Hacking AIM - Versions 4.2 / 4.8 / 5.1 / 5.2      

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Minimal: BL Bg, text, and hi-light colors all changed. Menus deleted, caption text modfified.


????


If using AIM Version 5.1.3036, you can download my Aimres.dll / Buddyui.ocm files here --> Aimres Pack


Note: As reported by Alex, you'll need to completely uninstall your current version of AIM, do a fresh installation of AIM 5.1.3036, then replace the new Aimres.dll and Buddyui.ocm files with mine in order for it to work.


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Finally, this information is all in one place, covering the most widely used versions of AIM, listing the mods for each.This tutorial derived from a message thread at Customize.org, which grew to a very large size, so this is basically the trimmed down version of it. This is an open ended tutorial, meaning that it can and will grow at random, so, if you have any information you feel needs to be added, please email the information to me at WinT@VirtualPlastic.net, and I'll add it directly to the tutorial, giving you full credit for whatever mod you find. Enjoy :)

Credits:

Shell2600 :: The individual who found the Yellow hi-lite color, which was the most requested, and desired AIM mod to begin with. He provided the instructions on how to actually change this color to whatever we want. He was also nice enough to share it with people he didn't know :) Thanks Shell2600, we owe you.

Joh6nn :: The individual who actually found Shell2600 :) He found the message board that Shell2600 had posted the information on, and also was the first to actually make contact with him as well, gaining the full set of instructions, and passing them along to me. Also, I extend a personal thanks to Joh6nn for helping me with the hex editing as well, and also for linking me to the DeadAim forums, which resulted in the finding of the Version 5.1 XML buddy list resizing information. Again, great thanks going to Joh6nn for playing the part that he did.

I'de also like to extend great thanks to those members from Customize.org who helped so much in finding the mods for the other versions of AIM being :: Ridgeburner, SpicyTofu, Digger, IAmTheProdigy, insain, MistaNeat, Henny, Kylan, iNK Buckett, heroinharry, charcoal, janurn, and I'm hoping I haven't missed anyone. If I did, I apologize :) Notify me if I did forget you, and I'll add you to the list, as you deserve to be there.

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Shell2600 / Joh6nn

AIM Version 5.1 --> The Yellow Hi-Light:

Using a hex editor, open up BUDDYUI.OCM, found in the AIM root directory. Do a search for offset 0x0056CD.
It doesn't come up exactly like that for me, as mine lands on 0056C6.

Space over 8 times from the first value listed for C6. This will bring you, on the 8th count, to an FF value. That is the start of the color. It goes as so: FF FF 00

Change that to another color value using hex format of course, save the file, and it's done. I used the color picker Switch to find my color, and retrieve it's hex value.
--------------------

WinT / LandSlide from the DeadAim forums for the XML BL Resizing information

AIM Version 5.1 --> Hacking the buddy list dialogs with Resource Hacker

AIMRES.DLL DIALOG'S #323 AND #324

The short explanation of how these dialogs work is this: Dialog #323 is the backdrop for #324. #324 is a dialog with a TreeView control on it. That OscarTreeView control is the actual buddy list. #323 is as important as #324, as without it, the buddy list has nowhere to reside.

You have to be REALLY careful here with what you do, as it's very tricky. The best way to do this is for Dialog #323, literally DELETE all controls on the dialog itself, leaving nothing except the actual dialog body. For Dialog #324, DELETE everything EXCEPT for the "OscarTreeView" control, which again, is the actual buddy list itself. If you delete that, you have no buddy list. These dialogs are extremely fragile, and seem to almost be irritated :) Just do as instructed above, and if in 5.1, and I believe 5.2, it should work perfectly.

Now, originally, I did all of this, got it looking really nice, but couldn't get the buddy list to go as small as I wanted it to. Well, Joh6nn came through once again, and linked me to the DeadAim forums, which there, I found a small tutorial on hacking the XML information, found within the "23" section in AIMRES.DLL . You adjust some numbers there, and you can control the body of the buddy list. Make it as large or as small as you want it, no limits, and this can be done in real time, with AIM running, using the mouse to simply resize the buddy list as you would any other normal window.

