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MC29 Skinning Wishlist

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Awesome Donkey:
Since it's new Media Center season and because there has been recent changes and improvements, because of user/skin developer feedback, to MC's skinning engine I thought it might be a good idea to start a new topic with my personal improvement requests for MC29. I don't want to make any complicated requests, I'll aiming with simple and easy.

So, I'll begin this topic with the most simple skinning request I have...

Skinning Request #1: I need some sort of simple way to set different MainFrame_TopBorder.png and MainFrame_BottomBorder.png images when either MC's window is windowed or when MC is maximized.

Why is this needed? I've been working on new Modern Cards Acrylic skins with the Windows 11 aesthetic in mind, and I can't accomplish the look I'm after because if I add rounded corners in MainFrame_TopBorder.png and MainFrame_BottomBorder.png they will always have rounded corners, even when MC's window is maximized which is 1) incorrect/inconsistent with Windows 11's look and 2) is kinda ugly having a maximized window with rounded corners appearing. Right now if I were to release these new skins, there would have to be versions with rounded corners and ones without and the user would have to manually switch them.

What am I after? I want to have the rounded corners when MC is windowed, and no rounded corners when MC is maximized to simulate Windows 11's look.

One of the quick and simple proposed solutions I can think of is; add some sort of new variable for images that accounts for MC window's maximized state. Like Window="Maximized" or something like that.

Example:


--- Code: ---<Entry Name="TopBorder" Bitmap="MainFrame_TopBorder.png" Columns="200,?-Flex,200" Rows="?-Flex,31" Cells="B1-Tile,B2-Tile,B3-Tile" />
<Entry Name="TopBorder" Bitmap="MainFrame_TopBorder_Maximized.png" Columns="200,?-Flex,200" Rows="?-Flex,31" Cells="B1-Tile,B2-Tile,B3-Tile" Window="Maximized" />
...
<Entry Name="BottomBorder" Bitmap="MainFrame_BottomBorder.png" Columns="23,?-Flex,23" Cells="A2-Tile " />
<Entry Name="BottomBorder" Bitmap="MainFrame_BottomBorder_Maximized.png" Columns="23,?-Flex,23" Cells="A2-Tile" Window="Maximized" />
--- End code ---

This is just one example I came up with in a couple minutes, I'm sure there's even easier and more simple ways of accomplishing this.

Thanks for the consideration! :)

Matt:
I'll work on this since you only have one suggestion!  Thanks for the help.

EnglishTiger:
Neat suggestion AD - and I've just thought of another place your 'Window = "Maximised"' statement/modifier could be useful. In the statements/commands used to position the Windows Control Buttons and Toolbars allowing the skin creator to ensure they are not overlapping the edge of the skin when rounded corners are being used

Awesome Donkey:

--- Quote from: Matt on February 01, 2022, 08:34:47 am ---I'll work on this since you only have one suggestion!  Thanks for the help.

--- End quote ---

Thank you very much Matt! :D


--- Quote from: EnglishTiger on February 01, 2022, 11:06:21 am ---Neat suggestion AD - and I've just thought of another place your 'Window = "Maximised"' statement/modifier could be useful. In the statements/commands used to position the Windows Control Buttons and Toolbars allowing the skin creator to ensure they are not overlapping the edge of the skin when rounded corners are being used

--- End quote ---

Indeed, but I have noticed, with the close button at least, that you don't need to make any modifications to the close image when using rounded corners, MC "magically" knows to not draw the close button past the the boundary of the curve, so it already appears perfectly like other Windows 11 apps. :D Other buttons and toolbars I haven't tested for yet, will try to make a mental note of that to check, but I wouldn't be surprised if it worked there too.

gappie:
i have a small wish conserning the skin, or skinning. so i thought i post it here. with the option to have 3 views, horizontally and vertically i really miss the option to put the `view screen` (where play doctor and the radio stations are) on the side of the playing now list. Now its only above (right?)

looking forward to the new version

 :)
gab

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