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Configuring UI Appearance with Themes

Note that configurable colors currently apply to most areas of DBM, but not all parts of the entry mask, as entry mask embellishment is still in progress.

About Themes

Most colors and other UI appearance parameters are bundled in so-called Themes.

There are some legacy color configurations, which have been extended for Theme support. These are documented at Other Color Parameters page and can be changed from e.g. settings dialog.

Themes (as described below) are only configurable by administrators via Parameters and cannot be changed within DBM user interface nor settings dialog.

The concept and many parameter names are identical with Audio Editor themes. 

Current and available Themes

Note:  In the parameters, "themes" are usually named "UIScheme(s)", because that was the original term used for the concept.

Themes are configured at |DBM|UISchemes|<NameOfTheme>| or |Common|UISchemes|<NameOfTheme>| folder. All keys and there meaning see below.

In addition there exist currently two predefined themes, which is part of DBM software and is not reflected in the parameters. These are the current DBM light and dark theme, and are called "UIScheme_light" and "UIScheme_dark".

Following parameters located in |DBM|UISchemes| allow to configure which themes are available for a user and which one is current 

Parameter nameDescription
UISchemes_available

Defines a list of available themes, which are provided at "View" menu under "Theme".

List entries are separated by pipe '|' characters. Each entry contains the name of an UI scheme folder (a subfolder to DBM\UISchemes) and an optional name to be displayed in the menu to follow the internal name after an equals sign.

Example: UIScheme Light Contrast=Light + Contrast|UIScheme_dark=Dark

Default is empty, which means no "Theme" entry appears in the menu.

Note the space for available themes in the menu is limited to 10.

UIScheme_current

Defines the currently active theme (user option)

Default entry: UIScheme_light

All parameters inside the theme have programmatic defaults, which apply to the light theme. In difference to the audio editors, these are not written to registry if not found.

As a free add-on included in the DBM distribution, you can find all colors used by several themes in the "ParExamples" folder. The themes include the current default light and dark themes, which can be used as a base for your own modified themes.

Parameters within each single Theme

Parameter Location Priority

Each parameter inside a theme is read from different locations following this priority:

  • First from user, then local, then global.
  • If not found in these folder below |DBM|UISchemes|<NameOfTheme>|,
  • then they are looked up in folder below |Common|UISchemes|<NameOfTheme>|, again applying the same location priority (user, local, global).

That means a theme parameter default can be defined across applications as it is applied to DPE or other applications. Or a theme parameter parameter can be set on global level to set a default for all DBM installations. If requested, this can be overridden on local and again on user level. So user beats local; local beats global; global beats the default documented in provided ParExamples.

This applies to each single parameter, so a single one can be overridden for the user, but the others remain on global default, etc.

Naming Conventions

There's some conventions for naming parameters inside a theme. These are no hard rules, but more likely nice to have conventions. Anyway this helps guessing or finding a parameter and naming new ones.

  • All color parameters are prefixed “Color_”.
  • All parameters applying to a type of UI element begin with the type (e.g. “Color_”), followed by the UI element type and underscore (e.g. “Color_Tab_Inactive”).
  • All parameters applying to special instances of a UI elements begin with the type (e.g. “Color_”), followed by the UI element type and the special instance without underscore (e.g. “Color_TabEasyTrack”).
  • Very specific parameters use the type prefix followed by the specific element (e.g. “Color_VUMeterPhaseIndicator”).
  • Different states or variants of an element can be distinguished by a prefix with underscore and the state (e.g.  “Color_Text_InverseDimmed”). Combinations usually leave one underscore (e.g. “Color_Button_Def_SymbolChecked”).

Coloring class icons

See Color_Symbol_Class_<class> parameter as described in table below.

By default all class icons are dark grey: RGB(92, 92, 92)

Coloring toolbar buttons

If you want to colorize custom toolbar buttons, please read Configuring Custom Actions.

Toolbar buttons can be configure in 2 ways:

  • individually per Button with Color_Button_Toolbar_name parameter where name is the name of the button
  • per Button group with Color_Button_Toolbargroup_groupname parameter where groupname is the name of the button group

More details see in the list below.

As all color parameters, both Color_Button_Toolbar_name and Color_Button_Toolbargroup_groupname parameters can be defined for a USER, for a workstation (LOCAL), or for everyone (GLOBAL). LOCAL settings override GLOBAL settings, and USER settings override both LOCAL and GLOBAL settings.

Whereas a single button configuration (Color_Button_Toolbar_name ) overrides group color configuration (Color_Button_Toolbargroup_groupname ).

Color Parameters

The format of color values can be any of the ones listed in Color codes in Digas Parameters.