The information below was posted by a DeadAim forum member by the name of Landslide. Any and all credit concerning the XML resize information goes to him. The post has been placed here in this tutorial, in it's original format:


..........

Alright, I was reading in the Feature Request section that people want to make their buddy list smaller but AIM doesn't let you. Well it does if you know how to. So I typed this little tutorial for people. Here's how you do it....

This is easy to do. First of all close AIM. Then, open up AimRes.dll with Reshacker. Then on the side with the folders go all the way to the bottom till you see "23". You will see the folders "315", "323", "324", "325", and "327". Those folders are all different. Open every folder and find this Code:

minimumSize horizontal='144' vertical='405' (edited so the XML would show)

(the numbers might be different). And then change both the values to 0 (zero) or however small you want to be able to make the windows. After you do that hit "Compile Script" and then save the .DLL and then you are done.

Open up AIM and then you will be able to make the buddy list what ever size you want. I used this on AIM 5.1 and the newest AIM beta. And it worked for me.

LANDSLIDE "Brand New Rock"

Original post --> http://www.jdennis.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1913&highlight=

..........


Now, keep in mind that when you resize the bl window, you're actually resizing dialog #323. This dialog has two styles applied to it by default, one called WS_MAXIMIZEBOX, and the other being WS_MINIMIZEBOX. These two styles allow you to achieve the same resizing effects as you can achieve by editing the XML values listed in the tutorial linked to above. You may not have to work with the XML at all, but you never know.

After you achieve the ability to resize your buddy list window, you must also be aware that you're treeview control, the actual buddy list itself, found in #324, will stay the same size, regardless of how large or small you resize the bl window too. So, you have to go back in with Reshacker and adjust the size of the treeview. So I found, that the best way to do it is simply to set your Treeview on #324 to a descent size according to the amount of buddies that you have on your list. If you've got lot's of buddies on your list, then you might want to have it fairly long, but no fear of it being to small, as a scrollbar will appear automatically if the amount of buddies is longer in length then the actual buddy list size. Once you are happy with the size of the treeview itself, then you shouldn't have to ever resize the BL window at all.

Still working with 5.1 here... You can also edit the titlebar caption of the buddy list, and you can remove the caption buttons as well (min, max, close). To remove the caption buttons, go back to dialog #323, right click on it, select Edit Control, scroll down in the style box at the bottom left, and remove the WS_SYSMENU style by clicking once on it. Hit Enter, or click OK, the Compile it, and you're done with that.

The Caption text is not on the dialog this time around, as AOL likes to do things much differently, so you have to go to String Table #11, and it will be listed in there such as "#s Buddy List" . I forget what the % command was, as mine is changed, and I just can't remember what it was by default, but you get the picture. The % command represents your screen name. Change that line to whatever you wish, or delete it entirely to get rid of it. You may also want to center it on the titlebar of the BL as I have done, and to do that, simply space forward until you get it perfect, working within the " " marks as always. It will probably take you a few tries to get it perfect, but worth it I suppose. You can simply remove the CAPTION style from dialog #323, but you won't be able to drag the BL around your desktop if you do so.

Buddy list background image... You can "skin" the buddy list background with your own Bitmap by replacing Bitmap #273 with whatever you wish. I've yet to have great luck with this, but it does work. I had originally deleted my bitmap (I think, cause it wasn't there) and had to add my own bitmap, titled it 273, and it worked perfectly. That information provided by Henny, from Customize.org.

Buddy list menu... Aimres.dll, Menu #103. Using the menu manipulation procedures found in alot of the tutorials here, you can combine these three menus into one, change titles, add/remove items, etc... I'm not going to go into this much here, but if you need assistance, let me know.

So, after all of this, you end up with NO Yellow hi-light color, NO ads, and your buddy list looks SO much better, and is under your control, not AOL's. All of this, without using any 3rd party apps to do it for you :)

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The info below was taken directly from the thread at Customize.org, and as you can and will see, the names of the individuals responsible for the mods are listed. I don't have these versions of AIM found below, so I cannot elaborate on the finer details of each modification listed. I can and will point out however, that all mods listed below were reported to be safe, and worked perfectly.

digger

AIM 4.8.2790 --> offset for the yellow hi-lite color is at 0x0000F444

................

