Help im a newbie to all this cool SKINS stuff!!!

hi Neoen.

Basically, for every skin section you see here, there is a program you will need to download.

Many are free, others you need to pay for (some of the developers do this for a living you see ). But even the shareware ones will have a free, often time or feature limited demo.

So, to use Beaqtnik skins, you will need to download the program Beatnik, to se Windowblinds skins, you will need to download the program Windowbliunds ... and so on.

So, where can you download all these coll programs? Well, if you head over to another skin site, like Lotsofskins : http://www.lotsofskins.com/ and click on the resources link, you'll be atken to apapge full of links to information about all the various skinnable applications, and from there you can go to the applications homepage...

Each program has it's own way of applying skins, so read the documentaion first, and if you're still stuck for a specific application, come back here and give us a yell...

Other major skin sites:

DeviantArt: http://www.deviantart.com/ (resolving bandwidth issues atm, so is rather slow at times)

Teknidermy: http://www.teknidermy.org/ Online skinners magazine, interviews/articles/tutorials...

Dezina: http://www.dezina.co.uk/index.php Sweet interface at this site

Enjoy!

PS Frogboy/admin/anyone - thought there must be links to external apps on this site, but where?

Quad phobe.....all those typing errors.....

Actually, Martin has a point. Most of us only discovered the links to external programs by accident:

If you go to the NextSTART section here in WC, the title of the skin will be something like 'QNX for NextSTART'. The actual 'NextSTART' word is the link that takes you to the developer's site (in this case winstep.net).

However, in most cases you will only find this out by accident, when (and if) your mouse passes over the 'NextSTART' word and the cursor changes. Unless you do that, there is no indication whatsoever that this word is in fact a link to the developer's web site.

I really feel this is one of the few things that should be changed ASAP. Either make it look like a link (underline the word even when the cursor is not over it, or have it appear in a different color) or/and provide an individual page with links to all the applications listed here.

Jorge Coelho
NextSTART 2.70 - A Windows interface that you can actually use!
http://www.winstep.net - Winstep Software Technologies
IRC Chat: #winstep on AustNet

I would go as far as saying that there needs to be either a link to a page of resources in one of the main navigation panels, or, a la deviantart, a paragraph on each skin page about the app with an obvious link to the associated homepage.

The paragraph describing each application is a very nice idea, Martin. Anyone else care to support this point of view (or any other)?

I know most of the regulars in here already know where the link to external applications is, but do you remember having trouble locating it at the begining? I know I did, and pointing this out might be important so that changes are made and future newcomers have no trouble with it.

Jorge Coelho
NextSTART 2.70 - A Windows interface that you can actually use!
http://www.winstep.net - Winstep Software Technologies
IRC Chat: #winstep on AustNet

Guys why not just write a FAQ for this whole site, i mean u mods cant always keep on saying the same stuff again and again to newbies who come here and post questions like i did; rite???

hey that is what keeps the board alive... hehe
and whos got time for FAQ's?

maybe citizen Neoen does? hehe j/k

heck I'll do it once I've the next issue of Tek is out if Brad doesn't want an Admin to do it... I've been thinking of designing the ultimate skinning FAQ website too...

Hmmm delete first instance of "I've" from above paragraph.

But I also still favour the idea of a clearer link to external sites... (without wishing to bring up all the old portal stuff again....)

Maybe we should put this thread somewhere more obvious so an admin sees it ... ppl are prob just ignoring it due to the subject heading - (no offence Neoen! - did you get going with skins>).

Hmmm... I will suggest it to the powers that be, but unless somebody volunteers to do it, I don't see a faq being worked on anytime soon.

The links aren't obvious, but they are there, and they work. If one of the community members would like to write a faq and submit it, I'm sure that a link can be made for it.

I just don't see Stardock paying IT resources for a faq at this point.

This is a community site, so if there is something you want done, don't just complain about it, do something about it. Faqs (at least good ones) take quite awhile to do. Even writing up an explination of each app would take awhile.

But, if somebody has time to write a faq, do it and we'll get it on the page.

Heh Javabrain that is the point.... the links AREN'T obvious! I mean, beside the one in the side bar, even the stardock link isn't obvious... think of all the potnetial business Stardock is missing out on.

I was thinking about a FAQ in terms of the one that skinz had, a simple guide to what a skin is, the fact that you need the program to use the skin and navigation tips for the site if there was no chance of it being changed.

I was thinking about the paragraph per app being a seperate thing, not a part of the FAQ...

I appreciate that these things take time, I started updating the skinz.org WhatIs' shortly before it fell to pieces, so I know how long these things take...

So, I hereby formally offer my services to write the copy for a Wincustomise FAQ, and also a paragraph about each app for which skins are hosted here.

http://www.skinbase.org
has a list of all skinnable apps, with links, if I am not mistaken.

fearoffours, that would be really cool!