Tutorial for ICQ Plus

Before starting this tutorial
you should already have installed on
your 'puter, the latest ICQ and ICQ Plus programs.
Without BOTH, you cannot skin your ICQ Panel

Beginners-Page Two

Configuring the Skin

(You can download a zipfile containing
configuration instructions - see below)

Your ICQ panel should look something like this,
with the PLUS sign, in top right hand corner, clearly
visible, if you have installed the programs correctly.

YOU MUST BE ONLINE TO CONFIGURE YOUR SKIN

Click on the PLUS sign, or click ICQ in bottom left hand panel and choose ICQ Plus. The configuration panel below should appear.

YOU MUST BE ONLINE TO CONFIGURE YOUR SKIN

On panel, under Skin,(highlighted in orange on my image
and currently saying "none") scroll arrow down until you
reach the name of the new folder you made, which contains
your 7 new images. Leave Dialog Box showing "Main dialog"
as it is for the moment. Click on name of your new folder.
It's name should now appear in the "Skin" Box.
Now choose "Edit"
Another panel will appear looking as the one below.

Click the box showing "Custom style"
Then choose "Background image"
DO NOT CLICK ADVANCED BOX.
You should now be able to click the
square button, and this opens the folder
containing your 7 new images. Choose the
background tile, leave "tile" highlighted
and then press o.k. Continue editing by pressing
the "Buttons" option next. This screen appears

Click as I have done, custom and also custom images.
Go all the way down those white boxes, clicking
the square on right hand side, and find in your
folder, the five button images you made.
Button 1 is normal, button 2 focused, etc.
making Button 5,MouseOver Button.
Click O.K. Now go through the remaining options,
entering your menu image in the Main Menu Section.
Configuration now depends on the colours you prefer.
Try experimenting, by clicking text,border,
background options.
To use the Animation option, you will need to
design your own animated gif. This is not imperative.

Choosing border option, the panel below
should appear. You can see some colours
have been chosen already for border,
titlebar, text, font. etc. If you alter
the font properties, and export your skin
for someone else to use, you must include
in the folder, the font you have specified
if that font is any other than MS Sans Serif.

When you have configured your colours for
border/titlebar and text settings CHOOSE
"More Settings" from this panel. You can only
enter 3 of your buttons in the new dialog
box that appears, not 5. I always enter
buttons Nos.1, 2, and 5 in this option.

YOU MUST EXPERIMENT YOURSELF,
TAKING NOTE OF WHAT CHANGES ARE
MADE IF YOU ALTER A PARTICULAR SETTING.
ONLY THEN WILL YOU BE ABLE TO PROCEED
TO THE ADVANCED METHOD OF SKINNING,
COVERED IN ANOTHER TUTORIAL - LINK BELOW.

When you have finished configuring the main dialog
to your satisfaction, return again to main panel,
and choose from Dialog Box - Other Dialog.

Go through all those options as for your Main Dialog
experimenting as you go along, taking note of changes
that occur when you alter,colour,text,transparency etc.

Main Dialog configures your ICQ Panel.
Other Dialog box changes appearance of
your ICQ Plus configuration panel.

When you have completed to your requirements,
choose "Export" from your main panel. and a
zip file can be produced. Save this file to
a folder on your hard drive. You can then
offer your new skin as a download to others.
If you have changed the font from MS Sans Serif,
ensure the font you specified is in the zip file too.

Remember to alter text colours in your ICQ preferences
option, if necessary,depending on the colour of your skin.
Otherwise you will not be able to see text in your ICQ Panel,
which informs you who is online/offline etc.


YOU MUST BE ONLINE TO CONFIGURE YOUR SKIN

My ICQ Panels after configuring new skin

The left hand image shows that I have specified a brown border, and
transparent title bar. Right Hand image - no border, but brown title bar.

Left hand panel is configured in "main dialog" option.
Right hand panel is configured using "other dialog" option

ENJOY YOUR NEW SKIN!!!!

****Download a zipfile containing
configuration instructions by clicking HERE