SpicyTofu

AIM 4.2 --> Yellow Hilight:
If you use XVI32 editor, the left column should read "C44C". If you use UltraEdit, the left column should read "0000c440h:" and then you move right to column f.

................

IAmTheProdigy

AIM 5.2.3139 --> Yellow hilight:
offset 0x003850. The color value FFFF00 should be on that line.

................

IAmTheProdigy

AIM 5.2.3139 --> Yellow color for mouseover: BUDDYUI.OCM 0x0038E0. color value FFFFD0 on that line.

................

ridgeburner

AIM 4.8.2790 --> Buddy name text color: color they use (the black) is 01 01 01, find SECOND instance of that value in the BUDDYUI.OCM file, change it.

................

digger

AIM 4.8.2790 --> yellow color of tooltips that popup when you hover over a screenname...0x0000F4BD.

................

insain

AIM 5.1 --> Non-Idle Buddy name color

Buddyui.ocm: Offset 0x0056b0 - Default color is the value 010101, change to your likeing.

................

MistaNeat

Aim 5.1.3036 --> Yellow mouseover color

Buddyui.ocm: Offset 0x005759, change FF FF D0 to your color

................

iNK Buckett: AIM Version 5.2.3255 --> Yellow highlight

Offset 0X003850: The color FFFF00 is in that line.

................

MistaNeat

AIM 5.1.3036 --> Buddy List Background Color

Buddyui.ocm: Offset 0x005721, Change FF FF FF to your color

................

Kylan

AIM 5.2.3277 --> BL Background/Text/Hi-light colors

Buddyui.ocm:

BL Background Color > Offset 0x000038A8, FF FF FF, Change to your color
BL Text/Arrow Color > Offset 0x00003846, 01 01 01, Change to your color
BL Yellow Highlight > Offset 0x00003803, FF FF 00, Change to your color

................

Kylan

AIM 5.2.3281 --> Buddyui.ocm:

Yellow highlight: 0x00003803
Background color: 0x00003851
Mouseover color: 0x00003889

.................

heroinharry

AIM 5.1.3036 --> The hex value list

Buddyui.ocm:

BL Background Color -- Offset 0x005721 (Default: FFFFFF)
BL Setup BG Color -- Offset 0x00573A (Default: FFFFFF)
BL Highlight Color -- Offset 0x0056CD (Default: FFFF00)
BL Name Color -- Offset 0x0056b0 (Default: 010101)
BL ToolTip Color -- Offset 0x005759 (Default: FFFFD0)
Buttons BGColor -- Offset 0x003225 (Default: FFFBF0)

.................

Charcoal

AIM 5.2.3281

37EF - BL Text
3803 - BL Highlight
3851 - BL Background

.................

Javurn

AIM 5.2.3292

37f2 - BL Hi-Light color
384a - BL Background color
37dc - BL Buddy name color
3876 - Tooltip color

.................

WinT: Offline/Idle buddy text color for AIM, ALL versions. Information provided by users from the JDennis (Dead Aim) forums.

This particular color is not a hex value, but rather part of your main, Windows color scheme. The color responsible for the offline/idle color is your "Disabled Text" color. So, if using Displayset, it will be called "Disabled Text", and if using 3DCC, it will be called "Grayed Text". Whatever color you choose for the disabled text color will also be used for your Offline/Idle buddy name colors in AIM.


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Also, you can download an extensive list made by Henny, from Customize.org, which covers the XML information found in AIM Version 5.2.3139 . The XML info is not much different from 5.1, seeming as if 5.1 and 5.2 share almost the same information. The XML approach is certainly an alternative to hacking the dialogs and such, but some things in the list can be done by hacking the appropriate dialogs usinng the standard methods, etc... It's all up to you, but this list was so well put together, and so accurately done, that it had to be linked to. Lot's of nice things covered, giving you alternatives, and lot's of different options. Thanks goes out to Henny for allowing his list to be provided. The list is in it's original format, provided as a TXT file for online viewing. Direct link below:

