True Launch Bar skins specification
General
- All skins must be placed to the folder SKINS in the instalation folder.
- Each skin must be placed in separate folders
- The file with skin description must be named tlbskin.ini
- All file names are related to skin's folder
Skin description
The section [General] describes the skin itself
Values:
- SkinName - skin name
- AuthorName - The author of skin
- AuthorURL - The link to authors web page. (optional)
- AutorEmail - Email of author (optional)
- Version - always set this value into 2
- GlassCompatible - True if the skin have own transparency parts for the menu background. The menu transparency in the TLB Settings works like ON/OFF. False if it is possible to change the transparency level in the TLB settings.
- BorderMinAlpha - set the minimum border transparency level. 0 is the transparent, 255 - opaque. This option is ignored if the GlassCompatible is True.
- autoShape - if True the TLB uses the menu background alpha channel to make the menu shape (for example the rounded corners). If False, TLB takes the shape from the MenuShape section.
- borderSize - (default 1) menu border size. Used only for colored menus
- borderColor - the color of the menu border
- shadow - True if it is possible to add default menu shadow. Set it into False if the skin have own shadow, or it is inconpatible with standard shadow.
- transparent - True if menu background has complex transparent parts or shape with alpha channel.
Skins elements descriptions
- [Button] - describes the button in the horizontal state of toolbar
- [ButtonVert] - describes the button in the vertical state of toolbar
- [DropdownButton] - describes the button with menu in the horizontal state of toolbar
- [DropdownButtonVert] - describes the button with menu in the vertical state of toolbar
- [MenuItem] - describes the menu item
- [MenuItemSubmenu] - describes the menu item with submenu
- [Caption] - describes the menu caption
- [Chevron] - describes the chevron button (>>) in the horizontal state of toolbar
- [ChevronVert] - describes the chevron button (>>) in the vertical toolbar
- [TopMenuScroller] - describes the scroller on the top of menu
- [BottomMenuScroller] - describes the scroller on the bottom of menu
- [IconViewMenuItem] - describes the menu item in the Icon View mode
- [IconViewMenuItemSubmenu] - describes the sub-menu item in the Icon View mode
- [Menu] - describes the menu without the caption background
- [MenuWithCaption] - describes the menu with the caption background. Note: the caption must be cutted off this section. TLB draws the caption part from the [Caption] section.
Values:
Each section can contains some values (<value name> = <value>). The order of values is not important.
BgType (required)
Type of the element background. Can be the ImageFile or Fill.
- ImageFile - the background of the skin element is the image
- Fill - the background draws using one of the fill methods
ImageFile=<bitmap file name> (required for BgType=ImageFile)
The file name that contains the item appearance in vary states. Images must be tiled vertically and bitmap must contain 5 images for the following states:
- normal
- over (active/selected)
- down
- opened active
- opened inactive
Note: For caption section you must make bitmap with only image and specify the ImageCount=1
ImageCount=<number(greater the 0)> (optional)
Number of images in the bitmap. Ordinary value is 5. But for TopMenuScroller, BottomMenuScroller and Caption this value must to be 1.
Transparent (optional)
Can be True or False. If you set Transparent into True You must include TransparentColor value. Transparent value used only if BgType=ImageFile
TransparentColor=<RGBValue> (optional)
This value allow you to set the transparent color of the background image. Transparent value used only if BgType=ImageFile.
SizingMargins (optional)
SizingMargins = left, right, top, bottom
This value allow you to specify the margins used for scaling the background image. Set this value if your background image have borders that must not strached.
ContentMargins (optional)
ContentMargins = left, right, top, bottom
This value allow you to specify the margins for content of skin elements. TLB draws icons and text using this margins. You can set this margins if you cannot the TLB draw something on the background borders. For chevron button you must set this value to specify the size of chevron button
TextColor (optional)
TextColor = RGB normal, RGB over, RGB open active, RGB open inactive
The text color in all states. For the chevron you can ommit this value. For captions set only one color value
FillType (optional)
May be: Solid, GradientVert, GradientHorz
Defines the fill type for BgType=Fill
FillColor, FillColor2 (optional)
FillColor = RGB normal, RGB over, RGB open active, RGB open inactive
FillColor2 = RGB normal, RGB over, RGB open active, RGB open inactive
The colors for filling. The FillColor2 used for gradient filling.
Image# (optional)
Draw the image inside element. Replace the # sign with number from 1 to the number of addition images to draw. Format of value:
Image1 = <bitmap file>, <images count>, Transparent(<False or RGB value>), X, Y
The X and Y can be numbers to draw in absolute coordinates or in format:
- right(offset) Align to the right
- left(offset) Align to the left
- top(offset) Align to the top
- bottom(offset) Align to the bottom
- center(offset) Align to the center
[Separators] section
This section defines skins for separators. The values
- Horz
- Vert
- Menu
Format of values:
<Value Name> = <bitmap file>, <size of separator>, <top/left sizing margin> <bottom/right sizing margin>,Transparent(<False or RGB value>)
[Separators]
Horz = sephorz.bmp, 6, 0 0, Transparent(false)
Vert = sepvert.bmp, 6, 0 0, Transparent(0xFF00FF)
Menu = sepmenu.bmp, 8, 1 1, Transparent(false)
[Columns separator] section
This section describes the separator between the menu columns. The values for this section are:
Image
Image = <file name>
the image file for separator. Use the PNG format for transparency.
SizingMargins (optional)
SizingMargins = left, right, top, bottom
This value allow you to specify the margins used for scaling the separator image. Set this value if your background image have borders that must not be strached.
color1 and color2
color1 = RGB value
The colors for the separator. Two lines color1 - the left line and color2 - the right line.
[MenuShape] section
This section is used when autoShape value in the [general] section is False. Use the transparent PNG for this section. The transparent parts will be cut off.
Values for this section:
Image
Image = <file name>
the image file for menu shape.
SizingMargins (optional)
SizingMargins = left, right, top, bottom
This value allow you to specify the margins used for scaling the menu shape image. Set this value if your background image have borders that must not be strached.
Additional values for [Menu] and [MenuWithCaption] section
These two sections can have additional value:
AttachMargins
AttachMargins = left, right, top, bottom
Use these margins if your skin have a transparent borders (for example the shadow) to move the menu's attach points.
Some notes for skins designers
The size of buttons and menu items are defined by True Launch Bar itself. So you must keep in mind that all bitmaps can be stretched. Use SizingMargins values to keep borders of bitmaps unstretched.
Use system colors
Since version 6.6.7 True Launch Bar supports the system colors. Just use one of the COLOR_* constants described on this page as the RGB value.