To install SageUI follow these steps:

1.  Grab a cup of coffee, pop, water, beer and smoke of your choice if you need.  Relax 
    amd get ready for the SageUI experience.  Make sure you read the customizing.txt file
    as somethings NEED to be done.  The UI will function with customizing but will not
    work the way it was intended to work for each individual person. All Read Me files
    are now in a folder by that name. 

2.  Unzip entire contents of zip file SageUI_23 into your Sony folder.  By default this is
     in your C:/program files/ folder.  If prompted to overwrite just accept.

3.  Run Eq2 Maps install program (EQ2MAP-Updater-1.0.6-Setup.exe).  This can be downloaded
     from Eq2interfaces.com.  It should automatically detect your settings.  If it asks to 
     update mainhud_maps_xml allow it to do so just this one time.  In future decline.  Go 
     to options when done downloading updates.  Under section 'Autolaunch EQ2' make sure     
     box is checked and in the exucutable file line click browse and navigate to your 
     everquest II directory.  Click on the Everquest2.exe file (NOT the EQ2.exe file!).  Click OK   
     at bottom to save changes.  You can run Everquest from this program. It will  
     automatically check for updates to maps and run EQ2.  Now go to your SageUI folder and 
     open the folder Eq2Maps Files.  Click select all under the Edit Tool Bar and Move these 
     files to your Eq2Maps Folder which is also in your SageUI folder now. The path to SageUI
     is by default C:/program files/sony/everquest II/UI/SageUI/. 

4.  You must now set-up your UI to recognize your characters in-game when loading.  This 
      is very easy to do, but may sound complicated at first.  YOu must:
    
     1- Open the new eq2ui_loginscene.xml file with Notepad (only notepad as it preserves 
         HTML code).
     2- Search for YOURPASSWORDHERE and replace with your password (case-sensitive, of 
         course)
     3- A few lines below this are a series of buttons. (<Button LocalText="CharX" 
         LocalTooltip="ServerX"...) Replace Char1 with the name of one of your 
         characters, and replace Server1 with the name of the 
         server that character is on.
     4- Repeat step 3 for all your other characters on the other buttons. (Charr2 and 
         Server2, Char3 and Server3, etc.) If you don't have 6 characters, just leave 
         an extras alone.  
     5- Save the file. 
    
    This is the default 6 slot character login.  You can upgrade to an 8,12,18 and 30 
    slot version.  Look in customization file for more info.

5.  The next step is to set-up the shutdown xml.  Navigate to your Everquest II/UI/Sageui 
     subdirectory.  Open the eq2ui_mainhud_shutdown with Notepad (Only Notepad).  You will   
     see a list with "Character" and "Server" lines.  Replace Character with each of your 
     character's names and "server" with their corresponding home server.  Save file and 
     close. 

6.  Highlight the shortcut you use to load Everquest II.  Maybe on your desktop like mine 
    or startup menu.  Rename this shortcut to Update EQ2.  Now open up your C:/program 
    files/sony/everquest II/ folder.  Highlight a file called EverQuest2.exe NOT EQ2.exe.
    Send a copy to your desktop (right click to do).  This is the file you will now use 
    load and run EQ2.  You will only use the one called Update EQ2 when you know of an
    update of course.  Make sure you read the customization file under the changing Music
    section when doing so. 

7.  Navigate to your Everquest II folder (C:/program files/sony/everquest II/).  In there you
    will find a UI Settings file for each of your characters.  It has the following format:
    SERVER_NAME_eq2_uisettings.  Delete each of them for all your characters.  You will also
    see a file there named SERVER_NAME_eq2_uisettings.  Do not delete this one.  Highlight 
    this file and rename it to your main's info (i.e. Sage_Nektulos_eq2_uisettings).  Make 
    sure you capitalize your name and server name appropriately.  Now when you log into each
    of your alts you will be prompted to export your main's UI settings.  Do so for each alt.
    Thats it.  This will set all the window parameters to the default SageUI settings so 
    everything looks and is placed like it should be.  You can still move the windows around
    as you prefer but this is a good starting point.  Most like to just keep it this way, but
    you have the ability to change in anyway you see fit.

8.  You are now set. Enjoy!  The following steps are HIGHLY recommended but not necces-
    sary to run the UI.  I have included the set-up files for some really great stand-
    alone accessories that you will find invaluable.  One is a combat parsar that is very 
    handy to see what kind of damage you are doing and taking from mobs.  Too many things 
    to list here.  Install and check it out.  The other one is an Item Database.  Its 
    awesome!  It autoupdates to keep up with new info and items.  Has the coolest feature
    of letting you paste a link into the chat window as if you actually have the item in 
    inventory.  Now you can show all your friends what killer fabled armor looks like! 