Theme Parameters

Annotations

  • Button "shape" means the surface behind the button's symbol graphics.
  • Button "shape mask" is a background behind the shape, which deals to make a complete coloring and covering of background.
  • The format of color values can be any of the ones listed in Color codes in Digas Parameters. Mind that colors with alpha value are only supported where documented in the following table.
  • For some parameters alpha values are supported or recommended (noted in the table below by a "RGBA" value). Alpha means an opacity value in addition to a color. Use web standard rgba(r, g, b, a) syntax, where a is a floating point value between 0 (completely transparent) and 1 (completely opaque). If there is a rgb value configured where a rgba would be supported, the default value is applied as if there would be no entry.

Each scheme is located in one parameter folder, which is located below DBM\UISchemes\<foldername>. The content of this folder is a set of parameters as listed below.

Default sets are provided with DBM's ParExamples.

Parameter

Type

Element State / Sub-Item

Description

Color_Border_RecordMode

RGB

Entry mask 

Border around player/recorder control to indicate an active recording

Color_Button_Def_ShapeMaskHover

RGBA

All buttons

Default for shape mask in hover state (usually black or white with alpha)

Color_Button_Def_SymbolChecked

RGB

All buttons

Default for checked symbol

Color_Button_Def_SymbolChecked_Deviating

RGB

All buttons

Default for checked symbol where checked shape is deviating from standard (usually applied to the buttons with special color)

Color_Button_Def_SymbolCheckedDisabled

RGB

All buttons

Default for symbol when checked and disabled at the same time

Color_Button_Def_SymbolNormal

RGB

All buttons

Default for symbol

Color_Button_DisabledSymbol

RGBA

All buttons

Color for disabled symbol (usually black or white with alpha)

Color_Button_FocusBackground

RGBA

All buttons

Background for focused button (may contain an opacity value different from 1.0) - appears only if focus is configured to be visualized

Color_Button_ShapelessHover_Blend

RGBA

Flat buttons

While hovering: Color to blend with background (usually black or white with alpha)

Color_Button_ShapelessHover_Blend_CaptionRight

RGBA

Flat buttons in captions of right panes

While hovering: Color to blend with background (usually black or white with alpha)

Color_Button_ShapelessPushed_Blend

RGBA

Flat buttons

While pushed: Color to blend with background (usually black or white with alpha)

Color_Button_ShapelessPushed_Blend_CaptionRight

RGBA

Flat buttons in captions of right panes

While pushed: Color to blend with background (usually black or white with alpha)

Color_Button_ShapeNormal

RGBA

All buttons

Default for shape mask in normal state (usually black or white with alpha or neutral white with 100% alpha)

Color_Button_Toolbar_ShapelessHover_Blend

RGBA

Toolbar buttons

While hovering: Color to blend with background (usually black or white with alpha)

Color_Button_Toolbar_ShapelessPushed_Blend

RGBA

Toolbar buttons

While pushed: Color to blend with background (usually black or white with alpha)

Color_Button_Toolbar_<name>

RGB

Individual Toolbar buttons

Toolbar button color can be configured for each button (e.g. "Color_Button_Toolbar_NewText").

The following button names are here possible for <name>:

Group: General

  • Login
  • Refresh
  • Select
  • Delete
  • Print
  • WebBrowser

Group: Create

  • NewRecording
  • NewText
  • NewVirtual
  • NewGroup
  • DigaGrabber
  • QuickIngest

Group: Edit

  • Play
  • SingleTrack
  • EasyTrack
  • MultiTrack
  • Sequoia
  • TextEdit (for opening DigaText or Word, depending on configuration)

Group: Schedule

  • DigAIRange
  • OnAirTrackMixer

Group: Distribute

  • ReplClient
  • DigaTransIP
  • Transfer
  • Archive

Group: Custom Actions

If above color is not defined for any of these Toolbar icons the corresponding  Color_Button_Toolbargroup_<groupname> color is applied

Color_Button_ToolbarGroup_<groupname>

RGB

The following button group names are here possible for <groupname>:

  • General
  • Create
  • Edit
  • Schedule
  • Distribute

Attention: Custom Actions are configured via Configuring Custom Actions directly

If above color parameter is not defined for any of these ToolbarButton_groups the global Color_Button_Def_SymbolNormal color is applied

Color_ButtonBkgnd

RGB

Push buttons

Background color; since DBM 5.5.8080.0

Color_ButtonPlay_ShapeSelected

not used in DBM yet

Play button and associated buttons (Play from, to, inside, etc.)