Henny's 5.2 XML Page


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I'de also like to mention that Ridgeburner and TimO, two well known users from Customize.org, have started a forum dedicated to the modification of all versions of AIM. It's just getting off the ground, not much happening at the moment, but it's off to a great start. Each version of AIM has it's own seperate section, meaning total, well organized dedication to your hacking desires, and help when you need it. Be sure to visit the Aim Hacker's Forum at the link below:

Aim Hacker's Forum

Also visit AimForums.com . They're new, but off to a very active start with lot's of members, and conversation going on. Dedicated to AIM, and anything to do with it. Link below:

AimForums


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iNK Buckett, a well known member of the WinMod Forums, and seen all over this site has created a nice application which will randomize your Aimres.dll files. Here's the description right from the applications page:

Aimres.dll Randomizer

Description:

Ok, Just for the hell of it I created this nice little program to help AIM hackers randomize their AimRes.dll files. This way you can have different "skins" for AIM.

The link below will take you to the download page for this app, and while your there, take a look around. iNK Buckett is also the author of Short Run and URL-Run, two apps that everyone should check out.

AIMRes.dll Randomizer


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Update by WinT --> AIM Version 5.1 : Aimres.dll - Menu #103

All in one menu configuration/structure for BL menus

Originally, you have three pull down menus on the BL. If you use the configuration below, you'll have ONE. The menu caption will be just as you see in the image above " ||| " . To use structure below... Go to Menu #103 in Aimres.dll, select all of the text, then delete it. Copy, then paste ALL text below into your #103, hit the Compile button, then save. The menu structure below has been tested, and works perfectly. It should compile without a problem. It might look a bit different (font/size) when you paste it in, but just Compile, and Reshacker will fix that for you. To center the " ||| " menu caption, simply get in between the " " marks, and use the space bar to push it forward. Hit compile, save, then load AIM to see if you centered it. It might take a couple of tries to get it centered as you see in the above image, but not hard to do at all. To change the " ||| ", simply erase the ||| between the " " marks, and replace with whatever you like. Also note, that the menuitems in the structure below have been heavily modified. Most all titles have been changed, and several items have been deleted. If the config below does not suit your needs, just use it as an example of how to combine all your menus into one.


103 MENU
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
{
POPUP " | | |"
{
POPUP "&Away"
{
MENUITEM "PLACEHOLDER-DONOTDELETE", 660
}
MENUITEM "BL Ops", 1562
POPUP "Config"
{
MENUITEM "Prefs", 174
MENUITEM "&Change Pass", 175
MENUITEM "&Format ScreenName", 176
MENUITEM "&Keep Buddy List on Top", 181
}
POPUP "Mail"
{
MENUITEM "PLACEHOLDER-DONOTDELETE", 1001
}
POPUP "Skins"
{
MENUITEM "SKIN PLACEHOLDER", 997
}
POPUP "Alerts"
{
MENUITEM "Manage Web Alerts...", 1078
MENUITEM "Read Alerts...", 1079
}
MENUITEM "Log Mana&ger...", 1119
MENUITEM "&Load BL", 184
MENUITEM "&Save BL", 185
MENUITEM "S&witch Name", 190
MENUITEM "S&ign Off", 745
POPUP "Users"
{
MENUITEM "Send B&uddy List...", 1182
MENUITEM "GetInf&o", 138
MENUITEM "IM", 139
MENUITEM "Chat Invite", 561
MENUITEM "S&end Mail...", 1002
MENUITEM "Edit Address", 1512
MENUITEM "&Alert when %s is available", 1007
MENUITEM "Change &Alert", 1008
MENUITEM "Don't alert w&hen %s is available", 1009
MENUITEM "Send IM I&mage...", 818
MENUITEM "Talk", 18
POPUP "Add&-Ins"
{
MENUITEM "ADDINS PLACEHOLDER", 1509
}
MENUITEM "Se&nd File", 722
MENUITEM "&Get File", 724
POPUP "&Edit BL"
{
MENUITEM "Add &Buddy", 143
MENUITEM "Add &Group", 145
MENUITEM "Edit &Name", 664
MENUITEM "&Delete", 146
MENUITEM "&Sort Group", 1178
}
MENUITEM "Select Icon...", 822
MENUITEM "Sto&re/Edit Comment", 1194
MENUITEM "Store/Edit N&umbers", 1060
MENUITEM "B&lock", 390
MENUITEM "&Unblock", 1011
MENUITEM "Find a Buddy Wiz", 538
POPUP "&Find a Buddy"
{
MENUITEM "By &E-mail", 539
MENUITEM "By &Name and Address", 540
MENUITEM "By &Common Interest", 541
}
}
}
}


..........................................................


