Windowskin Border size: changeable?

[Venetia]

Yes, a question from Venetia.

I've been searching for this and I'd like to learn about it. I can do a little scripting but I'm still a newb.

The border around the windowskin (such as that white frame around Blue01)--I'd like to know if there's a way to make it larger. I'd like to increase its height/depth to 32+ pixels deep instead of the default (16?). I could change it myself if I could find the right array/variable.

My question is, is the accepted size of the windowskin border something that's set by scripts, or is it something hard-coded into the program? If it is set by a script, could someone point me to the array/variable I should search for?

I'd like to make fancier message windows than what 16 pixels depth will allow--I'd love to make it a possibility. Doing it with pictures isn't really an option with interchangeable message skins or with using message windows that resize, like in ccoa's UMS.

I appreciate your help.

 

[Ellie]

It is hard coded into the program. Selwyn remade the Window built-in module, to allow changeable borders, though I don't know if it does it in the way you want to.

Edit: found it.

http://www.rmxp.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10198

In Window_Message you'd add:

@margin = x.

 

[Venetia]

Hmm ... This is a good place to start. It seems to only really work with making the border smaller, however :'/. Ah, well. Thank you, Wyatt :').

 

[arev]

This may be a problem since window frame consists od 8 parts... Corners, which are 16x16, and those things between the corners, that are 32x16 for horizontals, and 16x32 for verticals. Now, when you change the whole frame to 32x32, there's only place for the corners. I assume Selwyn's script could be edited to make a window from a completely rebuilt windowskin picture, but seems like a lot of work

 

[Venetia]

Yeah, it does seem like quite a lot of work :'/.

Ah well, this topic can be closed I guess. It was worth a shot! Thanks, guys :')

 

[kyonides]

But, Venetia, you can also edit the windowskin itself... I know that because I edited my windowskin for a pokemon game, but later I noticed that I exaggerated while changing the width a lot...

 

[Venetia]

No, the windowskin always has to be 192 x 128, and the borders take up 16 pixels deep on any side. My hope was to make it about twice as big so I could make really large, elaborate borders for it. I already know how to edit the windowskin itself, I was just looking to change how RMXP interprets the image.

But thank you :')

 

[kyonides]

always 16 pixels deep? I may disagree with you. Let me check that and possibly I would include some screenshots showing anyone if I failed to edit the windowskin or not.

Edit:
Let's take a look at these 2 examples...

Spoiler: 2 Windowskins

http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/8721/002purple01kz4.png[/IMG]

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/4218/vtwindowskinnm5.png[/IMG]

 

[arev]

Ven, I'm gonna keep this topic open. I'll try to mess with it once I have some spare time

 

[Prexus]

Venetia; Something you might want to look into is requesting a Sprite based Window class, from scratch, that handles any size borders. I've coded it before, it isn't actually that difficult.

 

[Venetia]

I hate making requests, though :'S. Dang! I was trying to figure out how to do it myself, but god scripting is so frustrating to me >_<.

Well, actually I had another avenue of thought to remedy the situation.

Okay, let's say I'm using the UMS. (Because I am. I was using DubeAlex's but the UMS had a few more features.)

Now then, let's say the script always called a picture to appear beneath the message window, in the corner--because all I'm really looking to do is make a fancy flourish off the upper-left corner, to ensconce the Name box. Let's say the picture is, I don't know, about 80 x 70, and it's set 32 pixels down from the very top of the message window. That'd be changeable I guess, since it'd be a variable. But for example's sake.

That picture would be called every time a new message was opened, but would not be called if the "Hide Window" option was selected.

The picture would always appear in the upper-right corner, no matter where the text box redrew itself (for instance, over a character, or would move with the text box should it move with the character).

Lastly, the picture would have a name dependent on the name of the windowskin, so that each windowskin would have a different bordering "flourish".

Would that be easier than writing a sprite based window class, and/or would said class be just as versatile? I'm just looking for whatever's easiest/most versatile here.

I've said thanks a million times already but ... Gah! Thank you!!!!

 

[Prexus]

The UMS is semi-capable of that. The Message Background option appears behind the window, with some changing it could appear above.

 

[Venetia]

That's not a bad idea, Prexus, and it would save time. I hadn't thought of that. I'll give it a whirl and let you know how it goes.

 

[arev]

Hay Ven, I messed a bit with the script and the border is now 32 pixels wide. There are sill some errors with bitmap size, cursor width, and those little arrows that appear when there's something more in the window. I thought it'd be best if you provide me with a template you'd like to use before I continue my work. Here's an example I've made:
http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/652/skindu9.png[/img]

The corners are those squares of different colors. Those stripes between them are repeated to complete the border of a window. I think you can choose another size if you'd like

 

[Venetia]

I was messing with it but I can't figure out a better alternative than the one you have there without completely changing the functionality of some things.

This one may be a little easier, though (transparent-backed and this one has those little menu scroller arrows in the middle):

http://www.pixelcocktail.com/hosted_ite ... tut/ws.png[/img].

As for the size, I think what you have there may be the ticket. It could make for much more interesting-looking messages.

Question, though: Would the center tiling image (lime green) go up to the bottoms of the borders, or to the very outside edges of the borders? I think it'd be best for the lime green tiling part to meet the border on the inside instead.

 

[kyonides]

I thought you could take a look at the windowskins I posted here, but it's ok. I hope a script can help you with this.

 

[Venetia]

I thought you could take a look at the windowskins I posted here, but it's ok. I hope a script can help you with this.

I did look at them, Shadowball--but the borders are 16 pixels deep, which is what I'm trying to broaden! :'P

 

[kyonides]

I see...