Description: Well..... I enjoy trying different things, and on a little endeavor to try and imitate Microsoft Windows Vista style panels, I made my own button and panel background.
***Note*** Careful with the GTK2 theme you use this with... depending on your background picture and GTK theme, the text might be hard to read on the panel, and the background COULD be messed up.
To install: Just move the start button icon somewhere and use it as the GNOME Main Menu button's icon. You can do this in the GNOME Configuration Editor, in about 30 seconds. 1) Vote Good! 2) Start "gconf-editor" in the terminal. 3) Under apps > panels > objects > object_X, where X is the number of the "object" that is type "menu-object", check 'use_custom_icon' on the right and give a path to the icon under 'custom_icon' Refer to http://www.rapidshare.com/files/29454963/gnome-panel.tar.gz for debs that will remove the arrow on the main menu. You might need to install a lot of dependencies for building GTK, but, it's worth it I guess.
Move the panel somewhere and set it as the panel background by right clicking, selecting properties, and selecting the background tab. Change the panel size to 36px to use the the larger version. Use the 24px one if you want to leave your panel small.Last changelog:
(0.5.5) Gave Gnome.png a makeover, if you will. It's not blurry or ugly anymore, and I made a second version that fits Scaled.png
(0.5) Changed up Gnome.png a little bit and added a few extras I made.
(0.4.5) Added made-from-scratch GNOME start icon. It looks a lil crappy, but usually the artist himself is the toughest critic he'll face. I replaced the first screenie with one of it.
(0.4) Added a new panel (Scaled.png). Refresh your browser's cache and take a look at the second screenshot. And again, feel free to request any distro flavored start button! I'll be adding a gnome one soon.
(0.3) Added Ubuntu-Studio vista style panel button I made in the GIMP based on 'duke86's work. It's a little rough right now and I'll keep on tweaking it until I'm satisfied.
Hey,
this panel looks good but is ginda hard to install on Ubuntu 7.10 with Gnome 2.20. Could you release a updated package with gnome 2.20 based files?
Thanx.
OK so here's a screenshot of my desktop so you see what I mean. The menu button is ok now but the minimized windows are as tall as the button and i noticed on your screenshot this doesnt happen with ur minimized firefox.
http://img520.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screenshotyu7.png
it seems your theme (Linsta I'm guessing?) is applying a menubar-background, and because the background to the window list is considered a menubar, the background is applied there also. Try using a theme that doesn't apply menubars, for example, if you're using Ubuntu, Human.
And, god, I hate to advertise this theme again, but, the one I use, Glossy P, fits the panel quite nicely and is featured in the screenshots. It's slightly OS X-ish, but everything in it is original. (http://art.gnome.org/download/themes/gtk2/571/GTK2-Glossy_P.tar.gz)
Sorry to force the choice on you, but it seems, either disable menubar backgrounds in your theme, use a different theme, or drop the Vista-Panel...
I was running gconf as sudo, that's why it wouldn't show up. Ok so I changed it and it changes but I want it to be bigger than the panel like in Vista and your screenshot but instead it's fitted into the panel. Any ideas why?
When I go to gconf-editor I have to go to apps-panel-default_setup-objects-menu_bar to get to where you explained on the how-to because the your path doesnt exist in my gconf, is this ok?. I changed the settings there but nothing happens. I even replaced the distributor-logo and that doesnt do anything either. Im running Ubuntu Feisty CE v3.2. Any ideas?
Well, make sure you added a Main Menu applet to your panel. And the menu-bar is the Applications Places System thing, and you can only change the icon to menu-objects. The only way to change the icon for the menu bar would be to manually place a new start-here.svg in /usr/share/icons/etc/etc/
Honestly I don't know how to fix this. Are you saying you have no "apps-panel-objects"?
1) Open a terminal (Applications > Accessories > Terminal)
2) Enter in "gconf-editor" and hit enter
3) It should open an application.
4) Under 'apps' select 'panels' and under that category, select 'objects'.
There should be several, like "object_1, object_20", etc.
5) Take a break from that, and right click your bottom panel. Select 'Add to panel' and make sure you've added the "Main Menu" applet.
6) Return to the other application, and find the "object" that is type "menu-object" (You can see all of this to the right)
7) Once you've found it, on the right, check the box that says "custom_icon" and up top to the right give a path to the icon under "custom_icon_path". (ie /home/you/Desktop/Vista-Panel/Gnome.png)
7) The moment you enter the path and hit enter, it should change the icon.
It looks nice but I can't figure out how to install it on Suse, there is no apps> panels >objects >object_X etc?
Under apps >panels theres just "Default setup", "General" and "Global"
Oh wait, the objects folder is showing up now, wierd...
Oh wait, I've got it! Theres no custom_icon_path you have to double click custom_icon and an Edit Key window pops up and you have to manually enter the icon path in that!
Great, I've figured it out now, nice work! Sorry for the multiple posts theres no edit post function here.
Nice one, especially with the Gnome Feet icon.. Looks amazing as its a multi distro panel icon.. Will suit me fine as I am running different linux distros...
Thanks :-)
I'm voting you down because you use a stupid solution for the panel button to be higher than the rest of the panel.
And I think it's why you get so many download, we want to know how you did this. It's just disappointing.
It's not stupid, it's just simple. If you have a better way, go for it. And yes, many of the downloads were probably curiosity, but, then, consider that you now have the knowledge of how I did it and have the freedom to make your own panel in a similar manner.
Also, Now, someone doesn't have to open up the GIMP to make their own. It's already made, and tweaked to semi-perfection.
It's GPL. If you have a better version, feel free to advertise, bud.
