Xfce Forum

XXXfce

Member

Registered: 2007-07-10

Posts: 7

change panel/taskbar over a xfce4 theme ?

i am working on a desktop theme  and analysed several themes for xfwm4 ,
but there seems no way to change the taskbars/panel  over a xfce theme , although there are always nice pictures
of a modded taskbar/panel on the xfce4 theme site . a bit confusing at least...:)

i want to create a theme for everything (of course) , so i just  need to create an additionally gtk theme ?

greetings

crimesaucer

Member

Registered: 2007-05-21

Posts: 103

Re: change panel/taskbar over a xfce4 theme ?

I tried to add a panel theme into my gtkrc and it didn't work. I might have done something wrong.

So I used the same exact code in a separate gtkrc-2.0 and that is how I have a nice panel image that matches my theme.

If you read a bit, you can find ways to make your panel transparent with certain patches...but I didn't feel like going through all of the trouble so I just use an image and a little code like this:

style "panel"
{
  bg[NORMAL] = "#7A899E"
  bg_pixmap[NORMAL] = "nunupanel.png"
  fg[NORMAL] = "#000000"
  }

widget_class "*Panel*"      style "panel"
widget "*Panel*"            style "panel"
class "*Panel*"             style "panel"

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161 … t-35-9.png

So I just have this little bit of code saved as my gtkrc-2.0 in my /home/folder

I also keep my panel image in there which is the nunupanel.png

...you can also add more code in your gtkrc-2.0 to change buttons and other panel plug-ins and things...even font choices.

XXXfce

Member

Registered: 2007-07-10

Posts: 7

Re: change panel/taskbar over a xfce4 theme ?

thx ,  i will try that , although i actually want to completely modify the xfce4.4 look (gtk+) .
but it is really annoying

crimesaucer

Member

Registered: 2007-05-21

Posts: 103

Re: change panel/taskbar over a xfce4 theme ?

Well, you said the panel right? I haven't learned a way to add a custom panel into the gtkrc theme properly yet, so I just use a separate gtkrc-2.0 for the panel.

When I make my gtkrc themes, the panel will use the bg[NORMAL] color and the fg[NORMAL], and also the colors for fg[ACTIVE], bg[PRELIGHT], and bg[ACTIVE] on the buttons and menus...and their are a few settings in the style "default" that change the size of buttons and icon padding.

But, you can always make a gtkrc for a theme, and then add a gtkrc-2.0 in your /home/folder for a separate panel (task-bar). The gtkrc-2.0 in your home folder will over-ride your panel in your /usr/share/themes/Xfce-theme/gtk-2.0/gtkrc...and you can just make it to match your new theme. (if you learn a better way to use bg_pixmap[NORMAL] image for your panel then let me know)

I have had difficulty finding info on how to write a theme for xfce, so I self taught myself by looking at other people's themes and figuring somethings out on my own. This is a thread that I made in Ubuntu Forums for some things that I have learned and shared about the xfce engine: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=377397

I'm a beginner so some things that I say might be wrong or may be the improper way to do something, but it's worked for me and my gtkrc themes, this is my latest theme that I made:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161 … t-38-9.png

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161 … t-39-8.png

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161 … t-31-9.png

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r161 … -30-13.png

Feel free to add anything that you learn or know in there, and also ask any questions about the gtkrc.