Shape while playing (may have an alpha value, otherwise a default alpha of 20% is applied)

Color_ButtonPlay_Symbol

not used in DBM yet

Play button

Symbol

Color_ButtonRec_Shape

not used in DBM yet

Record button

Shape while recording (may have an alpha value, otherwise a default alpha of 20% is applied)

Color_ButtonRec_Symbol

not used in DBM yet

Record button

Symbol when recording is possible

Color_Clip_1 .. Color_Clip_n

RGB

Different objects (e.g. customer selection buttons)

Clip colors mean a selection of beautiful distinguishable colors (like MTE's clips)

Color is derived for some circumstances (selection, hover, etc.)

Define Color_Clip_1 up to Color_Clip_n in a continuous sequence. If parameter Color_Clip_1 is defined, no defaults are applied.

The amount of clip colors is limited to 99.

Color_Comment_Background

RGB

Table entries

For table entries that have a comment, the comment can be displayed in the grid. This parameter controls the background color of the displayed comment.

New since version 5.6.8109.0.

Color_DefaultButton_Background

RGB

Push buttons

Background of buttons, which are "default buttons". New in DBM 5.6.8142.0

Color_DefaultButton_Background_Hover

RGB

Push buttons

Background for hover state of buttons, which are "default buttons". New in DBM 5.6.8142.0

Color_Dialog_Bkgnd

RGB

Popup dialogs

Background

Color_FocusBorder

RGB

Most UI elements

A rectangle with this color is drawn around the focused UI element. Requires enabling through parameter EnableFocusIndication=1

Color_GridSelected

RGBA

Grids

Selection background with focus

Color_GridSelected_NoFocus

RGBA

Grids

Selection background without focus

Color_Line_BarBottom

RGBA

Different bar-like items

Light edges on bottom of elements: Is complemented with the top edge line of the element below, so this is the upper line of a line pair. (Color with alpha)

Color_Line_BarTop

RGBA

Different bar-like items

Light edges on top of elements: See note for Color_Line_BarBottom. (Color with alpha)

Color_Line_Divider

RGB

Divider lines

Lines dividing flat buttons and menu entries

Color_Line_SunkenEdgeBottom

RGB

“Hair lines”

Visually sunken element’s bottom and right side

Color_Line_SunkenEdgeTop

RGB

“Hair lines”

Visually sunken element’s top and left side

Color_ListBkgnd

RGB

Some list controls; drop down areas of combo boxes

Color of the background; since DBM 5.5.8080.0

Color_ListHeaderBkgnd

RGB

List header cells

Background color; since DBM 5.5.8080.0

Color_LVC_MetersAbove_Current

RGB

Loudness meter in entry mask

Color of bars above the current value (for LVC.ocx with version 1.0.56.0 or greater)

Color_Menu_BkgndHighlighted

RGB

Main menu

Background of main menu's sub menu entry which is being hovered

Color_Menu_BkgndStandard

RGB

Main menu

Background of main menu's sub menus which open interactively

Color_Menu_CheckmarkBkgnd

RGB

Main menu

Checkmark’s background

Color_Menu_CheckmarkBkgndHighlighted

RGB

Main menu

Checkmark’s background while hovering

Color_MultiRec_TimeLine_Bkgnd

RGB

MultiRec player

Background of waveform in mini timeline

Color_MultiRec_TimeLine_Waveform

RGB

MultiRec player

Waveform in mini timeline

Color_MultiRec_VuMeter_LedOff

RGB

MultiRec player

Background of "inactive" area in VU meter

Color_PageBkgnd

RGB

Elements of page dialogs in pop-up dialogs

Color of the background; since DBM 5.5.8080.0

Color_PaneDivider

RGB

Pane dividers

Edges between panes which can be dragged by user to change layout

Color_PaneLeft

RGB

Left (collapsible) panes

Background

Color_PaneLeft_Caption

RGB

Left (collapsible) panes

Caption

Color_PaneLeft_GridLines

RGB

Left (collapsible) panes

Grid lines

Color_PaneRight

RGB

Right panes (grids)

Background (= grids background)

Color_PaneRight_Caption

RGB

Right panes (grids)

Caption

Color_PaneRight_GridLines

RGB

Right panes (grids)

Grid lines

Color_RTF_Bkgnd

RGB

RTF text control in entry mask

Background

Color_Scrollbar_ArrowBackground

RGB

Scrollbars

Background of scroll arrow item (yet not applied on all scrollbars)

Color_Scrollbar_Background

RGB

Scrollbars

Background of scroll area (yet not applied on all scrollbars)

Color_Scrollbar_Edge

RGB

Scrollbars

Edge lines (yet not applied on all scrollbars)

Color_Scrollbar_Thumb

rgb(140, 140, 140)

Scrollbars

Drag handle (yet not applied on all scrollbars)

Color_Scrollbar_ThumbBottomEdge

rgb(100, 100, 100)

