UserData - what is this feature about?

UserData has been added in SkinCrafter v2.0.
But it looks like it still remains to be an unknown feature.

Well, let's try to define why was this functional implemented and when it may come in hand.

What's the application skin?

It's the assembled graphics or images with an appropriate settings used for applications controls skinning. By changing the skin you will change the appearance of standard controls in the application.

The above is pretty clear and simple.

Here is the case, you do develop the music player with avi file played at the splash screen while launching the player.
If you would offer your customers several skins you probably would like to play different avi files at the splash, depending on the style and the color of the skin, right?
Well, that's what UserData was developed for. You may create UserData entry in each of your skins, and put different avi files in there.
Just extract the avi at runtime from currently selected skin and play it. Your splash-screen video will be skin-dependable.

Another example.

Among standard controls you may use some 3rd party components, like Infragistics, ComponentOne or etc..
SkinCrafter will not be able to skin them as they are completely owner drawn.
However, such cool components offer a wide range of customization options and you may just tune them with the overall skin theme via setting proper colors.
Well, again that's where you may use UserData. You may create an entry for each color setting, or integrate a xml or ini file with all color settings in the skin.

I hope this will shed some light on UserData feature.

Also, you may download our UserData demo:

In it we used ini file for controls sizes and positions in each skin. Animations and music files are skin dependable (they are different in each skin)
All this was put into UserData section and was used inside the code.

Right, it's not a feature for designers.. But we do sell the component for developers, so UserData should be a good weapon in your arsenal.

Let me hear any questions. I'd be glad to explain this more.