Empty button(s) in all skins ... ?

from WinCustomize Forums
Well it's an idea maybe for Stardock directly, or for all the skinners to add one (or two) "empty button(s)" in all skins, so that the users may convert it (them) as their needs (for me i always try to modify the originals skins to add a "winmenu button" ... but in some skins it's quiet difficult to do it ... )

What Stardock think about that point of view and what you, skinners think about that proposition ???
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Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
There is something skinners can use for that. They are called SmartButtons. There are not many skins that supported it. I must admit that I never made skin using them. Maybe someone here knows some good samples of skins that use them. Perhaps some skinners may be interested to support them.

It does exactly what you want, but there are not many plugins around, so the choises of functions assigned to the buttons are limited.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Well, MadIce, effectivly theyre's the smart button function (i really never saw any skin using it ... ) and i don't think exclusivly off a plugin button, but as i said, an "empty one" with which any user can modify it as he wants (with an text editor or with skinstudio ...)
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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
An up ... because i think it's an essential point ...
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Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It's an interesting idea but if you had an empty button, why not give it a function like notepad or screensaver or something, and the user could still change it if he wants, same as if it was empty. That way you wouldn't have a dud button (which would probably remain that way with 99% of the users).
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The problem with Smart Buttons is the limited number of plugins for them. There's only 4 and 3 of them already have their own button assigments.  A lot of skins have Smart Buttons but in my case, I leave them turned off because if they're on by default everyone using the evaluation version of WB gets a black box where the button should be.

It's a nice system and would be very usefull if Stardock would provide some more plugins for them. The thing I like is that you can make them disappear if you don't want them and it's real easy to change the function.

 

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You gave a possible solution yourself: Maybe a skinner can provide an image for an empty button which can be modified by the user if required. With SkinStudio you could position the button on the title bar and give it the function you want.

Just trying to come up with an idea using existing software.

Any more ideas?

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Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
MadIce - would it be possible for you to modify your excellent winamp plugin to be a Smart Button? Maybe have it activate a fly-out menu with all the controls on it (or at least the 8 most common ones, including vol up & down). That would really be cool...
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Why not? But first OM, OK? We'll see.