An effort for themeing Default compiz!

Axklor · #1 4th November 2006, 11:21 PM

Hi All,
I've noticed there's alot of threads around for asking about themeing compiz, so I thought i'd start a thread to answer most questions around, giving my own view and start a challenge from an effort i've tried.

- Default Compiz included with Fedora Core 6 DOES NOT allow for themeing, there does not seem to be an answer why so I am assuming its not that it isnt possible, its the fact thats simply not included, Feel free to correct me if im wrong.

- Beryl window manager allows for themeing as well as easily configuration, this is an alternative to compiz, and Beryl started out as a fork to compiz named compiz-quinnstorm. My experiences with Beryl were brief with ubuntu but I found it very capable, but also too complex for the everyday user.

My effort is to bring together a simple way to allow themeing to the default FC6 compiz, without breaking it past not being able to allow updates via yum. I've managed to build gnome-compiz-manager from ubuntu (though i don't remember ever seeing this when i used Beryl), It has most of the settings for changing the cube, enabling/disabling effects and adding hotkeys etc.

I grabbed the tarball from here: http://ubuntu.compiz.net/pool/main/g...ndalfn1.tar.gz
it required dependancies like gtk-devel, libgnome-devel etc. so grab those from yum. It also required perl-XML-Parser so grab that from yum as well. It builds cleanly and gives you:

Code:

gnome-compiz-preferences

All features BUT theme manager work. If anyone else has a solution on how we can add this (maybe someone with ubuntu and some experience) can add whats missing to this dialog and allow default compiz to be themed.

Jman · #2 7th November 2006, 03:55 AM

With proper rpm packages both Beryl or gnome-compiz-manager could go into Extras.

Axklor · #3 7th November 2006, 04:20 AM

I've briefly tried grabbing the cgwd source tarballs from the parent dir in that mirror but I havent had much success compiling cleanly, due to the way ubuntu sets out its xorg etc.
anyone know of elsewhere where I may be able to grab source and get themeing working on default compiz?

I believe the simplicity of gnome-compiz-manager fits more to the form that fedora have tried to achieve in adding compiz to FC6 and It would be great to see it working with themes, maybe i'll try ldd'ing the file when i get home and see what it relies on.

Seehund · #4 7th November 2006, 05:25 PM

With Compiz, is there a way to choose the placement order of the Close/Maximise/Minimise/Menu buttons in title bars, like there is with Metacity?

I'm running ATI:s fglrx drivers now so I can't use Compiz just yet, but I would hate to be stuck with the retarded default Windows(TM)-like order, where the Close button is right next to the other buttons.

wesamel · #5 7th November 2006, 05:40 PM

You can change the color of the window borders in compiz by changing the theme. I haven't been able to anything beyond that, but it's still better than nothing.

Axklor · #6 7th November 2006, 10:27 PM

Well so far I've managed to compile gcompizthemer, or CGWD Themer as its called in the menu, So I have now managed to integrate gnome-compiz-manager in with it.

First tests show that applying themes isnt working but I have my laptop all day today to work with so expect some progress.

ryptyde · #7 8th November 2006, 12:59 AM

I installed Beryl/Emerald on a FC 6 box I found it to be pretty staight forward when it came to making selections on themeing and such. You have the Beryl Settings Manager which is similar to Configuration Tool for Compiz(gset-compiz) and then there is Emerald Theme Manager which there are several themes(window decorations) to choose from.

I also have a FC 5 box that has Compiz/Beryl setup but the themes are not functional at this time. I like the FC 5 setup and have been reluctant to bump it up to 6 just to get themes working with Beryl/Emerald. You get everything just about honed to perfection...audio...video...graphics...then BAM! along comes a new release.

I have posted some screenshots in the gallery of Compiz-Quinn and Emerald/Beryl on FC 5&6 boxes I'll have to get a better one showing a theme on 6.

Axklor · #8 8th November 2006, 01:06 AM

Yeah Beryl is very nice I am just reluctant to move to it until its in a mainstream repository, I seem to be running into a brick wall in terms of default compiz taking the theme changes I am setting via gcompizthemer, most likely to FC6 using a slightly older compiz than I expected.

Makes you wonder If they have plans for a themed compiz or are going to ditch it for the community model and extra plugins Beryl offers.

ryptyde · #9 8th November 2006, 02:33 AM

Axklor said:

Quote:

Makes you wonder If they have plans for a themed compiz or are going to ditch it for the community model and extra plugins Beryl offers.

Yeah it is hard to say what the future plans may unfold to be.
As users we are not privy to what the guys holding the purse strings
have waiting in the shadows for us.

Novell blindsided Linux users by joining Microsofts camp and I'm
sure MS has plans to harvest then implement all of the latest ideas
the Linux community has brought to the desktop and then call it their
own maybe a name like "Vista" or something.

My point being: QuinnStorm quote,

Quote:

Beryl is a fork of compiz, and a collection of other tools to go along with it.

CSM has become Beryl Settings Manager (beryl-settings)

CGWD has become Emerald, with its companion emerald-theme-manager.

and maybe something about SUSE>Compiz>Novell>Microsoft=problems so who knows
for sure how it will affect the lowly peasant user in the land of FOSS.

pissedoffdude · #10 13th December 2006, 03:48 AM

Can someone help me out with this. I installed it and now my comiz doesn't work anymore. As soon as I ran it, there were no more window borders. Could someone help me undo the changed that were made? I would greatly appreciate any help.