Themes🔗

language: gb | fr

Openbox 3 themes are written as an X resource database, in a file named themerc. The format is quite simple to learn, but there are an enormous number of options available to you.

Each and every option has been documented, with details such as their default values, and which values are or are not valid for them. But to try make it a little more accessible, we'll start with an example theme, which uses every possible option within it. Each of the options can be clicked to read the details about it.

Theme installation🔗

Openbox themes are stored in one of the following places:

System-wide themes are installed in /usr/share/themes.
User-specific themes can be installed in ~/.local/share/themes or in ~/.themes.

Theme selection🔗

Choosing a theme to use is simple with the ObConf tool. Alternatively, there are a number of Pipe menus which can perform this function for you.

If you wish to set the theme by hand, you need to edit the <name> key in the <theme> section of your rc.xml file. The Configuration guide is a good place to start.

Theme file structure🔗

The file structure goes like this:

ThemesDirectory (such as /usr/share/themes) | +-> ThemeName (This is the name of the theme, such as Clearlooks) | +-> openbox-3 (This the type of the theme - it's for Openbox 3!) | |-> themerc (This is the main theme file, documented in this page) | |-> max.xbm (These are optional xbm masks for the titlebar buttons) |-> close.xbm ... +-> shade.xbm

ObConf can create a .obt Openbox Theme Archive file out of a theme for distribution, and can also install .obt files very easily.

Example🔗

This is not a real theme, and if you used it, there is no guarantee it will look good in any way. It is just meant to show all of the options and how they relate to eachother.


