Colombia
Joined: Nov 6, 2025
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Ugly looking interface problem HELP NEEDED!
Hello everyone!
I've been using SH3D for years and OMG! I've just realized I must be the only one in the planet whose sh3d interface is so ugly. I've seen screenshots online, sh3d interface looks superb. But in my computer looks like used to look windows 3.1 programs. What is more, the open/save dialog is almost D.O.S.-like.
I have an HP laptop Ubuntu 20 64bit I've been running sh3d updates directly from the downloaded folder. Currently: SH3D 7.5. I never managed to uninstall old sh3d 6.6a, which still looks very good and its dialogs looks fine.
Even the online app of sh3d looks so f good! Please help!
And please, don't tell me I need a new computer or Ubuntu sucks, don't break my heart.
Netherlands
Joined: Apr 8, 2022
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Re: Ugly looking interface problem HELP NEEDED!
That's not a Sweet Home 3D problem. It's the desktop environment you are using on your (old) Ubuntu distribution (Gnome?). Sweet Home 3D for Linux adapts to the installed desktop so it will look a little different on Gnome, KDE, Mate, Cinnamon, XFCE, etc. Try another desktop and it will look different. First look up the different desktops to see what you like, choose one of the big ones to be safe. And first update your Ubuntu
Joined: May 18, 2021
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Re: Ugly looking interface problem HELP NEEDED!
I think you are referring to the NEW releases by Space Mushrooms that are only available through paid application stores for Mac and Windows. These have a much more modern design UI. Being on Linux these updates to the UI are not available to Linux users.
Joined: May 18, 2021
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Re: Ugly looking interface problem HELP NEEDED!
Just noticed:
Ubuntu 20 64bit
Is this accurate?!?! 20.04 Focal Fossa is an LTS, but standard support ended in May of this year as described here . You really should upgrade anyway if you haven't paid for an Ubuntu Pro subscription.
Bare minimum today is 22.04, which is supported till Apr '27.
Joined: May 18, 2021
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Re: Ugly looking interface problem HELP NEEDED!
If you use the online version the UI looks a little prettier, but it is more limited (no plugins). If you use the Apple Store Mac, iPad or iPhone versions they have updated UI's - i.e. the Mac version has a ribbon-style toolbar. If you use the MS store version, I think it is still the original UI and toolbars. I don't believe these paid versions contain any significant new functionality over the free versions. If you use the freely downloadable Linux, Mac, or Windows version those are still the original UI.
I'm on 22.04 and SH3D looks pretty much identical to your screenshot. It will likely look the same under 24.04 too.
As Keet said, the Java application adapts to the desktop it runs on, so Java is using the gnome GTK widgets and that theming to render the buttons and toolbars, and yes they look a bit crap. Especially the file picker is terrible. There are other Java "Look and Feel" options you can force, but they will look out of place. It is worth pointing out that this is entirely cosmetic - changing the look will not change how the application functions.
Netherlands
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Re: Ugly looking interface problem HELP NEEDED!
Did you keep the same Desktop as before (Gnome I presume)? Change your desktop if you want a fancier user interface, not only for Sweet Home 3D but for all programs.
Besides that, you can customize most parts of a desktop like window borders etc. It depends on which desktop you have chosen to how much you can customize. Gnome is very basic, KDE very fancy. Most others are somewhere in between.
---------------------------------------- Dodecagon.nl 1300+ 3D models, manuals, and projects
Joined: May 18, 2021
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Re: Ugly looking interface problem HELP NEEDED!
How "developer" are you? You could try building your own version of SH3D adding the flatlaf (look and feel) library and configuring the laf in the launch script. This has a more modern flat look by default, with a less ugly default file chooser.
If you still want to use the gtk theme to blend with Ubuntu, you could use the flatlaf gtk theme, and additionally tweak a few lines of code in SH3D to use the "SystemFileChooser" that comes with flatlaf, instead of JfileChooser. This then uses the systems file chooser, so it will literally be the gnome desktops regular more modern file chooser.
