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Yahoo! Messenger Skin History |
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Thursday, 10 May 2007 |
Yahoo! Messenger Skin History
 On 29 June 2001 Yahoo! Messenger Blink182 version 410994 was released. Inside the Skins directory was a customised Blink182 skin which contained some really unique files that back then, played heavily on the use of the background.bmp file. We no longer have access to background.bmp, it was dropped from Yahoo! Messenger version 6 onwards, but v5.6 (and below) skin makers will well remember how awesome this file was :) Funnily enough this file is the cause of a lot of problems today as people try to use v5.6 (or below skins) on Yahoo! Messenger v6 and above, and / or want to use background.bmp as a standalone file in v6-v8.1 but sadly compatibility wont be happening any time soon as Yahoo! has since moved on.. and the direction that it's gone in is great as it provides us with a lot more flexibility when it comes to skinning our much loved Yahoo! Messenger.
Our research for the Yahoo! Messenger Skin articles, although extensive, doesn't go back as far as version 4, I have based our findings below, and through out our series skin of articles, on the following Yahoo! Messenger versions which we installed for testing and plonking purposes.
5.6.1358 released 9 January 04
6.0.0.1922 released 27 Feburary 05
7.0.2.120 released 23 December 05
7.5.0.819 released 16 June 06
8.1.0.249 released 28 March 07
Below are the version results and files contained within each, along with changes where applicable. The information is basically for historical purposes and reference but it is also useful should you ever wish to construction your own skins for Yahoo! Messenger, if you do venture down that construction path and decide to make your own skins for Yahoo! Messenger I strongly recommend you see our articles Yahoo! Messenger Skin Reference Table and Yahoo! Messenger v8 .xml file
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 v5.6.1358
If you were (or are) using Yahoo! Messenger v5.6 then your themes (skins) were located at, and installed to:
C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\skins\{skin name}
and yes, back then they were " Themes", Yahoo! even provided a basic tutorial for creating your own which covered replacing the ToolBar Buttons, Status (icons) and your background.
At that time making changes was pretty simple, when it came to whipping up your own creation all you had to do was edit / replace existing .bmp files.
 There were 4 Tool Bar buttons,
add.bmp, call.bmp, chat.bmp, message.bmp
althought alot more were included in the default skin:
| call_disabled.bmp |
ignore.bmp |
| chat_disabled.bmp |
invite_disabled.bmp |
| file.bmp |
message_disabled.bmp |
| file_disabled.bmp |
mobile.bmp |
| friend_groupclose.bmp |
mobile_disabled.bmp |
| friend_groupcloseW.bmp |
voice.bmp |
| friend_groupopen.bmp |
voice_disabled.bmp |
| friend_groupopenW.bmp |
voiceoff.bmp |
| friend_root.bmp |
voiceoff_disabled.bmp |
| friend_rootW.bmp |
webcam.bmp |
| webcam_disabled.bmp |
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all these files were 48x28px, 8bit 256 colour .bmp files with magenta background (RGB: 255 0 255 / Hex: #FF00FF) for transparency.
 There were also 4 Status buttons
busy_user.bmp, idle_user.bmp, offline_user.bmp, online_user.bmp
all 16x16px, 8bit 256 colour .bmp files with a magenta background (RGB: 255 0 255 / Hex: #FF00FF) for transparency. Others files were included in the default skin (offline_userW.bmp, online_mobile_user.bmp, online_userW.bmp)
We had 1 Background image, background.bmp, also with a magenta background (RGB: 255 0 255 / Hex: #FF00FF) for transparency. This was an 8bit 256 colour .bmp file which wasn't actually included with, or used, in the default skin, background.bmp came with the Games skin. The dimensions of the file included were different (240x480px) to the ones mentioned in the tutorial (240x240), there option to tile your background image was under Messenger > Preferences. This file provided a quick and simple way to instantly personalise the main Yahoo! Messenger friends list background.
