Description: The Widget Laboratory is a desktop application for previewing gtk and metacity themes. It updates the preview whenever the theme files change, so it can be used to make editing gtk themes faster and easier.
Thank you for this ! I use TWL all the time when testing my new Themes ! TWL works much better than twf (IMO)It has a nice easy to use GUI and the update installs over the existing install !! GREAT !! Thanks again !!
i install it with the deb and when i run it i get:
____________________________
starting viewer process
Could not connect to dbus server, retrying...
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/twl/preview.py", line 25, in <module>
import metacity
ImportError: No module named metacity
starting viewer process
Could not connect to dbus server, retrying...
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/twl/preview.py", line 25, in <module>
import metacity
ImportError: No module named metacity
starting viewer process
Could not connect to dbus server, retrying...
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/twl/preview.py", line 25, in <module>
import metacity
ImportError: No module named metacity
______________________________________
how can i get it to run?
I made a mistake when I packaged it. I'll upload the corrected .debs soon but in the meantime you can just "sudo apt-get install python-metacity" and it will work.
One thing I never liked with TWF is that the scrollbars (or sliders, or whatever-you-wish-to-call-them) take up the entire slot, and there's no way to preview the groove below them, or how the buttons behave when the slider is all the way top or bottom.
Also, I usually have to install a theme in order to see how it works with the gnome panel. Will the theme look stupid with vertical panels? ...with panels taller than 24 px?
Can you address these in Widget Laboratory?
Speaking of the gnome panel, there's also the problem that with some themes, any buttons, menus, or other objects on the panel will not recognize the change when the panel background is set to use a solid color or a pixmap. The result is usually blank parts of the panel with the user settings, and items on the panel using the theme's background regardless of user settings. Any way this could allow people to preview that? Inconsistencies on the panel is the most common reason I choose to not use some themes.
I have the following error in Fedora 12:
[~ twl-0.1.1]$ python bin/twl
starting viewer process
Could not connect to dbus server, retrying...
starting viewer process
ERROR:dbus.connection:Unable to set arguments (None,) according to signature u'v': <type 'exceptions.TypeError'>: Don't know how which D-Bus type to use to encode type "NoneType"
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bin/twl", line 25, in <module>
twl.main()
File "bin/../twl/main.py", line 526, in main
win = TWL()
File "bin/../twl/main.py", line 124, in __init__
self.Preview.set_metacity_theme(self.m_theme_name)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 68, in __call__
return self._proxy_method(*args, **keywords)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 140, in __call__
**keywords)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/connection.py", line 620, in call_blocking
message.append(signature=signature, *args)
TypeError: Don't know how which D-Bus type to use to encode type "NoneType"
Any help?
Regards,
Germán.
I have just formatted my notebook and installed Fedora 12 i686, and after installing gnome-libs, gnome-python2-metacity and dbus-libs it works also for me...but in my PC with Fedora 12 x86_64 the dbus problem persist.
Thanks for your time,
German.
I have the following error in Fedora 12:
[~ twl-0.1.1]$ python bin/twl
starting viewer process
Could not connect to dbus server, retrying...
starting viewer process
ERROR:dbus.connection:Unable to set arguments (None,) according to signature u'v': <type 'exceptions.TypeError'>: Don't know how which D-Bus type to use to encode type "NoneType"
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bin/twl", line 25, in <module>
twl.main()
File "bin/../twl/main.py", line 526, in main
win = TWL()
File "bin/../twl/main.py", line 124, in __init__
self.Preview.set_metacity_theme(self.m_theme_name)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 68, in __call__
return self._proxy_method(*args, **keywords)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 140, in __call__
**keywords)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/connection.py", line 620, in call_blocking
message.append(signature=signature, *args)
TypeError: Don't know how which D-Bus type to use to encode type "NoneType"
Any help?
Regards,
Germán.
I have the following error in Fedora 12:
[~ twl-0.1.1]$ python bin/twl
starting viewer process
Could not connect to dbus server, retrying...
starting viewer process
ERROR:dbus.connection:Unable to set arguments (None,) according to signature u'v': <type 'exceptions.TypeError'>: Don't know how which D-Bus type to use to encode type "NoneType"
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "bin/twl", line 25, in <module>
twl.main()
File "bin/../twl/main.py", line 526, in main
win = TWL()
File "bin/../twl/main.py", line 124, in __init__
self.Preview.set_metacity_theme(self.m_theme_name)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 68, in __call__
return self._proxy_method(*args, **keywords)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 140, in __call__
**keywords)
File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/connection.py", line 620, in call_blocking
message.append(signature=signature, *args)
TypeError: Don't know how which D-Bus type to use to encode type "NoneType"
Any help?
Regards,
Germán.
No. The Widget Factory only previews Gtk themes and this previews both Gtk and Metacity themes.
Also, to update the preview in the Widget Factory (ie you made some changes to the gtkrc) you have to select a different theme and then re-select the theme you were editing. This monitors the *rc files and updates automatically. Also you can load any .glade file to preview on.
