Run a program under different theme?

**df0xyd** · May 20th, 2010

Hey guys and gals!

This is probably a dumb question...

Anyways, I have installed Wii-Black as my theme for Ubuntu. It looks really neat for a lot of programs like Geany. Unfortunately, for others like Open Office (PowerPoint), it turns all the slides gray, and when going to do a sideshow, it looks terrible.

Now, my question is: Can I run a program under a different theme than what I have as my default? Like forcing Open Office to run under human..?

Thanks!
-Frosty Fox =^_^=

**blazemore** · May 21st, 2010

You could set up a new user, set the theme for that user, and use the "su" command to run a program as that user.

**df0xyd** · May 22nd, 2010

Originally Posted by blazemore

You could set up a new user, set the theme for that user, and use the "su" command to run a program as that user.

Thanks for the suggestion!

I did as you said and created a user, and left the default theme for them. Proceeded to use the su command and run a program, but I ran into a problem...

Code:

frosty@arctic:~$ su programmer
Password: 
programmer@arctic:/home/frosty$ geany 
No protocol specified
Geany: cannot open display
programmer@arctic:/home/frosty$

Code:

frosty@arctic:~$ gksu -u programmer geany
No protocol specifiedGeany: cannot open display

frosty@arctic:~$

I think it's because su doesn't let the user use my X? I'm not sure... I'm not really a pro at ubuntu.. I can just get around...

**sisco311** · May 22nd, 2010

In case of oo edit the /usr/bin/ooffice file:

Code:

gksu gedit /usr/bin/ooffice

to:

Code:

#!/bin/sh
export SAL_USE_VCLPLUGIN=gen
/usr/lib/openoffice/program/soffice  "$@"

In case of other applications you can set the theme by changing the value of the GTK2_RC_FILES variable, i.e.:

Code:

GTK2_RC_FILES="/usr/share/themes/Human/gtk-2.0/gtkrc" gedit

**df0xyd** · May 22nd, 2010

Originally Posted by sisco311

In case of oo edit the /usr/bin/ooffice file:

Code:

gksu gedit /usr/bin/ooffice

to:

Code:

#!/bin/sh
export SAL_USE_VCLPLUGIN=gen
/usr/lib/openoffice/program/soffice  "$@"

In case of other applications you can set the theme by changing the value of the GTK2_RC_FILES variable, i.e.:

Code:

GTK2_RC_FILES="/usr/share/themes/Human/gtk-2.0/gtkrc" gedit

That works out, super awesome! Thank you soo much! ^^

But! I have one last question! The GTK2_RC_FILES variable works awesome if I'm launching from a terminal. Unfortunately, that does not affect the Applications menu. Is there any way I can change that or should I just create a alias under .bashrc that just screens the program and ignore the applications menu?

**sisco311** · May 22nd, 2010

Originally Posted by df0xyd

That works out, super awesome! Thank you soo much! ^^

But! I have one last question! The GTK2_RC_FILES variable works awesome if I'm launching from a terminal. Unfortunately, that does not affect the Applications menu. Is there any way I can change that or should I just create a alias under .bashrc that just screens the program and ignore the applications menu?

You have to edit the command field of the launcher. Right click on the menu -> Edit Menus -> Highlight the item -> Properties and edit the command field to something like:

Code:

bash -c "GTK2_RC_FILES="/usr/share/themes/Theme/gtk-2.0/gtkrc" original-command"

**df0xyd** · May 22nd, 2010

Originally Posted by sisco311

You have to edit the command field of the launcher. Right click on the menu -> Edit Menus -> Highlight the item -> Properties and edit the command field to something like:

Code:

bash -c "GTK2_RC_FILES="/usr/share/themes/Theme/gtk-2.0/gtkrc" original-command"

Thank you very, very much sisco311!

Problem is [SOLVED] =^_^=

**Rendsvig** · March 25th, 2011

I too thank for the above solution. I used to change the colors in the Opera browser when using a dark theme -- with a white/light text color making a reply on a comment on facebook (etc.) would otherwise be unreadable.