# Window geometry
padding.width: 2
padding.height: 2
border.width: 1
window.client.padding.width: 1
window.client.padding.height: 0
window.handle.width: 3
#Menu geometry
menu.border.width: 1
menu.overlap.x: 0
menu.overlap.y: 0
# Border colors
window.active.border.color: #000000
window.inactive.border.color: #000000
menu.border.color: #000000
window.active.client.color: #ffffff
window.inactive.client.color: #cccccc
# Text shadows
window.active.label.text.font: shadow=y:shadowtint=70:shadowoffset=1
window.inactive.label.text.font: shadow=y:shadowtint=20:shadowoffset=1
menu.items.font: shadow=n
menu.title.text.font: shadow=y:shadowtint=70:shadowoffset=1
# Window title justification
window.label.text.justify: Center
# Active window
window.active.title.bg: Raised Gradient Vertical Interlaced
window.active.title.bg.color: #658fb5
window.active.title.bg.colorTo: #4d6982
window.active.title.bg.interlace.color: #7788cc
window.active.label.bg: Parentrelative
window.active.label.text.color: #ffffff
window.active.handle.bg: Raised Gradient Vertical
window.active.handle.bg.color: #658fb5
window.active.handle.bg.colorTo: #4d6982
window.active.grip.bg: Raised Gradient Vertical
window.active.grip.bg.color: #658fb5
window.active.grip.bg.colorTo: #4d6982
window.active.button.unpressed.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical Border
window.active.button.unpressed.bg.color: #6993b9
window.active.button.unpressed.bg.colorTo: #55799a
window.active.button.unpressed.bg.border.color: #3d4c5a
window.active.button.unpressed.image.color: #ffffff
window.active.button.pressed.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical Border
window.active.button.pressed.bg.color: #537797
window.active.button.pressed.bg.colorTo: #50708e
window.active.button.pressed.bg.border.color: #3d4c5a
window.active.button.pressed.image.color: #ffffff
window.active.button.disabled.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical Border
window.active.button.disabled.bg.color: #537797
window.active.button.disabled.bg.colorTo: #50708e
window.active.button.disabled.bg.border.color: #3d4c5a
window.active.button.disabled.image.color: #3d4c5a
window.active.button.hover.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical Border
window.active.button.hover.bg.color: #6993b9
window.active.button.hover.bg.colorTo: #55799a
window.active.button.hover.bg.border.color: #3d4c5a
window.active.button.hover.image.color: #ffffff
window.active.button.toggled.unpressed.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical Border
window.active.button.toggled.unpressed.bg.color: #6993b9
window.active.button.toggled.unpressed.bg.colorTo: #55799a
window.active.button.toggled.unpressed.bg.border.color: #3d4c5a
window.active.button.toggled.unpressed.image.color: #cccccc
window.active.button.toggled.pressed.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical Border
window.active.button.toggled.pressed.bg.color: #537797
window.active.button.toggled.pressed.bg.colorTo: #50708e
window.active.button.toggled.pressed.bg.border.color: #3d4c5a
window.active.button.toggled.pressed.image.color: #ffffff
window.active.button.toggled.hover.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical Border
window.active.button.toggled.hover.bg.color: #6993b9
window.active.button.toggled.hover.bg.colorTo: #55799a
window.active.button.toggled.hover.bg.border.color: #3d4c5a
window.active.button.toggled.hover.image.color: #ffffff
# Inactive windows
window.inactive.title.bg: Raised Gradient Vertical
window.inactive.title.bg.color: #f1eeea
window.inactive.title.bg.colorTo: #d8cfc7
window.inactive.label.bg: Parentrelative
window.inactive.label.text.color: #000000
window.inactive.handle.bg: Raised Gradient Vertical
window.inactive.handle.bg.color: #f1eeea
window.inactive.handle.bg.colorTo: #d8cfc7
window.inactive.grip.bg: Raised Gradient Vertical
window.inactive.grip.bg.color: #f1eeea
window.inactive.grip.bg.colorTo: #d8cfc7
window.inactive.button.unpressed.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical Border
window.inactive.button.unpressed.bg.color: #efebe7
window.inactive.button.unpressed.bg.colorTo: #ddd6ce
window.inactive.button.unpressed.bg.border.color: #8f8173
window.inactive.button.unpressed.image.color: #000000
window.inactive.button.pressed.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical Border
window.inactive.button.pressed.bg.color: #efebe7
window.inactive.button.pressed.bg.colorTo: #ddd6ce
window.inactive.button.pressed.bg.border.color: #8f8173
window.inactive.button.pressed.image.color: #000000
window.inactive.button.disabled.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical Border
window.inactive.button.disabled.bg.color: #efebe7
window.inactive.button.disabled.bg.colorTo: #ddd6ce
window.inactive.button.disabled.bg.border.color: #8f8173
window.inactive.button.disabled.image.color: #8f8173
window.inactive.button.toggled.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical Border
window.inactive.button.toggled.bg.color: #efebe7
window.inactive.button.toggled.bg.colorTo: #ddd6ce
window.inactive.button.toggled.bg.border.color: #8f8173
window.inactive.button.toggled.image.color: #000000
window.inactive.button.hover.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical Border
window.inactive.button.hover.bg.color: #efebe7
window.inactive.button.hover.bg.colorTo: #ddd6ce
window.inactive.button.hover.bg.border.color: #8f8173
window.inactive.button.hover.image.color: #000000
window.inactive.button.toggled.unpressed.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical Border
window.inactive.button.toggled.unpressed.bg.color: #efebe7
window.inactive.button.toggled.unpressed.bg.colorTo: #ddd6ce
window.inactive.button.toggled.unpressed.bg.border.color: #8f8173
window.inactive.button.toggled.unpressed.image.color: #000000
window.inactive.button.toggled.pressed.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical Border
window.inactive.button.toggled.pressed.bg.color: #efebe7
window.inactive.button.toggled.pressed.bg.colorTo: #ddd6ce
window.inactive.button.toggled.pressed.bg.border.color: #8f8173
window.inactive.button.pressed.toggled.image.color: #000000
window.inactive.button.toggled.hover.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical Border
window.inactive.button.toggled.hover.bg.color: #efebe7
window.inactive.button.toggled.hover.bg.colorTo: #ddd6ce
window.inactive.button.toggled.hover.bg.border.color: #8f8173
window.inactive.button.toggled.hover.image.color: #000000
# Menus
menu.title.bg: Raised Gradient Vertical
menu.title.bg.color: #658fb5
menu.title.bg.colorTo: #4d6982
menu.title.text.color: #ffffff
menu.title.text.justify: Left
menu.separator.color: #444444
menu.separator.width: 1
menu.separator.padding.width: 6
menu.separator.padding.height: 3
menu.items.bg: Flat Solid
menu.items.bg.color: #f8f5f2
menu.items.text.color: #000000
menu.items.disabled.text.color: #aaaaaa
menu.items.active.bg: Flat Gradient Vertical
menu.items.active.bg.color: #628cb2
menu.items.active.bg.colorTo: #50708d
menu.items.active.text.color: #ffffff
menu.items.active.disabled.text.color: #aaaaaa

Data types🔗

Integers🔗

These are simply numbers like 1 or 42. They can be prime, composite, or zero.