Lastly, there was one Settings.ini file which set the font family, size and effect:
[UI Settings]
Buddy Font Face=Tahoma
Buddy Font Size=8
Buddy Font Effects=0 |
 v6.0.0.1922
When Yahoo! released version 6 there were big changes to the program itself and also how skins were constructed. It really was an "Out with the old and in with the new" approach that held the test of times as the changes put in place in v6 have continued right through v7, v7.5, v8, and todays v8.1 skins.
Perhaps the greatest loss to the Yahoo! community was the fact that all v5.6 (and below) skins were no longer compatible with v6 nor could they be upgraded, each custom skin now had to be recreated from scratch. Another loss felt by many was that background.bmp dropped, this file was greatly loved by designers and users alike as it allowed us to have personalised backgrounds on our main Yahoo! Messenger menu.
The skin location also moved from
C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Messenger\skins\{skin name}
to
C:\Program Files\Yahoo!\Shared\Graphics\{skin name}
The Default skin was Indigo, Maverick was also included and we could return to "Classic" if we wanted to.
There were 56 .bmp files
| border_bot.bmp |
icons_tbar_hot.bmp |
scroll_gripv.bmp |
tool_border_right.bmp |
| border_left.bmp |
icons_tbar_normal.bmp |
scroll_hbg.bmp |
tool_border_top.bmp |
| border_right.bmp |
itabs.bmp |
scroll_hhandle.bmp |
tool_capbuttons.bmp |
| border_top.bmp |
menu_bg.bmp |
scroll_vbg.bmp |
toolbarbuttons.bmp |
| button_chevron_down.bmp |
menu_scroll.bmp |
scroll_vhandle.bmp |
trackbar_h.bmp |
| button_chevron_up.bmp |
menu_sep.bmp |
statusbar.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_down.bmp |
| capbuttons.bmp |
menubar.bmp |
statusgrabber.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_horz.bmp |
| checkbox.bmp |
menubar_states.bmp |
sys_menu.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_left.bmp |
| columnheads.bmp |
menuitem.bmp |
tab_border.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_right.bmp |
| combo.bmp |
progressbar.bmp |
tabs.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_up.bmp |
| games_close.bmp |
pushbuttons.bmp |
tabs_standard.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_vert.bmp |
| grabbie.bmp |
radio.bmp |
tbar_sep.bmp |
trackbar_v.bmp |
| groupboxedge.bmp |
scroll_buttons.bmp |
tool_border_bot.bmp |
up_down.bmp |
| icons_tbar_disabled.bmp |
scroll_griph.bmp |
tool_border_left.bmp |
up_down_h.bmp |
menu_sep.bmp, which is included, isn't actually needed as it's been replaced by menuitem.bmp
 There are 2 .jpg files (preview_indigo.jpg, preview_indigointl.jpg which are previews for selection)
8 .rng files (region files)
| border_bot.rgn |
| border_left.rgn |
| border_right.rgn |
| border_top.rgn |
| tool_border_bot.rgn |
| tool_border_left.rgn |
| tool_border_right.rgn |
| tool_border_top.rgn |
These files store information about the transparent areas of the window borders. You can delete these at any stage as they will be regenerated when the skin loads.
NOTE: it's vital you delete these files after editing any of the following graphics.
| border_bot.bmp |
border_right.bmp |
tool_border_bot.bmp |
tool_border_right.bmp |
| border_left.bmp |
border_top.bmp |
tool_border_left.bmp |
tool_border_top.bmp |
And lastly, 1 .xml file {skinname}.xml which contains oodles of information (and font settings which were previous set in Settings.ini file).
