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How to Change Buttons and Background
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Buttons and Backgrounds

Khaled has implemented a new feature in the latest mIRC, you can change the buttons and background picture for Status, Channel, and Query/Chat windows.

Between you and me, I did not particularly like it
It confuses me, and makes me dizzy :-)
I prefer the old black and white mIRC :-)
I think I have managed to solve the buttons puzzle, let me share my thoughts with you.

Before you do anything, under your mIRC directory, make a new folder and name it background, it will make your life easier.

To change the background of a window, you can either click on the left of the window (Where the grey box is), for example in the Status window where it says status. To change the buttons, or the toolbar, switcbar background right click on them.
or you can use your keyboard.

/background -[amsgdluhcfnrtpx] [window] [filename]  
a = active window (window name not required)  
m = main mIRC window  
s = status window  
g = finger window  
d = dedicated query window  
c = center  
f = fill  
n = normal  
r = stretch  
t = tile  
p = photo  
l = toolbar  
u = toolbar buttons  
h = switchbar  
x = no background picture

Before you do anything else, create the background subdirectory under your mirc subdirectory.(C:\mirc\background) and  Download the toolhlp. zip file (only 28k), which contains two BMP files in 256 colors (custtom mirc buttons and a background), instructions in text and windows help format, in how to make custtom toolbar.

BUTTONS

To change the buttons, you must make a BMP file, which should be the multiply of 38 (in pixels). For example if you want your buttons to be 10x10, the BMP should be 10x38 = 380 width and 10 height.
For my example I have used 16x16 pixel buttons (The ideal size to add icons), so my BMP is 16 height and 608 width(16x38)

Copy the BMP file in the background directory that you created.

Right click on the buttons toolbar and click on button, select your BMP, and you will see what I mean, when I say its a useless new feature :-)

Note:-
Remember the grey color (192,192,192) is transparent, so color square number 3,6,9,12,14,15,16,18,22,26,31,35 and 38 with grey.

  • Square 1 = Connect button
  • Square 2 = Discconect button (Button 1 when you are on line)
  • Square 4 = Setup button
  • Square 5 = General Options button
  • Square 7 = Channel button
  • Square 8 = List Channel button
  • Square 10 = Alias button
  • Square 11 = Popups button
  • Square 13 = Remote Scripts button
  • Square 17 = Finger button
  • Square 19 = On-Line timer button
  • Square 20 = Colors button
  • Square 21 = Address Book button
  • Square 23 = DCC Send button
  • Square 24 = DCC Chat button
  • Square 25 = DCC Options button
  • Square 27 = Notify List button (Off line)
  • Square 28 = Notify List button (On Line)
  • Square 29 = URL List button (Idle)
  • Square 30 = URL List button (Activated)
  • Square 32 = Tile Windows button
  • Square 33 = Cascate Windows button
  • Square 34 = Arrange Icons button
  • Square 36 = Help button
  • Square 37 = About button

    Download the BMP zip file (only 8k), which contains three BMP files in 256 colors and instructions in how to use them.
    Extract the three BMP files in the background directory that you created.
    Now type (in your status or any window)

    /background -u background\button.bmp

    If you extract the files in mIRC root directory then type

    /background -u button.bmp
    or if you used any other directory type

    /background -u C:\Your_Path\button.bmp

    To remove it type /background -ux

    Background

    You can change the background of the toolbar, status, channels or Query/Chat windows.
    Here you have the option to Center, tile, fill, stretch and photo the BMP, but remember to use such colors which will not make reading difficult.

    Also if you are going to use just colors, use the mIRC color setting, because a BMP file might slow your mIRC down.

    Try to make your BMP as small as possible, and remember that what you see is not what you get, especially when using 256 colors :-)

    To change the background of a window, you can either click on the left of the window (Where the grey box is), for example in the Status window where it says status, or you can use your keyboard.

    /background -at background\weav.bmp

    Remember, if you extract the files in mIRC root directory then type

    /background -at weav.bmp
    or if you used any other directory type

    /background -at C:\Your_Path\weav.bmp

    Change the t (Tile) with c or f or s or n or p and see the difference.

    To remove it type /background -ax

    Toolbar

    You can change the background of the toolbar, either by the right click popup, or by typing

    /background -l c:Your_Path\Your.bmp

    If you have downloaded my BMP files, and have created the background Directory, then just type

    /background -l background\weav.bmp

    To remove it type /background -lx

    SWITCHBAR

    The same as the toolbar, you can set the background, either by the right click popup, or by typing.
    Type /background -h background\weav.bmp
    or use your path /background -h c:\your_path\weav.bmp

    To remove it type /background -hx

    Download the toolhlp. zip file (only 28k), which contains two BMP files in 256 colors (custtom mirc buttons and a background), instructions in text and windows help format, in how to make custtom toolbar.

    Try them and you will soon master this new feature :-)

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