From version 1.4 IM2 has supported skin themes (several skin structures, grouped with some reason)

As an old style skin strutures, skin themes is situated in separate directory. ThemeName - same with directory name

Skin item is situated in separate directory, identical with its name, since name XML file is formed as follows: Skinname + _skin.xml.

The Example: Location: ...\Skins\Jhon_Theme\Default\Sys\Default_skin.xml

For theme description used special XML file - themes.xml

It is situated in a theme root derectory.

The Example: Location: ...\Skins\Jhon_Theme\theme.xml

Example of themes.xml

<root>
<info im2 = "1.4" xml = "2.0" version = "1.0" />
<author>
<title> Jhon's skin series </title>
<name> Jhonie Walker </name>
<url> www.example.com </url>
</author>
<list>
<theme name = "Default" link = "First" />
<theme name = "Red" link = "Second" />
<theme name = "Silver" link = "Third" />
</list>
</root>


• info - Skin engine information.

  1. im2 - 1.4 and higher.

  2. xml - 2.0 and higher (1.0 - old style skin strutures).

  3. version - theme version.

• author - About creator inforamation.

  1. title - Theme name.

  2. author - Skin designer name.

  3. url û Author webpage or e-mail address.

• theme û Theme description item.

  1. name - name for description in a combo box

  2. link - real subskin directory name

pic 1. Select skin theme window

All skins are situated in sub-dir .\Skins in root directory of IM2 application.

Skin is situated in separate directory, identical with skin name, since name XML file is formed as follows: Skinname + _skin.xml.

Consequently for different skins names of XML files will be different.

The Example:For standard IM2 skin: Final Worlds location of the XML file will be following: ...\Skins\FinalWorlds\sys\FinalWorlds_skin.xml

XML file must locate in sub-dir .\Sys - otherwise program will not find it, and will issue report on error!

The graphic material is situated on discretion of the developer. The way to each graphic file is indicated in corresponding to element of the structure.

The Recommendation: As a matter of convenience development and the following editing of XML file, advisable all graphic files to dispose in special sub-directories.

The Example:The files that have charge of exterior of all buttons comfortable to dispose in sub-directory .\Skin_Name\Bitmaps\Buttons and etc. In the same way name of the files to do to be identical with their purpose. If this button - view the profile - file name can be Userinfo.bmp.

If user wants to see an approximate skin view, exists the special file - preview.bmp

Preview file must locate in: .\Skins\Skin_Name\Bitmaps\prev.bmp, otherwise preview field will be an empty

File has a permit 290x200

pic 2. Prev.bmp for ôMSN Likeö skin

• The all graphic material must be presented in BMP files with 24 bit coding of the colors.

• For description of all skin functions is used XML file. Principle of the work with him is described in in following chapter