20221218: Please see https://www.opendesktop.org/p/1231025 for a newer version

Gtk2 / Gtk3 theme mimicking CDE / Motif and Front panel app 'An elegant desktop, from a more... civilzed age.' ;)

Latest version 1.3 : Now includes configurable XFCE window decorations. Title height and border width can be set in pixels, and the images necessary for xfwm making up the border and window buttons will be generated from that. Also the panel app and gtk/xfce theme are now combined into a single package

Unpack, and run 'cdepanel'. (Maybe do chmod u+x cdepanel first.) Tested on Xubuntu 17.10.

To generate theme files without using the panel app, use the 'switchtheme' script.

CDE= Common Desktop Environment was (is) a colorful desktop from the '90s with a very distinct flat / boxy look.

Comes with about 40 original CDE color schemes. Script generates the gtk.css etc files. Includes the purplish 'Solaris' found in many 'cde themes' (the palette Crimson.dp) and a color scheme used on HPUnix (at least on the Hp9000 I used).

Includes theme for Xfce window decorations ala CDE/Motif

README FILE ########################################################################

CDEPANEL AND CDETHEME 1.3 / JOS@JOSVANRISWICK.COM

CDE front panel emulation with gtk and xfce theme

################################################################################### HOW TO TEST:

Make fresh a live usb of xubuntu 17.10 and run the binary 'cdepanel' (you may need to do 'chmod u+x cdepanel')

Use gtk/xfce theme without the panel app with the 'switchtheme' script, eg:

./switchtheme ../palettes/Broica.dp 8 5 18 true true true

################################################################################### NEWS:

In this 1.3 version I added configurable XFCE window decorations. Title height and border width can be set in pixels, and the images for borders and window buttons will be generated from that.

Directories and are now organized a bit different. See 'TWEAK' below.

################################################################################### REQUIREMENTS:

1. linux
2. a /tmp directory
3. python2.7
4. imagemagick convert
5. gtk2 pixmap engine
6. python and PyQt4
7. Prefarably, use XFCE4 !

It was tested on xubuntu 17.10. On ubuntu, python and imagemagick should come installed. But if not, do:

sudo apt install imagemagick python gtk2-engines python-qt4 gtk2-engines-pixbuf

################################################################################### INSTALLATION:

A) CDE Panel app

1. extract the zip to some place you can access
2. copy 'cdepanel' to your path, or just run it from there (maybe you need to make it executable, do: 'chmod u+x cdepanel')

If you are using xfce4 the script will set a different CDE backdrop to every workspace. However, not all versions of xfce4 allow setting the backdrop from a script. So you may need to go into SETTINGS/DESKTOP and uncheck 'Apply to all workspaces'.

The Gtk2/3 theme uses images (arrows and such). Gtk3 doesnt always display these sharply, depending on the dpi setting or font size. If some elemens in apps appear blurred, try modifying your custom dpi setting or font size. (XFCE SETTINGS/APPEARANCE/FONTS)

If the 'cdepanel' binary doesnt work on your system, you need to TWEAK (see below)

B) Gtk/xfce theme without cde panel app

1. copy 'cdetheme' directory to ~/.themes
2. Go into xfce/settings/ appearance and window manager to pick 'cdetheme' (or similar app in other environments)
3. use the 'switchtheme' script for picking a new color palette or set the window height/border width

################################################################################### USAGE:

Configuration of the cdepanel app can mostly be done by right click on the panel. Apps can be added to the panel and drawers using drag and drop.

Keys and mouse:

mousewheel: switch workspace =/- or ctrl-mousewheel: change size h/H or shift-mousewheel: change sharpness/antialiasing p/P: quick palette switch s/S: tweak displayed saturation c: pop up config dialog

################################################################################### TWEAK

The file 'cdepanel' is a pyinstaller executable containing almost all dependencies. So running that has the greatest chance of just working. The cdepanel script will try to make an initial configuration based on what it finds on your system. If you want to manually tweak or modify/improve the configuration or scripts, here are some pointers:

cdetheme/: directory containting the gtk/xfce theme files, should be copied to ~/.themes A link to this directory called cdetheme1 will be created to be able to quickly switch and affect changes when the theme has been modified

cdetheme/scripts: directory with all the python scripts

scripts/cdepanel.py: the source file of the main app. If the binary 'cdepanel' doesnt work, try to run this one.

scripts/switchtheme: script for setting the theme (gtk/xfce), without using the panel app

scripts/CdePanel/: the configuration directory for cdepanel. On initial run, this is copied to your ~/.config directory.

CdePanel/layout: file that determines what is shown on the panel

CdePanel/config: some configuration options

CdePanel/cache: icon cache. If your icons look funny, empty this dir

CdePanel/drawers: contains drawer files (the arrow things that pop up a list of apps). On inital run, a set of default drawers is created.

################################################################################### PYHON DEPENDENCIES

If you want to use the python modules instead of the 'binary' please install the following dependencies:

sudo apt install python-dev build-essential python-sip-dev python-sip-dev libpythonqt-dev libqt4-dev libqt4-dev libqt4-dev python-qt4-dev python-qt4 python-yaml python-xdg python-pil python-pip

sudo pip install ewmh sudo pip install colors.py sudo pip install pyinstaller

################################################################################### QT THEME

Hmm in xubuntu 17.10 the gtk style now doesnt seem to be applied to QT apps. To do this install

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mati75/qt5ct sudo apt install qt5ct sudo apt install qt5-style-plugins

and in .bashrc set

QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME=qt5ct export QT_QPA_PLATFORMTHEME=qt5ct

(one of the 2)

start qt5ct and pick 'gtk+'

So yes.. I hope you can get it to work !