Example:


1 window.handle.width: 3

Justification🔗

These determines how to justify text. Valid options are Left, Center and Right.

Example:


1 menu.title.text.justify: Left

Textures🔗

These determine the visual look of an element. They are the most complicated part of a theme file, but they are still not too tricky.

Textures are specified through a text string with a number of fields. Capitalization is not significant. The format is as follows (| stands for "or" and [] surround optional fields):

1	`parentrelative \| ((solid \| gradient gradient-type) [border] [interlaced])`

We'll dissect what that means exactly.

Parentrelative🔗

Parentrelative means that the element inherits its colors from the textures behind it. It is, in essence, completely transparent . Some theme elements can be parentrelative, and some can not. The documentation for each one will tell you if you can use parentrelative for it or not.

Example:


1
2 window.active.label.bg: Parentrelative
window.inactive.label.bg: Parentrelative Raised

Solid🔗

Solid means that the background of the texture is filled with a single color. The texture must be accompanied by a single color field.

Example:


1
2 menu.items.bg:       Solid Flat
menu.items.bg.color: #f8f5f2

Gradients🔗

When a gradient is specified, it must be followed by the gradient's type. Gradients all use two color fields: color and colorTo and must also be accompanied by these.

Valid gradient types are:

Diagonal - A gradient from the top left corner to the bottom right corner
CrossDiagonal - A gradient from the top right corner to the bottom left corner
Pyramid - A gradient that starts in all four corners and smooths to the center of the texture
Horizontal - A gradient from the left edge to the right
MirrorHorizontal - A gradient from the left edge to the middle, and then reversed to the right edge
Vertical - A gradient from the top edge to the bottom
SplitVertical - A gradient split in the middle that goes out toward the top and bottom edges

Example:


1
2
3 menu.title.bg:         Gradient Vertical Raised
menu.title.bg.color:   #658fb5
menu.title.bg.colorTo: #4d6982

SplitVertical gradients🔗

SplitVertical gradients have 2 optional, addition color fields: color.splitTo and colorTo.splitTo. These colors are the light colors used on the far top and bottom of the SplitVertical gradient. When these are omitted, then the default values for these are color * 5/4, and colorTo * 17/16.

Example:


1
2
3
4
5 menu.title.bg:                 Gradient SplitVertical Raised
menu.title.bg.color:           #658fb5
menu.title.bg.color.splitTo:   #7595b9
menu.title.bg.colorTo:         #4d6982
menu.title.bg.colorTo.splitTo: #557485

Border🔗

Borders can be used on both solid and gradient textures. Valid options for the border are Flat, Raised and Sunken. When a border is not specified, Raised is assumed.

Flat, by default, means no border at all. To add a flat solid border, use Flat Border. When using a flat border, the texture must be accompanied by a border color.

Example:


1
2 window.active.button.unpressed.bg:              Gradient Vertical Flat Border
window.active.button.unpressed.bg.border.color: #3d4c5a

Raised and Sunken have two bevel options available to them. By default, a bevel is drawn around the very outside of the texture. If Bevel2 is specified, then the bevel is drawn slightly in from the edge. This can be used to animate button presses/toggled states.

The strength of the bevel highlights can also be determined by the theme, by using the highlight and shadow fields:

The highlight field specifies the strength of the light bevel. It is a value above or equal to 0, where 0 makes no highlight at all, 256 makes the highlight color 100% brighter, 512 makes the highlight color 200% brighter, and so on. The default highlight is 128 (which is a 50% increase in brightness).

The shadow field specifies the strength of the dark bevel. It is a value between 0 and 256, where 0 makes no shadow at all, and 256 makes a completely black shadow (100% decreased brightness). The default shadow is 64 (which is a 25% decrease in brightness).

