A Basic Introduction To Updating The AChat GUI

[Lover]

Thanks for a more detailed instruction Annie.

Would you mind if I move this to Support/templates? Perhaps we get more ideas and help and then we have one single board for it.

[AnnieMay]

Thanks for a more detailed instruction Annie.

Would you mind if I move this to Support/templates? Perhaps we get more ideas and help and then we have one single board for it.

Sure hun.   I figure even if they are .win files least it gives us something to modify on a GUI scale. And could potentially allow for many diffent people to make their own skinned versions of the AChat interface.

On a side note I want to do a version of the GUI myself as I get more time. Currently that would be fairly slow. I have many ideas on how to do a re-design. I am a digital painter as well as a scripter/programmer. All of them self taught. So don't think I'm amazing. -heh- Though I do have an AA for when I used to do graphic design. Only schooling I really had ..

[AnnieMay]

I was just thinking to myself here. If a great many of the variables are localized. This would then greatly hinder the capacity to how they are used. In that they can only ever exist in the form they were localized to. And placement anywhere else would only see a unlinking, or inactive element. While this still would allow for GUI restructuring. It would hinder the ability of a modder to come up with better ways to manage elements or sets of elements. That enabling them on a globalized scale would do.

With that said I would hope the Achat developers would globalize a set of variables for modders to use. Maybe even afford modders a list of globalized variables. Along with the localized variables and to what windows they exist within. This would greatly take the guess work out for modders, and allow a sort of list  of things they can play with functionally.

The other thing being the following. While I do know how to do graphics and the like on a visual scale. If there is to be a modded AChat. It should be developed in part as a community mod. I will then say I will opt to assist with editing the .win files.

Roles for a mod would include (not a complete list) :
* Someone to edit and design elements into .win file(s)
    – An easier way would to assign a few modders to this task. Giving each one specific .win files in which they are to manage.
* Someone to edit and design .dds elements in a graphics editor
    – Understanding of design is also key when doing graphics.
* Someone to edit and design workable layouts using both .dds and .win files.
    – They do not mod the .win files. Only figure out ways to put it all together, and know it will work. knowledge of .win structure is helpful.
    – Simply someone who designs a layout and tells the modders who do the .win edits or .dds graphics this is what they want, and get to it .

[Lover]

I will send your ideas and this link to the A-Team. Perhaps they don't want it, as there is also the danger of hiding virus or trojan or just making it instable. But perhaps they like the idea and say “Great, let's do it!” We'll see.

[AnnieMay]

I will send your ideas and this link to the A-Team. Perhaps they don't want it, as there is also the danger of hiding virus or trojan or just making it instable. But perhaps they like the idea and say “Great, let's do it!” We'll see.

You can't hide a virus in a plain text file. Now .dds can as soon as it is opened. If its a community mod, before its made public for available download. It can be checked by the modders as well as staff. Before making its way to the end user. The only way they could stop modding of AChat is to redo their entire source in a completely different structure. And as much work as I have seen thus far. That may be more time then they are willing to invest. Even nesting these files into the application would still cause them to be plain text in a executable, it would not be compiled. Though frankly I hope they leave it as they have it. And allow people the freedom to mod it. There are many softwares where modding is openly welcomed and accepted. And feel Achat should be happy someone would take time and effort to say “hey this is a version of AChat, what do you think?” And to shy away from a idea because a “virus could be added”, then nothing on the internet would really, if ever, be shared. That is why you check whats submitted, you check and re-check if needed, you then mark it safe. Place it on a server for download and say its been tested for viruses. And then also place a notice that the end user should always have a current virus scanner installed. Not because they should trust the download less, but that they should always keep themselves safe.

And with any community mod. Forgive my noting here only doing so if you are unaware. A community mod is a mod done by the community for a project. Often reviewed by the developers of a product. And determined if it should be supported by them. Otherwise a modded application will say something like “unofficial or unsupported mod”. I'd very much like this one to be a “supported mod”. Which means the developers and future modders would work together. Developers only in ways to allowing and telling modders what they want. And modders to be their creative selves in working with what they are given.

If modding was such a bad thing. You would not have community maps to favorite games you may like. Community mods to games you like, like say a “Christmas Mod”. You would be without a themed variant to many applications and games, SecondLife, Mozilla (Firefox), World of Warcraft via LUA, even your phones allow modders. Modders actually are often used by companies as free labor and ideas -heh-, that they are. Because a mod might later be a standard within that application.

As far as modding AChat what is allowed and not allowed is all based on the localization or globalization of the used variables. If a variable is not wanting to be used outside a form. Localizing it means it'll only ever remain effective in the given form. All you would be able to do is pretty that form up as a modder. Globalizing a variable would allow further edits. Though as mentioned before thats entirely in Achat developer control.

[AnnieMay]

Just a little side bit.

“… some companies actively encourage modding of their products. In cases such as TiVo and Google, there has been an informal agreement between the modders and the company in which the modders agree not to do anything that destroys the company's business model and the company agrees to support the modding community by providing technical specifications and information. Some commercial video games thrive through a modding community. In the case of Half-Life, a mod called Counter-Strike drove sales of the original software for years.”

That is exactly the sort of community mod I am speaking of. A mod directly connected between AChat developers and a community. Working together to make something better. Together.

[Lover]

You don't have to convince me. I believe, I know that giving access to special people IS helpful for games, software and programs. What we're doing in forum is not very different, just we don't do the implementation.
We collect and bundle ideas – like a think tank. Then there is the other side – the programmers. Usually in compare to the user they do have the know how but not the ideas

Best is to have symbiosis – both “fertilize” each other and the outcome is great.

[AnnieMay]

You don't have to convince me. I believe, I know that giving access to special people IS helpful for games, software and programs. What we're doing in forum is not very different, just we don't do the implementation.
We collect and bundle ideas – like a think tank. Then there is the other side – the programmers. Usually in compare to the user they do have the know how but not the ideas

Best is to have symbiosis – both “fertilize” each other and the outcome is great.

Mhms I agree dear, as my post above also says. I want it to be done together. And it is possible. Even my sample shows a tiny bit of what can be done. I have done more than this when modding it as I was learning. I also learned some variables may be localized to a form and not accessable to another. Or that it has a internal reference that would be hard to guess. Thats where the developer comes in saying hey thats , so and so. Or hey I'll add it in globally and see what you can do.

[stray]

Hi there, could someone show me how to make the chat window darker? I've problems to see few letters on particular backgrounds.. ^^

[old_goat]

I would like to see an option to help a red/green colorblind person with the gui.
the status indicator is useless.
i can take 3d glasses and tell the difference by closing one eye then the other.
PLEASE.

[stray]

you should tell this to A-Team with a support ticket I thought

[Lover]

Stray, there is no way to make the chat window darker. You only can use your own settings but i'm sure you know it.

[stray]

Oh, ok thanks.

[AnnieMay]

I have been away for a bit. And was looking in past threads I replied in. It is very possible to change the chat window color. As far as within the program itself .. no. Though, through edits yes you can. You would just need to find the applicable file. then change the supplied color to a more prefered. Save and done. Though its always best to work with a copy. Just to be sure if anything blows up, you can revert.

I think the reason why few know this. Is that few care to mod. Though Achats interface is completely modable. And if it makes it easier for you a good reason to do it.

You can try yourself, or when I can I can look for you. Though, may be some time as I am busy.

[hentaiboy69]

it's nice to see you come back, AnnieMay! hope this time you'll stayt a bit longer….

[Author]

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