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'''AddOns''' are generally self-contained User Interface (UI) modification components. However, some AddOns can be dependent on other AddOns to work, and some AddOns are actually collections of other AddOns. There is no size restriction on AddOns, some can grow to be quite massive.
:''See [[wo:AddOn]] for the World of Warcraft AddOn reference.''
:''See [[WildStar AddOn]] or [[ws:AddOn]] for the WildStar AddOn reference.''


In plain English, an AddOn is just some files you can put in your game folder that can (theoretically) improve your interaction with the World of Warcraft game (i.e. make it easier to play, or give you more information about what's going on in the game).
AddOns are self-contained components that change the behavior of a program.


Often the name '''modification''' (or "mod" for short) is used interchangeably with '''AddOn'''. More specifically, mod is a third-party AddOn that alters or enhances some aspect of World of Warcraft's interface. Mods can perform a wide variety of tasks, including adding new buttons to the screen, altering the built-in player and party frames. In extreme cases, mods completely supplant the standard WoW [[UI|interface]], usually offering more advanced functionality.
== Summary ==
An AddOn for a game is generally a collection files you can put in your game folder, that can enhance interaction with the game. AddOns can perform a wide variety of tasks, including adding new buttons to the screen, altering or adding windows, replacing or adding significant functionality, or adding whole new programs.


Some mods are standalone, able to run without any additional software. Others are built on libraries such as [[Sea]] or [[Ace (AddOns)|Ace]]. Still others, such as [[Cosmos]], are compilations of many individually-developed mods.
== Details ==
Some AddOns can be dependent on other AddOns to work, and some AddOns can be just collections of other AddOns. Some AddOns are standalone, able to run without any additional software. Others are built on libraries. For example, in WoW, the old [[wo:Sea (AddOn)|Sea]] or [[wo:Ace (AddOn)|Ace]] libraries. Others such as the old WoW [[wo:Cosmos (AddOn)|Cosmos]] addon, are compilations of many individually-developed mods or addons.


See [[Hosted AddOn Pages]] for a list of AddOns hosted on the wiki. For a good introduction and explanation, please see [[UI FAQ|The Definitive Addon and Macro FAQ]].


== New official AddOn policy from Blizzard ==
[[Category:AddOn]]
With the release of [[Patch 3.1]], [[Blizz]]ard introduced a new UI AddOn development policy.<ref name="policy">http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/policy/ui.html</ref> Here is a summary below:
# AddOns must be free of charge.
# AddOn code must be completely visible.
# AddOns must not negatively impact World of Warcraft realms or other players.
# AddOns may not include advertisements.
# AddOns may not solicit donations.
# AddOns must not contain offensive or objectionable material.
# AddOns must abide by World of Warcraft ToU and EULA.
# Blizzard Entertainment has the right to disable AddOn functionality as it sees fit.
 
It isn't exactly clear how Blizzard plans to enforce this policy, but developers should follow the policy or risk some sort of exclusion of their AddOns from the game. The following sentence ends the introductory paragraph of the policy: "failure to abide by them may result in measures up to and including taking formal legal action."<ref name="policy"/>
 
== How do I create an AddOn? ==
First of all, you need to create a new directory in Interface\AddOns. The name of this directory is kind of important, as it is what other AddOns use to refer to your AddOn (in dependencies).  Therefore, using version numbers in your AddOn directory name can be a bad idea; you will run the risk of having other AddOns "break" when you change the version.  This will probably lead to people either not depending on your AddOn or, worse, that they'll keep using an old version.
 
Major version numbers as part of AddOn directory names might work, though.
 
Look at [[Getting started with writing addons]] to get a better idea of the structure of an addon.
 
== What is this .toc file? ==
'''.toc''' is short for "table of contents".
 
A functioning AddOn will need a file named <code>&lt;YourAddOnDirectoryName&gt;.toc</code> in "<code>Interface\AddOns\YourAddOnDirectoryName\</code>".
 
This file needs to have two things - an interface keyword with a correct interface number, and the name(s) of one or more files to load. However, Blizzard asks that you include at least these three client recognized tag lines:
 
## Interface: 30000
## Title: My Add On
## Notes: A short description of my AddOn
 
* Tip: Make sure you do not have any extra spaces at the end of the line with the filename specified. If you do, the extra space is taken as part of the filename and will cause your AddOn to silently fail to load.
 
