So How Many Modders Actually Use the UI Builder?

[DBurgdorf]

I'm just curious how many of those who mod actually use the UI Builder program. I took a quick look at it a week or two after I started modding, but couldn't make any immediate sense out of it, and so haven't bothered with it again.

(But then, I've never liked "HTML editor" programs, either, preferring to do things the old-fashioned way. I've been working with Textpad and Photoshop since before HTML editors existed. And I find it amusing that the UI Builder seems to put just as much junk in the XML files it creates as HTML editors put in their HTML pages.)

So 'fess up. Who uses the UI Builder, and who doesn't?

-- Darryl

[dc_roenfanz]

To " 'fess up" would be admitting "guilt". I must say, I feel no guilt so ever using UI Builder. I am a visual person by nature, so it's nice that I get to see what I am working on while I do it.

There is no way that I can look at a pile of text and 'see' how it's going to be layed out.

[Sir Taleisin The Seer]

couldn't copy and paste as easily without it ^_^

[DBurgdorf]

Originally Posted by dc_roenfanz

To " 'fess up" would be admitting "guilt". I must say, I feel no guilt so ever using UI Builder.

I didn't intend to imply any need for guilt, and the "'fess up" was directed at both those who do and those who don't.

I am a visual person by nature, so it's nice that I get to see what I am working on while I do it. There is no way that I can look at a pile of text and 'see' how it's going to be layed out.

That's what I use Photoshop for. Well, one of the things, anyway.

The one time I loaded a mod into the UI Builder, I found myself looking at a grid with a bunch of semi-transparent colored boxes on it. In the few minutes I played with it, I couldn't figure out any way to turn that into an actual picture of what the window was supposed to look like, and I wasn't sufficiently worried about it to actually bother looking for the manual (which I'm sure is in the EQ2 directory somewhere).

*Shrug* To each his own.

As I said, I didn't intend to imply that there's anything "wrong" with using it. Far from it. I'm just curious how many do, and how many don't, especially in light of a comment I read in passing yesterday stating that it apparently hasn't been updated to reflect the new fonts yet.

-- Darryl

[taco-man]

when i did mods, i used it for the layout part of mods, however its a pain in the butt if you want to do scripting with it. for that part i used notepad2 to edit the xml files to do scripting.

[Hellwulf]

i use it to see what im doing, i dont like it too much, but it makes it easy on some parts,, but i still do some editing in notepad too, nothing i edit is very complicated tho heh

[Zonx]

UI Builder for like 95% of my edits. Only the occasional minor tweak gets done with Notepad.

For very complex/long scripts, I occationally work them out in a real scripting tool, then copy/paste them into UIB.

UIB does alot of things for you that would be cumbersome with a script editor. A few examples:

- Manages style references globally, so name changes and style moves propagate to every object referencing the style.

- Includes a handy tool for defining image slices.

- The whole WYSIWYG editor with align and distribute tools makes layout tasks a ton easier.

- The Run feature is great for testing most scripts without needing to log into EQ2. Saves a ton of time.

- Helps ensures your code isn't botched.

Yah its got its annoying aspects, and does take time to get a handle on, but its worth it if you're tweaking more then a handful of files.

[dc_roenfanz]

Originally Posted by DBurgdorf

I didn't intend to imply any need for guilt, and the "'fess up" was directed at both those who do and those who don't.

Yeah, I know what you meant. I just felt like poking at your word choice

That's what I use Photoshop for. Well, one of the things, anyway.

Well, yes for image editing and that sort of thing, but for layouts and getting the rects right, etc.

The one time I loaded a mod into the UI Builder, I found myself looking at a grid with a bunch of semi-transparent colored boxes on it. In the few minutes I played with it, I couldn't figure out any way to turn that into an actual picture of what the window was supposed to look like, and I wasn't sufficiently worried about it to actually bother looking for the manual (which I'm sure is in the EQ2 directory somewhere).
*Shrug* To each his own.

Yeah you kinda hafta load the whole eq2ui.xml instead of the individual file. I think this is mainly because the eq2ui.xml contains not only the idividual windows, but the image ref's and the gamedatas etc.

As I said, I didn't intend to imply that there's anything "wrong" with using it... <snip>... it apparently hasn't been updated to reflect the new fonts yet.

Yeah, that no fonts part blows. *grumble hiss*

[Deathbane27]

I've been using it 99% of the time. After I figured out that you had to open eq2ui.xml instead of the file you were altering, that is.

[Laffs]

I would say I use it 70% and 30% Notepad2, like if there is a code problem but the window looks right then its quicker to find whats wrong in notepad and correct, because of course you can see all the code lol

I do agree though the UI builder can at time's put a load of junk code in that can have some strange effects