DarqUI v3.1.2.8: Variations on a Theme

Hello, Darq Siders! We have a new version of the utility over at eq2interface.com with some nice improvements that I think you're going to like.

Install/Reinstall

As you know, your premium access extends to all computers in your household so you might decide to install EQII/DarqUI on the family room laptop, or one day you might (hopefully not!) need to reinstall DarqUI on your main game machine. In either case, you can now let the setup window know ahead of time that you are a Darq Side member. If you are reinstalling on the same computer, it will probably already have you verified. If you are on a different computer (or installing to Test or Beta servers on the same computer), click the small gray logo and paste in your key. You'll get some additional download options. 

Here you can choose your preferred component size -- Normal, XL, Largest Available, etc., as well as whether to download the custom skins. These are two of the main reasons why you would need to revisit the updates page after installing. Some players don't care at all about these choices, while others demand all of the optional extras. But most importantly, your key will send your custom instructions directly to the premium server, instead of installing the free version first and then having to go back and reinstall everything a second time as a patron.

Speaking of optional extras, instead of the awkward tooltip there is now a dedicated window for listing and managing the "Extras" package. Check for updates and right-click the Extras line to see what's there. You can skip, remove or re-download certain parts and pieces if you have a need to do so, or you can take a look inside the files.

And while you're on the Updates page, check out the new sorting options. You can now click the column headers to sort by skipped files, accepted files or alternates (gear icons). Thanks to Aidbringer for the suggestion and for testing these useful new display options.

Themes and Fonts

I had some fun hinting at theme improvements in the Discord channel, but now you can try out the new features for yourself. Choosing a different color theme and pairing it with a more legible font has always been hit-or-miss. But now when you visit the Themes page in the utility you will see graphical samples of the various choices including how your selected text font will look right inside the sample grid. What's more, you can flip through all of the available fonts right there on the page instead of going back and re-downloading. When you choose a theme/font combo it's ready to use. (You'll still want to restart the game to load up the new graphics for the first time.) Pretty cool!

Darq Side members get access to three new fonts and one more color theme. Many of us will recognize Metallic as the venerable blue ProfitUI skin.

High-Low-Average Broker Sales Reporting

One of our industrious (and probably wildly wealthy in-game) members requested a refinement to the Broker Logs feature that reports average prices as well as low and high ranges for all of a character's sales. I have to admit I scratched my chin a bit when this was first mentioned but sure enough, depending on the types and quantities of items you sell on the broker, high-low-average data does help determine what's bringing in the most plat. Thanks to Mopreme for making the suggestion, for patiently explaining the value of mining the data, and for doing a mountain of hard-core testing on the feature as it was being developed.

Dark Mode/Game Mode

Speaking of colors and what not, it appears that a good portion of DarqUI players prefer to run the utility in dark mode. I used to ignore it in Windows, in browsers and other apps. But just between you and me I've gotten more accustomed to it lately. Much easier on the eyes especially at night. (But then you get blinded by a nearly-white context menu or dialog box!) Well, no more. Context menus, dialogs and tooltips will now appear in the correct color range when you choose dark mode or game mode. Try it out!

Editor's note:  shouldn't it be called Darq Mode?  :)

Other Tweaks

There is a list of small improvements and bug fixes in this version which you can see at eq2interface.com. Some interesting bits:

For multi-monitor and other technically-oriented members, you can build a list of various game window metrics on the Settings page. These let you run the game in "fullscreen windowed" mode or open the window at a specific size in a specific place -- even on a second monitor. In the previous utility there was a bug that prevented your game window from being repositioned in a negative direction, for example if your secondary monitor was on the left. That's been fixed.

Speaking of reinstalling on those rare occasions when you have to do so. In addition to knowing that you're a Darq Side member the utility will also clear your "skip list" and put itself back online for the download if you had previously been running it in offline mode.

You might notice tiny Patreon logos sprinkled around here and there in the utility. There was a question about the difference hetween free and premium versions, and I realized I've been so clever at hiding the seams that it makes it tough to figure out what's what. So in most cases where there is a patron-only feature you'll see one of the little logos nearby.

Thank You

And speaking of patrons, I am honored and blessed to have your support. All of the improvements and new features that you see on this page are possible because of you. As our roster of members has gotten taller, the patron credits scroll has been made easier to navigate for all DarqUI users, both in-game and in the utility. A great problem to have, if you ask me!