kdm theme manager doesn't work

[Alessio]

Binary package hint: kubuntu-default-settings

I'm using kubuntu 7.10 just upgrade frm 7.04
Changing the theme with KDM Theme Manager in SystemSettings|Appearance does nothing. I always get the KDM (not Kubuntu) default theme.

My kdmrc also contains "Theme=@@@ToBeReplacedByDesktopBase@@@". The file /etc/default/kdm.d/20_kubuntu_default_settings is present and does get updated by the theme manager, but does not have any effect.

Are there any other files you need me to look at to gather more info?

also from KDM Theme Manager I can't add any new theme downloaded form kde-look.org

[allstar1960 (allstar1960)]

I have also discovered this problem. The only time I can change the KDM theme is if it a theme I downloaded from the repository. For ex. "True Nature."

Any theme that I try to install from KDE-Look appears to install fine with no errors, but it does not show up in my themes, so I am stuck with the Kubuntu program themes and the package from the repositories.

I am also scared to change the background that flashes before and after login. The last time I did, I got an ugly default kubuntu login theme that looked like it was from the 90's.

I am using 64-bit Kubuntu Gutsy 7.1 with all the latest updates. I have an amd 3700+ 64-bit with nvidia gf4 video and 1gb memory.

[Lee Glidewell (lee-glidewell)]

I've experienced the same things as Alessio and allstar1960. Only the themes from the kde-kdm-themes package. Others simply refuse to even load into the theme manager. In one case, the theme archive I used in Kubuntu 7.04 was called an "invalid theme archive" by the kcontrol module.

I also attempted to modify the kdmrc file by changing "Theme=@@@ToBeReplacedByDesktopBase@@@" to the path to a specific theme folder (as per the directions at kde-look.org). This caused the login manager to display the message "theme cannot by parsed." After I clicked "ok" it took me to the default login screen.

I've had the same issue with three different installations -- two with Kubuntu 7.10 i386, and one with Ubuntu x86-64 + kde-core.

[sadfub (sadfub-gmx)]

Confirmed this bug, on Ubuntu Gutsy

[Nick B. (futurepilot)]

I have this same problem. It's stuck on the Krystal theme and no matter what I do, I can't change it. Also I can confirm that if I try to install a theme I downloaded I don't get any errors, but it doesn't show up in the list.

[Ali Dabirmoghaddam (dabirmoghaddam)]

Same problem here on kubuntu Gutsy Gibbon.

[TWO (two)]

I have the same problem on Kubuntu 8.04 KDE 3.5.9.

Even after having downloaded the package kde-kdm-themes, those themes can be applied but on the restart of X, I am presented with an ugly login screen which isn't even in my KDM Theme Manager. I don't seem to be able to switch to anything else either, even though this was possible under 7.10

[Marlon (rac-sword2)]

Same here, ugly kdm login and after downloading the themes and trying to change them with kcontrol I keep getting the same over and over. Checked fonts, saw something somewhere about the virtual display size and the dpi but it's stupid that by making any change I get the kdm login. All I wanted was to keep the default Kubuntu login but after some kernel update and re-compiling my ATI drivers it screwed it up and havent been able to fix it.

[tuxnewbi (fruitgnome)]

Same problem after using the "Anmeldungsmanager" to change the Log In Screen. I have Kubuntu Hardy Heron 8.04.

[O. Sinclair (o-sinclair)]

This bug also exist in Kubuntu 8.04.1 and as I have figured it out this is how it works:

The Kubuntu team has set up a system where in
/etc/kde3/kdm/backgroundrc
this setting
Wallpaper=default_blue.jpg
will enable kdm startup script to read /etc/default/kdm.d/

so messing with wallpaper in Login Manager or manually completely hoses the kdm theme... as this changes exactly that line/setting. Now in
/etc/default/kdm.d we find the file
"20_kubuntu_default_settings"
that contains these lines:
USETHEME="true"
THEME="/usr/share/apps/kdm/themes/kubuntu"
USEBACKGROUND="true"
WALLPAPER="/usr/share/wallpapers/kubuntu-wallpaper.jpg"
USESYSTEMLOCALE="true"
FACESOURCE="PreferUser"

these are lines that KDM Thememanager expect to find in
/etc/kde3/kdm/kdmrc
so I copied them there to section [X-*-Greeter]
then I renamed 20_kubuntu_default_settings to something else.

After reboot the Kubuntu KDM login theme shows up and you can use the
KDM Thememanager to change between themes. Any change of wallpaper using
the Login Manager or manually again removes the KDM login theme as it changes the /etc/kde3/kdm/backgroundrc
Wallpaper=default_blue.jpg
to something else.

I don't understand why Kubuntu team has chosen to move a certain section of the
kdmrc file to its own file, thereby breaking the KDM ThemeManager
functionality, and I certainly do not understand why the whole
functionality of the KDM Themes hinges on whether the user sets a login
background wallpaper via Login Manager or not.

I would suggest that the change of login background wallpaper is made independent of KDM Theme and the whole 20_default_settings is removed.

[Marlon (rac-sword2)]

Actually /etc/kde3/kdm/kdmrc file needs to be changed to:
UseTheme=true
Theme=@@@ToBeReplacedByDesktopBase@@@
UseBackground=true
Wallpaper=/usr/share/wallpapers/kubuntu-wallpaper.jpg
UseSystemLocale=true
FaceSource=PreferUser

That is, taking the quotes off the text from 20_kubuntu_default_settings and Theme needs to be @@@...@@@ since that is what kdm script looks for together with the Wallpaper=default_blue.jpg line.

Thank you Sinclair for bringing that fix in this bug report. I looked it up more and there is another bug with this fix in it.

 https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/kubuntu-default-settings/+bug/132723

Some say that just changing the line Wallpaper=default_blue.jpg in backgroundrc will do it. I think I'm going to test that. I will change the backgroung with the login manager and revert all the changes listed by Sinclair and just change that one line back and see what happens.

[Marlon (rac-sword2)]

Besides Wallpaper=default_blue.jpg just make sure that these lines are in kdmrc:
Theme=@@@ToBeReplacedByDesktopBase@@@
UseTheme=true