WoW:User interface customization guide (source)
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The '''User interface customization guide''' is based on slouken's post on the official beta UI forums ''(a long, long time ago)''. | The '''User interface customization guide''' is based on slouken's post on the official beta UI forums ''(a long, long time ago)''. | ||
== World of Warcraft Interface Customization Guide == | == World of Warcraft Interface Customization Guide == | ||
The interface of World of Warcraft is built from XML files which describe the look and layout, and lua files which contain scripting functionality. This document is a short introduction into modifying these files to customize your interface. Customizing the interface is a very technical endeavor, and you should not attempt it unless you have a good working knowledge of XML and Lua. | The interface of World of Warcraft is built from XML files, which describe the look and layout, and lua files, which contain scripting functionality. This document is a short introduction into modifying these files to customize your interface. Customizing the interface is a very technical endeavor, and you should not attempt it unless you have a good working knowledge of XML and Lua. | ||
There is no official support for modifying the WoW interface. If you break it, you get to keep both pieces. :) | There is no official support for modifying the WoW interface. If you break it, you get to keep both pieces. :) | ||
To start fresh, download the [http://www.blizzard.com/support/wow/?id=aww01669p "User Interface Customization Tool"] and extract both Data & Art. This creates a new directory called "Interface". This directory will override any built-in user interface. To remove all customized UI, just remove the Interface directory. Be sure that you never remove the Interface directory in Data\, only remove the top level Interface directory the tool created for you. For example, if you installed WoW to the default directory on Windows, you'll need to delete the "Interface" folder located in ''C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\'' | To start fresh, download the [http://www.blizzard.com/support/wow/?id=aww01669p "User Interface Customization Tool"] and extract both Data & Art. This creates a new directory called "Interface". This directory will override any built-in user interface. To remove all customized UI, just remove the Interface directory. Be sure that you never remove the Interface directory in Data\, only remove the top level Interface directory the tool created for you. For example, if you installed WoW to the default directory on Windows, you'll need to delete the "Interface" folder located in ''C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\''. | ||
When the game is updated, your customized files will not be modified, which means that you'll need to get an updated version of Interface.zip and apply your changes to the new files. | When the game is updated, your customized files will not be modified, which means that you'll need to get an updated version of Interface.zip and apply your changes to the new files. | ||
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== Getting Started == | == Getting Started == | ||
A good place to start getting familiar with the interface is the file BasicControls.xml | A good place to start getting familiar with the interface is the file BasicControls.xml. | ||
At the top of this file is a script block which contains the function _ERRORMESSAGE(), which is called whenever an error occurs in your script. This function pops up a window with the error message. Another function is defined there, message(), which just pops up the error window with the argument to the function. | At the top of this file is a script block which contains the function _ERRORMESSAGE(), which is called whenever an error occurs in your script. This function pops up a window with the error message. Another function is defined there, message(), which just pops up the error window with the argument to the function. | ||
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== Tips and Tricks == | == Tips and Tricks == | ||
World of Warcraft supports dynamically '''reloading the user interface'''. At any time you can modify the XML and Lua files | World of Warcraft supports dynamically '''reloading the user interface'''. At any time, you can modify the XML and Lua files and then reload them by either typing: | ||
* /console reloadui | * /console reloadui | ||
OR | |||
* /script ReloadUI() | * /script ReloadUI() | ||
If you are using Cosmos, you can use the shorcut /rl | If you are using Cosmos, you can use the shorcut /rl. | ||
If you are not sure what is happening in the script, use the '''message() function to print a message and view variables'''. Once the dialog is shown, your script keeps on executing, but no other message() calls will show anything until you click the button to dismiss the dialog. | If you are not sure what is happening in the script, use the '''message() function to print a message and view variables'''. Once the dialog is shown, your script keeps on executing, but no other message() calls will show anything until you click the button to dismiss the dialog. | ||