GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 101884
GtkCheckMenuItem doesn't show an inactive state
Last modified: 2004-12-22 21:47:04 UTC
GtkCheckMenuItem (and GtkRadioMenuItem) menu items look like regular menu items when they are inactive. This is not a big problem when the menu item's name is well chosen, but even then it would be better with some visual cue. Ideally they would look a bit like normal CheckButtons or RadioButtons. Others have suggested that this might be a theme bug. If so, I'd like to know of a theme that does this properly, or how a theme might do it properly.
Both the Mac and Windows do it this way, I think. GTK+ used to have an indication of unchecked menu items and it looked hideous. Generally, I dont'think it is a problem for properly designed menus. You have either: Show hidden characters or ./ Show hidden characters And it's clear that the first when is something you select to get the hidden characters, and the second one is a checked check menu item that you can uncheck.
Apparently the Mac actually changes it's menu items names (e.g. "Switch Off" becomes "Switch On" so it _does_ show the untoggled state. Of course we don't like to change menu item names, for other reasons. However, I kind of agree anyway that this can be mostly solved by using appropriate menu names.
This is just a "what does the default theme do" issue right, an engine can always draw something for the unchecked indicator, I would think.
Created attachment 13731 [details] mist_toggles.png
Yes, Dave Bordoley created this mist_toggles.png screenshot.