PlugIns for Beginners.

[Guest [flicker]]

I apologise if this topic seems silly, but i just don't understand plugins full stop but would really like to be able to use them. Can someone please explain in idiots terms what they are, how to install/use them and anything else that an idiot such as myself needs to understand. Many thanks in advance people.

[Guest ChrisJM]

click on plugins or homscreens when it is posted :) or just go here: http://smartphone.modaco.com/viewtopic.php?t=714 :lol:

[Guest Vector]

Also take a look at the MSDN Whitepaper on creating homescreens, it's a guide to everything on the homescreen :)

[Guest [flicker]]

Ok, i appreciate it guys but i've looked at that topic before but still fail to get it. Can you explain in the simplest of simple terms what they are. How and where do you enter or change the things you are supposed to change and that sort of stuff? Thanks in advance.

[Guest [flicker]]

oh, and by the way Vector and ChrisJM, your homescreens rock! Keep up the good work.

[Guest [flicker]]

Apologies, having just read the MSDN Whitepaper recommended above i now realise what it's all about. Once again, apologies for my stupidity but thanks for pointing me in the right direction and for your help.

[Guest ChrisJM]

thanks dude! if i were you, well i did! just take a homescreen and play about with it and learn all about it that way :)

[Guest [flicker]]

just one more quick stoopid question. i take it you do NEED the MS SDK to do homecreens?

[Guest Vector]

"]just one more quick stoopid question. i take it you do NEED the MS SDK to do homecreens?

Nope, i just use Notepad and photoshop :)

But i think you need teh SDK if you are going to make a .CAB...

[Guest [flicker]]

I have no chance with anything that requires typing code type stuff. Vector...i have a question for you. I'm quite good with Photoshop due to my career so if i could make what i wanted visually in terms of a homescreen...would you possibly be able to do the programming type stuff?

[Guest drblow]

Try this thread - HERE.

The coding required for xml is really very simple - I had no previous experience with code other than very basic html, and I picked it up relatively quickly. The beginners homescreen I posted in the above thread will show you all the main plugins against a plain background - so you can see exactly how they fit together.

I found that a good place to start is to download someone else's homescreen, install it on the phone, then copy all the files from your home folder to a folder on your PC. You can have a look at the different images used for background & plugins - this will give you a better idea of how the plugins fit on the screen. Start swapping your own images for the others (you don't need to change the xml, just name your images the same as in the theme you are using, and replace the ones in your home folder with your own). Once you get your head round that, the xml code itself is not too much more than setting x & y values for where text goes!! :wink:

& you'll get all the help & advice you need here too! :)