This tutorial by Esoteric is about editing the values of MSN Messenger (optionally as an addition to graphical skinning). For example: changing the "away" status to "afk"
Step 1. Open up Resource Hacker and then open msgslang.dll
Note: You will not need any external programs for this one! Only your ResHack Yay!
Step 2. Well this isn't really a step, just read this...
When you open msgslang.dll up you should see the following:
The only ones that I will teach you how to change are Menu, Dialog and String Table... The others you should have learnt about in Part 1.
Step 3. Editing the Menu: Ok now all of this is pretty simple, you just need to know what to do... here is part of a script in the msgslang.dll
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109 MENU
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
{
POPUP "&File"
{
MENUITEM "&Save", 40014
MENUITEM "Save &as...", 40015
MENUITEM SEPARATOR
MENUITEM "Send a &File or Photo...", 40275
MENUITEM "&Open Received Files", 40229
MENUITEM "Open Message &History", 40292, GRAYED
MENUITEM SEPARATOR
MENUITEM "&Close", 40017
}
POPUP "&Edit"
{
MENUITEM "&UndotCtrl+Z", 40223, GRAYED
MENUITEM SEPARATOR
MENUITEM "Cu&ttCtrl+X", 40218
MENUITEM "&CopytCtrl+C", 40219
MENUITEM "&PastetCtrl+V", 40220
MENUITEM "&DeletetDel", 40221
MENUITEM SEPARATOR
MENUITEM "&Select AlltCtrl+A", 40222
MENUITEM SEPARATOR
MENUITEM "Change &Font...", 40211
POPUP "C&hange Text Direction..."
{
MENUITEM "&Left to Right", 40154
MENUITEM "&Right to Left", 40155
}
}
POPUP "&Actions"
{
MENUITEM "&Invite Someone", 40269
POPUP "&Manage Contacts"
{
MENUITEM "&Add to Contacts", 40263
MENUITEM "&Block", 40276
MENUITEM "&View Profile", 40265
MENUITEM "&Properties", 40045
}
MENUITEM SEPARATOR
MENUITEM "Send a &File", 40275
MENUITEM "Share Backgrou&nd", 40259
MENUITEM "&T", 40273
MENUITEM "&C", 40279
MENUITEM "&V", 40274
MENUITEM SEPARATOR
MENUITEM "Play a &Game", 40204
MENUITEM SEPARATOR
MENUITEM "Ma&ke a Phone Call", 40227
MENUITEM "Send &E-mail", 40205
MENUITEM SEPARATOR
MENUITEM "Show L&aunch Site", 40310
MENUITEM "Browse the &Web Together", 40247
MENUITEM "Ask for Help", 40245
MENUITEM "Start App Sharing", 40253
MENUITEM "Start W&hiteboard", 40254
MENUITEM "Start Test Activity", 40311
}
}
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Also when you open up a file in the subfolder it should show an example of the current menu that you are editing, quite handy, to get rid of it just press "Hide Menu" and once your done, and compiled the script click "Show Menu" and then you will see everything you just edited.
Ok all you have to do is edit the things which are in "", editing anything else may cause MSN Messenger to not function properly... For example:
MENUITEM "Send a &File or picture", 40275 >>>> MENUITEM "Send a &File", 40275
It is pretty easy, but whenever you change something you must press "Compile Script" before moving on!
Step 4. Editing the Dialog: Editing the Dialog is just editing the Popup menus...such as the Options window where you change your msn nickname or set your phone numbers etc... It isn't really needed to be changed but here are a few things in which you can add...
Ok so open up a subfolder and then the file contained inside which will bring up a popup showing the current state of the window... To insert something just right mouse click on an empty area and press "Insert Control" which will bring up a popup...
To Insert Text: "Predefined Controls" has a dropdown box... to add text just select STATIC from that dropdown box and then in the Caption Text Box write what you want... and then at the very bottom there should be a SS_LEFT which is highlighted, this controls how the text is put, like you can center it, put it to the right etc!
To Edit Something which is already there: Just right mouse click and then select "Edit Control" then work away :)
Unfortunately that's all I know how to do, but it should be sufficient....
Step 5. Editing the String Table: Now this is the stuff which takes time... and lots of concentration so that you make sure you don't miss anything...
What the String Table is, is like what things are shown as, like when you open up a conversation window, and the person is away it would say: *** may not reply because his or her status is set to away | which can be changed to: *** is away
Note: *** is used as a variable...
Note: The script is really messy and hard to find certain phrases at times so I would suggest going over the script a few times to make sure you get at everything...
Again only edit things which are inside of "" otherwise it may not function properly...
Step 6. Edit everything in the Version Info...
If you have any questions, comments, or can tell me how to improve this tutorial then please leave me a message at Esoteric@Phreaker.net or my forum.
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> How can I change certain words and values in MSN Messenger? (you are here)
