Theme Editor
  • 05 Jun 2023
  • 4 Minutes to read
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Theme Editor

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Article summary

Important Considerations!
When upgrading to version 8.5 and higher, an important change has been implemented as part of the DT-035693. This change involves relocating the storage location for LESS files. Consequently, custom LESS files created may be lost during the upgrade process. It is recommended that users create a backup of their custom LESS files prior to initiating the upgrade.

Note: Changes made using the Theme Editor will persist upon upgrading. Upgrading will only affect if custom files are manually placed in the file storage.

Take the following steps to rebuild custom LESS after upgrades:
  1. Copy the files ending with custom.less from C:\Program Files\Decisions\Decisions Server\wwwroot\styles\Less\themes and paste them to C:\Program FIles\Decisions\FileStorage\Primary\styles\themes.
  2. Navigate to System (gear icon) > Right-click on System (ellipsis icon) > Themes > Re-build Styles. It might take some time to Rebuild the Styles and you will be notified through system notification once it is completed. Empty the Cache and Hard Re-load the browser to see the changes.

Overview

The Theme Editor allows admin users to customize and modify the user interface (UI) of an instance. It provides a graphical interface that enables users to make visual changes to the UI, such as altering colors, fonts, icons, and other design elements.

The changes made in the Theme Editor can be applied immediately without writing or changing the code on the default LESS files. Users can select to edit the User Portal, Designer Studio, or Mobile theme. After selecting a theme, the Theme Editor lists all UI elements within that theme that can be changed.

Use Case

A common scenario often involves customizing the color scheme of the User Portal to align with branding requirements. Additionally, other elements, such as navigational icons and loading indicators, can be modified to create a unique and personalized user experience. The image below showcases the default User Portal with a customized version, demonstrating the distinct visual enhancements achieved through customization. This allows organizations to create a consistent and branded look and feel for their users, reinforcing their identity and improving overall user engagement.



Accessing the Theme Editor

To view the Theme Editor. Navigate to System (gear icon) > Right-click on System (ellipsis icon) > Themes > Theme Editor.

The left panel displays the UI elements within the selected UI Theme. Specific elements may be found via the search bar. 

There are four element types available for editing. 

  • Icons
  • Font
  • Size
  • Color

Selecting an element populates the right panel with configurable options. Each type can be manually edited via the Edit action. Selecting the Pick Variable option instead lets mirroring the styling of the selected elements. This may be useful for preserving the same color scheme, icons, etc., across multiple UIs.



Applying a Change in the Theme Editor

Following this and subsequent examples will change the UI of the instance.
Do not follow alongside the examples unless wishing to replicate the changes. If done so accidentally, refer to the Reverting Theme Editor Changes subsection to learn how to undo changes. Note this method reverts all changes.
  1. Navigate to the Theme Editor Window. Select the User Portal > portal > topbar > background.
  2. In the right-side panel, click Pick Color and click the pencil icon. Select a color and click PICK.
  3. Click SAVE. The Save Theme window will allow the user to either apply the changes or only save them and apply them later. Applying changes requires the Portal to reload.

    Changes not appearing after browser refresh?
    Applying theme changes might take a few minutes and requires the portal to be reloaded.
    If the theme is still not visible, try clearing the browser's cache to update the theme.

  4. To see the theme changes switch to the User Portal. You will immediately notice that the topbar color has been altered as per the selected preference.

Custom Icons

While choosing the icon in the theme editor via Pick Icon, users have 3 options:

Setting NameDescription
From PlatformAllows to select a bunch of default icons that are already present in the platform. Users can also upload their own custom images to the Decisions library. For more information, refer to Uploading Custom Images.
From FileAllows users to upload only .png files.
From URLAllows to enter the image URL. Ensure the URL is accessible on the host server.



Import/Exporting Theme Editor Settings

Below is a step-by-step guide on how to apply the same Theme Editor settings to different instances:

  1. Locate the custom.less file(s) in the originating instance. They are typically found in the directory path: C:\Program Files\Decisions\FileStorage\Primary\styles\themes. The file(s) should be formatted as 'theme.[UITheme]-custom.less'.
  2. Copy the custom.less file(s) from the originating instance.
  3. Paste the copied file(s) into the same directory path in the destination instance.
  4. Navigate to System (gear icon) > Right-click on System (ellipsis icon) > Themes > Re-build Styles.

    The system may take some time to rebuild the styles. You will receive a pop-up notification once the process is complete. To view the changes, it is recommended to empty the cache of your browser and perform a hard reload. This will ensure that the updated styles are properly displayed.

By following these steps, you can successfully apply the same Theme Editor settings across different instances, ensuring uniformity in the appearance and design of your application or platform.


Reverting to Default Settings

This method reverts all changes made to the Theme Editor.
Individual, specific reverts can only be done manually, so it is a best practice to track all changes to custom .less files.

Navigate to the System (gear icon) > Right-click on System (ellipsis icon)> Themes > Reset Theme Styles (CSS). To view the changes, it is recommended to empty the cache of your browser and perform a hard reload. This will ensure that the updated styles are properly displayed.


For further information on the Portal, visit the Decisions Forum.

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