* Tip: The .toc file is not reloaded when you reload the user interface; if you make changes to it, you will need to quit all the way to the desktop before they take effect.
 
To get the latest interface number, see [[Getting the current interface number]]. The number in the .toc file must match the current build or the add on will not be loaded/active, unless the user has explicitly told WoW to load out-of-date Addons. If the .toc file declares an interface number prior to 2.0.0 (i.e. pre-[[The Burning Crusade]]), the AddOn can not be loaded, regardless of the load out of date AddOns setting.
 
===Special case : [[Bindings.xml]]===
If you include a [[Bindings.xml]] file, it does not have to be included in your .toc list of files to load - WoW loads this file automatically. This file is used to set key bindings specific to the AddOn.
 
===What other keywords are there in the .toc file?===
Please check out [[The TOC Format]] for a more detailed list.
 
== Troubleshooting an AddOn ==
As of [[Patch 2.3]], if you get a message "Interface action failed because of an AddOn", this means that an AddOn interfered with the Blizzard UI in some way. To diagnose this, enter the following into chat "<tt>/console taintLog 1</tt>" and restart the game and try to reproduce it. If you reproduce it, you can quit the game and search through the file <tt>Logs\taint.log</tt> for the word "<tt>blocked</tt>" and mail the log to the author of the AddOn listed there. Once you have done this you can turn off logging by entering the following into chat "<tt>/console taintLog 0</tt>"
 
== See also ==
* [[UI Beginners Guide]] has plenty of reference links
* [[The TOC Format]]
* [[Bindings.xml]] for creating key bindings
* [[UI FAQ/AddOns]]
* [[UI FAQ/AddOn Author Resources]]
* [[Troubleshooting a mod]]
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
== External links ==
{{elink|type=wowus|link=http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/policy/ui.html|desc=UI Add-On Development Policy}}
{{elink|type=wowus|link=http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/board.html?forumId=11114&sid=1|desc=UI Forum}}
{{elink|site=Wowace Forums|link=http://forums.wowace.com|desc=Great Addon Developer Forum}}
 
=== Addon Providers ===
{{elink|type=curse|link=http://www.curse.com/}}
{{elink|type=wowi|link=http://www.wowinterface.com/|site=WoWInterface}}
{{elink|site=WoWUI|type=worldofwar|link=http://wowui.worldofwar.net/}}
 
=== Updaters ===
<!-- {{elink|site=nUpdate|link=http://www.nupdate.com/}} When there is an actual download available, they can have their link -->
{{elink|site=Curse Client|type=curse|link=http://wow.curse.com/client/|desc= Windows & Macintosh versions}}
{{elink|site=WoWInterface UI Manager|type=wowi|link=http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info8239-WoWInterfaceUIManager-Windows.html|desc=Windows version}}
{{elink|site=WoWInterface UI Manager|type=wowi|link=http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info8242-WoWInterfaceUIManager-GenericLinuxMacintosh.html|desc=Generic (Linux/Mac) version}}
[[Category:Interface customization]]
[[Category:Interface customization]]
[[Category:AddOns| ]]
[[Category:UI]]
[[Category:UI]]
[[Category:Acronyms]]

Latest revision as of 06:56, 15 August 2023

See WoW:AddOn for the World of Warcraft AddOn reference.
See WildStar AddOn or WildStar:AddOn for the WildStar AddOn reference.

AddOns are self-contained components that change the behavior of a program.

Summary[edit]

An AddOn for a game is generally a collection files you can put in your game folder, that can enhance interaction with the game. AddOns can perform a wide variety of tasks, including adding new buttons to the screen, altering or adding windows, replacing or adding significant functionality, or adding whole new programs.

Details[edit]

Some AddOns can be dependent on other AddOns to work, and some AddOns can be just collections of other AddOns. Some AddOns are standalone, able to run without any additional software. Others are built on libraries. For example, in WoW, the old Sea or Ace libraries. Others such as the old WoW Cosmos addon, are compilations of many individually-developed mods or addons.

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