Theme Preferences

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This previously available feature is disabled in current releases because it requires further development. It will be re-introduced in a later version, probably as a plug-in. The last version containing this feature was 1.3.8 (a beta release).

Summary

Theme Preferences customises the images and colors used in Audacity

Theme Cache

The Theme Cache is a compound image that contains (nearly) all of Audacity's images and colors. To modify the images and colors follow these steps:

• Click Save Theme Cache. A copy of the images will be saved in file ImageCache.png in the "Theme" directory inside your Audacity settings folder. This folder can be found at:
  • Windows: Documents and Settings\<username>\Application Data\Audacity
  • Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/audacity
  • Linux: ~/.audacity-data

• Modify the ImageCache file using an image editor such as the GIMP and save the results in the same place.
• You can test changes to the Image cache by clicking Load Theme Cache. However, this is a partially implemented feature, and only some changes such as changes to the large buttons and changes to the colors for the waveforms will show up.
• Check the check box marked 'Load Theme Cache at Start Up'. Now when you restart Audacity you will get the new images and colors.

If you have an ImageCache.png provided by someone else you only need to:

• Place it in the correct directory.
• Check the 'Load Theme Cache at Start up' box.

If you want the built-in images again:

• Use Defaults to restore the default images.
• Click Save Theme Cache to save the default values.

Individual Theme Files

Because the images Audacity needs will change from one version of Audacity to another, there is also a way to build a Theme Cache up from component images and to break a Theme Cache down into its components.

• Use Save Files to break a ThemeCache into its component images.
• Use Load Files to build a new ThemeCache from existing components. This Theme Cache is held in Audacity. If you want to save it you will still need to click 'Save Theme Cache'

You should not expect a Theme Cache designed for one version of Audacity to work with another version. However using the individual component images, converting from one to another is not difficult.

For Developers

Audacity has a built-in Theme Cache which it uses for its defaults. If you know how to compile Audacity from its source code you can also update this built-in Theme Cache. Contact the Audacity developer's mailing list for details.