This page is best viewed using the WoWI "default" or "dark" theme. Apologies for any inconvenience.
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The following is adapted from the original project description. Disclaimers at the bottom.
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This is a BETA release. Seeking assistance with any/all localizations (deDE, esES, frFR, koKR, ruRU, zhCN, zhTW, any/all others).
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Aloft is an addon that allows you to customize and enchance how nameplates and nameplate casting bars appear in the game. 

[color="#ff0000"][I][B][size=+1]Aloft is now an Ace3 addon. Please delete any Aloft-2.X.X version completely before installing any Aloft-3.X.X version. Your saved variables should be compatible.[/size][/B][/I][/color]

(Thanks to all who helped test the Ace3 version.)

[color="#ff0000"][I][B][size=+1]The Aloft FAQ is [url="http://www.wowinterface.com/portal.php?id=460&a=faq"][U]HERE[/U][/url], please review it.[/size] (And please feel free to request additional information/clarification.)[/B][/I][/color]

[B]NOTE:[/B] Due to the conversion to Ace3, Aloft-3.1.0 (and after) must be used with [url="http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info12959-AloftCastWarningBeta.html"]AloftCastWarning-1.0.0[/url] (and after); mixing versions will result in severe LUA errors and incorrect operation.
[B]NOTE:[/B] The current production release is Aloft 3.1.0 (Ace3), for WoW 3.3.3. Aloft 2.8.3 (Ace2) or later is required for WoW 3.2. Aloft 2.8.12 (Ace2) or later is required for WoW 3.3 (these versions may or may not still be available; send a PM to Acapela for older versions, and include your email address).