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v7.0.2.120
v7 saw us now with 69 .bmp files, of 14 more .bmp files, itabs.bmp was removed.
| border_bot.bmp |
menu_scroll.bmp |
scroll_vhandle.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_left.bmp |
| border_left.bmp |
menu_sep.bmp |
search_bang.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_right.bmp |
| border_right.bmp |
menubar.bmp |
statusbar.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_up.bmp |
| border_top.bmp |
menubar_states.bmp |
statusgrabber.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_vert.bmp |
| button_chevron_down.bmp |
menuitem.bmp |
sys_menu.bmp |
trackbar_v.bmp |
| button_chevron_up.bmp |
menusearchbar.bmp |
tab_border.bmp |
up_down.bmp |
| capbuttons.bmp |
mute_states.bmp |
tabs.bmp |
up_down_arrow.bmp |
| checkbox.bmp |
photoshare_slider.bmp |
tabs_standard.bmp |
up_down_h.bmp |
| columnheads.bmp |
photoshare_slider_tray.bmp |
tbar_sep.bmp |
up_down_h_arrow.bmp |
| combo.bmp |
progressbar.bmp |
tool_border_bot.bmp |
voice_callbtn.bmp |
| combo_arrow.bmp |
pushbuttons.bmp |
tool_border_left.bmp |
voice_ctrls.bmp |
| games_close.bmp |
radio.bmp |
tool_border_right.bmp |
voice_lights.bmp |
| grabbie.bmp |
scroll_buttons.bmp |
tool_border_top.bmp |
voice_ringer.bmp |
| groupboxedge.bmp |
scroll_griph.bmp |
tool_capbuttons.bmp |
voice_tbar.bmp |
| icons_tbar_disabled.bmp |
scroll_gripv.bmp |
toolbarbuttons.bmp |
voice_tbar_incoming.bmp |
| icons_tbar_hot.bmp |
scroll_hbg.bmp |
trackbar_h.bmp |
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| icons_tbar_normal.bmp |
scroll_hhandle.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_down.bmp |
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| menu_bg.bmp |
scroll_vbg.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_horz.bmp |
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 menu_sep.bmp, which is included, is not really needed as it's been replaced by menuitem.bmp
mute_states.bmp not referenced in .xml file
itabs.bmp referenced in .xml file but not included in graphics folder (it is in v6, 7.5, 8 though)
we still had 2 .jpg files (preview_indigo.jpg, preview_indigointl.jpg)which are previews for selection.
and 8 .rng files
| border_bot.rgn |
tool_border_bot.rgn |
| border_left.rgn |
tool_border_left.rgn |
| border_right.rgn |
tool_border_right.rgn |
| border_top.rgn |
tool_border_top.rgn |
and 1 .xml file {skinname}.xml |
v7.5.0.819
v7.5, they dropped preview_indigointl.jpg, gave back itabls.bmp (removed in v7) and we now had 79.bmp files to contend with which included 10 additions (including activity_speaker_states.bmp, connect_chunkyanim.bmp, dark_connect_chunkyanim.bmp, Voice_Circle.bmp)
| activity_speaker_states.bmp |
icons_tbar_hot.bmp |
scroll_hhandle.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_horz.bmp |
| border_bot.bmp |
icons_tbar_normal.bmp |
scroll_vbg.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_left.bmp |
| border_left.bmp |
itabs.bmp |
scroll_vhandle.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_right.bmp |
| border_right.bmp |
menu_bg.bmp |
search_bang.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_up.bmp |
| border_top.bmp |
menu_scroll.bmp |
silver_bg.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_vert.bmp |
| button_chevron_down.bmp |
menu_sep.bmp |
statusbar.bmp |
trackbar_v.bmp |
| button_chevron_up.bmp |
menubar.bmp |
statusgrabber.bmp |
triangletray.bmp |
| capbuttons.bmp |
menubar_states.bmp |
sys_menu.bmp |
up_down.bmp |
| checkbox.bmp |
menuitem.bmp |
tab_border.bmp |
up_down_arrow.bmp |
| columnheads.bmp |
menusearchbar.bmp |
tabs.bmp |
up_down_h.bmp |
| combo.bmp |
mute_states.bmp |
tabs_standard.bmp |
up_down_h_arrow.bmp |
| combo_arrow.bmp |
photoshare_slider.bmp |
tbar_sep.bmp |
voice_callbtn.bmp |
| connect_chunkyanim.bmp |
