Blender cannot install themes from the Preferences dialog: Instead of copying the xml file, it copies the whole zip file, which fails to work #120195

New Issue

Narayan Aras · 2024-04-03T07:56:11+02:00

Narayan Aras commented

2024-04-03 07:56:11 +02:00

System Information
Operating system: Win 11 Home ('Windows-10-10.0.22631-SP0')
Graphics card: Intel UHD 620

Blender Version
Broken: version: 4.2.0 Alpha, branch: master, commit date: 2024-03-22 09:01, hash: 41af5d44600b, type:
build date: 2024-03-22, 09:56:09

Short description of error
Blender cannot install themes from the Preferences dialog:
Instead of copying the xml file in the interface_themes folder, it copies the whole zip file.
As a result, Blender fails to show the theme in the drop-down list.

Exact steps for others to reproduce the error

Download any zip file for a theme (for example, this one)
In Blender, open the Preferences dialog.
Select the Themes section
Click on the Install... button.
Navigate to the zip file that is downloaded in step#1.
Select the zip and click Install theme... button.
Restart Blender.
Open the Preferences dialog once again.
Check out the Themes drop-down list.
The newly installed theme does not appear there [BUG]
Navigate to the Interface_themes folder in the user preference section.
The folder has a zip file for the newly installed theme.
Extract the xml file from the zip file into the Interface_themes folder.
Restart Blender.
Open the Preferences dialog once again.
Click on the Themes drop-down list.
The newly installed theme appears.

To sum up, Blender ends up putting the whole zip file of the theme in the Interface_themes folder.
But it cannot detect the theme unless we extract the xml file into that folder.

Thus, the installation process needs to be corrected.

**System Information** Operating system: Win 11 Home ('Windows-10-10.0.22631-SP0') Graphics card: Intel UHD 620 **Blender Version** Broken: version: 4.2.0 Alpha, branch: master, commit date: 2024-03-22 09:01, hash: 41af5d44600b, type: build date: 2024-03-22, 09:56:09 **Short description of error** Blender cannot install themes from the **Preferences** dialog: Instead of copying the xml file in the interface_themes folder, it copies the whole zip file. As a result, Blender fails to show the theme in the drop-down list. **Exact steps for others to reproduce the error** 1. Download any zip file for a theme (for example, [this one](https://extensions.blender.org/themes/midnight-blue/0.0.1/download/)) 2. In Blender, open the **Preferences** dialog. 3. Select the **Themes** section 4. Click on the **Install...** button. 5. Navigate to the zip file that is downloaded in step#1. 6. Select the zip and click **Install theme...** button. 7. Restart Blender. 8. Open the **Preferences** dialog once again. 9. Check out the **Themes** drop-down list. The newly installed theme does not appear there [BUG] 10. Navigate to the **Interface_themes** folder in the _user preference_ section. The folder has a zip file for the newly installed theme. Extract the xml file from the zip file into the **Interface_themes** folder. 11. Restart Blender. 12. Open the **Preferences** dialog once again. 13. Click on the **Themes** drop-down list. The newly installed theme appears. To sum up, Blender ends up putting the whole zip file of the theme in the **Interface_themes** folder. But it cannot detect the theme unless we extract the xml file into that folder. Thus, the installation process needs to be corrected.

Narayan Aras added the

labels 2024-04-03 07:56:12 +02:00

YimingWu commented

2024-04-03 08:38:22 +02:00

Looks like the file selector for theme is only filtering .xml on linux, not zip. Will check on windows in a bit.

Looks like the file selector for theme is only filtering `.xml` on linux, not zip. Will check on windows in a bit.

YimingWu commented

2024-04-03 12:42:20 +02:00

On windows it's also only filtering .xml files, have you disabled the filter to choose that zip @raindrops ? Otherwise you won't be able to choose a zip file to be installed as a theme.

I guess there should be checks in place for preferences.theme_install. Maybe I could make a small fix for that, although I don't think this is the intended use for the Install button.

On windows it's also only filtering `.xml` files, have you disabled the filter to choose that `zip` @raindrops ? Otherwise you won't be able to choose a zip file to be installed as a theme. I guess there should be checks in place for `preferences.theme_install`. Maybe I could make a small fix for that, although I don't think this is the intended use for the `Install` button.

Narayan Aras commented

2024-04-03 13:15:40 +02:00

Well, I was not aware that-
(a) Blender cannot handle zip files (as in case of addons)
(b) The installation dialog has a filter for .xml files!

