SkinLF 1.1 > Frequently Asked Questions

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	Frequently Asked Questions
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Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

I have never heard the term Skinnable. there must be millions like me who need a definition.
If I use this skinnable library will my Java programs still be portable - even on platforms that don't support skins?
Can I use SkinLF with any window manager? my favourite is Enlightenment - I would love my Java programs to look like other Enlightenment apps!
Can I use Skin Look And Feel in commercial application ?
I just get the following errors: UIDefaults.getUI() failed: no ComponentUI class for: javax.swing.JPanel
I've been testing some KDE as well as GTK skins on a Java application we are building. The GTK skins work well, but the KDE skins do not display themselves. A couple of components start to switch to the KDE skin, but it mostly just sits there frozen.

Answers
I have never heard the term Skinnable. there must be millions like me who need a definition. You're right ! Skinnable is often used by applications able to change their look using a set of image files. Most popular skinnable applications are Winamp (the mp3 player), WindowBlinds, and Linux window managers. With SkinLF, Java developers can add this skinnable capability to their applications.

If I use this skinnable library will my Java programs still be portable - even on platforms that don't support skins? Skin Look And Feel is 100% pure Java and does not rely on native libraries or OS specific code. So it would run on any platform supporting Java. GTK/KDE themes are only image collections.

Can I use SkinLF with any window manager? my favourite is Enlightenment - I would love my Java programs to look like other Enlightenment apps! Skin Look And Feel supports GTK and KDE themes format, not Enlightenment. Enlightenment theme support is a way more complicated to implement than GTK or KDE. Anyway you can use SkinLF with any window manager. If you want your apps to look like other Enlightenment apps just look for a GTK/KDE theme matching your enlightenment theme.

Can I use Skin Look And Feel in commercial application ? Yes, since version 0.3 Skin Look And Feel is released under the Library General Public License (LGPL) and can be used in any (free or commercial) application without any restrictions.

I just get the following errors: UIDefaults.getUI() failed: no ComponentUI class for: javax.swing.JPanel

I've been testing some KDE as well as GTK skins on a Java application we are building. The GTK skins work well, but the KDE skins do not display themselves. A couple of components start to switch to the KDE skin, but it mostly just sits there frozen. You can't use only a KDE skin. You need to specify a GTK and a KDE skin. KDE skins are only used for InternalFrame and GTK skins for other components (button, check, menu, ...). Make sure you specified a CompoundSkin (GTK+KDE) and not only a KDE skin. See the theme support matrix for more information on theme support.