photoshare_slider_tray.bmp |
tool_border_bot.bmp |
Voice_Circle.bmp |
| dark_connect_chunkyanim.bmp |
progressbar.bmp |
tool_border_left.bmp |
voice_ctrls.bmp |
| dialbtn_pad.bmp |
pushbuttons.bmp |
tool_border_right.bmp |
voice_lights.bmp |
| donotdisturb.bmp |
radio.bmp |
tool_border_top.bmp |
voice_ringer.bmp |
| games_close.bmp |
scroll_buttons.bmp |
tool_capbuttons.bmp |
voice_tbar.bmp |
| grabbie.bmp |
scroll_griph.bmp |
toolbarbuttons.bmp |
voice_tbar_hold.bmp |
| groupboxedge.bmp |
scroll_gripv.bmp |
trackbar_h.bmp |
voice_tbar_incoming.bmp |
| icons_tbar_disabled.bmp |
scroll_hbg.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_down.bmp |
|
 menu_sep.bmp is not really needed as it's been replaced by menuitem.bmp.
not referenced in .xml file are activity_speaker_states.bmp, connect_chunkyanim.bmp, dark_connect_chunkyanim.bmp, mute_states.bmp, Voice_Circle.bmp.
12 .png files were introduced
| voice_dialpad_0.png |
voice_dialpad_4.png |
voice_dialpad_8.png |
| voice_dialpad_1.png |
voice_dialpad_5.png |
voice_dialpad_9.png |
| voice_dialpad_2.png |
voice_dialpad_6.png |
voice_dialpad_10.png |
| voice_dialpad_3.png |
voice_dialpad_7.png |
voice_dialpad_11.png |
and we still had 8 .rng files
| border_bot.rgn |
border_top.rgn |
tool_border_right.rgn |
| border_left.rgn |
tool_border_bot.rgn |
tool_border_top.rgn |
| border_right.rgn |
tool_border_left.rgn |
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1 .xml file ({skinname}.xml)
with only 1 .jpg file, preview_indigo.jpg, which was used for the preview for selection (preview_indigointl.jpg was dropped)
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v8.1.0.249
v8 saw 85 .bmp files, 6 more than v7.5
| activity_speaker_states.bmp |
itabs.bmp |
scroll_hbg.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_left.bmp |
| border_bot.bmp |
menu_bg.bmp |
scroll_hhandle.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_right.bmp |
| border_left.bmp |
menu_scroll.bmp |
scroll_vbg.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_up.bmp |
| border_right.bmp |
menu_sep.bmp |
scroll_vhandle.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_vert.bmp |
| border_top.bmp |
menubar.bmp |
search_bang.bmp |
trackbar_v.bmp |
| button_chevron_down.bmp |
menubar_states.bmp |
silver_bg.bmp |
triangletray.bmp |
| button_chevron_up.bmp |
menuitem.bmp |
statusbar.bmp |
typedown.bmp |
| capbuttons.bmp |
menusearchbar.bmp |
statusgrabber.bmp |
up_down.bmp |
| checkbox.bmp |
mute_states.bmp |
sys_menu.bmp |
up_down_arrow.bmp |
| columnheads.bmp |
pab_abook_off.bmp |
tab_border.bmp |
up_down_h.bmp |
| combo.bmp |
pab_abook_on.bmp |
tabs.bmp |
up_down_h_arrow.bmp |
| combo_arrow.bmp |
pab_add1.bmp |
tabs_standard.bmp |
voice_callbtn.bmp |
| connect_chunkyanim.bmp |
pab_mlist1_off.bmp |
tbar_sep.bmp |
Voice_Circle.bmp |
| dark_connect_chunkyanim.bmp |
pab_mlist1_on.bmp |
tool_border_bot.bmp |
voice_ctrls.bmp |
| dialbtn_pad.bmp |
photoshare_slider.bmp |
tool_border_left.bmp |
voice_lights.bmp |
| donotdisturb.bmp |
photoshare_slider_tray.bmp |
tool_border_right.bmp |
voice_ringer.bmp |
| games_close.bmp |
progressbar.bmp |
tool_border_top.bmp |
voice_tbar.bmp |
| grabbie.bmp |
pushbuttons.bmp |
tool_capbuttons.bmp |
voice_tbar_hold.bmp |
| groupboxedge.bmp |
radio.bmp |
toolbarbuttons.bmp |
voice_tbar_incoming.bmp |
| icons_tbar_disabled.bmp |
scroll_buttons.bmp |
trackbar_h.bmp |
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| icons_tbar_hot.bmp |
scroll_griph.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_down.bmp |
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| icons_tbar_normal.bmp |
scroll_gripv.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_horz.bmp |
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menu_sep.bmp is not really needed as it's been replaced by menuitem.bmp.
