Posted on UOHerald.com

KR Custom UI, part 1
Jeremy Dalberg
17 Aug 2007 15:40.45 EST

With the latest KR patch, we've added the ability to customize your interface. Below the jump are some basic instructions on how to go about it - we'll be providing more details and examples over the next few weeks, but if you're comfortable playing with XML, go for it!

Getting Started

1. Locate the UserInterface folder. It will be in the install directory for UO Kingdom Reborn.
2. Extract Default.zip to the UserInterface folder. This archive contains the source layouts and artwork that you will be modifying.
3. Make sure that the extraction process created a Default folder under UserInterface
4. Create a new folder under UserInterface with the name that you want to use for your Custom UI.
5. At this point you can begin copying files over from the Default folder and making modifications to them. (Make sure you maintain the same directory structure)

General Notes

• The zip file in the UserInterface folder contains the default layouts and textures used in UOKR. By modifying these files you will be able to customize the look of the UOKR interface.
• If you are running Vista you will need to be logged in as administrator in order to manipulate files in the install directory.
• Script files can not be edited. This means that you will only be able to change the layout of existing windows. You will not be able to change any functionality or add new windows to the game. Don't change or remove any script includes or the interface will not function properly.
• You only need to put the files you have actually modified in the custom UI folder. Any file that does not exist in your custom UI folder will be pulled from the default UI built into the game.

XML Editing

• Make sure your event handlers match the ones in the default UI.
• If you remove an element that is referenced in a script, it may cause the script to break. The safest thing to do is remove the texture from the element or have its position set so that it is off the screen.
• CoreWindowTemplates.xml and UO_Default_UI_Templates.xml contain the majority of the templates used across the UI. Making changes to these templates will affect multiple windows across the interface.
• UO_DefaultWindow is the template that is used for the standard windows in the game. Altering this template will change the look of all windows that contain a titlebar and a close button.
• You can reload the XML definitions while the game is running by switching back and forth between the Default UI and your custom UI in the user settings screen.

Texture Editing

• Our interface textures are in DXT (.dds) format. The following link has downloads for DXT tools and photoshop plugins: http://developer.nvidia.com/object/n...ure_tools.html
• Make sure you save your textures in DXT3 format
• You can add new textures by adding them to the Textures.xml file found in the Textures folder.
• Some textures are referenced by more than one template or window. Instead of modifying them in place, its best to put your customized art in a new texture and modify the xml to point to the new location.
• The game must be restarted to see changes made to the textures.

Wow this sounds good..is there a help file in a folder anywhere or do we need to look for help at the forums?

Hiya Solidchrome. There's currently no guide available for this. I'm gonna wait for one too. Check out this thread here that I updated with replies from SupreemEA (UO Programmer)...

KR Custom UI, part 1