From Newsgroup: comp.lang.tcl

I want to make the title bar of a toplevel window dark.
Is this possible?
I couldn't find a solution in the toplevel and wm commands.

Thanks
Alex
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From Newsgroup: comp.lang.tcl

Hello,

I want to make the title bar of a toplevel window dark.
Is this possible?
I couldn't find a solution in the toplevel and wm commands.

no. I think it isn't.
The title bar is what is called 'decoration' in the docs and it is
provided by the window manager.
However, if you choose a dark theme you shoukd get a 'dark' title bar.
Whether that blends wit the rest of your toplevel is another question.
HTH
Helmut
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From Newsgroup: comp.lang.tcl

Am 14.03.2026 um 16:24 schrieb Helmut Giese:

no. I think it isn't.
The title bar is what is called 'decoration' in the docs and it is
provided by the window manager.
However, if you choose a dark theme you shoukd get a 'dark' title bar. Whether that blends wit the rest of your toplevel is another question.
HTH
Helmut

In Windows I use a dark theme.
But somehow Tcl/Tk does not care about it.
Other programs automatically switch to a dark color of their title bars.
So maybe I shouldn't search for a command.
Instead Tcl/Tk should be fixed in that regard?
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From Newsgroup: comp.lang.tcl

Am 14.03.2026 um 16:24 schrieb Helmut Giese:

no. I think it isn't.
The title bar is what is called 'decoration' in the docs and it is
provided by the window manager.
However, if you choose a dark theme you shoukd get a 'dark' title bar.
Whether that blends wit the rest of your toplevel is another question.
HTH
Helmut

In Windows I use a dark theme.
But somehow Tcl/Tk does not care about it.
Other programs automatically switch to a dark color of their title bars.
So maybe I shouldn't search for a command.

Sorry, I have absolutely no experience with themes.

Instead Tcl/Tk should be fixed in that regard?

Hm, instead of thinking that Tk is at fault I would continue
searching. How about looking for themed Tk apps (on the wiki?) and
learning from them?
HTH
Helmut
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From Newsgroup: comp.lang.tcl

Am 14.03.2026 um 21:25 schrieb Helmut Giese:

Hm, instead of thinking that Tk is at fault I would continue
searching. How about looking for themed Tk apps (on the wiki?) and
learning from them?
HTH
Helmut

I'm already using the awtheme.
It does not change the color of the title bar.
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From Newsgroup: comp.lang.tcl

Am 15.03.2026 um 13:01 schrieb meshparts:

Am 14.03.2026 um 21:25 schrieb Helmut Giese:

Hm, instead of thinking that Tk is at fault I would continue
searching. How about looking for themed Tk apps (on the wiki?) and
learning from them?
HTH
Helmut

I'm already using the awtheme.
It does not change the color of the title bar.

Here is written how to enable it:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/desktop/modernize/ui/apply-windows-themes

File a ticket in Tk and perhaps somewone will work on the fix.
AFAI you refuse to touch the C code, so you depend on the grace of
others ;-).

Take care,
Harald
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From Newsgroup: comp.lang.tcl

Am 15.03.2026 um 13:26 schrieb Harald Oehlmann:

Here is written how to enable it:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/desktop/modernize/ui/ apply-windows-themes

File a ticket in Tk and perhaps somewone will work on the fix.
AFAI you refuse to touch the C code, so you depend on the grace of
others 😉.

Take care,
Harald

Thanks Harald, but I guess this solution is way to complicated for me
and my knowledge level.

I might post a ticket then.

Regards
Alex
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From Newsgroup: comp.lang.tcl

On 3/15/2026 8:34 AM, meshparts wrote:

Am 15.03.2026 um 13:26 schrieb Harald Oehlmann:

Here is written how to enable it:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/desktop/modernize/ui/ apply-windows-themes

File a ticket in Tk and perhaps somewone will work on the fix.
AFAI you refuse to touch the C code, so you depend on the grace of others 😉.

Take care,
Harald

Thanks Harald, but I guess this solution is way to complicated for me and my knowledge level.

I might post a ticket then.

Regards
Alex

How badly do you want this? :)

I got an AI to create a truly ugly script that can do this on my windows 10 system. It uses powershell and wscript. The wscript isn't actually needed, and cmd.exe can be used, but then you end up with a brief flash of the cmd window.

