Create an Advanced Control System Skinset

[DMHolt57]

Now someone tell me how to combine the two skins as a set with the .acs extension so i can actually try them on the gadget.

[Shortie]

You can do it buy editing the .js files etc but that's a pain - what I do is just overwrite some which are already in the skins folder (back the folder up first or just keep a copy of the gadget install)- the default skin at the moment is 51 so if you go either side of that then you do not have to click forever until you get to yours

Shortie

[SoLoGHoST]

Now someone tell me how to combine the two skins as a set with the .acs extension so i can actually try them on the gadget.

Wow, great skins DM.  I especially like the Wood 1 that is next to the brick (bottom left), but they all look nice and until we see them in ACS, it's hard to say how it looks.

.acs files are used to save/open the skins you already have in there, since these skins can range in #'s, depending on the amount of skins the user has in the skins/large and skins/small folders, ACS style files do not actually package the images up together as one (although this is an idea for a future version of ACS).  Currently .acs files only provide a way to open and save your Appearance Settings (ofcourse, if you are using skins that aren't packaged with the gadget, you will need to copy these skins to the small/large folders in the skins directory of the ACS Root Directory with the number name of the skin being the next highest number in there.  If you haven't saved the same skins as the same number name as it was when you saved the style file (.acs) from within ACS it will not be able to load up the skin (instead will load up the skinset # that the style file was saved as before (if exists)).  Unfortunately, I didn't have much time to devote to this feature, so I just created a quick way of loading and exporting Appearance Settings (that is why they are approx. 678 Bytes in filesize - Only saves the variables for setting all appearance settings in ACS).

Soon to come, a way to package your skins up into a .zip file that will be renamed to a .acsp (ACS Complete Style Pack file).  And also, will allow users to add/remove options from the Top Text Area.  That is, create a .js file called something like custom_tta.js, ACS will look for this file in the .zip file, if exists, will begin loading all functions listed in there as Top Text Area Options with the exception of the init() function which developers can use to define variables, etc., needed to be run at load of settings, and whatever else.  For example:

custom_tta.js

Code: [Select]

function init() {
// do stuff in here that will load at default
// let's set some variables that will need to be set in here...
// setting optionsRemove to false will add all options you define here in the functions to the current options in ACS.  Setting this to true will remove all options and start options off at an index of 0.
optionsRemove = false;
}
function cpu_temp() {
// textString holds the actual text that will be inputted into the tag for the drop down options in appearance...
textString = "CPU Temp:";
// setting index to 0 will need to be done regardless if optionsRemove = true or false, that way we know what function to use for the next in the group of tags.
index = 0;

// Do code in here

}

Well anyways, those are my thoughts on the development of custom options.  As far as skinsets are concerned, will just need to create 2 images called, small.png and large.png in the .zip file and will automatically convert and save them, once loaded from within ACS into the Skins directory.

Thanks a bunch bro

I am also considering to just allow the ability to import ACS Skinsets (*.acss || ACS Skinset Files) which will only load the skinsets from a .zip file without loading any custom changes.  I believe I will do this first and see how this goes before I go crazy with the customization of the actual features.

[DMHolt57]

Ok, got it fingered out, all my skins added to styles and everything looking good.  I now can design some skins that are purpose oriented, since I have had a good look at it.  And I notice I need to clean the corners a bit, seems like the transparency is showing on some, even though i made sure to remove drop shadows and outside strokes.  One suggestion,...bring the star at the bottom up 5px(approx) so it is even with the locked/unlocked text.  It tends to fall off the skin if it has an upraised area, with one point.

[Shortie]

Well Done

Like the purple one

Shortie

tip - to clean the edges create a layer at the beginning which is a copy of the background say 130x71px and a radius of 15px - then when you are finished Do a selection on the unused background invert and delete from the finished skin if it is a vector mask you can be sure you get a clean skin

e.g.

[DMHolt57]

Yeah, I tried to make it a quick project and started with a skin i had left a drop shadow on and didn't notice till later that i should have paid more attention....but the next goaround I will be trying something new....
 I only downloaded the gadget an hour ago.

[SoLoGHoST]

Hello DM, the wooden one is awesome, you can always use other images besides the star.  Some keyboard Shortcuts to remember, give ACS focus 1st by clicking on it somewhere and then do any of the following Shortcut Combinations:

CTRL+UP & CTRL+DOWN => Changes the ACS Buttons

CTRL + LEFT & CTRL+RIGHT => Changes the Skinsets of ACS

ALT + UP & ALT + DOWN => Changes the Locked/Unlocked Icon

ALT + RIGHT & ALT + LEFT => Changes the Arrow Images in the corners

SHIFT + LEFT & SHIFT+RIGHT => Changes the Slider Images of ACS

CTRL + T => Toggles the sizes of ACS (With Top Text Area and without)

Those are in there by default unless you have taken them out manually.

[DMHolt57]

57Woods for ACS

Available in the Downloads Section

[Shortie]

Cool stuff

All you need is a wallpaper to go with it  Here....

Details

[DMHolt57]

Thnx Shortie, looks great. 

[NerdBoy]

Very nice to look at Dm & Shortie good stuff .

[Shortie]

Very nice - superb interpretation with the text

Shortie

[SoLoGHoST]

57Woods for ACS

[ ERROR: SPECIFIED ATTACHMENT MISSING OR CANNOT BE FOUND ]

[ ERROR: SPECIFIED ATTACHMENT MISSING OR CANNOT BE FOUND ]

Very Cool DM, you should definately add this to the Downloads Section here ===>  Gadget Skins and Things.