Tidy Plates ... enhances the Blizzard nameplates, providing graphical and functional improvements. In addition, Tidy Plates can act as an engine to support heavilycustomizedThemes.
Built-In Theme Features:
Low CPU impact
Tank, DPS, PvP Modes
Spell Cast Text
PvP Class Icons
Health Text
Built-In Theme Modes:
Modes for the default theme can be activated by entering the Interface Options panel, and selecting the "Grey Theme" sub-category under Tidy Plates.
All Modes: Critters and Neutral units are faded, unless they are attacking you.
Plates for Non-elite units are even further reduced.
Marked targets or visible cast bars cause a plate to un-fade.
DPS Mode: Aggro'd unit nameplates grow, increasing visibility.
PvP Mode: No fading. Class Icons of enemy players are shown in their nameplate.
Customization:
Appearance and mechanics can be altered by downloading a Theme Package. Please see the Optional Files section for available themes.
In addition, if you can use a text editor, you can tailor your own Theme. See the Sample Template for more information. Feel free to write me a note; I'd be happy to help you get started writing your own theme. :-)
Contributions
For those who'd like to thank my wife or son for tolerating my hobbies, I've set up a Pledgie ID...
Development
If you'd like to see where Tidy Plates is heading, check out the Roadmap. The latest developments can be found at the Beta page. Bug reports and feature requests should be submitted through my Author portal. Private messages are also a good way of getting in touch with me.
(Very) Frequently Asked Questions I don't want untargeted nameplates to fade! Can I do that?
Short Answer: Not Yet.. it's a work-in-progress
Long Answer: All child frames and artwork under Blizzard's nameplate frames will have their opacity modified. To avoid this, it's necessary to completely separate the artwork and the Blizzard frame, which brings unintended "features" to the table. I will begin introducing this feature in the 5.10 Beta.
Can I show mana bars/combo points/threat/etc?
There's some limitations as to which units can be observed, but it's possible. I intend to implement these features via Widgets that theme authors can quickly insert into their code.
Would you make a configuration menu, where I can have full control over the appearance of my nameplate?
Short Answer: No(ish)
Long Answer: I feel that designing and maintaining an extensive GUI would involve more time than I can devote, and would also affect the 'lightness' of the core software. ThreatPlates and CleanPlates already feature extensive menu options, and are built on top of the Tidy Plates core. I certainly will expand the menu options of the default plates, as time goes by, but I doubt it will approach anything that Aloft features. That said, I've changed my mind, before.
Change Log - Tidy Plates
5.9.5
* Critter/Neutral Filter on default theme, returned to Mode-level
* fix for hunter pets, grey threat widget
5.9.4
* Adjusted position of default theme data, to reduce targeting woes
* Added a cache reset to the Hide hook
* ForceUpdate now only operates on Shown plates
* CURSOR_UPDATE is now part of the default events
* Added alpha == 0 bypass
* Elite Borders now have a star on the artwork, making visual ID easier
* Simplified Scale and Alpha delegates of the default theme
* Critter Filter on default theme, now always on
5.9.3
* frame layering tweaks
* moved some skinning code around
* casting progress now forces single plate graphical updates (to eliminate casting icon oddities)
* painted my nails
5.9.2
* removed some old code related to the frame separation "feature" *shudder*
* frames faded too much (more than 50%); problem fixed
* level text will not show when skull icon is active
* TidyPlates:ForceUpdate() does not allow targetting a specific frame, anymore. Use: TidyPlates:ForceUpdateFrame(frame), instead
* added .secureframe pointer to .extended, pointing to the base frame
* added .flags to name, level, specialText, and specialText2 - used for adding outlines to your text... if you REALLY want them. *shudder*
5.9.1
* Changed default fonts from Arial to Liberation (halves the file size, woo!)
* Undo the frame separation (Allows Virtual Plates to run)
* '.hitbox' has been added, as a style category. This will alter the clickable region, out-of-combat
- .hitbox.height height of hitbox (default: 37)
- .hitbox.width width of hitbox (default: 149)
Tidy Plates 5.9 Release Notes
Release
* Clean Up Files - Check!
* Rename of "Beta Grey" to "Standard Grey" - Check!
* re-added health bar color function
1) Is it possible to disable the color changing of name text on targets that are in combat? (Name color seems to turn red when a target enters combat, I have moved my name text on top of my healthbar, it's rather difficult to see)
Yes-ish; The color changing is done by the Blizzard engine (the text field is reused from the original nameplate), so you can't change the color of the name text... BUT, you can use one of the SpecialText fields to display the name, which would bypass the whole color-changing thing.
Quote:
2) Is it possible to color name text by class in PVP?
As described by #1, if you're using a SpecialText field, you can have full control over the text. To add color, use Escape Sequences in the string.
Quote:
3) Is it possible to set the bar texture blending to overlay instead of what it is currently (looks like multiply?)
I'm not quite sure what you mean, but I think you're running into problems creating a statusbar texture, right? When a statusbar color is set, it multiplies each pixel by those RGBA values. If you set the statusbar color to red (R=1, G=0, B=0), the green and blue values are reduced to 0. If you try to add a shiny white highlight to your statusbar texture, it'll end up as whatever color you set the texture as. (Shadows are no problem, however) If you want to add a highlight, use the 'healthborder' image to add a semi-transparent detail over the statusbar. If you've got questions on how to do this, send me a PM with an image of what you're trying to achieve.