Example:


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 window.inactive.button.disabled.bg:           Gradient Diagonal Raised
window.inactive.button.disabled.bg.color:     rgb:50/54/58
window.inactive.button.disabled.bg.colorTo:   black
window.inactive.button.disabled.bg.highlight: 128
window.inactive.button.disabled.bg.shadow:    64

window.inactive.button.toggled.pressed.bg:          Gradient Diagonal Raised Bevel2
window.inactive.button.toggled.pressed.bg.color:    rgb:50/54/58
window.inactive.button.toggled.pressed.bg.colorTo:  black

Interlaced🔗

Interlaced textures have a solid line drawn horizontally every second row. When you specify interlaced, the texture must be accompanied by an interlaced color.

Example:


1
2
3 window.inactive.title.bg: Solid Flat Interlaced
window.inactive.title.bg.color: #f5f5f5
window.inactive.title.bg.interlace.color: #f6f6f6

Colors🔗

Colors can be specified by name or by their hexadecimal RGB value.

Color names🔗

Wikipedia has a list of X11 color names, and further details here.

Example:


1
2 menu.items.active.text.color: white
window.active.grip.bg.color: grey40

RGB values🔗

Colors can be specified by hexadecimal RGB values in two ways. The most familiar is through syntax similar to HTML, #rrggbb. However you may also use the format rgb:rr/bb/gg. What goes inside them for the rr, gg and bb values is identical.

Example:


1
2
3
4 window.active.grip.bg.color: #658fb5
window.active.label.text.color: #fff
menu.items.active.bg.color: rgb:90/94/98
window.active.title.bg.color: rgb:6/9/c

Note that #fff is equivalent to #f0f0f0, not to #ffffff.

Text shadow strings🔗

Text shadows are specified through a specially formatted text string.

There are three properties that can be placed in the string: shadow, shadowtint and shadowoffset.

Shadow is a boolean value. It defaults to no. You can enable a shadow for text by using shadow=y.

Shadowtint specifies the alpha value for the shadow as well as its color (black or white). It defaults to black and 50% opacity. You can specify the shadowtint by using shadowtint=70. The tint can be any integer between -100 and 100. 0 means 0% opacity (invisible), 100 means 100% opacity and black, -100 means 100% opacity and white.

Shadowoffset specifies how far the shadow is should be offset from the text. It defaults to 1. It can be positive to move the shadow and and right from the text, or negative to move it up and left from the text. You can set the shadowoffset by using shadowoffset=2. A shadowoffset of 0 will place it exactly behind the text and it will not be visible.

The text shadow string used to be for choosing a font for the theme as well. Any other properties in the string, such as those for choosing a font, are ignored.

Example:


1 window.active.label.text.font:shadow=y:shadowtint=70:shadowoffset=1

Theme elements🔗

Each theme element corresponds to one part of a window or a menu. We'll start be discussing the elements that let you change the size and placement of things, and then talk about how to change the textures used to render everything.

We're going to use a table such as this to describe each element:

Type:	integer
Default:	1
Valid:	0-100
Parentrelative:	no

Type shows the type of the value for the element.

Default gives the default value for the element if it is not listed in the theme. When Default refers to another theme element, then it means that element's values are used.

Valid gives valid ranges for elements that this is applicable for, such as integer values.

Parentrelative specifies if a given texture may use the Parentrelative visual type, when applicable.

Geometry🔗

border.width🔗

Type:	integer
Default:	1
Valid:	0 - 100

Specifies the size of the border drawn around window frames.

menu.border.width🔗

Type:	integer
Default:	border.width
Valid:	0 - 100

Specifies the size of the border drawn around menus.

menu.separator.width🔗

Type:	integer
Default:	1
Valid:	1 - 100

Specifies the size of menu line separators. (As of version 3.4.7)

menu.separator.padding.width🔗

Type:	integer
Default:	6
Valid:	0 - 100

Specifies the space on the left and right side of menu line separators. (As of version 3.4.7)

menu.separator.padding.height🔗

Type:	integer
Default:	3
Valid:	0 - 100

Specifies the space on the top and bottom of menu line separators. (As of version 3.4.7)

osd.border.width🔗

Type:	integer
Default:	border.width
Valid:	0 - 100

Specifies the size of the border drawn on-screen-dialogs, such as the focus cycling (Alt-Tab) dialog.

