Ugly GTK applications

pielas · 06-17-2009, 01:58 PM

Hi, I have recently installed a slackware-current with KDE4. Everything is OK, but applications written using GTK looks ugly like win 98. I have searched at google something about changing theme of GTK apps, but without effect. Does anyone of you know how to change theme of GTK apps?

vehn · 06-17-2009, 02:07 PM

Manually create and edit ~/.gtkrc-2.0 or use http://slackbuilds.org/repository/12...p/gtk-chtheme/

b0uncer · 06-17-2009, 02:08 PM

It depends on how GTK app themes are handled in KDE; I might be wrong, but doesn't KDE offer to theme GTK some way without gimmicks (just trying to remember how KDE 3 did it)? If it doesn't, then try gtk-theme-switch or gtk-chtheme, I think those were apps that could change the GTK theme used..there could be more of them, but see those and you should get started.

H_TeXMeX_H · 06-17-2009, 02:18 PM

There are plenty of very nice themes for GTK, but the default one is indeed ugly, grep, plain, kinda like Win95 indeed.

Try some from here:
http://art.gnome.org/themes/gtk2

dugan · 06-17-2009, 02:20 PM

If you're still using Xfce < 4.6, have KDE start xfce-mcs-manager. Xfce 4.6 uses xfconfd instead of xfce-mcs-manager. Xfconfd doesn't work outside of Xfce.

If you're using GNOME, have KDE start gnome-settings-daemon. If gnome-settings-daemon isn't in your PATH, then it's in /usr/libexec.

Otherwise, use a GTK theme switching program. A couple have been mentioned. This is one of the more recent ones:
http://wiki.lxde.org/en/LXAppearance

I'm not using KDE 4, but I would also recommend looking into what b0ouncer said. KDE 3, had an "Apply themes and colors to GTK applications" (or something with similar wording) option in the "Appearances" tab of its control panel.

pielas · 06-18-2009, 02:30 AM

Thanks for replies, gtk-chtheme it what I have needed

Su-Shee · 06-18-2009, 06:57 AM

Please don't edit .gtkrc-2.0 - that's the default file for _every_ Gnome and Gtk frontend/config tool to write stuff into - which override everything you add.

The first lines _always_ contains an include to .gtkrc.mine which is the place for everything homemade and changed by hand.

The include line for .gtkrc.mine is always left untouched from any config tool and therefore loads your personal config/style/theme stuff.

.gtkrc-2.0 usally looks like this:

Code:

# -- THEME AUTO-WRITTEN DO NOT EDIT
include "/home/banshee/.themes/Aurora-looks/gtk-2.0/gtkrc"

include "/home/banshee/.gtkrc.mine"

# -- THEME AUTO-WRITTEN DO NOT EDIT

artistikone · 06-18-2009, 04:41 PM

You can launch xfsettingsd at startup which will make the GTK apps and buttons in Firefox much more appealing.

dwabot · 09-10-2009, 03:13 PM

Thanks for the tip about LXAppearance... Matches up well with Fluxbox.

voyciz · 09-10-2009, 04:23 PM

Install clearlooks and switch to a theme that uses it.

veeall · 09-11-2009, 08:41 AM

There's also gtk style to resemble default look of kde4.

dugan · 09-12-2009, 11:35 AM

These are what I'm using to make GTK apps look like KDE apps:
http://www.gnome-look.org/content/sh...?content=99926
http://www.gnome-look.org/content/sh...?content=79756

dizzi · 10-10-2009, 07:15 AM

Yes gtk-chtheme works quite well (just execute /usr/bin/gtk-chtheme) after installation to invoke the wizard. While you are at it, if you want to reduce the size of the Firefox menu, tab, etc fonts in Slack which I find way too big, Edit (create): home > .mozilla > firefox > wpoz7qzg.default > chrome > userChrome.css. Note this file does not exist by default but there is an example provided that can be used.

slackd · 10-10-2009, 07:43 AM

U can try GTK-Engines

or u can try Murrine

mattydee · 10-10-2009, 10:35 AM

Great thread! It's interesting to see what everyone else uses. Might try some of them out

Personally, I choose Qtcurve: http://slackbuilds.org/repository/13.../QtCurve-Gtk2/