1) Is it possible to disable the color changing of name text on targets that are in combat? (Name color seems to turn red when a target enters combat, I have moved my name text on top of my healthbar, it's rather difficult to see)
2) Is it possible to color name text by class in PVP?
3) Is it possible to set the bar texture blending to overlay instead of what it is currently (looks like multiply?)
Originally posted by danltiger I've been working on a new Designer Template (it'll be called the Tidy Plates TDK), but I was thinking about TP-5.10, too. One of the things that people have been requesting is dual spec support. I could go a couple ways with this..
1) I could implement it as a theme-level feature on Grey, and the TDK. Theme authors would have to copy+paste the implementation, if they wanted it.
2) Have Tidy Plates alter the saved variable for each theme - depending on the spec - and store a cache in a big-arse saved variable.
3) Tidy Plates could maintain a table, which themes would access for their variables, which would change depending on spec.
I'm leaning toward #1, because it would avoid adding more complexity to the core. Gimme some feedback, ya'll.
#1 is obviously imo the most "safe" approach. The original sample theme was much the same.
#2 seems a bit more of a challenge to implement and could potentially have limitations.
#3 doesn't seem like a bad choice, but it could lead to complications for some users if the user friendliness isn't there.
I think you may have misunderstood me; My intent - for all possibilities - is to tie the changes to the dual spec system. When the user switches between specs, the variables would change, regardless of the distribution of points.
The question that I posed is mainly around implementation; Should I leave it to theme authors (my own themes would implement this feature, serving as a guide), or would theme authors prefer to have Tidy Plates itself manage their variable sets?
I suppose that's a semi-rhetorical question; Of course theme authors would rather not have to write their own implementation, right?
Quote:
Originally posted by AnrDaemon Having completely separate settings for each spec is more... sane?
They could differs drastically. Even if it's the "same" spec. I.e. I have two shadow specs on my main. Now what? They are intended for totally different purposes.
Originally posted by danltiger I've been working on a new Designer Template (it'll be called the Tidy Plates TDK), but I was thinking about TP-5.10, too. One of the things that people have been requesting is dual spec support. I could go a couple ways with this..
1) I could implement it as a theme-level feature on Grey, and the TDK. Theme authors would have to copy+paste the implementation, if they wanted it.
2) Have Tidy Plates alter the saved variable for each theme - depending on the spec - and store a cache in a big-arse saved variable.
3) Tidy Plates could maintain a table, which themes would access for their variables, which would change depending on spec.
I'm leaning toward #1, because it would avoid adding more complexity to the core. Gimme some feedback, ya'll.
Having completely separate settings for each spec is more... sane?
They could differs drastically. Even if it's the "same" spec. I.e. I have two shadow specs on my main. Now what? They are intended for totally different purposes.
I've been working on a new Designer Template (it'll be called the Tidy Plates TDK), but I was thinking about TP-5.10, too. One of the things that people have been requesting is dual spec support. I could go a couple ways with this..
1) I could implement it as a theme-level feature on Grey, and the TDK. Theme authors would have to copy+paste the implementation, if they wanted it.
2) Have Tidy Plates alter the saved variable for each theme - depending on the spec - and store a cache in a big-arse saved variable.
3) Tidy Plates could maintain a table, which themes would access for their variables, which would change depending on spec.
I'm leaning toward #1, because it would avoid adding more complexity to the core. Gimme some feedback, ya'll.
Originally posted by danltiger It wasn't you, it was me (Sorry!); I was adjusting the default theme, and had moved the neutral mob filter from inside the TANK/DPS modes to every mode. This was done on purpose, but I will move it back to TANK/DPS mode, only.
Having this be an option, rather than tied to a mode, would be lovely!
It wasn't you, it was me (Sorry!); I was adjusting the default theme, and had moved the neutral mob filter from inside the TANK/DPS modes to every mode. This was done on purpose, but I will move it back to TANK/DPS mode, only.
Quote:
Originally posted by niemassacre I somehow seem to have disabled nameplates for neutral units...the names above them appear until I get close enough for nameplates to override names, then nothing shows (this does not happen for hostile targets, who have a smooth transition to the nameplate). Selecting a neutral unit doesn't help either - I have to attack it for the nameplate to show.
If I disable Tidy Plates, the default Blizzard nameplates DO show for neutral units.
I somehow seem to have disabled nameplates for neutral units...the names above them appear until I get close enough for nameplates to override names, then nothing shows (this does not happen for hostile targets, who have a smooth transition to the nameplate). Selecting a neutral unit doesn't help either - I have to attack it for the nameplate to show.
If I disable Tidy Plates, the default Blizzard nameplates DO show for neutral units.
If you’d like to buy Binny/Danltiger a drink, here’s the place to do it! He’s worked many hours on his World, and is quite thirsty. If you’d like to send his wife a little something to say, “Thanks for putting up with his hobbies”, that’d be great, too...