I really like his release, i think its a simple solution with some problems with certain themes like i am experiencing but it gets the job done overall, looks good, and is nothing to complain about. i look forward to his future releases...
it's just stupid to vote him down because you don't think it is innovative enough =/ it looks good and is functional, and one of the very few options available for that kind of look.
Do you call it functionnal ? I just used it two seconds and saw it's not.
Maximize a window, see what happens. That is what I feel as a not-so-nice hack.
You just seems to be happy with the release. Feel free to use it.
I just hope someone realize it's not like this
http://www.noscope.com/media/windows_vista_maximized.jpg
Ratings & Comments
38 Comments
Hey, this panel looks good but is ginda hard to install on Ubuntu 7.10 with Gnome 2.20. Could you release a updated package with gnome 2.20 based files? Thanx.
OK so here's a screenshot of my desktop so you see what I mean. The menu button is ok now but the minimized windows are as tall as the button and i noticed on your screenshot this doesnt happen with ur minimized firefox. http://img520.imageshack.us/my.php?image=screenshotyu7.png
it seems your theme (Linsta I'm guessing?) is applying a menubar-background, and because the background to the window list is considered a menubar, the background is applied there also. Try using a theme that doesn't apply menubars, for example, if you're using Ubuntu, Human. And, god, I hate to advertise this theme again, but, the one I use, Glossy P, fits the panel quite nicely and is featured in the screenshots. It's slightly OS X-ish, but everything in it is original. (http://art.gnome.org/download/themes/gtk2/571/GTK2-Glossy_P.tar.gz) Sorry to force the choice on you, but it seems, either disable menubar backgrounds in your theme, use a different theme, or drop the Vista-Panel...
Finally got it working, thx for the help.
I was running gconf as sudo, that's why it wouldn't show up. Ok so I changed it and it changes but I want it to be bigger than the panel like in Vista and your screenshot but instead it's fitted into the panel. Any ideas why?
When I go to gconf-editor I have to go to apps-panel-default_setup-objects-menu_bar to get to where you explained on the how-to because the your path doesnt exist in my gconf, is this ok?. I changed the settings there but nothing happens. I even replaced the distributor-logo and that doesnt do anything either. Im running Ubuntu Feisty CE v3.2. Any ideas?
Well, make sure you added a Main Menu applet to your panel. And the menu-bar is the Applications Places System thing, and you can only change the icon to menu-objects. The only way to change the icon for the menu bar would be to manually place a new start-here.svg in /usr/share/icons/etc/etc/ Honestly I don't know how to fix this. Are you saying you have no "apps-panel-objects"?
What icon theme are you using in the last screenshot? Looks very nice and polished. Thanks!
will you guys please elaborate how to change ICON, i am new in linux world :(
1) Open a terminal (Applications > Accessories > Terminal) 2) Enter in "gconf-editor" and hit enter 3) It should open an application. 4) Under 'apps' select 'panels' and under that category, select 'objects'. There should be several, like "object_1, object_20", etc. 5) Take a break from that, and right click your bottom panel. Select 'Add to panel' and make sure you've added the "Main Menu" applet. 6) Return to the other application, and find the "object" that is type "menu-object" (You can see all of this to the right) 7) Once you've found it, on the right, check the box that says "custom_icon" and up top to the right give a path to the icon under "custom_icon_path". (ie /home/you/Desktop/Vista-Panel/Gnome.png) 7) The moment you enter the path and hit enter, it should change the icon.
Awesome dude, keep up the good work.
It looks nice but I can't figure out how to install it on Suse, there is no apps> panels >objects >object_X etc? Under apps >panels theres just "Default setup", "General" and "Global"
Oh wait, the objects folder is showing up now, wierd... Oh wait, I've got it! Theres no custom_icon_path you have to double click custom_icon and an Edit Key window pops up and you have to manually enter the icon path in that! Great, I've figured it out now, nice work! Sorry for the multiple posts theres no edit post function here.
I understand :) Thank you!
Nice one, especially with the Gnome Feet icon.. Looks amazing as its a multi distro panel icon.. Will suit me fine as I am running different linux distros... Thanks :-)
Thx :-)
Sorry, but I don't have an entry "menu-object". There are many other entries like "launcher-object" or "menu-bar" but no "menu-object".
Add the "Main-Menu" applet to your bar.
What's the wallpaper in the last screenshot? How/Where can I get it?
http://gnome-look.org/content/download.php?content=59958&id=1 i'm glad ya like it
Thanks!
I'm voting you down because you use a stupid solution for the panel button to be higher than the rest of the panel. And I think it's why you get so many download, we want to know how you did this. It's just disappointing.
It's not stupid, it's just simple. If you have a better way, go for it. And yes, many of the downloads were probably curiosity, but, then, consider that you now have the knowledge of how I did it and have the freedom to make your own panel in a similar manner. Also, Now, someone doesn't have to open up the GIMP to make their own. It's already made, and tweaked to semi-perfection. It's GPL. If you have a better version, feel free to advertise, bud.
I really like his release, i think its a simple solution with some problems with certain themes like i am experiencing but it gets the job done overall, looks good, and is nothing to complain about. i look forward to his future releases... it's just stupid to vote him down because you don't think it is innovative enough =/ it looks good and is functional, and one of the very few options available for that kind of look.
Do you call it functionnal ? I just used it two seconds and saw it's not. Maximize a window, see what happens. That is what I feel as a not-so-nice hack. You just seems to be happy with the release. Feel free to use it. I just hope someone realize it's not like this http://www.noscope.com/media/windows_vista_maximized.jpg