not referenced in .xml file are activity_speaker_states.bmp, connect_chunkyanim.bmp, dark_connect_chunkyanim.bmp, mute_states.bmp, Voice_Circle.bmp.
grabbie.bmp no longer needed as v8 references grabbie.png, the .bmp file should be left in, along with the .png file, if you are making a skin that is to be compatible with all versions (v6. v7, v7.5, v8.1)
25 .png files in total, 13 more added for this version
| grabbie.png |
subhdrbg_cls_hover.png |
voice_dialpad_1.png |
voice_dialpad_8.png |
| headerbg.png |
subhdrbg_hover.png |
voice_dialpad_2.png |
voice_dialpad_9.png |
| slot_empty_bg.png |
title.png |
voice_dialpad_3.png |
voice_dialpad_10.png |
| slotborder.png |
title_down.png |
voice_dialpad_4.png |
voice_dialpad_11.png |
| slotborder_we.png |
title_hover.png |
voice_dialpad_5.png |
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| subhdrbg.png |
title_up.png |
voice_dialpad_6.png |
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| subhdrbg_cls.png |
voice_dialpad_0.png |
voice_dialpad_7.png |
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 and we still had
8 .rng files
| border_bot.rgn |
border_top.rgn |
tool_border_right.rgn |
| border_left.rgn |
tool_border_bot.rgn |
tool_border_top.rgn |
| border_right.rgn |
tool_border_left.rgn |
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1 .xml file {skinname}.xml
1 .jpg file (preview_indigo.jpg) which was used for the preview for selection
For more detailed information on constructing skins specific to this version see our articles Yahoo! Messenger Skin Reference Table and Yahoo! Messenger v8 .xml file for more information. |
 Pink Skin
Yahoo! provides 4 additonal skins available for download (Celadon, Bronze, Pink and Gray / Orange) but sadly at the time of writing this article the skins still haven't been updated / corrected to make them compatible with Yahoo! Messenger v8. Below is a brief rundown of the files included and what's missing. For specific details on the issues that arise with this skin when applied to Yahoo! Messenger version 8 see our article Yahoo! Messenger Pink .xml file.