window.client.padding.width🔗

Type:	integer
Default:	padding.width
Valid:	0 - 100

Specifies the size of the left and right sides of the inner border. The inner border is drawn around the window, but inside the other decorations.

window.client.padding.height🔗

Type:	integer
Default:	window.client.padding.width
Valid:	0 - 100

Specifies the size of the top and bottom sides of the inner border. The inner border is drawn around the window, but inside the other decorations.

window.handle.width🔗

Type:	integer
Default:	6
Valid:	0 - 100

Specifies the size of the window handle. The window handle is the piece of decorations on the bottom of windows. A value of 0 means that no handle is shown.

padding.width🔗

Type:	integer
Default:	3
Valid:	0 - 100

Specifies the padding size, used for spacing out elements in the window decorations. This can be used to give a theme a more compact or a more relaxed feel. This specifies padding in the horizontal direction (and vertical direction if padding.height is not explicitly set).

padding.height🔗

Type:	integer
Default:	padding.width
Valid:	0 - 100

Specifies the padding size, used for spacing out elements in the window decorations. This can be used to give a theme a more compact or a more relaxed feel. This specifies padding in only the vertical direction.

menu.overlap.x🔗

Type:	integer
Default:	menu.overlap
Valid:	-100 - 100

Specifies how sub menus should overlap their parents. A positive value moves the submenu over top of their parent by that amount. A negative value moves the submenu away from their parent by that amount. (As of version 3.4.7)

menu.overlap.y🔗

Type:	integer
Default:	menu.overlap
Valid:	-100 - 100

Specifies how sub menus should be positioned relative to their parents. A positive value moves the submenu vertically down by that amount, a negative value moves it up by that amount. (As of version 3.4.7)

menu.overlap🔗

Type:	integer
Default:	0
Valid:	-100 - 100

This property is obsolete and only present for backwards compatibility.

Border colors🔗

window.active.border.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	border.color

Specifies the border color for the focused window.

window.active.title.separator.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.active.border.color

Specifies the border color for the border between the titlebar and the window, for the focused window.

window.inactive.border.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.active.border.color

Specifies the border color for all non-focused windows.

window.inactive.title.separator.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.inactive.border.color

Specifies the border color for the border between the titlebar and the window, for non-focused windows.

border.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	black

This property is obsolete and only present for backwards compatibility.

window.active.client.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	white

Specifies the color of the inner border for the focused window, drawn around the window but inside the other decorations.

window.inactive.client.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	white

Specifies the color of the inner border for non-focused windows, drawn around the window but inside the other decorations.

menu.border.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.active.border.color

Specifies the border color for menus.

osd.border.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.active.border.color

Specifies the border color for on-screen-dialogs, such as the focus cycling (Alt-Tab) dialog.

Titlebar colors🔗

window.active.label.text.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	black

Specifies the color of the titlebar text for the focused window.

window.inactive.label.text.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	white

Specifies the color of the titlebar text for non-focused windows.

window.active.button.unpressed.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	black

Specifies the color of the images in titlebar buttons in their default, unpressed, state. This element is for the focused window.

window.active.button.pressed.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.active.button.unpressed.image.color

Specifies the color of the images in titlebar buttons when they are being pressed by the user. This element is for the focused window.

window.active.button.disabled.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	white

Specifies the color of the images in titlebar buttons when they are disabled for the window. This element is for the focused window.

window.active.button.hover.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.active.button.unpressed.image.color

Specifies the color of the images in titlebar buttons when the mouse is over top of the button. This element is for the focused window.

window.active.button.toggled.unpressed.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.active.button.toggled.image.color

Specifies the color of the images in titlebar buttons when the button is toggled - such as when a window is maximized. This element is for the focused window.

window.active.button.toggled.pressed.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.active.button.pressed.image.color

Specifies the color of the images in the titlebar buttons if they are pressed on with the mouse while they are in the toggled state - such as when a window is maximized. This element is for the focused window.

window.active.button.toggled.hover.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.active.button.toggled.unpressed.image.color

Specifies the color of the images in the titlebar buttons when the mouse is hovered over them while they are in the toggled state - such as when a window is maximized. This element is for the focused window.

window.active.button.toggled.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.active.button.pressed.image.color

This property is obsolete and only present for backwards compatibility.

window.inactive.button.unpressed.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	white

Specifies the color of the images in titlebar buttons in their default, unpressed, state. This element is for non-focused windows.

window.inactive.button.pressed.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.inactive.button.unpressed.image.color

Specifies the color of the images in titlebar buttons when they are being pressed by the user. This element is for non-focused windows.

