SKS7.3 feedback

from WinCustomize Forums

I do apologize if I'm coming off as a squeaky wheel with the sks upgrade. I am encountering things that I'm not accustomed to and seem to fighting the program at every turn. What I liked most about the previous versions is that they were somewhat a blank slate and one added to them. This version has everything thrown in and one must delete what is not desired. I can see that making my own default blind is probably my best bet however would still be a pain with the incorrect settings and painting options in place.

There have been improvements as well and I'm seeing some interesting techniques and effects, and for those I am grateful and thinking outside of the box a little more.

Although I don't wish this on anyone, I hope that I'm not the only person encountering difficulties. I'm feeling a little discouraged. Even though there are a lot of changes to the program it was never put out for review and comment to the community and would appear to have been rushed into production for Win8.

Anyhow:

the default skin, diamond, has been created with sub-styles already in place, It's pretty easy to delete those sub-styles that are unwanted but generally aren't sub-styles created after the main blind has been created to maintain margins and settings. Now one would have to go a change all the settings and margins twice again, yes?

I've only just looked at the edit start menu page there appears to be additional graphics not encountered being in place with the previous version. the 'search mode' graphic has been usually taken from the 'edit vista/7 explorer parts', not the start menu as there were some issues using this graphic. sorry, don't remember what.

also the bottom bar is now broken into a right and left graphic instead of one solid graphic. this appears to be a vista option.

the 'expanded start menu' is now a default graphic. one may not choose to use this option. (not a complaint really, just a comment)

Edit vista/7 explorer parts - search field background There are generally two sequences of graphics (normal-pressed-disabled-mouseover) and (normal-mouseover-pressed-disabled). The sequence for this graphic is (normal-mouseover-disabled-selected) which would appear to be incorrect except that it would also appear that there is only one of the views that work anyhow. In other words; you may reduce the graphic count to 1 with no apparent impact.

Mouseover text for start menu (left and right) doesn't seem to want to change from the normal text color. In other words; changing the mouseover text color doesn't change the color.

Painting per pixel frames: "stretch middle section" option doesn't appear to work. Left and right borders seem to need "tile horz middle section" and top and bottom borders need "stretch horz middle section" to work properly.

and it would have nice to update those "examples" to make them examples of what actually the graphic was suppose to represent. Start menu examples show the same graphic for 7 of the 20 graphics.

skinning
4,822 views 14 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Identifying the problems you are encountering will go along way in folks acknowledging that they are seeing the same things.  :sun:

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

you're right Philly, I'll edit the above to reflect what I'm finding.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

There are some nice things to mention;

Taskbar buttons look really, really good, thanks for the tips. I'm thinking about just leaving them for the skin that I'm working on.

Log-off buttons on the start menu have been updated, the others were really funky.

Mask on the menu item, new item is entertaining, another tip there.

Jump list and preview window now have default graphics, thank you.

Most of the XP graphics have been updated.

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

For future reference

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Neil, Brad, no thoughts here? Ignore it and it will go away? shoot the messenger? what? anything?

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

wow, all around apathy, unbelievable. If I weren't working on a killer blind I think I'd quit.

oh well, tomorrow's another day.

guess I'll put these mistakes in the wiki so newbies won't get confused.

heres's another one:

UIS2 "text background" image count does equal 2 (active and inactive) however the images listed in the help section are 5 (normal-pressed-disabled-mouseover-default).

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It may be because of where this thread is posted that the right folks have not seen it.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Philly0381, reply 7
It may be because of where this thread is posted that the right folks have not seen it.
End of Philly0381's quote

where might that be Philly, thought this was a good spot but...

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I'll point it out go Neil tomorrow.

Remember tnough, no comment does not always mean nothing is happening.

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Zubaz, reply 9
I'll point it out go Neil tomorrow.

Remember tnough, no comment does not always mean nothing is happening.
End of Zubaz's quote

sure seems that way some times. thank you Zubaz.

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

here's another;

edit start menu - pop-up menus, new application item. unable to change text color on any of the settings.

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I should point out at this point that the changing of the default skin for new skins has no impact on existing skins and you are free to base a new skin on an older skin if you do not want to use the newer skin (and I think the XP substyle is pretty close to the previous skin anyway)

Likewise bar the specifically mentioned issues nothing changed between 7.2 and 7.3.

If there are issues then feel free to report them and we can look at them for the next update though it is important to mention the OS you have issues on.  For example the new application item on popup menus should only do things on XP, so please make sure you are using a skin on XP when reporting issues with it and make sure we know you are.

Additionally you should be aware that changes to SKS have no impact on WB.  So a problem with say stretching on per pixel frames would be a WB issue not a SKS one.  SKS just writes settings.

Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Thanks for responding, I'll PM you these issues as I encounter them and refresh the above to you.

Quoting Neil, reply 12
Additionally you should be aware that changes to SKS have no impact on WB. So a problem with say stretching on per pixel frames would be a WB issue not a SKS one. SKS just writes settings.
End of Neil's quote

the issue was rectified within sks by changing the paint options as noted?

Quoting Neil, reply 12
For example the new application item on popup menus should only do things on XP, so please make sure you are using a skin on XP when reporting issues with it and make sure we know you are.
End of Neil's quote

shouldn't this then identified as an xp only graphic?

Quoting Neil, reply 12
you are free to base a new skin on an older skin if you do not want to use the newer skin
End of Neil's quote

Johnny come lately here but that is really a good idea, a definite yoda moment.

I'm assuming that you did the graphics for this, just noting that there some really nice techniques encountered.

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting gmc2, reply 13
Thanks for responding, I'll PM you these issues as I encounter them and refresh the above to
Quoting Neil Banfield,
reply 12
you are free to base a new skin on an older skin if you do not want to use the newer skin


Johnny come lately here but that is really a good idea, a definite yoda moment.

I'm assuming that you did the graphics for this, just noting that there some really nice techniques encountered.
End of gmc2's quote

The skin is the diamond skin from WB.  That was done by danilloOc.