Quick answers to current "problems" (see recent Change Log entries for additional details):
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[color="#ff3f3f"][I][B][U]Recent Changes (Aloft 3.2.1):[/U][/B][/I]
- implemented "current target" exception under "Visibility" options; always shows current target nameplate; overrides other visibility options (enable nameplates in auto-show/keybinding sense, and then hide using "Visibility" options); AloftAlpha module MUST be enabled
- enhanced all borders to expose edgeSize (thickness) and inset (padding) as user options
- combined old HealthBar and HealthBarDeficit modules into one module (a plain HealthBar module, always load, not optional); disabled old HealthBarDeficit module
- locale "frFR" totem names (for visibility and [IsTotem] tag) contributed by Anaya
- updated embedded Ace3 to latest/greatest (r958)
- please keep watching for #132 crashes[/color]
[color="#ff3f3f"][I][B][U]Recent Changes (Aloft 3.2.0):[/U][/B][/I]
- enhanced to embed "glow" textures (used for both "Nameplate Glow" and "Threat Bar>Threat Flash") in SharedMedia; media class "glow"; users should now be able to create/add/use their own glow textures via SharedMedia
- added an "NPC faction" subsystem; optional module "AloftFaction" (default disabled) and text tag "[Faction]"; NPCs only; updated the "Acapela" preset to incorporate "[Faction]" into the Guild Text field
- embedded the latest/greatest LibBabble-Faction-3.0 (release13), as a means of verifying that tooltip faction data is actually faction data (not reaction type data, threat data, gathering data, etc)
- NPC "Faction" feature will only work in "enUS" local (Aloft needs to locate the "Level" text in unit tooltips, as the first step in locating/identifying NPC factions)
- fixed a bug in AloftRaceData (apparently GetBattlefieldScore() can occasionally return a nil name)
- updated embedded Ace3 to latest/greatest (r938)
- please keep watching for #132 crashes[/color]
[color="#ff3f3f"][I][B][U]Recent Changes (Aloft 3.1.3):[/U][/B][/I]
- fixed an intermittent problem with unit classification data not updating properly (no, Raz is NOT crazy :-)
- added checks to "[HealthBarColor]" and "[OriginalHealthBarColor]" tags to make sure nameplate health bar color data is available before attempting to process the tag (avoids LUA error)
- simplified/fixed "Visibility>Show Hostile Totems..." menu options; should now leave the exception colors available for configuration, even when showing all hostile totems/etc
- simplified nameplate OnHide processing a little further (experienced a suspicious #132 crash, so this problem may still not be 100% fixed)
- updated to latest/greatest version of Ace3 (r921)[/color]
[color="#ff3f3f"][I][B][U]Recent Changes (Aloft 3.1.2):[/U][/B][/I]
- simplified nameplate OnHide processing; setting backdrop/border alpha to zero (0), but leaving the actual border in place; this seems to affect the #132 crash problem? please test (enable borders again, etc)
- switched to using "CancelAllTimers()" in crowd control and combat text modules; this will (hopefully) prevent stale timers from piling up; please continue to report any "Timers" messages from Aloft
- refactored combat text module to explicitly force all swing (white) damage to print in the default text color (default white), regardless of actual damage school
- some swing (white) damage is verifiably non-physical, so disabled diagnostic in combat text module
- fixed "Report Status Changes" options so that they would appear in the Aloft configuration dialog
- exposed proactive initialization polling interval to user as an option (for grabbing new nameplates out of WorldFrame children as "soon as possible"); under "Aloft>Nameplate Initialization Interval", please use cautiously
- associated with proactive initialization polling: attempted to shorted the delay with which nameplate health bar colors are updated when nameplates become visible
- fixed various typos scattered around the code: frame "Unknown" color options, health bar "Unknown" color options, player title data save options, crowd control options, deficit health bar
- reworked various data recording functions (options generally under "Data Options"; guild, title, class, classification, creature type, comment, etc); they were saving data to saved variables when they should not have been[/color]
[color="#ff3f3f"][I][B][U]Recent Changes (Aloft 3.1.1):[/U][/B][/I]
- added "comprehensive" checks to Aloft's options menus to insure that the associated module is enabled before updating options; hopefully will help fix some of Thortok2000's LUA errors
- fixed various typos in the AloftPlayerTitle module that were preventing data gathering, preventing saved variables from working properly, causing LUA errors, etc; another one of Thortok2000's reported problems
- fixed a small problem in the AloftGuild module (similar to one of the problems in the AloftPlayerTitle module)
- added some checks to (try to) avoid dereferencing nonexistent data during module enable/load (AloftAutoShow and AloftVisibility modules)
- added a check to flag "Totem of Wrath" correctly, as a totem (thanks to DoubleTake)[/color]
[color="#ff3f3f"][I][B][U]Recent Changes (Aloft 3.1.0):[/U][/B][/I]
- initial "production" Ace3 release; functionally identical to Aloft-2.8.16
- NOT COMPATIBLE with versions of AloftCastWarning before 1.0.0
- the file manifest has changed with this version; please remove any older/existing version of Aloft before installing this; your saved variables should be OK
- if Aloft was your only addon that used Ace2, then with Aloft-3.1.0 and later, you should be able to uninstall Ace2[/color]
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[color="#1f9f9f"][B]!!Tag Error!! Problems? Aloft options have disappeared? Aloft Presets not available or not loading properly?[/B]
[I]
A lot of Aloft functionality is now "dynamic" (not loaded by default). Enable this dynamic Aloft functionality via Aloft's "Modules" options. (See the screen shot of Aloft's options on the WoWInterface page for Aloft.)
[/I]
[U]!!Tag Error!! Issues:[/U] If you have "!!Tag Error!!" problems, either enable modules carefully one at a time until the problem(s) goes away, or (especially for custom text tag configurations) look at the document "AloftTags.rtf" (bundled with Aloft, in .../Interface/AddOns/Aloft/AloftTags.rtf), which details which text tags are supplied by which modules. A more detailed procedure is provided below.

[U]Missing Options:[/U] If a module is not enabled, its options will not be present (as if the module was physically absent). If options seem to be missing in Aloft's waterfall, check to see if the associated module is enabled in Aloft's "Modules" options. Enable the module, and its options should appear "on the spot". (Only the AloftLDB module is loaded by default, to save memory.)

[U]Presets:[/U] Aloft "dynamic" modules must be enabled before presets can be applied to them, and the "AloftPresets" module itself must be enabled before presets can be used at all. (the AloftPresets module is disabled by default to save memory.) A more detailed procedure is provided below.

