no obvious way to get non-default themes

[MarkJ]

This is a usability issue for themes.

Ubuntu 9.04 (default) (uh... jaunty?) comes with 9 themes pre-installed, 6 using the same orange icon set, so they are all pretty much variations of 2 or 3 themes. In System > Preferences > Appearance > Theme [tab] see these 9 themes. There is a 'customize' button, and an 'install...' button. So obviously I want to install a new theme. When I push 'install all I see is a file open dialog with file type as 'theme files'. So am I supposed to be looking for .theme files on the web or something?

Where does a 1st day user go to install themes? Firefox has an 'Add Themes...' in its theme dialog which opens a web page to their theme website, so its is very intuitive where to get and install themes in that application. However ubuntu just has an install... button which leads nowhere.

Okay... lets say the bug fix is to copy firefox and create an 'add theme' link in that window somewhere... which leads to some website. What website would you point it to that has 'ubuntu theme files'?

I googled 'ubuntu themes' and the first result was website http://www.gnome-look.org/ . However that website doesn't seem to relate to the ubuntu 'install theme' button. The left side has the sections: Wallpapers,GTK 1.x,GTK 2.x,Metacity,Compiz,Beryl,Icons,GDM Themes,Colour Schemes,XMMS Themes,MPlayer Themes,Xine Themes,VLC Themes,GnoMenu Themes,Fonts,X11 Mouse Themes,Topaz Brainstorm,Cairo-Clock Themes,Maemo. None of these say 'ubuntu themes' so I have no idea... am I looking for a GDM theme? a GnoMenu theme? a GTK 2.x theme? I have no idea what metacity is... i just want a theme. Choose a theme, install it, thats it.

I browsed around a tried to see if any of these were a .theme file (which i am assuming i am looking for because the theme [Install...] button told me it was looking for a 'theme file' and didn't see any. There were lots of neat theme looking things in the screenshots of this website... but I don't want to install anything from here because it could wreck my existing themes, cause what if i install the wrong theme file.

If there is some place where 'ubuntu theme files' exist, then the Theme tab of the Appearance menu needs to be modified to indicate where that place is.

If there is no place where 'ubuntu theme files' exist... then maybe that [Install...] button should be removed... it is misleading.

If there is no place where 'ubuntu theme files' exist... and we don't want to remove the install button, then this is not a papercut, it is a feature request. But in my mind this is something a first day user would encounter.

[Vish (vish)]

Thank you for bringing this bug to our attention. However, a paper cut should be a small usability issue, in the default Ubuntu 9.10 install, that affects many people and is quick and easy to fix. So this bug can't be addressed as part of this project.

- Papercuts are with problems in the default install. Installing a new theme is not a usability issue.
For further information about papercuts criteria, please read https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PaperCut.

But dont worry though Software Store> https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SoftwareStore , plans to implement several features which make such installs easier. If themes are not included in the plans, kindly add your suggestion to the comments page.

[MarkJ (marker)]

It is confusing to understand your reply (given the context). The install button exists in a default install, and there is no clue to a user about how to proceed with any usage case that involves them clicking that button. It meets all the criteria:

* A bug, or an unintended problem occurring within an existing piece of software (unintended problem)
* the presence of which makes a computer more difficult or less pleasant to use (yes... the install...but sucks for usability)
* that is easy to fix (see below)
* that the average user would encounter during his/her first day of using (yes.. especially children they love to customize look and feel)
* ...Ubuntu Desktop Edition* as configured by a default installation. (the install button exists in a default install)

here are options to resolve the issue:
[1] Removing the 'install...' button is a quick and easy fix that would increase usability (therefore a PAPERCUT).

[2] Adding a link to wherever the repository for ubuntu themes is, is a quick and easy fix that would increase usability (therefore a PAPERCUT).

[3] Adding some clue to indicate what the heck the Install button does, and how it works would be a quick and easy fix that would increase usability (therefore a PAPERCUT).

However... if none of these solutions is acceptable, then it is a larger problem... and therefore not a papercut. So the way I see it... whether or not it is a papercut is determined by whether or not there is a central place to get new ubuntu themes or not. If there is no place to get themes... then why does the install button exist at all?

[Vish (vish)]

Mark , this confusion seems to be since you have misunderstood the install button and misread the labels.
In reply to your points:
1. The install does install properly packaged themes, so removal of the button is not a solution. And the install button asks to install themes "Packages" not .theme files. [ex: .tar.gz] and there are several formats these themes can come in.
2. Ubuntu themes can already be installed from synaptic as > community themes. Granted , these are few . And there is no repository for the themes that gnome-look.org or any other site has. But the idea is nice.
3. The problem arises only when the themes are not properly packaged. And only when you are trying to modify the default setup. So this is not a papercut.

Yes, this is a bigger problem , Hence I'v suggested you add your comments to the Software Store comments page.
Thanks.

PS: Maybe you havent realized this, theme packages can also be dragged and dropped into the appearances window to install them.