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Draw your custom skin
Draw custom skin

This article describes superficial concepts, how to make your custom skin. (Full reference will be published in January 2001)

Skin compiler and decompiler are located in Skins\ directory.

1. Decompile default skin

(Decompile other finished skins to know, how to describe advanced controls)

2. Creating your own skin

Your .skn file contents blocks (every block describes one component: button, indicator, list box, etc). Common format of every block is < object=.. mean=.. parameter=value ...... >

<object=button  mean=close 
    xpos=2 ypos=26 width=18 height=18 
        normal=close.bmp pressed=close2.bmp
            text=" Quit CooLFM ">
Such lines are enough to create close button using 2 bitmaps. Bubble help contains string " Quit CooLFM ".

In reality, you have to begin .skn file with description of object "environment"
<object=environment
    width=167 height=86
        bgred=0 bggreen=102 bgblue=255
>


Let's describe list of stations
<object=list mean=list 
  bgred=0 bggreen=102 bgblue=255 
  red=255 green=255 blue=0
  foundred=80 foundgreen=95 foundblue=249
  
  font="9.WarpSans"
  
  ndir="0 0 167 86"
  sdir="0 0 167 86"
  wdir="0 0 167 86"
  edir="0 0 167 86">
Let's create "call list box" button.
<object=button 
 mean=calllist
    xpos=62 ypos=2 width=46 height=43 
       normal=calist.bmp pressed=calist2.bmp
          text=" Stations list ">
Usually, user arranges favourite stations close together. To give quick access to the next station let's create "switch to next" button.

 
<object=button mean=listdown 
         xpos=108 ypos=10 width=21 height=21 
            normal=right.bmp pressed=right2.bmp
            onnormal=onright.bmp onpressed=right2.bmp
               text=" Next station ">
Don't forget to create "call settings notebook" button. Only this button gives access to "change skin" page: give user a chance to change your skin to another =)
<object=button 
 mean=callsetup
    xpos=0 ypos=0 width=32 height=32 
       normal=configA.bmp pressed=config2A.bmp
          text=" Open/close Settings notebook">
The next object will show name of current radio station. You can predefine color of ink and file of backgound bitmap.
<object=indicator
 mean=name 
    xpos=0 ypos=48 width=167 height=38 
    font="20.BrushType"
    f=nameback.bmp 
    red=70 green=255 blue=9>
To use CooLFM Bar as full-value OS/2 window, let's add "move zone". User can move mouse to this zone, press right mouse button and drag Bar to new position on Desktop.
<object=button
  mean=move
  xpos=0 ypos=55 width=160 height=38
    text=" Keep right mouse button pressed to move window ">
This zone is invisible. You can to cover it by "name" indicator (look above) or bitmap:
<object=bitmap
     xpos=0 ypos=55 width=160 height=38
        f=title.bmp>


The fastest way to understand format of .skn file - decompile other people's skins. I showed you, that it has very simple and natural format.

Home
Home
Test yourself
Test yourself
(Five reasons
to purchase fm-tuner)
Read manual before usage
CoolFM manual
(with screenshots)
Future development
Future development
(schedule)
ToDo list
ToDo List
(what's new)
Draw your custom skin
Draw custom skin