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[[Category:Ubuntu]][[Category:Linux]]
= Changing Desktop Background =
# Right-click on desktop and select "Change Desktop Background from the content menu
# Select '''SYSTEM''' '''->''' '''PREFERENCES''' '''->''' '''APPEARANCE''', then select the "'''Background'''" tab
Regardless of the method, the "''Appearances Preferences''" dialog box will appear. Make certain that the "''Background''" tab is selected.
To change a theme, you select '''SYSTEM -> PREFERENCES -> APPEARANCE''' . When you do this a "''Appearances Preferences''" dialog box will appear. Make certain that the ''Themes'' tab is selected. Then you can select the theme that appeals to you. You can also "''customize''" your theme to select specific characteristics (i.e. "pick and choose")...
If you are interested in having various parts of your application '''<u>window behave more like Windows Vista </u>''' (eg. ''transparent'' or "''glassy''" titlebars, glowing buttons, etc...), then you should <u>install </u> the application called "'''Emerald'''" that allows the user to "tweak" those features.
Please refer to the previous menu on "'''Setup Special Desktop Effects'''"...
That is a great thing about Linux, you can install and use many different desktop environments (such as [http://www.kde.org/ KDE], [http://www.gnome.org/ Gnome], [http://www.xfce.org/ Xfce], [http://www.enlightenment.org/ Enlightenment], [http://toastytech.com/guis/sol.html Open Windows], [http://www.sun.com/software/looking_glass/ Project Looking Glass, WorkBench, Mezzo], etc...).
Since Gnome was designed to work with gtk (referred to as an application called the "'''Gimp Tool Kit'''"), you need . Some settings to make changes change the characteristic of the Gnome desktop environment are performed by editing the settings in a file (contained in the user's <u>home </u> directory which is called '''.gtkrc-2.0''' . The file has a period in front of it which makes the file "hidden" from normal view (like they say "out of sight, out of mind or damage"). The "rc" after "gtk" refers that this file is a "''run-command''" file. This means that when the Gimp ToolKit application is run (normally at system start-up), it will set the environment of that application by first reading and using settings contained in this file.
Therefore, you will need to use a text editor to make changes to this file. If you try to edit this file, and it is empty, then here is a link to an existing .gtkrc file that I am using on my system. Here is the link: [ [[.gtkrc-2.0]] ] . Read the comment in the file to show you where to change the text colour. The color number is a combination of '''HEX numbers''' in pairs for '''RED''', '''GREEN''', and '''BLUE''' light intensity. Combinations of these numbers create a very wide variety of colours...
Simply <u>copy </u> and <u>paste </u> these settings into that file, and save. The changes will take effect when you logout and login to your graphical Linux environment. '''<u>STEPS TO EDIT OR ADD SETTINGS TO .gtkrc-2.0 FILE:</u>''' We will assume that you are copying and pasting above link's contents into this file... # Click on the link displayed above labelled [[.gtkrc-2.0]]# Select the entire contents and copy to the clipboard.# Click on '''APPLICATIONS -> ACCESSORIES -> Text Editor'''.# Paste the clipboard contents into your text editor window.# Click on the Save button.# In the area at the top labelled "Name:" type '''.gtkrc-2.0'''# Click on the Save button at the bottom.# Close the text editor application.# Either Reboot your system, or at least logout then login to your graphical Linux system for changes to take effect