bbdrop

Theme Customization Guide

Quick Reference

Feature: Dark/light theme support with system detection Supported Themes: Dark, Light, Auto (system-aware) Customization: Font sizes, color schemes, icon themes Use Case: Adapt BBDrop to your working environment

What is Theme Customization?

BBDrop includes a professional theming system that allows you to customize the application’s appearance. This guide covers how to switch themes, adjust font sizes, and troubleshoot display issues.

The theming system provides:

Available Themes

Dark Theme

Dark theme features a dark background with light text, designed to reduce eye strain during extended use.

Color Scheme:

Best For:

Light Theme

Light theme uses a traditional white background with dark text for clear visibility in bright environments.

Color Scheme:

Best For:

Auto Theme (System Detection)

Auto mode automatically detects your system theme setting and applies the matching theme.

Platform Support:

How It Works:

  1. Application starts and checks system settings
  2. Auto-selects dark or light theme accordingly
  3. Follows system theme changes if OS supports it
  4. Falls back to dark theme if detection fails

Switching Themes

Method 1: View Menu

Steps:

  1. Click View menu in menu bar
  2. Select Themes
  3. Choose from:
    • Dark Theme
    • Light Theme
    • Auto (System)

Menu Location:

File  Edit  View  Tools  Help
              +- Themes
                  +- Dark Theme
                  +- Light Theme
                  +- Auto (System)

Method 2: Settings Dialog

Steps:

  1. Press Ctrl+, or go to File -> Settings
  2. Click General section
  3. Under “Appearance,” find Theme
  4. Select desired theme from dropdown
  5. Click Save

Changes apply immediately - no restart needed.

Method 3: Theme Toggle Button

The theme toggle button in the toolbar provides quick switching:

  1. Look for the theme icon (usually sun/moon symbol) in the top toolbar
  2. Click to switch between dark and light
  3. Tooltip shows next theme when you hover

Theme Components

When you switch themes, the following elements update automatically:

Window & Backgrounds

Text & Labels

Interface Elements

Icons & Graphics

Dialogs & Menus

Font Size Adjustment

Font sizes can be adjusted independently from theme selection.

Accessing Font Size Settings

Via Settings Dialog:

  1. Press Ctrl+, to open Settings
  2. Click General section
  3. Find Font Size slider or input
  4. Current options: 8pt to 14pt (default: 9pt)
  5. Click Save

Changes Apply To:

Font Size Recommendations

Size Best For Notes
8pt High-resolution displays Very compact, requires good eyesight
9pt Standard displays Default, balanced
10pt 1080p monitors Slightly larger, easier to read
11pt 1440p+ displays Large text, spacious layout
12pt TV/projector display Very large, for distance viewing

Tip: If table rows appear cramped, increase font size to 10pt or 11pt.

Theme Persistence

Theme settings are automatically saved in your configuration:

Windows:

Registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\BBDrop\BBDropGUI
Settings: ui/theme (value: "dark", "light", or "auto")

Linux:

File: ~/.config/BBDrop/BBDropGUI.conf
Settings: ui/theme=dark

Persistence Features:

Platform Notes

Windows 11

Auto Theme Support: Full support

Dark Theme Look:

Light Theme Look:

Windows 10

Auto Theme Support: Limited

Workaround: If auto theme shows incorrect theme, manually select dark or light in View > Themes.

Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.)

Auto Theme Support: Partial (depends on desktop)

Manual Override: If auto-detect doesn’t match your system theme, manually select dark or light.

Troubleshooting

Theme Not Applying

Problem: Theme appears not to change when selected

Solutions:

  1. Check theme selection
    • View > Themes to confirm selection
    • Look at menu to see checkmark next to active theme
  2. Restart application
    • Close BBDrop completely
    • Wait 2 seconds
    • Reopen application
    • Check if theme persisted
  3. Verify settings save
    • Open Settings (Ctrl+,)
    • Change theme
    • Click “Save” button
    • Confirm dialog closes successfully
  4. Clear settings cache (if nothing works)
    • Close application
    • Delete: ~/.bbdrop/bbdrop.ini (Linux) or Registry keys (Windows)
    • Restart application
    • Theme will reset to default (dark)

Theme Looks Different from Expected

Problem: Theme colors don’t match screenshots or descriptions

Possible Causes:

  1. System settings override
    • Windows: Check Windows Settings > Personalization > Colors
    • Linux: Check system theme in Settings
    • May conflict with BBDrop theme
  2. High Contrast mode enabled
    • Windows: Settings > Ease of Access > High Contrast
    • Temporarily disable to test
    • BBDrop themes designed for standard contrast
  3. Display color profile
    • Monitor calibration affects appearance
    • Test on another monitor if available
    • Check display settings for “color temperature”

Icons Appear Wrong in Theme

Problem: Icons are too dark/light for selected theme

Solutions:

  1. Verify theme is actually applied
    • View > Themes should show checkmark
    • Window background should match theme (dark/light)
  2. Refresh icon cache
    • Close application
    • Delete: ~/.bbdrop/.icon_cache/ (if exists)
    • Restart application
    • Icons will regenerate with correct theme
  3. Check icon files exist
    • Icons should be in: assets/hosts/logo/ and assets/ directory
    • If files missing, application falls back to placeholder icons
    • Try reinstalling BBDrop to restore icon files

Text Too Small or Too Large

Problem: Font size doesn’t match what you set

Solutions:

  1. Check font size in Settings
    • Ctrl+, > General section
    • Verify font size slider is at desired position
    • Confirm “Save” was clicked
  2. Verify system DPI settings
    • Windows: Settings > Display > Scale and Layout
    • Standard DPI is 100% - if set higher, text appears larger
    • BBDrop font size + Windows DPI = final size
  3. Reset to defaults
    • In Settings, look for “Reset to Defaults” button
    • Will restore default font size (9pt)

Theme Flicker or Flickering on Startup

Problem: Theme flickers or shows wrong theme briefly when starting

Causes:

Workaround:

Best Practices

For Dark Theme Users

  1. Enable Auto-Scroll in Log Viewer
    • Settings > Logging > Auto-scroll
    • Prevents needing to scroll manually
  2. Use 9-10pt Font Size
    • Default 9pt is optimal for dark theme
    • Larger fonts (11pt+) may look odd on dark backgrounds
  3. Enable Tray Icon
    • Settings > General > Show system tray icon
    • Allows minimizing to tray in dark theme

For Light Theme Users

  1. Consider Font Size 10pt
    • Light theme with 9pt can feel cramped
    • 10pt provides better spacing
  2. Use in Bright Environments
    • Light theme designed for bright daylight
    • May cause eye strain in dark rooms
  3. Monitor Contrast Settings
    • Light theme relies on contrast
    • Ensure monitor brightness is moderate (not too dim)

For Auto Theme Users

  1. Verify System Detection Works
    • Switch your system to dark/light theme
    • Check if BBDrop follows (requires app restart)
    • If not, manually select dark or light
  2. Consistent Environment
    • If you switch system themes frequently, use manual selection
    • Auto theme only checks on startup

Keyboard Shortcuts

Theme Control (when available):

No dedicated keyboard shortcut exists for theme toggle by default. If needed, use the View menu or Settings dialog.

See Also

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