the Pink download has 67 .bmp files
| border_bot.bmp |
menubar.bmp |
tab_border.bmp |
up_down_h.bmp |
| border_left.bmp |
menubar_states.bmp |
tabs.bmp |
up_down_h_arrow.bmp |
| border_right.bmp |
menuitem.bmp |
tabs_standard.bmp |
voice_callbtn.bmp |
| border_top.bmp |
photo_ctrl.bmp |
tbar_sep.bmp |
voice_ctrls.bmp |
| button_chevron_down.bmp |
photo_slider.bmp |
tool_border_bot.bmp |
voice_ringer.bmp |
| button_chevron_up.bmp |
photo_sliderbg.bmp |
tool_border_left.bmp |
voice_tbar.bmp |
| capbuttons.bmp |
progressbar.bmp |
tool_border_right.bmp |
voice_tbar_incoming.bmp |
| checkbox.bmp |
pushbuttons.bmp |
tool_border_top.bmp |
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| columnheads.bmp |
radio.bmp |
tool_capbuttons.bmp |
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| combo.bmp |
scroll_buttons.bmp |
toolbarbuttons.bmp |
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| combo_arrow.bmp |
scroll_griph.bmp |
trackbar_h.bmp |
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| games_close.bmp |
scroll_gripv.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_down.bmp |
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| grabbie.bmp |
scroll_hbg.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_horz.bmp |
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| groupboxedge.bmp |
scroll_hhandle.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_left.bmp |
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| icons_tbar_disabled.bmp |
scroll_vbg.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_right.bmp |
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| icons_tbar_hot.bmp |
scroll_vhandle.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_up.bmp |
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| icons_tbar_normal.bmp |
search_bang.bmp |
trackbar_thumb_vert.bmp |
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| menu_bg.bmp |
statusbar.bmp |
trackbar_v.bmp |
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| menu_scroll.bmp |
statusgrabber.bmp |
up_down.bmp |
|
| menu_sep.bmp |
sys_menu.bmp |
up_down_arrow.bmp |
|
 menu_sep.bmp is not really needed as it's been replaced by menuitem.bmp.
photo_ctrl.bmp not referenced in .xml file
rename:
photo_slider.bmp should be photoshare_slider.bmp
photo_sliderbg.bmp should be photoshare_slider_tray.bmp
missing .bmp files:
menusearchbar.bmp in .xml file but not included in graphics directory (file included with v7-7.5-8)
voice_lights.bmp in .xml file but not included in graphics directory (file included with v7-7.5-8)
v8 has 25 .png files, some of which are actually vital for the skin to be displayed correctly, the files listed below aren't included in the Pink skin download
| grabbie.png |
subhdrbg_cls_hover.png |
voice_dialpad_1.png |
voice_dialpad_8.png |
| headerbg.png |
subhdrbg_hover.png |
voice_dialpad_2.png |
voice_dialpad_9.png |
| slot_empty_bg.png |
title.png |
voice_dialpad_3.png |
voice_dialpad_10.png |
| slotborder.png |
title_down.png |
voice_dialpad_4.png |
voice_dialpad_11.png |
| slotborder_we.png |
title_hover.png |
voice_dialpad_5.png |
|
| subhdrbg.png |
title_up.png |
voice_dialpad_6.png |
|
| subhdrbg_cls.png |
voice_dialpad_0.png |
voice_dialpad_7.png |
|
as expected these files also aren't referenced in the .xml file
1 .jpg file,{ preview_pink.jpg}, which was used for the preview for selection
6 .rng files are included
| border_left.rgn |
border_top.rgn |
tool_border_right.rgn |
| border_right.rgn |
tool_border_left.rgn |
tool_border_top.rgn |
but the 2 below aren't:
| border_bot.rgn |
tool_border_bot.rgn |
1 .xml file (pink.xml)
there is a quite a bit of information missing from the included .xml file some of which needs to be added,
for more information and detailed instructions on making Yahoo! Messenger Pink (and Celadon, Bronze, and Gray / Orange) fully compatible with Yahoo! Messenger v8 please see our article Yahoo! Messenger Pink .xml file.
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MORE ARTICLES FROM THIS SERIES:
- Yahoo! Messenger Skins
- Installing Yahoo! Messenger Skins
- Making Yahoo! Messenger Skins
- Skin Making Hints, Tips and Tricks
- Skin Problems & Issues with Yahoo! Messenger
- Yahoo! Messenger Skin History
- Yahoo! Messenger Skin Reference Table <--Next
- Yahoo! Messenger v8 .xml file
- Yahoo! Messenger Pink .xml file
- Our Yahoo! Messenger Skins (Downloads)
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 29 May 2007 )
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