[B][I]!!Tag Error!! procedure[/I][/B], with nameplates displayed/visible:
[LIST]
[*]Enable a module (ideally only one, one at a time), as desired
[*]Inspect visible nameplates, see if one or more "!!Tag Error!!" problems are gone
[*]If not, disable the module again (you probably don't need the module in order to validate a text tag)
[*]Continue by enabling another module...
[*]When complete, reload your UI
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[B][I]Presets procedure[/I][/B]:
[LIST]
[*]Enable all modules (or, for experienced users, just desired modules)
[*]Enable "AloftPresets" module
[*]Select the desired preset
[*]Disable undesired modules
[*]Disable the "AlotPresets" module
[*]Reload your UI (and if it appears you need to engage in "excessive" UI reloading, temporarily disable all other addons except Aloft first)
[*]Adjust the appearance of Aloft, in detail via options for enabled modules, as desired
[*](optional) Save your options as a named profile
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To "goose" Aloft, try to [B][I]Force Rebuilding of Text Tags[/I][/B], with nameplates displayed/visible:
[LIST]
[*]click on the "Regenerate Text Tags" button/option under Aloft's "Modules" options
[*]"cycle" or "bounce" all enemy/friendly nameplates (by disabling/reenabling all visible nameplates via keybindings or Aloft's basic "Show" options at the very top of the options menu)
[/LIST]
Rinse/Repeat any/all of the above, as needed, to arrive at the desired configuration.[/color]
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Options:

[size=+1]"/aloft"[/size]
[size=+1]"/aloft gui"[/size]

Direct support for FuBar ([url="http://www.wowace.com/projects/fubar/"]here[/url] and [url="http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/fubar.aspx"]here[/url]) and LibDataBroker-1.1 are incorporated.

Under WoW 3.0.2 and later, Aloft no longer requires (nor can it even benefit from) external libraries for health estimation (i.e. MobHealth3, LibMobHealth-4.0, MobInfo2) or threat (i.e. Threat-2.0)
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The customization options in Aloft allow you to change the size, shape, anchors, font, font options, textures and colors of:
1. Name text
2. Level Text
3. Health Bar
4. Mana Bar
5. Cast Bar
6. Spell Icon
7. Boss Icon
8. Raid Icon
9. Mouseover Highlight

Aloft also enhances the display by providing options for:
1. Health text - you can display health percentage, health, or health deficit right on the nameplate
2. Spell name - Aloft will place the spell name right on the casting bar
3. Spell casting timer - Displays the remaining casting time
4. Combo Points/Lacerate/Sunder text - Displayed on current target's nameplate for druids (while in the relevant form), rogues, and warriors
5. Recently Damaged icon - Displays an icon next to any unit that has recently taken damage
6. Finer visibility control - A collection of options that give you specific control over which nameplates are shown - eg. You can hide friendly pets, out-of-guild players, and lots more
7. Guild Text - Show guild information right on the nameplate. Shows abbreviated forms by default.
8. Border and backdrop color
9. Comments - Show "Banker", "Flight Master" and other automatically gathered comments, or your own custom ones right on the nameplate
10. Mana Bar/Text - show group member/pet/summon mana, energy, rage
11. Combat Text - display all damage and healing done to group members or targets right on the plate.
12. Pets Owner's Names
13. Polymorph Timer/Shackle Undead/Banish Timer bars
14. Unit Aliases
15. Class Icons
16. Player Titles (PvP, Reputation, and Achievement titles, segregated by prefix or suffix)
17. Experimental: Target-of-target subsystem; see FAQ
18. Keybindings for toggling enemy nameplates, friendly nameplates, and all nameplates
19. Integrated with SharedMedia (for extra fonts and textures: [url="http://www.wowace.com/projects/sharedmedia/"]SharedMedia[/url])

