I kinda like the idea I'd like to see how it works out Frogboy I think you should put the ability to do that into cartain skins that the author says that is okay on... and not all... only do it with the authors permission... just my opinion... we don't people messing up skins... or taking credit for something that isn't theirs... the skins will always belong to authors...

exactly hippy you get it maybe the author should have to approve the updates... that would be an idea.. ome up with a way for him to approve them... and then he would have say in weather the updates slide... he could check them out before any one else does...

Couldn't this be implemented now. The suggested change could be sent to the author for approval, and if approved, be included in an update with the apporpriate kudos.

The problem I see with the author having to approve the changes is that some authors have "disappeared" but their skins are still here and getting more out of date everyday. A good example is Shawn Murdock's skins. I love them, but now they are very out of date. I would love to see them updated, however I believe the author is much too busy with life to do any skinning.
I agree the author should still be able to have final control of their skin and any updates/additions made to it. Somehow, though, I think we need to find a balance. Maybe a selection of {allow any updates}, {allow author approved updates}, {no updates}.
Implemention of author updates could be done with a simple moderation type setup where the author can view any submissions for their skins and approve/disapprove/ask for more info(fix ugly stuff)

As a side note, allowing updates *might* get more people interested in skinning since they can get their feet wet by doing some mods to existing skins and get comfortable with the format before going headlong in to a skin from the ground up.

Just my 2 cents worth

Hmm. Goodness knows I'm not a skinner (but I'd like to be one some day he-he).

All good and plausible points noted above BTW...

Me, myself and I was/were () thinking maybe there could be a 'check-box' choice for the actual ‘option’ to allow others to add/modify their skin etc. upon uploading of one’s work. That way…there would be an ‘a-okay’ icon next to that skin saying that the author allowed/authorized it to be added onto or modified etc. and if not there could be a “NO touchy this with a ten-foot pole” icon or some such thing showing that that skin is NOT allowed to be tampered with in any way. You could REALLY get specific and even have a checkbox for what you WILL and won’t allow as an author like if you want to inspect the stuff yourself first and what kind of stuff you mind or don’t mind being added to the suite etc. etc. etc.

Just my 2 cents.

Frogboy, I hope you’re over the flu.

Grr. I woke up with a cold. Achoo!

I agree with starone.

Changing or adding to a skin to fit your personal tastes is just that, 'personal'. Do it for yourself. I see no reason to upload it. A skin author may not want to add every feature known to mankind to his/her skin. That doesn't mean it's not complete. And also as Hippy mentioned, there is a quality issue to keep the skin on at least the same level it was on before the update.

Porting a skin to another app is entirely different. That's something that most skin authors don't mind (at least I don't think they do).

Exactly right Paul......... if you don't have permission from the author, it's a rip, plain and simple. Period!

Ideally what you want is a system in which other people can add components to a skin.

THey wouldn't be updating your skin, they would be supplying new pieces -- patches that could tehn be put together on the fly.

So let's say Treetog creates a cool skin but it doesn't have a shellstyle.

I could create just the shellstyle and upload it.

A user could then download the whole thing as a single entity with the site or software putting the pieces together for them.

Similarly, you could have a skin where several people have uploaded additional widgets. In a theoretic case you could have someone upload a skin with just the title bar and borders. Another person makes the scrollbars. Anotehr person the shellstyle, another person the push buttons, and so on. A user then can come on and in a single click download the whole thing and have it together as a single skin.

With regards to permission there are two levels of permission:

1) If you use any of the "master skin"'s graphics then you would still need WRITTEN permission from the author.

2) Ideally it would be nice to have a checkbox that would allow people to update your skin with additional widgets. The skin author would have the rigth to come in and delete widgets they don't approve of (i.e. moderate).

3) Additionally, it would be cool if the Widgets section of WinCustomize could be integrated in software easier. That is, if users could submit widgets and then specify what skins in library X that they feel their skin would complement. Then users could, choose to include those widgets with their download an dhave the software put them together. This way, skin authors (like me) could add XP Start bars (for example) to older skins and put them in the widgets library.

This is all just brain storming stuff but the general idea is to make it easier for skin authors to coordinate their efforts as well as find a way for existing skins to be able to be given a second life. As a skin author, I'd like my skin to remain useful for a long while but I don't want to have to go back and update every last skin every time a new feature to WB is added, I'd happily allow others to do that. But in order for that to happen, the system needs to become much more systematic, automated, and just plain easier to do.

bump

I'm kind of surprised that more people haven't submitted "Widgets" already, especially considering that WC has a section specifically for them.

also under the skin name on the site you could have sub skins listed... with all of the different updates that people have done, plus the original just a thought

oh and I think I will add a Web Blinds... that would be cool...