Update by WinT --> Version 5.1 - Buddy List Dialogs - Aimres.dll: Dialog's #323 and #324

Below, you'll find the exact setup which I'm using for the buddy list dialogs. If you wish to use this text, remember to erase ALL text from both #323 and #324, then copy and paste the text below into their proper locations. The text has been tested, and it compiles perfectly. I know some of you are experiencing lock ups, and other bad behaviour, and not sure why, especially if you're following this tutorial step-by-step, but regardless, it's AOL afterall, and no telling what the problem is. I must state however, that the configuration below is the exact configuration that I'm currently using, and it works perfectly. I do not experience lock ups, or any other negative effects. Hopefully, this will cure the problems that others are having. *crosses fingers*


Configuration for Dialog #323 below:

323 DIALOGEX 0, 0, 72, 136
STYLE WS_MAXIMIZEBOX | WS_MINIMIZEBOX | WS_CAPTION | WS_THICKFRAME
EXSTYLE WS_EX_DLGMODALFRAME | WS_EX_STATICEDGE
CAPTION ""
MENU 103
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
FONT 6, "HOOGE 05_53"
{
}

.....................

Configuration for Dialog #324 below:

324 DIALOG 0, 0, 123, 250
STYLE DS_MODALFRAME | WS_CHILD
CAPTION ""
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
FONT 6, "HOOGE 05_53"
{
CONTROL "Tree1", 137, "_Oscar_Tree", 0x50810000, 0, 0, 123, 250
}

.....................

Notes about the above config:

Dialog #323 has some EXStyle's applied to it. These are nothing more the visual altercation styles. These styles will NOT make things better or worse as far as the behaviour of the buddy list.

Both dialogs are set to use the font: HOOGE 05_53. If you do not have that font installed, or do not wish to use that font, please remember to CHANGE the font to something that you do want to use, or do have, BEFORE you compile the dialog script. Paste the text in, then immediately change the font. Changing the font is simple. Change the title from HOOGE 05_53 in between the " " marks, to whatever you wish. Adjust the font size, which is set to 6, to whatever size you want.

Also keep in mind that by using my config above, you're buddy list will be the exact size of the one you see up top in the example image. I suggest if using this config to diagnose or fix problems, simply change the font if you need to, compile, save, then see if AIM will work for you before you go and change the size. That way, you can guarantee that you have a working configuration. Then, if it does work, simply resize it to your desired size. Using my configuration above will NOT, and does NOT mean that you have to keep it exactly as I have it. Change everything about it, just make sure it works first :)


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In case you missed the link at the top, you can download my Aimres.dll, and BuddyUI.ocm files at the link below. Download only if you're using AIM Version 5.1.3036. Also, as reported by Alex... In order for my files to work, you'll need to completely uninstall your current version of AIM, do a fresh installation of 5.1.3036, then replace the new Aimres.dll and Buddyui.ocm files with mine.

Aimres Pack


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Update by WinT --> Making your buddy list "transparent"

This is by far the most drastic and noticable mod to AIM yet, but it's also one of the easiest :) With just one style, and a little trickery, you can achieve a completly transparent buddy list, resulting in your buddy names appearing as if they're on the actual desktop itself. The image below shows you exactly what it looks like, or can look like. I just took a small cut out of my desktop for this shot, and also, my wall has several shades of blue in it, so it was hard to get a perfect blend here as you can see, but if you use a wall with sections of, or all solid colors, then it works perfectly:



Ok, so, remember how the buddy list dialogs work right? I described it earlier in the tut, but to repeat, for Version 5.1.3036, they're are two dialogs responsible for the buddy list. Dialog #323, which is the base for the buddy list, and Dialog #324, which holds the actual "TreeView" control, which is, the buddy list itself. I'm assuming it works like this for all versions previous to, and after 5.1.3036, but I do not know the dialog numbers. If you know where your buddy list dialogs are at for your version, then you're good to go on this mod.

