| The UIS2 Tutorial - The Basic Taskbar & Start Menu | ||||||
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This is where operating system specifics come into play. Windows XP introduced a more elaborate start menu than was available in previous versions of Windows. WindowBlinds 3 can take advantage of the new Start Menu, and skinning this is dealt with in the next section, but here we will look at skinning the standard taskbar and Start Menu. The taskbar Under either operating system the [TaskBar] section is equally valid, as it specifies how buttons on the taskbar will be skinned. Under Windows prior to XP, you cannot actually skin the taskbar itself, just the buttons. The code here follows a very similar structure to many other skin elements, and as such these parameters should be familiar. [TaskBar] These parameters specify the button image and the areas which are not stretched at each edge. The structure of the graphic is as follows:
As per previous examples, this parameter specifies whether ‘magic pink’ is used in this image. In this case it is not, so the value is 0. NormalFont=0 These specify the font presets which are used for the button text in a range of circumstances. In each case [Font0] is used. The Start button Away from Windows XP, skinning of the Start button is very simple, done via a single image. [StartButton] This example is taken from the Sputnik skin, as it is not present in the Aquarium skin which is designed for Windows XP as well and as such stores this information elsewhere. The different states are as follows:
Once this button is designed, Because the A very brief introduction to the type of graphic files required in order to make a skin, how to define transparent areas, and the definition of multiple ‘states’ in a single graphic.
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