This color is also used for pressed color when the button is toggled.

window.inactive.button.disabled.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	black

Specifies the color of the images in titlebar buttons when they are disabled for the window. This element is for non-focused windows.

window.inactive.button.hover.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.inactive.button.unpressed.image.color

Specifies the color of the images in titlebar buttons when the mouse is over top of the button. This element is for non-focused windows.

window.inactive.button.toggled.unpressed.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.inactive.button.toggled.image.color

Specifies the color of the images in titlebar buttons when the button is toggled - such as when a window is maximized. This element is for non-focused windows.

window.inactive.button.toggled.pressed.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.inactive.button.pressed.image.color

Specifies the color of the images in the titlebar buttons if they are pressed on with the mouse while they are in the toggled state - such as when a window is maximized. This element is for non-focused windows.

window.inactive.button.toggled.hover.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.inactive.button.toggled.unpressed.image.color

Specifies the color of the images in the titlebar buttons when the mouse is hovered over them while they are in the toggled state - such as when a window is maximized. This element is for non-focused windows.

window.inactive.button.toggled.image.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	window.active.button.pressed.image.color

This property is obsolete and only present for backwards compatibility.

Active window textures🔗

window.active.title.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	no

Specifies the background for the focused window's titlebar.

window.active.label.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the background for the focused window's titlebar label. The label is the container for the window title. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.active.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.active.handle.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	no

Specifies the background for the focused window's handle. The handle is the window decorations placed on the bottom of windows.

window.active.grip.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the background for the focused window's grips. The grips are located at the left and right sides of the window's handle. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.active.handle.bg which is underneath it.

Inactive window textures🔗

window.inactive.title.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	no

Specifies the background for non-focused windows' titlebars.

window.inactive.label.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the background for non-focused windows' titlebar labels. The label is the container for the window title. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.inactive.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.inactive.handle.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	no

Specifies the background for non-focused windows' handles. The handle is the window decorations placed on the bottom of windows.

window.inactive.grip.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the background for non-focused windows' grips. The grips are located at the left and right sides of the window's handle. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.inactive.handle.bg which is underneath it.

Active window button textures🔗

window.active.button.unpressed.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the background for titlebar buttons in their default, unpressed, state. This element is for the focused window. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.active.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.active.button.pressed.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the background for titlebar buttons when they are being pressed by the user. This element is for the focused window. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.active.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.active.button.hover.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	window.active.button.unpressed.bg
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the background for titlebar buttons when the mouse is over them. This element is for the focused window. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.active.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.active.button.disabled.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the background for titlebar buttons when they are disabled for the window. This element is for the focused window. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.active.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.active.button.toggled.unpressed.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	window.active.button.toggled.bg
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the default background for titlebar buttons when they are toggled - such as when a window is maximized. This element is for the focused window. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.inactive.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.active.button.toggled.pressed.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	window.active.button.pressed.bg
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the default background for titlebar buttons if the user is pressing them with the mouse while they are toggled - such as when a window is maximized. This element is for the focused window. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.inactive.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.active.button.toggled.hover.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	window.active.button.toggled.unpressed.bg
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the default background for titlebar buttons if the user is pressing them with the mouse while they are toggled - such as when a window is maximized. This element is for the focused window. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.inactive.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.active.button.toggled.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	window.active.button.pressed.bg
Parentrelative:	yes

This property is obsolete and only present for backwards compatibility.

