When your application starts, you should include a call to:

  rc_parse(filename)

Passing in the filename of your rc file. This will cause GTK+ to parse this file, and use the style settings for the widget types defined there.

If you wish to have a special set of widgets that can take on a different style from others, or any other logical division of widgets, use a call to:

  widget.set_name(name)

Your newly created widget will be assigned the name you give. This will allow you to change the attributes of this widget by name through the rc file.

If we use a call something like this:

  button = gtk.Button("Special Button")

  button.set_name("special button")

Then this button is given the name "special button" and may be addressed by name in the rc file as "special button.GtkButton". [--- Verify ME!]

Section 23.3, “Example rc file” below, sets the properties of the main window, and lets all children of that main window inherit the style described by the "main button" style. The code used in the application is:

  window = gtk.Window(gtk.WINDOW_TOPLEVEL)

  window.set_name("main window")

And then the style is defined in the rc file using:

  widget "main window.*GtkButton*" style "main_button"

Which sets all the Button (see Chapter 6, The Button Widget widgets in the "main window" to the "main_buttons" style as defined in the rc file.

As you can see, this is a fairly powerful and flexible system. Use your imagination as to how best to take advantage of this.