Introduction
A custom GUI in Anarchy Online may alter how the UI layout, most UI elements, and loading screens look. The default GUI is the base of which all the custom GUIs are based.
The XML files define the layout of your Control Center (the main interface; including menus), the various windows (such as the LFT, city controller, research etc), with more.
The graphics archive (*.UVGA and *.UVGI) contain the images representing the GUI elements.
Other similar threads
Skinning the GUI - A Reference
Tools
These tools will let you compile & decompile a GUIs *.UVGI and *.UVGA files:
You might also want a syntax-highlighted text editor for altering the XML files:
Recommended location of files
Magic path: %localappdata%\Funcom\Anarchy Online\random letters\FolderName.
Example: %localappdata%\Funcom\Anarchy Online\2e6586b4\AO Test Server
Your GUIs root folder should be: magic_path\GUI\GUINAME
Your archive should be saved as: magic_path\GUI\GUINAME\Graphics.uvga
Your XML files should be stored in a hierarchy inside the root folder.
Warning
NEVER alter the default AO files.
NEVER alter ANYTHING inside cd_image\gui\Default\
GUI changes
You can see changes to the AO GUI here. Click on any of the commits to see the difference between that version, and the previous version.