Also, when the window has focus, it will still show the titlebar with the normal window color, blue in my system. It will be dark only when another window has focus.





proc apply_dark_titlebar {win} {
update idletasks
set hwnd [expr {[wm frame $win]}]

set ps_file "$::env(TEMP)/dark_titlebar.ps1"
set vbs_file "$::env(TEMP)/dark_titlebar.vbs"

set ps_script "\$v = 1
\$hwnd = \[IntPtr\]${hwnd}L
Add-Type @'
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
public class DWM {
\[DllImport(\"dwmapi.dll\")\]
public static extern int DwmSetWindowAttribute(IntPtr h, int a, ref int v, int s);
}
'@
\[DWM\]::DwmSetWindowAttribute(\$hwnd, 19, \[ref\]\$v, 4)
"
set fh [open $ps_file w]
puts $fh $ps_script
close $fh

set ps_native [file nativename $ps_file]
set vbs_script "CreateObject(\"WScript.Shell\").Run \"powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -NonInteractive -WindowStyle Hidden -File \"\"$ps_native\"\"\", 0, True"

set fh [open $vbs_file w]
puts $fh $vbs_script
close $fh

catch { exec wscript.exe $vbs_file }

# Force DWM to recompose by withdrawing and re-showing
wm withdraw $win
wm deiconify $win
raise $win
focus $win
file delete $ps_file
file delete $vbs_file
}
if [catch {
package require awdark
::ttk::style theme use awdark
} err_code] {
puts $err_code
}
wm geom . 405x200+32+32

ttk::frame .f
ttk::button .f.b -text "Apply Dark Title" -command { apply_dark_titlebar . ;after 200 {console show}}
pack .f .f.b -fill x -expand true




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From Newsgroup: comp.lang.tcl

Thanks !
Here is the ticket:

https://core.tcl-lang.org/tk/info/a2125a1bc924cf98

Take care,
Harald

Am 16.03.2026 um 00:03 schrieb et99:

proc apply_dark_titlebar {win} {
    update idletasks
    set hwnd [expr {[wm frame $win]}]

    set ps_file  "$::env(TEMP)/dark_titlebar.ps1"
    set vbs_file "$::env(TEMP)/dark_titlebar.vbs"

    set ps_script "\$v = 1
\$hwnd = \[IntPtr\]${hwnd}L
Add-Type @'
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
public class DWM {
    \[DllImport(\"dwmapi.dll\")\]
    public static extern int DwmSetWindowAttribute(IntPtr h, int a, ref int v, int s);
}
'@
\[DWM\]::DwmSetWindowAttribute(\$hwnd, 19, \[ref\]\$v, 4)
"
    set fh [open $ps_file w]
    puts $fh $ps_script
    close $fh

    set ps_native [file nativename $ps_file]
    set vbs_script "CreateObject(\"WScript.Shell\").Run
\"powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -NonInteractive -WindowStyle
Hidden -File \"\"$ps_native\"\"\", 0, True"

    set fh [open $vbs_file w]
    puts $fh $vbs_script
    close $fh

    catch { exec wscript.exe $vbs_file }

    # Force DWM to recompose by withdrawing and re-showing
    wm withdraw $win
    wm deiconify $win
    raise $win
    focus $win
    file delete $ps_file
    file delete $vbs_file
}
if [catch {
    package require awdark
    ::ttk::style theme use awdark
} err_code] {
    puts $err_code
}
wm geom . 405x200+32+32

ttk::frame .f
ttk::button .f.b -text "Apply Dark Title" -command
{ apply_dark_titlebar . ;after 200 {console show}}
pack .f .f.b -fill x -expand true

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From Newsgroup: comp.lang.tcl

Am 16.03.2026 um 00:03 schrieb et99:

How badly do you want this? 🙂

I got an AI to create a truly ugly script that can do this on my windows
10 system. It uses powershell and wscript. The wscript isn't actually needed, and cmd.exe can be used, but then you end up with a brief flash
of the cmd window.

Also, when the window has focus, it will still show the titlebar with
the normal window color, blue in my system. It will be dark only when another window has focus.

Not that bad :)
I appreciate the effort, but indeed, the side effects are stronger than
the benefits.

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From Newsgroup: comp.lang.tcl

Am 16.03.2026 um 10:59 schrieb Harald Oehlmann:

Here is the ticket:

https://core.tcl-lang.org/tk/info/a2125a1bc924cf98

Thank you!
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