vb3 Skin Creator
 

<i>My Idea</i>

I was thinkin about building a program in which people would be able to take there sliced images of the skin they create, and easily be able to create there skin. Also whether or not I get the program idea going, I would do the "Study Guide" that would fully explain the steps they can take into creating skins for their forum.

Software Feature Ideas :

Variable Inputs - The creator would easily be able to select lets say "Total Threads" off the list and it would input it where they want it. Then they would do the same if they were to do the post bit or what ever they were making.

Variable Dictionary - Be able to view all the possible variables that can be inserted into a template and read their functions and also be able to see where they can be edited in the files.

Condition Examples - Users would be able to easily enter conditions so that they can display certain html for certain things.

Live Preview - Using your sites current database, you would be able to view the template in action using the information from your site.

PHP & EXE - The program would have two types. You could create your skin using the php program or you can use the executable program.

If you have any suggetions, opinions, or would like to help, please put in your input, i want to get the publics views...

Sounds good, but then you'd actually need someone to put this into motion. Who would code it? Would YOU? Or anyone willing to take this project up?

I would, but if someone would like to help out i could always use it...

its more than massive, at least I myself neeeeed such thing ( cuz I am zero in creating vb3 style)

You could do this via Director if you knew what you were doing...

This would be a huge project. Other than that I can't think of anything to say :)

yeah i know it would be a huge project...i remember awhile ago someone had talked about doing a vb2 creator but never did it....so im actually going to follow through on this, and if vbulletin plans on makin future releases....4,5, etc....they should let me know..Bein how big this is, I may purchase a site and everything. I know this would be great for those with minor html experiance just cant wait till I see the final product...o well...but right now, i should probly code that skin that people tellin me to enter....hmmm...

I can't see how this is really going to work though. You slice the images and then how is the program going to know where to position them and so on? Also remember some designs are heavily in depth - you have to work your ass off in HTML to get the output as you wish it to - how will the program know how to output backgrounds and stretched tables etc...

There's a program where people just type in a few things, change a few colours and voila, it makes a new vBulletin buttonset for you.

well basicly it would ask you to please enter you html ( that is part you want with the images sliced ), then the next page, it will show the output of that and ask you to enter the variables where u want them

Enter Variables?
Every step you go up to, it will say for instance, Nav Bar. When you are editing it you will see a screenshot of what the original looks like incase you would need some help on what to add.

Then there is list stating off the variables ( ex: $bbuserinfo['username']) or something like that and then. There would be a total list incase you would want to add it in. Then after you put the variables where you want, you preview it. It will then show you, what it would like like if you had finished it.



Changin a few colors doesn't make a good vbulletin. Vbulletin has that in the script anyway if you just edit the css in the admin panel. But this is for the semi-advanced users.

Even before this is released, I will release sort of like a study guide for those who dont know that much with html, but enough to get started. So though it will take work, It would be much easier on people than just editing and creating new templates.

The autostretched tables and such is done by the users when they slice the images. It doesn't do this automaticly by just giving the program some images, because if it was set like that, then all it would be is the normal vb skins with diffren't colors. This would be ment for those who plan on taking skinning even farther and actually changing the whole look.

on the other hand there could be a lite and pro version and lite would just simply takes those sliced images and place them where you want....

Sounds like a useful program but a big project.

It is done it is just never made it to public beta. Before we were to released I was invited to the vb3 beta test and it was decided to scrap it. Since then one of the programmers left the team and a vb3 version never happened.
What our program did was take the vbulletin.style file and parse it to a wysiwyg editor. You would see your changes happen as you edited the html. It was an extensive program and made creating a style real easy.
I still have the source for it. It was a rather extensive project.

This would be like a dream for customizing vB!!! But honestly I think it will never be made because it´s very very complicated.

Could you release it? :)

I would definately like to see this. ;)

I'll dig up the source and and compile it. Just have to figure which disk it is on. I'm not very organized when it comes to cataloging my source for projects.

well if you would like to continue that project AWS, definatley let me know...i've bought vbskinner.com and got the plans in my head and everything....As soon as I finish these projects i got going now, I plan on getting on this. I want to try to get a team together, and with your help with your older build, we should be able to advance upon it.