Choosing how to skin Windows

Editing Tools

The reason for this manual existing is clear if you’ve ever has the desire to create your own WindowBlinds skins. WindowBlinds is incredibly powerful, from which it follows that there are many options which you can set and configure.

Like a web page, a WindowBlinds skin is a text file which is interpreted in order to produce the desired effect. Like a web page there are 2 ways to create this file:

a) The hardcore programmer way. Open up a text editor like Object Edit and type until your fingers bleed

b) The lightweight way. Use an editor built for the purpose like SkinStudio!

This document is not a guide to using SkinStudio but is designed to introduce you to the concepts of skinning using WindowBlinds, so that if and when you choose to use SkinStudio, there will not be much of a learning curve. There is no reason to use a text editor if there is a tool to make things easier, but then again, unless you understand the power of the WindowBlinds skin language (UIS) you will never get the most out of WindowBlinds. To see the key benefits of SkinStudio, read the Introduction to SkinStudio

The first key thing to remember is that WindowBlinds is not an ‘all-or-nothing’ solution. As you build a skin, you can save it as you go along and ask WindowBlinds to use that skin. WindowBlinds will skin those areas which you have defined, and will use defaults for those areas not defined. This means you can see how your skin is looking and check you are happy with it before you go any further.

The one thing this guide cannot give you is creativity. It’s all well and good to understand how a skin is constructed, but it helps if you have a little flair. Having said that, with a paint package and enough desire, almost any user can make an attractive skin. I know - I am that user!