9.  Download the Act file from my website:
    http://www.savefile.com/projects.php?pid=483343.  Open the file ACT-Setup.    
    This is your combat parsar.  It even creates bar graphs to track combat damage.  A 
    very cool feature and a mini-parsar to watch realtime in combat.  Check out the 
    program directly by running it.  Let me know if you think I should add the link for 
    the html file (graphs) into the UI so you can see your graphs while playing.  I had
    it in and then removed it because I thought it was just a waste of valuable screen
    space.  The mini-parsar is easier to read and takes up minimal space.

10. Download the EQ2 Database file from my website:
    http://www.savefile.com/projects.php?pid=483343.  Open the file:
    EQ2iDB_Setup.exe and run it.  This is a great item database.  It has almost every
    item available in the game.  A nice feature for tradeskillers is the ability to paste
    an item link in the chat window.  Now you don't have to make the item to sell it or 
    show it to someone.  Nice to link items someone else is asking about too.  It auto-
    updates too.  Yay, gotta love ease of use.  Soon this will be an auto-updating UI 
    too.  Soon to come my friends.

11. Download the Everquest MP3 Player file from my website:
    http://www.savefile.com/projects.php?pid=483343.  Extract file and run.  This installs
    an in-game Mp3 player much like the one found in Eq1.  


12. Setting UI performance settings.  The UI has a button on the bagstrip that brings up 
     a command panel.  The panel has alot of nice features.  One is seven preset settings 
     buttons which are accessed by using the dropdown menu (down arrow).  These are set to 
     the Eq2 defaults atm (High Quality down to High Performance).  Check out the 
     Performance_readme.txt file on instructions on how to easily customize this to your 
     own personal settings.  The raid button can also be customized by reading the 
     Customizing.txt file.  The sliders and all seven presets can also be customized.

13. I SWEAR this is it.  I have included a settings file that will make the UI look 
     exactly as you will see in the screen shots in the SageUI folder you extracted. It is 
     in the Screen Shots folder along with the pics.  The file looks like this:
     SERVER_NAME_eq2_uisettings.ini and is found in you Everquest II folder.  Delete your old
     character file before preceding.  It looks similar except with your toon name and server.
     Change the new file by replacing SERVER with your chars server name and NAME with chars
     name.  You can repeat this by copying file as many times as you need to.
     Example: Lavastorm_Takesabeating_eq2_uisettings.ini


      Make sure you read the Customizing.txt file too.  In it are details on how 
      to futher customize this UI to your own needs and desires.  Also read the                    
      Instructions.txt file for info on how each of your new UI elements works and the 
      special features each has.  I do recommend downloading the optional Sageui folder as
      it contains some kewl add-ons.  This mod is yours to enjoy.  I have put quite a few 
      hours into tweaking individual mod pieces by others to make work altogether.  The 
      names are too many to list here but you can find it in the credits.txt file.  Some 
      pieces are completely my own design and code.  Others are a mix and match.  If you 
      have any suggestions to make this mod more efficient or a bug report, please email 
      me at Sage_Eternal_Hope@comcast.net. Please share as you see fit!
  


Very Important!
___________________________

Also Important: In order to run the eq2ui_custompresets.exe you will need both:
Microsoft .NET Framework Version 1.1 
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=262d25e3-f589-4842-8157-034d1e7cf3a3&displaylang=en

Microsoft .NET Framework Version 1.1 Service Pack 1
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=a8f5654f-088e-40b2-bbdb-a83353618b38&displaylang=en


The following sites provide some great info (some of it is great to use with the notes feature above):

http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board?board.id=tips       Kewl Tips
http://eq2.gamergod.com/spells.cfm                               Spell Info
http://www.eq2-artisan.com/harvest1.php                          Harvesting Info  
http://eq2.eqtraders.com/articles/article_page.php?article=g34   Trade Info
http://eq2players.station.sony.com/en/classes/guide_index.vm     All Around Info
http://eq2interfaces.com                                         Additional Mods and Info
http://www.bushtarion.com/everquest/                             Craft List
http://eq2.ogaming.com/db/layouts/quests_search.php              Quest Info
http://eq2.gamepressure.com/                                     Printable Maps
http://eq2.eqtraders.com/articles/article_page.php?article=g64&menustr=070180000000
This one is a long one I know, but it shows what all the in house upgrades look like.
Nice to have before you spend all that money on something that looks crappy.

EVERYONE MUST CHECK THIS OUT:   WWW.LOOSECHANGE911.COM
ALSO PLEASE CHECK THIS ONE TOO: WWW.PRISONPLANET.COM

Use Wordpad if you want this to look right.  Notepad screws it up for some reason.

                                                            
                                     ************          
                                     ************* 
                                   **   S    *   **    **
                                   *      A       *    **
                                   *        G      *  * *
                                    **   /   E   **  *   *
                                      ***********    *  *
                                          * *        * *
                                        *     *     *   *
                                       *       *   *     *
