Customizing EQUI - Im a newb at this!

[Nyrod]

ok, hope this isnt redundant information here. i decided recently i was really interested in making my own EQUI, either from scratch or to take some ideas from other custom ui and change it to how i would like. couldnt find any newb guides, bits and pieces here and there. thought, since im going through this i would share what i find along the way. if anyone else has stuff to add i would like that and will try to add relevant changes to this thread. this will be the complete "im a newb" start guide, because i have no idea what im doing either! [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Getting Started

Just want to download, update or use other premade custom UI's?

Savok's Guide

Duxa's Installer

www.eqinterface.com

Basics:

XML is the language EQUI uses.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XML

Find a program to help you read XML. I use Notepad++

Step One:

In your EQ folder on your computer copy the default ui folder.
eg. C:\Program Files\Sony\EverQuest\uifiles\default

Alternately copy the folder of the custom UI you want to work with.

Rename it with your desired UI name.
eg. C:\Program Files\Sony\EverQuest\uifiles\bestbadassuievar

Step Two:

Get an idea what you want to customize.
eg. in my case i started with the Hot Button Bars

Find the file that houses the code you want to change.
eg. EQUI_HotbuttonWnd.xml

Open Notepad++. Open this file.

Alternately take specific .xml from a custom UI to edit or you can compare it at the same time in Notepad++

Step Three:

Login to EQ.

Make a social hotkey to load your UI.
eg. /load bestbadassuievar or /loadskin default

Minimize EQ. Edit the code and save. Maximize EQ. Press your hotkey. Repeat.

Problems:

UI does not load or I get an error or EQ crashes. You messed up the code somehow. Undo the changes you just made or fix the problem and try again.



**
Im a bit farther than this step at this point but i will come back to this later. for now i wanted to put down stuff i am working on right now so i dont get bogged down on this guide i dont want to forget little "ahaaa" moments i want to share let alone not finish what i planned on the UI lol