Inactive window button textures🔗

window.inactive.button.unpressed.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the background for titlebar buttons in their default, unpressed, state. This element is for non-focused windows. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.inactive.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.inactive.button.pressed.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the background for titlebar buttons when they are being pressed by the user. This element is for non-focused windows. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.inactive.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.inactive.button.hover.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	window.inactive.button.unpressed.bg
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the background for titlebar buttons when the mouse is over them. This element is for non-focused windows. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.inactive.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.inactive.button.disabled.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the background for titlebar buttons when they are disabled for the window. This element is for non-focused windows. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.inactive.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.inactive.button.toggled.unpressed.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	window.inactive.button.toggled.bg
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the default background for titlebar buttons when they are toggled - such as when a window is maximized. This element is for non-focused windows. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.inactive.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.inactive.button.toggled.pressed.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	window.inactive.button.pressed.bg
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the default background for titlebar buttons if the user is pressing them with the mouse while they are toggled - such as when a window is maximized. This element is for non-focused windows. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.inactive.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.inactive.button.toggled.hover.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	window.inactive.button.toggled.unpressed.bg
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the default background for titlebar buttons if the user is pressing them with the mouse while they are toggled - such as when a window is maximized. This element is for non-focused windows. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the window.inactive.title.bg which is underneath it.

window.inactive.button.toggled.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	window.inactive.button.pressed.bg
Parentrelative:	yes

This property is obsolete and only present for backwards compatibility.

menu.title.text.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	black

Specifies the text color for menu headers.

menu.items.text.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	white

Specifies the text color for normal menu entries.

menu.items.disabled.text.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	black

Specifies the text color for disabled menu entries.

menu.items.active.text.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	black

Specifies the text color for normal menu entries when they are selected.

menu.items.active.disabled.text.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	menu.items.disabled.text.color

Specifies the text color for disabled menu entries when they are selected.

menu.separator.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	menu.items.text.color

The color of menu line separators. (As of version 3.4.7)

menu.items.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	no

Specifies the background for menus.

menu.items.active.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the background for the selected menu entry (whether or not it is disabled). When it is parentrelative, then it uses the menu.items.bg which is underneath it.

menu.title.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	none
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the background for menu headers. When it is parentrelative, then it uses the menu.items.bg which is underneath it.

OSD textures🔗

osd.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	window.active.title.bg
Parentrelative:	no

Specifies the background for on-screen-dialogs, such as the focus cycling (Alt-Tab) dialog.

osd.label.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	window.active.label.bg
Parentrelative:	yes

Specifies the background for text in on-screen-dialogs, such as the focus cycling (Alt-Tab) dialog.

osd.hilight.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	window.active.label.bg, if it is not parentrelative. Otherwise, window.active.title.bg
Parentrelative:	no

Specifies the texture for the selected desktop in the desktop cycling (pager) dialog.

osd.unhilight.bg🔗

Type:	texture
Default:	window.inactive.label.bg, if it is not parentrelative. Otherwise, window.inactive.title.bg
Parentrelative:	no

Specifies the texture for unselected desktops in the desktop cycling (pager) dialog.

OSD colors🔗

osd.label.text.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	black

Specifies the text color for on-screen-dialogs, such as the focus cycling (Alt-Tab) dialog.

osd.hilight.bg.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	black

Specifies the color for selected desktops in the desktop cycling (pager) dialog.

osd.unhilight.bg.color🔗

Type:	color
Default:	black

Specifies the color for unselected desktops in the desktop cycling (pager) dialog.

Text justification🔗

window.label.text.justify🔗

Type:	justification
Default:	Left

Specifies how window titles are aligned in the titlebar for both the focused and non-focused windows.

menu.title.text.justify🔗

Type:	justification
Default:	Left

Specifies how text is aligned in all menu headers.

Text shadows🔗

window.active.label.text.font🔗

Type:	text shadow string
Default:	no shadow

Specifies the shadow for the focused window's title.

window.inactive.label.text.font🔗

Type:	text shadow string
Default:	no shadow

Specifies the shadow for non-focused windows' titles.

menu.items.font🔗

Type:	text shadow string
Default:	no shadow

Specifies the shadow for all menu entries.

menu.title.text.font🔗

Type:	text shadow string
Default:	no shadow

Specifies the shadow for all menu headers.

osd.label.text.font🔗

Type:	text shadow string
Default:	no shadow

Specifies the text shadow for on-screen-dialogs, such as the focus cycling (Alt-Tab) dialog.

Dialogs🔗

Openbox shows dialog boxes in some situations. Two examples are:

The exit dialog window that appears when the exit action is called.
When closing a window for a program that is not responding.

