How You Could Customize Skype.

Intro: How You Could Customize Skype.

EDIT

After dukeala left a comment telling about a blog by Jaanus on the skype website, I decided this would be better edited to include that link. Using what the blog describes, there is no need for a hex editor of any kind.

As wriiten by dukeala,

"...you do not actually need a Hex editor for that, you can simply create, edit and load your own language file - you can read about it at http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2006/11/customizing_skype_with_a_hex_e.html "

As you can see, instead of going through all the trouble using a hex editor, there is an easier way to do it.

While it is almost certainly against the Skype ToS to do so, I thought I would post this as a proof of concept. Do not do this, as it is against the ToS. This is offered for educational use only.

Also, this is my first Instructable, so feel free to rip me a new one in comments ;-)

STEP 1: Obtain Needed Software.

Software you need:
Skype: http://www.skype.com/
A Hex Editor: I used http://www.chmaas.handshake.de/delphi/freeware/xvi32/xvi32.htm

STEP 2: Again...

Again, before we continue, this is more than likely AGAINST THE ToS!

STEP 3: Backup Skype

This should be a given, but just in case, backup Skype.exe

STEP 4: Open and Edit.

Open up Skype.exe in the hex editor!

Now, the best thing to do is locate what you want to edit by using the "Find" utility. Either press Ctrl+F or Search -> Find

In this example we will use the "Add Contact" button.

Open up the "Find" utility, type in "Add Contact" and you should be taken to it, the "A" being highlighted on the right.

Now, the thing about hex editing is, if you don't keep the file the same size, it will corrupt (not a good thing).

What we are going to do here is replace "Add Contact" with "Add Homie"

STEP 5: Change It!

Since we are changing "Add Contact" to "Add Homie" and "Add Homie" is smaller than "Add Contact" by two characters, we are going to replace those two characters with spaces. So, in the hex editor, change "Add Contact" to "Add Homie " (two spaces after Homie).

After that, save the file (Make sure skype is close or you will get a File Sharing violation), start skype, and your text should be changed :-)

STEP 6: Keep in Mind.

Some things you should keep in mind:

- Do NOT backspace. Remember, you need to keep the file the same size.
- Backup your work frequently. If you do a lot of successfull changing, then you do something that crashes Skype on load, then theres a good chance, if you didn't back it up, that your work went to waste.
- Test often to make sure something you changed doesn't crash skype when you try to view it. I know a lot of things on the "Calling" screen that will crash Skype without giving an error if you try to edit them.
- Experiment.

Comments

[abuadam]

i would suggest use PNG instead of JPG so it doesnt come out blurry..

[dukekala]

Nice instructions, well done :)

But you do not actually need a Hex editor for that, you can simply create, edit and load your own language file - you can read about it at http://share.skype.com/sites/en/2006/11/customizing_skype_with_a_hex_e.html

[fire]

Thanks, edited with credit given. Also, left a nice little comment on there.

[LasVegas]

A note about the spaces… If you take a look at the hex number immediately before the first letter, you'll notice that it's the count of letters in the string (in this case '0B' or 11 in decimal). This is known as a "C String." If your line is shorter than the original line, you should change this number to the lower count of characters (in this case, '09'). Also, instead of spaces at the end, place '00' (NUL) in the hex area for each unused character position. This allows formating processes that center the text under the button to work properly.

[fire]

Actually, after looking at it, I don't see the part before the string that has the length... In the "Add Contact" example, its: (NULL)Profile(NULL)Add Contact(NULL)Search(NULL)

[LasVegas]

Ah! You're right. The programmer didn't use C Strings, but defined the strings inline (within the code). I made the assumption that they would be C Strings, since they usually are and I couldn't actually read the graphics posted. In this case, with "Null Terminated Strings," to retain centering put half the spaces before the replacement text so that it's still centered.

[fire]

So, you are saying, when a programmer assigns text to variables declared as strings, in a hex editor they appear with the length behind them?

[LasVegas]

Yes. In C, that's usually the case.

[fire]

Hey, thanks. This is the first time I have ever done anything like this, I didn't know :-) Added to the instructable with credit given to you.

[redalert]

Its already on digg
http://digg.com/mods/How_You_Could_Customize_Skype

[fire]

Nice, thanks mate :-) Dug.

[mrbob1000]

you win the golden instuctable award great job

[Lord_Vader]

Well done. Though I don't use skype, the instructable was clear and actually had a useful purpose. Keep up the good work

[fire]

Thanks :-) You just gave me a good idea for another one.