I'm a graphic designer, trying to understand the code of writing a skin for mediaportal. I have everything I need to make the graphics, but how are you guys writing the xml? Is there anything like a visual xml editor to kind of give you some wysiwyg control similar to writing a webpage? What other tools are being used? Thanks in advance.
Which tools to create the xml? (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter shade01
- Start date
I'm afraid there isn't any more. There used to be the Skin Editor, which is still available for download but there have been a lot of new functions since it was created and so isn't recommended to use any more.
Most people take an existing skin and modify it slightly as they need.
For example, if you like the layout of Blue 3 then keep the XML and just remake the graphics. Then, once you are comfortable with that, then you can start making small changes.
From there, you will probably get the hang of it.
Even still, it would be a huge job designing a skin from scratch.
If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd be very interested to hear them.
Cheers,
Marcus.
(looking forward to seeing what you can come up with
)
Most people take an existing skin and modify it slightly as they need.
For example, if you like the layout of Blue 3 then keep the XML and just remake the graphics. Then, once you are comfortable with that, then you can start making small changes.
From there, you will probably get the hang of it.
Even still, it would be a huge job designing a skin from scratch.
If anyone has any other suggestions, I'd be very interested to hear them.
Cheers,
Marcus.
(looking forward to seeing what you can come up with
)In terms of creating a GUI for skin development (not full Wysiwyg, but more easily understandable than text). Its not a massive task.
I'd be willing to give it a crack. Two things are needed to do it well. which you guys might know exist (or not)
A) An XSD File to define the rules the Skin files need to abide by. This would need to be updated, and maintained along-side the software development. an XSD file is a good idea anyway, but may be one of those luxuries that isn't yet implimented. I am happy to create an XSD file for it, from what I have looked at in the XMLfiles so far, it looks relatively simple.
B) A CSS File to style the interface for editing... I would use XMLmind which is free for personal use and is pretty straight forward, it offers the ability for controls to be selected and pulls its rules stright from the XSD file.
Is this needed or is there something out their already, or someone else working on something like this?
Cheers,
.A
I'd be willing to give it a crack. Two things are needed to do it well. which you guys might know exist (or not)
A) An XSD File to define the rules the Skin files need to abide by. This would need to be updated, and maintained along-side the software development. an XSD file is a good idea anyway, but may be one of those luxuries that isn't yet implimented. I am happy to create an XSD file for it, from what I have looked at in the XMLfiles so far, it looks relatively simple.
B) A CSS File to style the interface for editing... I would use XMLmind which is free for personal use and is pretty straight forward, it offers the ability for controls to be selected and pulls its rules stright from the XSD file.
Is this needed or is there something out their already, or someone else working on something like this?
Cheers,
.A
- November 20, 2008
- 50
- 2
- Home Country
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Great Idea
Alltaken quoth thus:
If it does what I suspect and brings us a little closer to a wysiwyg skin editor, then I strongly suspect that it will be well received indeed.
Don't wait for permission, the whole point of Open Source is that you don't need permission so long as you stick to the principles.
You might want to start a thread in the Developers' Forum though.
I'm more than happy to help with testing if you want that.
Great idea!
Alltaken quoth thus:
If it does what I suspect and brings us a little closer to a wysiwyg skin editor, then I strongly suspect that it will be well received indeed.
Don't wait for permission, the whole point of Open Source is that you don't need permission so long as you stick to the principles.
You might want to start a thread in the Developers' Forum though.
I'm more than happy to help with testing if you want that.
Great idea!
- Thread starter
- #6
I'd imagine that it is needed, it's why so many of the skins are similar, because they get copied with minor changes so much. There was a visual editor awhile ago, but it wasn't maintained and doesn't work with the new mediaportal anymore. If programming even just a basic skin was as easy as doing a webpage, I'd wager you'd start seeing some more interesting designs come along
would be awsome if someone had the time and skills to do this. its not easy to go through the xml files over and over again :x
- Moderator
- #8
I use a combination of XML Notepad 2007 (from MS) and the MyRefresh plugin running in MP. I can edit the xml in tree display, with the control in one column and the instruction/text in the other. Can move/duplicate controls for easy mod, with multiple instances you can drag controls from other xml's to mod. Makes it easy to copy the same controls to multiple xml's. When you save a change to the xml, hit F5 and MyRefresh reloads the xml into MP for display. Be careful that you don't save the xml you are dragging FROM.
The only drawback is when you change edited graphics you have to stop MP, delete the skin cache and restart MP (because of the way MP generates the graphics cache) or you will not see the graphics changes, unless you use a graphic file in the xml with a different name.
A WYSIWYG editor would be premo.
Chuck
The only drawback is when you change edited graphics you have to stop MP, delete the skin cache and restart MP (because of the way MP generates the graphics cache) or you will not see the graphics changes, unless you use a graphic file in the xml with a different name.
A WYSIWYG editor would be premo.
Chuck
sounds neat that editor. i use notepad ++ which colors the dif parts of coding so its easier to see where somethign starts and begin... but that xml notepad sounds nice maybe gonna try that...
but yea. make a wysiwyg editor and you'll get my 5 cent
happy new years all.
but yea. make a wysiwyg editor and you'll get my 5 cent
happy new years all.