So, the big catch here is that if you followed this tut to the letter, your Dialog #323 is blank. It has no controls on it whatsoever, as it only serves as the base for #324. The problem, is that #324's Treeview control (the bl itself) is a non-standard control, meaning, that we have no control over it's behaviour through Reshacker. No styles can be applied to it, including the one for transparency. So, this means, that your BL body dialog can be transparent, but the actual colored, buddy list, where the names are, cannot be. This leaves you still with the task of changing the proper hex values for buddy list background, text, and hi-light color of course, which isn't too bad :)

Other then that small catch however, you can have full blown, real transparency, and the best part is that it works in ALL Windows OS versions, and not just 2K/XP. So remember, that if you do this, use "user" friendly walls, and set your BL background color to the same color of the wall so it won't stick out :)

Ok, so, to do this, open Reshacker, and load up Aimres.dll, go to your BL dialogs, and I'm gonna use Version 5.1.3036 for this, so in that case, go to Dialog #323. Now, you should see the Dialog text, and you should also see the "preview" dialog as well.

Right click on the preview dialog, select "EDIT DIALOG", and you will get the Dialog Editor box. Most likely, if you've never added any of the EXStyles to the box before, the ExStyles will not be in view. When the Dialog Editor box comes up, you need to place a checkmark in the "ExStyles" checkbox, all the way to the right of the editor box, located just above the "Italics" box. If you do that correctly, you'll see a new list of styles pop out below, and they'll be to the right of the existing list of styles. Once you see the new styles listed, you'll need to select the WS_EX_TRANSPARENT style, by left clicking on it only once. Below is an image of the Dialog Editor box as you should see it if you've done things correctly, and, it also shows the style having been selected:



Ok, so to conclude and repeat: Open Reshacker, load Aimres.dll, go to Dialog #323, right click on the preview dialog, select EDIT DIALOG from the menu, when the Dialog Editor box comes up, place a checkmark in the ExStyles box (see image above) , when the styles become available to you, simply left click on the WS_EX_TRANSPARENT style, hit OK, the Dialog Editor will close, then simply hit the Compile button, and save. Nothing to it :)

Just in case you need this, here's my dialog code for #323, with the style applied:

323 DIALOGEX 0, 0, 72, 136
STYLE WS_MAXIMIZEBOX | WS_MINIMIZEBOX | WS_CAPTION | WS_THICKFRAME
EXSTYLE WS_EX_DLGMODALFRAME | WS_EX_TRANSPARENT
CAPTION ""
LANGUAGE LANG_ENGLISH, SUBLANG_ENGLISH_US
FONT 6, "HOOGE 05_53"
{
}

Now, this mod is NOT the most reliable one out of the bunch. It's very buggy, as AIM doesn't like it, and Windows doesn't like it, but it DOES work. Once this is done, you can still drag and resize the buddy list as normal, without any problems. AIM itself will still work the same as it did before this mod. If you start AIM up after the mod is done, and it is visible, that means it's just misbehaving. Drag the buddy list around, click on it a few times, pull the bottom and sides out to longer and wider lengths and widths with the mouse, etc.. until it finally vanishes. Mine is working so good that it is transparent immediately as it fires up, and it actually focuses in when I wish to use my scrollbar, or drag the list to a new location, and then it goes back to transparent when I click off of it, which is pretty nice.

Some might think this one isn't worth the trouble, but, some will certainly consider it more then worth it. It's as good as you can get though without using 3rd part apps, and I'm not sure if any apps can actually make the list body transparent, while allowing you to keep your buddy names in plain view. Enjoy!

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Well, end of the tutorial, for now anyway. Again, if you'de like to add any information to this page, please email the information to me, and I'll add it in. I hope you enjoyed it, and could understand it all. I'de again, like to extend a personal thanks to all involved in the gathering of this information, and once more, I apologize if I forgot to list your name when giving credit. If you have any questions, comments, or need assistance, please comment below.


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by WinT