How to customize skin of 123 Flash Chat?

Brief Introduction:

1. The chat skin is constructed by groups of SWFs, which are located at:

   <123flashchat installed DIR>/client/skin/**/

2. How the SWF elements are grouped together is controlled by two XML files: color.xml and skin.xml, located at:

   <123flashchat installed DIR>/server/etc/groups/default/skin/**/

   Skin components are controlled by skin.xml.
   Color style can be adjusted by color.xml.

   The configuration files of the client part are located at the server end, it sounds confusing but the purpose is just to achieve faster loading speed.

3. By default 11 skins are available, you can modify any skin or add your own based on the original ones.
4. Only SWF or JPG image file can be used to construct a skin, while GIF and PNG are not allowed.
5. For any skin component, if you don't mind the background, you can save it to jpg format (non progressive mode).
   
   But if you'd like transparent background, please save it to PNG or GIF and import it to macromeida flash to convert it to a SWF file without background.

   Step by step guide to making your own skin:

1) Make Graphics

Go to the directory: <123flashchat installed dir>/client/skin/.

Copy the directory "Standard", and paste to create a new directory. Name it "newskin" or whatever you want.

Click into the folder "newskin", you'll see all the files necessary to create a new skin.

You can design a picture in JPG or SWF format to replace the old one, but keep in mind:

DO NOT change the filename.
DO NOT delete any of the files, or you will fail to access the chat room during the loading process. Send email to request the original FLA files for the default skin if necessary.

We suggest you keep the original width and height of the components, as this will make your skin developing easier.

Recommended width and height (measure unit: pixel):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
bkground.swf/jpg: 634*476
scrollpane_bg.swf/jpg: 614*393 (the conversation background)
right_bk.swf/jpg: 161*393
roomlist_on/out.swf/jpg: 555*70
username.swf/jpg: 100*20
password.swf/jpg: 100*20
chatinputbk.swf/jpg: 450*87
inputGBClipTF.swf/jpg: 378*53
sendbtn_on/out.swf/jpg: 61*22
...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2) Configure Skin

Go to <123flashchat installed DIR>/server/etc/groups/default/skin/

and create a new folder named: "newskin" by copying "default" folder in this directory.

Edit the <123flashchat installed DIR >/server/etc/groups/default/skin/newskin/skin.xml to define the SWF or JPG files if the names have been editted.

3) Change Skin

Go to the directory: <123flashchat installed DIR>/server/etc/groups/default/,
open the client.xml
find <skin value="default" />
and replace it with <skin value="newskin" />

Now open the <123flashchat installed dir>/client/123flashchat.swf to preview the skin effect.
We suggest you create a shortcut for this file on your desktop for further use.

4)Minor Touches

You'll see in some cases that the font color need to be modified after you change the background images.
Then open <123flashchat installed dir>/client/skin/newskin/color.xml to define font colors.
HOW TO change skin color? in details and with screenshots!

Finish a new skin?
Great! Please upload the new skin directory to your server. Don't forget to upload the client.xml you've changed, too.

We'd love to see your achievement. Email us your new skin and we'll glad to add your creation to our gallery.
info@123flashchat.com