Scrollbars

Drag handle’s bottom and right edge (yet not applied on all scrollbars)

Color_Scrollbar_ThumbTopEdge

rgb(170, 170, 170)

Scrollbars

Drag handle’s top and left edge (yet not applied on all scrollbars)

Color_TableConnected

RGB

Table List

Table is connected, default is green

Color_TableUnconnected

RGB

Table List

Table is not connected, default is blue

Color_Signal_Green

RGB(58, 145, 62)

Various

Color signaling "green"

Color_Signal_Red

RGB(224, 72, 72)

Various

Color signaling "red"

Color_Signal_Yellow

RGB(224, 175, 45)

Various

Color signaling "yellow"

Color_Sphere_A

rgb(225, 225, 225)

Multiple elements

See below

Color_StatusBar

rgb(185, 185, 185)

Status bar

Background

Color_Symbol_Class_<class>

RGB(92, 92, 92)

Grids, various

Class symbols' color can be configured for each symbol (e.g. "Color_Symbol_Class_Audio").

The following class names are here possible for <class>:

  • News

  • Text

  • Music

  • Commercial

  • Cart

  • Control

  • Command

  • Graphic

  • Video

  • VideoProject

  • BatchList

  • DigaCutMTProject

  • DigaCutSTProject

  • Undefined

  • ZipArchive

  • SequoiaProject

  • Project

  • Story

  • Magazine

  • Promotion

  • Audio

  • Live

  • Line

  • Info

Color_Symbol_AudioMode_StereoIndicator

RGB

Audio mode symbols

In audio modes with stereo (5.0, 5.1, 7.1), the symbols' corners indicate it by this color

Color_Tab_Inactive

RGB

Tab controls

Background of inactive (closed) tabs and space next to it

Color_Tab_Popup_Inactive

RGB

Tab controls in popup windows (entry mask, settings, etc.)

Background of inactive (closed) tabs and space next to it

Color_Text_Dimmed

RGB

Text

Dimmed down text elements

Color_Text_Disabled

RGB

Text

Disabled elements

Color_Text_EntryMissingFiles

RGB

Text

Elements whose main media file is missing (only used if "Color entries with missing files" is checked in "Easy Selection")

Color_Text_Highlighted

RGB

Text

Highlighted elements (e.g. for hover)

Color_Text_Inverse

RGB

Text

Inverse text color (light – dark)

Color_Text_InverseDimmed

RGB

Text

Inverse dimmed text color (light – dark)

Color_Text_InverseHighlighted

RGB

Text

Inverse highlighted text color (light – dark)

Color_Text_Standard

RGB

Text

Color_Text_1 ... Color_Text_n

RGB

Text colors for entry title in main list

These colors are available in the color selection boxes on the "Colors" page of the Settings Dialog.

Define Color_Text_1 up to Color_Text_n in a continuous sequence. If parameter Color_Clip_1 is defined, no defaults are applied.

The amount of colors is limited to 99.

Color_TextButton_Background_Disabled

RGB

Push buttons

Background of disabled buttons. New in DBM 5.6.8142.0

Color_TextButton_Background_Hover

RGB

Push buttons

Background of buttons in hover state. New in DBM 5.6.8142.0

Color_TextButton_Background_Focus

RGB

Push buttons

Background of focused buttons. New in DBM 5.6.8142.0

Color_TextButton_Border

RGB

Push buttons

Border of buttons. New in DBM 5.6.8142.0

Color_TextButton_Border_Focus

RGB

Push buttons

Border of focused buttons. New in DBM 5.6.8142.0

Color_TextEdit_Bkgnd

RGB

Edit controls

Background

Color_TextEdit_ReadOnlyBkgnd

RGB

Edit controls, Combo boxes

Background in read-only state

Font_Standard

(Font name)

Whole application

Font for text in all grids.

Be aware that changing the default font may lead to a bigger cell content and may need adjusting of column widths, too.

If configured font is not found in the system environment, the default is applied ("Tahoma" for grids and "Segoe UI" for all other elements).

Further color parameters

There are some legacy color configurations, which have been extended for Theme support.

These are documented at Other Color Parameters page and can also be changed from e.g. settings dialog.

Color Spheres

So-called color spheres are defined to collect independent UI elements which are drawn with the same color. These collections are described in the next paragraphs; the screenshots mark all elements in green which are defined by the specific sphere.

Currently we use only one sphere for DBM as this makes sense only for a set of elements which have the same color by concept.

Color Sphere A

This sphere includes what you see in the picture colored and particularly:

  • Menu bar and toolbar background
  • Customer Selection Bar background
  • Other bars' background (where no special definition exists)
  • Thumbnail image tooltip: Caption, border
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