Finally, Aloft (this UPDATED version) provides a full-featured threat indicator capability:
1. Player threat displayed on player target's nameplate (the player has no bar-style nameplate)
2. Group threat (including pets/summons) displayed on group nameplates; see FAQ
3. Threat bar and threat text capabilities
4. Threat bar and threat text can be enabled independently
5. Can be enabled while solo (for pet-owning classes)
6. Control over display colors to indicate common threat and maximum threat thresholds
7. Threat gain threshold display (i.e. omen-style "aggro bar") capability for player threat
8. Threat threshold nameplate "glow" (separate from aggro glow, see below); Threshold can be customized
9. Experiemntal: AOE threat subsystem; threat displayed on hostile nameplates for units other than the player's current/active/primary target; see FAQ

As well, on a related note, Aloft provides:
10. Aggro namplate "glow" (for AOE tanking/etc), replacing the Blizzard native aggro "glow"; Note that aggro glow is completely separate from threat system

NOTE: Aggro nameplate "glow" will only be displayed if the underlying Blizzard "Display->Display Aggro Warning" is enabled for the state you are in (i.e. Always/Party/Instance, etc)
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Other threat addons (thanks to their authors for unknowningly providing example code for Aloft's current threat implementation):
Omen3: [url="http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/omen-threat-meter.aspx"]Omen[/url]
IceHUD_Threat (now obsolete; primary target threat is a direct feature of IceHUD): [url="http://wow.curse.com/downloads/wow-addons/details/ice-hud.aspx"]IceHUD[/url], [url="http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info7773-IceHUDThreat.html"]IceHUD_Threat[/url]
ZThreatMeter (now apparently obsolete): [url="http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info10856-ZThreatMeter.html"]ZThreatMeter[/url]
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All of the additional options are written to require no additional overhead if they're not enabled (though they will occupy memory when Aloft is loaded).

Aloft is designed to be easily extensible. All of the functionality is separated into discrete modules which should make it relatively easy for people to tinker with adding their own functionality. 

If you want additional texture options, make sure you install SharedMedia. For additional font options, ClearFont2 and its fontpacks provide a number of extra font choices. 

Documentation for the text tag format is included with the addon (look at the file AloftTag.rtf). Please also look at CREDITS.txt and CHANGELOG.txt for a history of the project.

Aloft is still (again?) a work in progress. Defect reports, feature requests, and code reviews are welcome.

On behalf of all the original contributors, Acapela hopes you enjoy it. 
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DISCLAIMER: Acapela is not the original author of this addon. Please refer to README.txt, CREDITS.txt, and CHANGELOG_WOWACE.txt for more information on the history of Aloft.

Aloft has been updated. It would be branded a "fan update" except the original author(s) have long since vanished, and Aloft is in fact being actively maintained, for the forseable future, by Acapela.

Acapela intends to host the addon here at WoWInterface (SVN and distribution).
NOTE: The addon is not maintained by Acapela at either of WoWAce or CurseForge (though earlier/"original" versions are still available there).
The WoWAce revision on which this version is based is r80814 ([url]http://www.wowace.com/projects/aloft/[/url]; this is WAY out of date, now a WoWAce "obsolete" project; the WoWAce version was not transferred to Curse).

Please report all errors as they are discovered (either in the comments for Aloft here on WoWInterface, or via the WoWInterface bug report mechanism), and Acapela will attempt to resolve them and apply a fix.

Acapela will participate in the forum thread for Aloft at WoWInterface ([url]http://www.wowinterface.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18093[/url]), as well as the commentary associated with the page for the addon itself at WoWInterface.
Acapela will continue to participate in the the original official forum thread at WoWAce ([url]http://forums.wowace.com/showthread.php?t=5437[/url]).
A private message to "acapela" at WoWInterface will also reach him.

Acapela does not want Aloft to die, so Acapela will make every effort to find someone to take over should he find himself unable to continue with this commitment. If anyone would be interested in participating in development, please contact Acapela.

NOTE: Current users of Aloft should backup/delete their .../Interface/Addons/Aloft folder before installing this version of Aloft.
      It would also probably be a good idea, to avoid problems, to backup/delete your .../WTF/Account/<WoWUsername>/SavedVariables/Aloft.lua file as well.
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As always, Aloft is free with your materials, but if you want to donate: [paypal]4257989[/paypal]