How to load a GTK 2.x theme with a command line or shell script?
 

I would like to know how i can load a gtk theme with a terminal command line or with a shell script if possible.

Thanks!

I'd go with this:


To find gconf keys for other stuff like the icon theme open gconf-editor and look under desktop > gnome > interface

arizonagroovejet, that means i have to have GNOME installed to use gconftool...

I didn't quite understood dugan's method.. doesn't that just install the theme?? not apply it.

I assumed you were using GNOME and that by 'load a gtk theme' you meant set it as your current theme in GNOME. Evidently I was wrong.

What do you mean by 'load a gtk theme'?

I don't understand dugan's suggestion either.

i tried ln -sf /usr/share/themes/Clearlooks/gtk-2.0/gtkrc ~/.gtkrc-2.0 it didn't apply it

arizonagroovejet, there are other desktop environments out there that use GTK toolkit not just GNOME... so i need something that would work for all of them..

So you're looking for a single command that will change the theme in any desktop environment that uses GTK? If so I think you're looking for something that doesn't exist. GNOME uses gnome-settings-daemon to change the theme currently in use. Other desktop environments will use something else.


Now I think about it I'm guessing dugan's suggestion might work if you log out and in again, but I've not tried.

hmm... i guess... by the way, when i change the theme like you described, the gtk theme changed except for the window borders (try it). why is that and how can i change them too?

It applies the theme to all applications started afterwards.

It certainly does not install the theme.

Use a GTK theme switcher then. gtk-chtheme and LXAppearance are both good ones.

thanks for the clarifications dugan. gtk-chtheme sounds good.

did i use that command right?

No, the trailing zero is important.

EDIT: A much more foolproof method would be to create a ~/.gtkrc-2.0 file with the following contents:

When you start with the gtk theme switchers, you'll find that they work by doing a variation on the above.

ok, i tried doing this dugan but it didn't work... i did as you said and now my gtkrc-2.0 file contains this

but my theme has not changed. and applications that i start afterwards are still in the old theme. i tried logging out and back in and still Clearlooks is not my theme even if my gtkrc-2.0 file says so..

I also made sure that /usr/share/themes/Clearlooks/gtk-2.0/gtkrc exists and it does but my theme is not changed still...

Please try it yourself and tell me if it works for you..

What am i doing wrong? :(

EDIT: It worked on my new Ubuntu which was just installed, i will see why it didn't work on my old ubuntu which has been used for some good time..

Oh i see what's happening, GNOME is forcing it's own theme on it and gtkrc-2.0 says another theme so it's like this GNOME tries to apply Ambiance and gtkrc-2.0 tries to apply Clearlooks lol...