[Solved] Problem with GTK+ themes (some of the applications look ugly)

uns1gn3d · 2013-02-01 15:01:38

Hey everyone,

I just switched to Arch and have problems with getting the GTK+ themes to work. Some applications (i.e. pcmanfm, firefox) use the theme I set with lxappearance and other like transmission still look ugly. Any ideas what am I doing wrong?

Screenshot: http://s18.postimage.org/pz339bje1/screen.jpg

greets

Last edited by uns1gn3d (2013-02-01 16:32:52)

headkase · 2013-02-01 15:09:35

There are commonly GTK2 programs and also GTK3 programs. The "GTK" means GNOME Tool Kit. Generally newer applications will be written in GTK3 and older ones in GTK2. That is a general rule and not an absolute however. What is likely happening is that you are setting your GTK2 theme but not the GTK3 theme. GTK3 under Arch, where it often gets new updates - unlike a distribution like Ubuntu where GTK3 would remain the same for the entire version, tends to break themes regularly. GTK3 themes almost always break with each new version of the tool kit. GTK2 themes are pretty well stable however. So, look into GTK3 for themes and be prepared that those will break often requiring fixing or using a different theme.

Last edited by headkase (2013-02-01 15:10:49)

bohoomil · 2013-02-01 15:14:52

GTK+ = GIMP Toolkit.

headkase · 2013-02-01 15:29:48

bohoomil wrote:

GTK+ = GIMP Toolkit.

headkase · 2013-02-01 15:38:40

Another possibility is that you have the correct theme but don't have the associated theme engine installed. Poke around the themes a bit:

For a GTK2 theme: in the "theme/gtk-2.0/gtkrc" file look for the line that says "engine" and a name. Make sure you have that name installed.
For a GTK3 theme: in the "theme/gtk-3.0/gtk.css" file also look for "engine" and the name. Also make sure that engine is installed.

Themes are almost always in "/usr/share/themes/theme_name"

The files you look for to see which engine a theme uses may be in different files than the ones specified above, poke around in the files. The file that specifies the engine will be a text file so you can look at them using "less" or an alternative.

Last edited by headkase (2013-02-01 15:41:21)

JohnnyDeacon · 2013-02-01 16:07:39

Faience GTK2 and GTK3 theme..... beautiful (But not openbox, Xfwm themes)

Mediterranean Theme also nice theme provides gtk2&3 and Xfwm, openbox theme.

Last edited by JohnnyDeacon (2013-02-01 16:14:55)

uns1gn3d · 2013-02-01 16:32:11

Thanks for all replies. I switched from Debian (stable) and I didn't realized GTK3 was such a problem I simply didn't have the right theme installed.

@JohnnyDeacon: Faience looks really great. Thanks.

greets

Arch Linux

#1 2013-02-01 15:01:38

[Solved] Problem with GTK+ themes (some of the applications look ugly)

#2 2013-02-01 15:09:35

Re: [Solved] Problem with GTK+ themes (some of the applications look ugly)

#3 2013-02-01 15:14:52

Re: [Solved] Problem with GTK+ themes (some of the applications look ugly)

#4 2013-02-01 15:29:48

Re: [Solved] Problem with GTK+ themes (some of the applications look ugly)

#5 2013-02-01 15:38:40

Re: [Solved] Problem with GTK+ themes (some of the applications look ugly)

#6 2013-02-01 16:07:39

Re: [Solved] Problem with GTK+ themes (some of the applications look ugly)

#7 2013-02-01 16:32:11

Re: [Solved] Problem with GTK+ themes (some of the applications look ugly)

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