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Install and activate skins from the feed

A skin package installs the files for a new interface. Skin Settings activates it. A supplied configuration plugin then adjusts colours and views. Umbra is the example here: a compact HD/FHD/WQHD skin for OpenATV from 8.0.

Download from the feed

Section titled “Download from the feed”
  1. Check internet access and free internal flash space. Free space on a NAS does not replace the space required to install a skin package.
  2. Open MENU → Plugins and, in normal display mode, Green → Install Plugins.
  3. Wait for the package catalogue and open Skins / Skin Packages.
  4. Choose the package, here umbra. Its technical name is enigma2-plugin-skins-umbra.
  5. Mark it using the selection action shown in the dialog. Press Green to install and confirm the displayed package list.
  6. Wait for completion. The package manager handles dependencies. Perform a GUI restart if requested.
Plugin feed with package categories including skins
General feed example in MetrixHD. Skin Packages contains skins for the installed image; package names and availability can change. Open original image ↗

An already installed Umbra package may not appear in the list of packages available for installation. Check Skin Settings and the Umbra entry in Plugins instead. The pictures in this handbook use the existing installation.

If the whole category is missing, check the plugin browser’s category filters. If one skin is missing, check image version, feed and package name. Do not add a different image’s package sources to work around a dependency. Plugin management explains installation, updates and removal.

Activate the installed skin

Section titled “Activate the installed skin”

Open MENU → Setup → User Interface → Skin Settings. Parent menu wording can vary with the translation; search for Skin Settings.

  1. Select GUI Skin and choose Umbra with Left/Right.
  2. Check the selection and press Green → Save.
  3. Wait for reloading. A GUI restart may be requested depending on the skin, image and settings.
  4. Open MENU → Plugins → Umbra for its appearance settings.
OpenATV Skin Settings with Umbra selected
Native Skin Settings in Umbra FHD. The row was selected for the screenshot; this dialog did not save a skin change. Open original image ↗

Fast Skin Reload belongs to the general skin selector. Umbra also has its own process for applying style values. Switching skins, applying a style pack and changing OSD resolution are therefore separate actions.

Configure Umbra for the first time

Section titled “Configure Umbra for the first time”

Start with Umbra Graphit and a supported resolution. The Umbra plugin offers Style pack, Section and OSD resolution. Green applies the appearance. Switching packs alone does not reset existing personal overrides. See controls and style packs.

HDMI output is independent of skin resolution. Use WQHD only on a suitable receiver. The resolution table explains HD, FHD and WQHD.

Switch back, update or remove

Section titled “Switch back, update or remove”
  • Switch back: Choose the previously installed skin in Skin Settings, save and restart the GUI if requested.
  • Update: Use the feed belonging to your image and the software manager. Keep a copy of personal Umbra style packs outside the receiver first.
  • Remove: Activate a different skin first, then remove the unwanted package through plugin management and review any dependencies shown.
  • GUI does not start after switching: The SSH guide explains stopping and starting Enigma2. With the GUI stopped, an experienced user can reset config.skin.primary_skin in /etc/enigma2/settings to a genuinely installed, previously working skin. Do not blindly overwrite the settings file while Enigma2 runs.

Picons, front-display skins, e2MDB metadata and subtitles are separate topics. Continue with the complete Umbra handbook or MetrixHD.

Sources: OpenATV package management, skin selection.

Other fields in the general skin selector

Section titled “Other fields in the general skin selector”

The existing Skin reference contains seven fields. In addition to GUI skin and fast reload, it includes:

Field Purpose
LCD/Front panel Select a separate display skin where suitable front-display hardware exists. Independent of the TV GUI skin.
Fallback Font Select a font for characters missing from regular skin fonts. It does not translate text or change keyboard layout.
Channel Selection Screen Choose a screen template offered by the current skin.
Channel Selection List Choose the entry layout within that template; see the existing gallery.
AutoRefresh Automatically refresh supported templates. Does not schedule skin-package updates from the feed.

Channel Selection Screen/List also appear in channel-list settings: they are the same configuration fields. Fast Skin Reload avoids a full GUI restart for supported switches; other changes or plugins can still require one. See Display for brightness and Picons for logo sources.