Targetware: Customizing the User Interface


Repainting the Default User Interface

Perhaps the quickest and easiest way to customize the User Interface (UI) is to simply repaint (or "skin") the default textures. Instead of the Targetware airman, maybe you'd like to see your squadron's logo (or a photo of your girlfriend/dog/ex-wife). Repainting existing textures requires nothing other than a paint program capable to saving in Targa (TGA) format. The functionality of the UI will be exactly the same as before, but it will be your graphics that show up when you double-click the Targetware application.

475th FG Custom UI RAAF 30 Squadron Custom UI

Here are the basic steps to follow to repaint the default UI:

  1. Locate the "ui" folder within your Targetware directory
  2. Open one ore more of the following files in your paint program: pg1.jpg, pg2.jpg, pg3.jpg, pg4.jpg, and progress_bar.jpg
  3. Paint over the existing patterns however you like.
  4. Save the files out with the same exact names (you did make a backup first, right?), in JPEG format.
  5. Start up the Targetware application. You should see your new artwork immediately.

Hints and Suggestions

  • Most of the Main Menu is controlled by pg1.jpg, while pg2.jpg mostly contains graphics for "inner" pages, such as Mod Selection, Server Selection, etc. pg3.jpg contains graphics related to briefings, and pg4.jpg covers the setup and configuration screens.
  • The default Targetware User Interface is designed for an 800x600 screen, and scales to smaller or larger screens. So your pixels will be 1:1 only if you are running the Targetware application in 800x600 resolution.
  • Be careful to stay within the boundaries of the graphics as they exist in those files, anything outside of them will not be picked up by the UI.
  • Most of the buttons are set up to have "normal", "mouse over", and "disabled" states. Make sure the background texture you paint on under the button labels is the same for each state, or you might see some odd results when a player rolls over a button.
  • Advice from Razer: "The thing I suggest is make your UI (in PS or PSP) in layers and get all the words right so words don't move when you mouse over then just paint your background. "

If you have any trouble, stop by the Targetware How-To Forum and ask around.