Converting Version 9 Skins

Starting in Version 10, diagram skins are universal to all ReliaSoft applications that use diagrams. This means that a single skin can contain the appearance settings for all types of diagrams in BlockSim (and, for versions prior to 2020, RENO), Weibull++ and XFMEA/RCM++.

Many of the predefined skins installed with Version 9 applications have already been merged and converted into universal skins that are ready to use in any diagram type in later versions. For example, the new White.dskin replaces the old RBDWhite.dskinrbd, FTDWhite.dskinftd, etc.

If you created your own customized skins in Version 9, this topic explains how to convert them for use in later versions.

Preparing the Version 9 Skins Folders

The conversion utility considers the old Version 9 skins that are stored in the following locations:

  • C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\ReliaSoft\Skins\BlockSim9
  • C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\ReliaSoft\Skins\Xfmea9
  • C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\ReliaSoft\Skins\RCM9
  • C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\ReliaSoft\Skins\Weibull9

Before running the utility, you can:

  1. Delete any Version 9 skins that you don’t wish to use or convert. (This is not required but it may help to avoid confusion when you run the conversion utility.)
  2. For any Version 9 skins that you wish to combine into the same universal skin, rename them to the same filename (while still retaining the different file extensions).

For example, if you want to combine RBDCustom.dskinrbd and FTDCustom.dskinftd into the same universal skin, you could rename the files to Custom.dskinrbd and Custom.dskinftd.

Running the Conversion Utility

After you have prepared the Version 9 skins folders as described above:

  1. Choose File > Application Setup.
  2. On the Common Settings > Other page, click Convert.

 

  1. The Convert Skins window will display all of the unique filenames that remain in the Version 9 skins folders. (If you want to combine multiple skins into the same new universal skin, make sure you have already renamed the files as described above.) Select the skins you want to use in later versions and click Convert.
  2. Close the application so the skin(s) will be added to the Skins folder.

The new file(s) are stored at C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\ReliaSoft\Skins with a *.dskin extension and “_V9” appended to the name.

A Note about Diagram Backgrounds

Universal skins contain appearance settings for diagram background and grid, and connector and block handles that are applied to all diagram types. When you create a universal skin from individual skins with different background/grid/handle settings, only one set of these appearance settings will be stored in the skin. The settings that are saved into the universal skin are from the last skin that was merged. If these are not the settings you desire, you can use the Diagram Style window to change them.

Related Topics and Links