CCXL Theory: Switchers

Summary

Published: September 3rd 2025 by icxrus Last documented edit: September 3rd 2025 by icxrus

This page explains how switchers work with the character creator and ArchiveXL. It is currently a work in progress.

Originally separated from CCXL: Creating a Switcher.

Wait, this is not what I want!

To create your own switcher, check CCXL: Creating a Switcher .

For existing vanilla and modded switchers, check ArchiveXL: Character Creator additions .

What are switchers?

Switchers are the switches shown in the character creator that allow us to change V's physical appearance. There are two different types of visible switcher: those that cycle through text-labeled options such as hairstyles and tattoos—and those that use icons generally depicting color options. Switchers are generally defined within separate .inkcharcustomization files for each gender.

Types of switchers

Type 1: Cyclic switchers

There are two types of cyclic switcher—one consists of a gameuiSwitcherInfo that defines index and options and two or more gameuiAppearanceInfo's that contain the corresponding option parameters (the first one usually being the off appearance):

gameuiSwitcherInfo

The other type of cyclic switcher consists of a gameuiMorphInfo with morph names as its options. The chest size switcher for Female body V is an example of this:

gameuiMorphInfo

Type 2: Icon switchers

The hair color switcher acts as a cyclic switcher but has icons instead of names:

It can be expanded to show selectable icons.

The icon switcher does not require a gameuiSwitcherInfo but consists of a single gameuiAppearanceInfo, with its options defined as definitions—appearance definitions within a .app file:

Nested switchers

A switcher can have other switchers as options. These are known as a nested switchers:

The uiSlot and uiSlots parameters are what make this possible—each switcher or option can occupy one uiSlot, and every uiSlot can have only one active option:

This means that every hairstyle has its own hair color switcher. Since each hair color switcher occupies uiSlot 'hair_color' only one hair color switcher can be active at any time.

Switcher attributes

A switcher has multiple attributes that make them behave in a certain way:

Groups

For most appearance additions, the following groups will suffice:

headGroups

If your switcher is in headCustomizationOptions, you'll want to use these four headGroups:

• FPP

• TPP

• TPP_photomode

• character_customization

bodyGroups

If your switcher is in bodyCustomizationOptions, you'll want to use these three bodyGroups:

• FPP_Body

• TPP_Body

• character_creation (not to be confused with 'character_customization' in headGroups)

armGroups

If your switcher is in armsCustomizationOptions, you'll want to use these armGroups:

Female V:

• holstered_default_tpp

• holstered_default_fpp

• holstered_strong_tpp

• holstered_strong_fpp

• unholstered_strong

• holstered_nanowire_tpp

• holstered_nanowire_fpp

• unholstered_nanowire

• holstered_launcher_tpp

• holstered_launcher_fpp

• unholstered_launcher

• holstered_mantis_tpp

• holstered_mantis_fpp

• unholstered_mantis

• nails

• character_customization

Male V:

• holstered_default

• holstered_strong

• unholstered_strong

• holstered_nanowire

• unholstered_nanowire

• holstered_launcher

• unholstered_launcher

• holstered_mantis

• unholstered_mantis

• nails

• character_customization

Each of these holstered and unholstered definitions links to a certain arm cyberware, or none, being equipped by the player. Many of these also have different positioning to each other.