejected.
Q: Well that kind of sucks, I hate ads.... why is that rule there?
A: Yes most people hate ads, but look at it this way: The reason Windows Live Messenger is free in the first place is because of those ads. Running the Messenger network is not cheap so ad's would be their way of keeping it free, just like a lot of other services. This is why the creator of Messenger Plus! decided to not allow ad-removal in skins as if it did get popular it would land him and others in trouble if too many people were removing ad's from Messenger.
Q: So I have to live with ads then? Why even bother to skin then?
A: Most people have that cynical view about things, but they forget that just because you can't have ad-removal in the official skins database doesn't mean you can't do it for yourself in private use. Just remember that by doing so you aren't supporting the people that support you.
Q: Ok I get it now. So you mentioned patches being a big no-no? Why?
A: Patches should totally be avoided in skinning for a very good reason. Say you were to base a skin on a patch and base it on the settings that you like in that patch. These changes would then carry over to your layout files. Now while you won't see any problems since you patched your Messenger to match those settings, when another person uses your skin it will cause their Messenger to crash simply because they aren't using the patch or patch settings that you use. Another big reason is that patches will be ignored and a skins files will always overwrite the settings of a patch. So for example if you were to use a skin and then apply a patch to remove ads it would not work because the skin has ads enabled and will always overwrite a patches settings.
Q: But I love patches, does this mean I can't use patches anymore with skins?
A: Correct, if you are going to use or create skins you will not be able to use any patches. It's the price you have to pay to make your Messenger look awesome.
Q: Any other rules that I should know about?
A: Yes there are a few. One of them is the stealing / ripping rule. Any skin that is a direct copy of another skin will be rejected from the database.
Q: So I can't modify an existing skin I like to make it better and then submit it?
A: Yes that's right thats called ripping. Skin makers work really hard on their skins and the worst feeling is when someone takes their work and then changes it to something they think is better. Skinning is like artwork, you should respect the original authors design decisions and not touch the work at all. Besides if you do do things like this you will not learn anything and people will catch you out.
Q: OK so can I use code from another skin and then just make the graphics all myself?
A: Again that's ripping because you didn't actually make the core of the skin yourself. But it's fine if you contact the author who makes the skin and ask for permission to do this. If you do get permission and credit the original author then it is not seen as a rip. That is one of the main reasons Open Live was created in the first place, so that people would have something to base their skins off without being rejected or called rippers.
Q: OK I think I am ready to start. Where do you think I should start first?
A: The best place to start off at is the sign in window. This is the very first window you see when you use Windows Live Messenger so the best thing to do is to start skinning it as you don't have to be signed in to see it. Then you move on to the other Windows until your skin becomes complete.
Q: Help! My skin does not work! What's going on?
A: This is something that you will come across quite often. Whenever you make a mistake in any of the layout files or xml files it will cause Messenger to crash. Here are some quick steps into figuring out the problem:
* Go to your skins directory (where skininfo.xml is) and check if there is a file called SkinTrace.txt. If there is then that means your problem is related to Messengers layout files or images. If there isn't it means your SkinInfo.xml file is wrong somewhere.
* Check that all XML tags are open and closed properly. Remember that they are case sensitive
* Check that all style code is structured properly (uses colons and semi colons).
* Check that the file names in SkinInfo.xml match with the images in your skin directory
* Check SkinTrace.txt, it will tell you the UIFile number and line where an error occurs.
If you still can't figure out your problem then post up on the Design Evolved or Messenger Plus! Live forums.
Q: How do I package my skin?
A: Packaging a skin is easy. All you have to do is zip up the contents of the folder (excluding the skin folder itself) and then rename the file extension to .plsk. Remember it MUST be a ZIP file and the skins files must be a the start of the zip and not inside a folder.
Q: I have more questions.
A: If you still have a few questions then the best place to start is the forums. Usually you will get an answer within 48 hours so please be patient.
Resource Websites:
Download Open Live
Messenger Plus! Live skinning resource site
Design Evolved skinning forum
Messenger Plus! Live skinning forum