I am used to the fact that Blender installs addons directly from zip files. So, I simply copy the full path for addon zip files from my file manager, and then paste the path in the addon installation dialog.

I followed the same process to install new themes also.
Blender did not throw an error, so I assumed that the theme was installed successfully.

During investigation, I found that Blender places a copy of the zip file in the Interface_themes folder.
This was even more confusing for me.

Now I know that I have to unzip the xml file first, and then install the theme using the dialog.

That said, IMHO Blender behaves inconsistently in three different ways:

Blender accepts zip files for addons, but not for themes.
IMHO it should accept zip files for themes also.
If themes cannot be installed by pasting zip files, then Blender should throw an error when the user tries to install a theme using a zip file.
Blender should not place a copy of the zip file in the Interface_themes folder.

BTW, if Blender does not accept zip files, then Blender's Extension website should provide downloads of xml file instead of zip file.
The fact that it provides a zip file leads to a confusion in the user's mind.

Well, I was not aware that- (a) Blender cannot handle zip files (as in case of addons) (b) The installation dialog has a filter for .xml files! I am used to the fact that Blender installs addons directly from zip files. So, I simply copy the full path for addon zip files from my file manager, and then paste the path in the addon installation dialog. I followed the same process to install new themes also. Blender did not throw an error, so I assumed that the theme was installed successfully. During investigation, I found that Blender places a copy of the zip file in the **Interface_themes** folder. This was even more confusing for me. Now I know that I have to unzip the xml file first, and then install the theme using the dialog. That said, IMHO Blender behaves inconsistently in three different ways: 1. Blender accepts zip files for addons, but not for themes. IMHO it should accept zip files for themes also. 2. If themes cannot be installed by pasting zip files, then Blender should throw an error when the user tries to install a theme using a zip file. 3. Blender should not place a copy of the zip file in the **Interface_themes** folder. BTW, if Blender does not accept zip files, then Blender's Extension website should provide downloads of xml file instead of zip file. The fact that it provides a zip file leads to a confusion in the user's mind.

YimingWu commented

2024-04-03 13:30:36 +02:00

@pablovazquez Any thoughts on this?

YimingWu added

Status

Needs Info from Developers

and removed

Status

Needs Triage

labels 2024-04-03 13:34:18 +02:00

Pablo Vazquez commented

2024-04-03 18:22:51 +02:00

In 4.2, Blender supports .zip files for themes if they are packaged as an extension (you can even drag and drop them). This will be the preferred way in the future so I don't think .zip file support for themes that are not extensions needs to be added.
Yes, Blender should throw an error because the operation is not successful (as in, the theme is not usable).
Yes, I agree it shouldn't.

1. In 4.2, Blender supports .zip files for themes if they are packaged as an extension (you can even drag and drop them). This will be the preferred way in the future so I don't think .zip file support for themes that are not extensions needs to be added. 2. Yes, Blender should throw an error because the operation is not successful (as in, the theme is not usable). 3. Yes, I agree it shouldn't.

Narayan Aras commented

2024-04-06 10:50:18 +02:00

@pablovazquez

Thanks for confirming!

As regards the first point, I would like to add the following:

It seems that the packaging for themes is not finalized (whether raw xml or zip?)
So people may try to install with both types of files.
Blender should handle both types gracefully (if the theme fails to get installed, there should be a message).

Also, if someone points to a zip that does not contain a xml with expected structure, then also an error message should appear.

@pablovazquez Thanks for confirming! As regards the first point, I would like to add the following: It seems that the packaging for themes is not finalized (whether raw xml or zip?) So people may try to install with both types of files. Blender should handle both types gracefully (if the theme fails to get installed, there should be a message). Also, if someone points to a zip that does not contain a xml with expected structure, then also an error message should appear.

Kent Davis commented

2024-06-08 15:48:34 +02:00

Blender 4.2 is extension not add-ons.
Theme tab is install .xml file.
Extension install from disk is .zip file.

See how you do use theme.zip
https://extensions.blender.org/submit/
https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/dev/advanced/extensions/

Blender 4.2.0 beta June 8, 2024 is already resolve.

Blender 4.2 is extension not add-ons. Theme tab is install .xml file. Extension install from disk is .zip file. See how you do use theme.zip https://extensions.blender.org/submit/ https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/dev/advanced/extensions/ Blender 4.2.0 beta June 8, 2024 is already resolve.

Bart van der Braak added

and removed

labels 2024-08-14 13:02:46 +02:00

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