Ratings & Comments
20 Comments
Thank you for this ! I use TWL all the time when testing my new Themes ! TWL works much better than twf (IMO)It has a nice easy to use GUI and the update installs over the existing install !! GREAT !! Thanks again !!
i install it with the deb and when i run it i get: ____________________________ starting viewer process Could not connect to dbus server, retrying... Traceback (most recent call last): File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/twl/preview.py", line 25, in <module> import metacity ImportError: No module named metacity starting viewer process Could not connect to dbus server, retrying... Traceback (most recent call last): File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/twl/preview.py", line 25, in <module> import metacity ImportError: No module named metacity starting viewer process Could not connect to dbus server, retrying... Traceback (most recent call last): File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/twl/preview.py", line 25, in <module> import metacity ImportError: No module named metacity ______________________________________ how can i get it to run?
What Distro/Version are you using? Also could you file this bug here: https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/twl/+filebug
i'm using ubuntu 9.10. that url requires u to login.
I made a mistake when I packaged it. I'll upload the corrected .debs soon but in the meantime you can just "sudo apt-get install python-metacity" and it will work.
thanks! that worked.
One thing I never liked with TWF is that the scrollbars (or sliders, or whatever-you-wish-to-call-them) take up the entire slot, and there's no way to preview the groove below them, or how the buttons behave when the slider is all the way top or bottom. Also, I usually have to install a theme in order to see how it works with the gnome panel. Will the theme look stupid with vertical panels? ...with panels taller than 24 px? Can you address these in Widget Laboratory?
Speaking of the gnome panel, there's also the problem that with some themes, any buttons, menus, or other objects on the panel will not recognize the change when the panel background is set to use a solid color or a pixmap. The result is usually blank parts of the panel with the user settings, and items on the panel using the theme's background regardless of user settings. Any way this could allow people to preview that? Inconsistencies on the panel is the most common reason I choose to not use some themes.
I don't think I can make TWF preview gnome-panel, but the suggestion about scrollbars is a good one and I'll fix that.
I have the following error in Fedora 12: [~ twl-0.1.1]$ python bin/twl starting viewer process Could not connect to dbus server, retrying... starting viewer process ERROR:dbus.connection:Unable to set arguments (None,) according to signature u'v': <type 'exceptions.TypeError'>: Don't know how which D-Bus type to use to encode type "NoneType" Traceback (most recent call last): File "bin/twl", line 25, in <module> twl.main() File "bin/../twl/main.py", line 526, in main win = TWL() File "bin/../twl/main.py", line 124, in __init__ self.Preview.set_metacity_theme(self.m_theme_name) File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 68, in __call__ return self._proxy_method(*args, **keywords) File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 140, in __call__ **keywords) File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/connection.py", line 620, in call_blocking message.append(signature=signature, *args) TypeError: Don't know how which D-Bus type to use to encode type "NoneType" Any help? Regards, Germán.
Oops..why three messages? I don't know why this happened...anyway I'm sorry about that!
See this bug report: https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/twl/+bug/480064
I already saw that bug report, but it doesn't help me, because there is no workaround there. Any thoughts? German.
I just installed Fedora 12 in a virtualbox and after installing gnome-libs, gnome-python2-metacity and dbus-libs it works for me.
I have just formatted my notebook and installed Fedora 12 i686, and after installing gnome-libs, gnome-python2-metacity and dbus-libs it works also for me...but in my PC with Fedora 12 x86_64 the dbus problem persist. Thanks for your time, German.
I have the following error in Fedora 12: [~ twl-0.1.1]$ python bin/twl starting viewer process Could not connect to dbus server, retrying... starting viewer process ERROR:dbus.connection:Unable to set arguments (None,) according to signature u'v': <type 'exceptions.TypeError'>: Don't know how which D-Bus type to use to encode type "NoneType" Traceback (most recent call last): File "bin/twl", line 25, in <module> twl.main() File "bin/../twl/main.py", line 526, in main win = TWL() File "bin/../twl/main.py", line 124, in __init__ self.Preview.set_metacity_theme(self.m_theme_name) File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 68, in __call__ return self._proxy_method(*args, **keywords) File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 140, in __call__ **keywords) File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/connection.py", line 620, in call_blocking message.append(signature=signature, *args) TypeError: Don't know how which D-Bus type to use to encode type "NoneType" Any help? Regards, Germán.
I have the following error in Fedora 12: [~ twl-0.1.1]$ python bin/twl starting viewer process Could not connect to dbus server, retrying... starting viewer process ERROR:dbus.connection:Unable to set arguments (None,) according to signature u'v': <type 'exceptions.TypeError'>: Don't know how which D-Bus type to use to encode type "NoneType" Traceback (most recent call last): File "bin/twl", line 25, in <module> twl.main() File "bin/../twl/main.py", line 526, in main win = TWL() File "bin/../twl/main.py", line 124, in __init__ self.Preview.set_metacity_theme(self.m_theme_name) File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 68, in __call__ return self._proxy_method(*args, **keywords) File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/proxies.py", line 140, in __call__ **keywords) File "/usr/lib/python2.6/site-packages/dbus/connection.py", line 620, in call_blocking message.append(signature=signature, *args) TypeError: Don't know how which D-Bus type to use to encode type "NoneType" Any help? Regards, Germán.
I like the fact you don't have to run it in terminal !!!very easy to use ! KUDOS !
Isn't this exactly like The Widget Factory?
No. The Widget Factory only previews Gtk themes and this previews both Gtk and Metacity themes. Also, to update the preview in the Widget Factory (ie you made some changes to the gtkrc) you have to select a different theme and then re-select the theme you were editing. This monitors the *rc files and updates automatically. Also you can load any .glade file to preview on.