These dialogs have buttons, such as Cancel and Exit. These buttons get their background information from window.active.button.*.bg. The buttons' text color comes from window.active.button.*.image.color.

Button images🔗

The images used for the titlebar buttons and the submenu bullet are 1-bit xbm (X Bitmaps). These are masks where 0 = clear and 1 = colored.

The xbm image files are placed in the same directory within your theme as the themerc file, as shown in the file structure discussion.

The xbm's which Openbox uses as its internal defaults are distributed with Openbox and installed to /usr/share/doc/openbox/xbm.

Here are all the possible xbm files which Openbox looks for.

Maximized button🔗

max.xbm🔗

Default:	Internal default

Maximize button in its default, unpressed state.

max_toggled.xbm🔗

Default:	If max.xbm is present, it uses that. If not, it has a separate internal default

Maximize button when it is in toggled state.

max_pressed.xbm🔗

Default:	max.xbm, or its internal default

Maximized button when pressed.

max_disabled.xbm🔗

Default:	max.xbm, or its internal default

Maximized button when disabled.

max_hover.xbm🔗

Default:	max.xbm, or its internal default

Maximized button when mouse is over it.

max_toggled_pressed.xbm🔗

Default:	max_toggled.xbm, or max.xbm, or its internal default

Maximized button when pressed, in toggled state.

max_toggled_hover.xbm🔗

Default:	max_toggled.xbm, or max.xbm, or its internal default

Maximized button when mouse is over it, in toggled state.

Iconify button🔗

iconify.xbm🔗

Default:	Internal default

Iconify button in its default, unpressed state.

iconify_pressed.xbm🔗

Default:	iconify.xbm, or its internal default

Iconify button when pressed.

iconify_disabled.xbm🔗

Default:	iconify.xbm, or its internal default

Iconify button when disabled.

iconify_hover.xbm🔗

Default:	iconify.xbm, or its internal default

Iconify button when mouse is over it.

Close button🔗

close.xbm🔗

Default:	Internal default

Close button in its default, unpressed state.

close_pressed.xbm🔗

Default:	close.xbm, or its internal default

Close button when pressed.

close_disabled.xbm🔗

Default:	close.xbm, or its internal default

Close button when disabled.

close_hover.xbm🔗

Default:	close.xbm, or its internal default

Close button when mouse is over it.

All-desktops button🔗

desk.xbm🔗

Default:	Internal default

All-desktops button in its default, unpressed state.

desk_toggled.xbm🔗

Default:	If desk.xbm is present, it uses that. If not, it has a separate internal default

All-desktops button when it is in toggled state.

desk_pressed.xbm🔗

Default:	desk.xbm, or its internal default

All-desktops button when pressed.

desk_disabled.xbm🔗

Default:	desk.xbm, or its internal default

All-desktops button when disabled.

desk_hover.xbm🔗

Default:	desk.xbm, or its internal default

All-desktops button when mouse is over it.

desk_toggled_pressed.xbm🔗

Default:	desk_toggled.xbm, or desk.xbm, or its internal default

All-desktops button when pressed, in toggled state.

desk_toggled_hover.xbm🔗

Default:	desk_toggled.xbm, or desk.xbm, or its internal default

All-desktops button when mouse is over it, in toggled state.

Shade button🔗

shade.xbm🔗

Default:	Internal default

Shade button in its default, unpressed state.

shade_toggled.xbm🔗

Default:	If shade.xbm is present, it uses that. If not, it has a separate internal default

Shade button when it is in toggled state.

shade_pressed.xbm🔗

Default:	shade.xbm, or its internal default

Shade button when pressed.

shade_disabled.xbm🔗

Default:	shade.xbm, or its internal default

Shade button when disabled.

shade_hover.xbm🔗

Default:	shade.xbm, or its internal default

Shade button when mouse is over it.

shade_toggled_pressed.xbm🔗

Default:	shade_toggled.xbm, or shade.xbm, or its internal default

Shade button when pressed, in toggled state.

shade_toggled_hover.xbm🔗

Default:	shade_toggled.xbm, or shade.xbm, or its internal default

Shade button when mouse is over it, in toggled state.

Submenu bullet🔗

bullet.xbm🔗

Default:	Internal default

The bullet shown in a menu for submenu entries.