The Redmineflux Scarlet Theme Plugin is a comprehensive UI theme for Redmine that transforms the default interface into a modern, clean, and visually polished experience. Designed for teams who demand a professional project management interface, it delivers a complete layout overhaul — including a collapsible left sidebar, a collapsible page header with project navigation tabs, and a full set of customization options — all without requiring any database changes.
| Redmine Versions |
|---|
| 5.0.x, 5.1.x |
| 6.0.x |
To install the Redmineflux Scarlet Theme Plugin, follow these steps:
plugins/ directory. Do not rename the plugin folder — it must remain Redmineflux_scarlet.In Production:
RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rails redmine:plugins:migrate
In Development:
RAILS_ENV=development bundle exec rails redmine:plugins:migrate
Note: The Redmineflux Scarlet plugin does not create any database tables. This command is run as a standard step to ensure plugin registration is complete.
The plugin also auto-installs a companion theme on first server start. If the theme does not appear in the dropdown, you can install it manually:
bundle exec rake Redmineflux_scarlet:install_theme RAILS_ENV=production
The settings page has three tabs:
Assign a unique border color to each issue tracker type. When configured, a colored left border appears on issue ID cells throughout Redmine’s issue lists, making it easier to visually distinguish tracker types at a glance.
#0094FF) directly into the input field.Replace Redmine’s default text-based priority labels with custom icons on the issue detail page.
Customize the visual appearance and messaging on the Redmine login screen.
| Setting | Description | Default Value |
|---|---|---|
| Background Image | The image displayed on the right side of the login page | Default Redmineflux login image |
| Main Subtitle | The tagline displayed below the login form heading | Powerful project management and team collaboration. |
| Forgot Password Subtitle | The description shown on the password reset page | Enter your email address to receive password reset instructions. |
The Scarlet layout, fonts, icons, and styles will be applied immediately across all pages.
The left sidebar displays per-project navigation links.
The page header contains the page title and the project-level navigation tab bar.
#main-menu) are present.Issue ID cells in issue lists will now display a left border in the configured color for each tracker type.
Priority icons will appear on the issue detail page next to the issue’s priority field.
Changes are reflected immediately on the login and password recovery pages.
The issue list filter panel starts collapsed by default for a cleaner initial view.
The Redmineflux Scarlet Theme gives Redmine a fresh, modern look and feel. Here’s what you’ll see:
A clean sidebar on the left side showing project-specific navigation links (like Issues, Roadmap, Wiki, Files). The currently active page is always highlighted. You can collapse it anytime using the toggle button or the Ctrl+B keyboard shortcut, and it remembers your preference. On pages with no sidebar content, it hides itself automatically.
Each page has a clear title with action buttons at the top, along with the project navigation tabs. You can click the page title to collapse or expand the navigation tabs for more screen space.
The main working area where all your project content appears. Filters and options can be expanded or collapsed to keep things tidy. On the issue list, the filter panel starts collapsed for a cleaner initial view.
A modern split-screen design with the login form on the left and a customizable background image on the right. It looks great on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
The Scarlet Theme gives a fresh, redesigned look to many Redmine pages for a more polished and consistent experience:
| Page | What’s Improved |
|---|---|
| Home / Welcome Page | A cleaner home page with modern fonts and well-organized content |
| Issue Detail Page | A better issue view with neatly grouped fields and custom priority icons |
| Project Overview | A redesigned project summary that’s easier to read and navigate |
| Roadmap / Versions | Cleaner version pages with better-looking progress bars |
| Issue List / Query Form | A tidier issue list with filters collapsed by default and a refined table layout |
| Activity Page | A cleaner activity feed layout |
| Login Page | A modern two-panel login screen with a customizable background image and messaging |
| Password Recovery Page | A styled password reset page that matches the login page look |
| Administration Pages | A refreshed admin interface that’s easier to read |
Theme not appearing after installation
Ensure the theme was activated: go to Administration → Settings → Display and verify that “Redmineflux Scarlet” is selected in the Theme dropdown. If the theme does not appear in the dropdown, run the following command and restart the server:
bundle exec rake Redmineflux_scarlet:install_theme RAILS_ENV=production
Sidebar toggle button not appearing
The toggle button is only injected when the #sidebar element has content. On pages where the sidebar is empty, the button is hidden intentionally. Navigate to a project page where the sidebar contains navigation links.
Priority icons are not displaying
Ensure that the Redmine web server has proper file write permissions. Uploaded icons are stored inside the Redmine public directory. Re-upload the icons from the plugin settings if they were lost during a server migration.
Tracker border colors are not applied
After saving colors, perform a hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R / Cmd+Shift+R) to bypass any cached stylesheets. A server restart is not needed — colors take effect on the next page load.
Header collapse not working
Clicking the page title only toggles the header on pages that include the #main-menu navigation tabs. On pages without a project nav bar, the click is intentionally disabled.
Layout conflicts with another plugin
If another plugin also modifies the main Redmine layout, conflicts may occur. Try disabling other layout-modifying plugins to confirm. Check the Redmine log for any view template errors.
Companion theme not auto-installing
If the theme doesn’t appear automatically after installation, run the install command manually:
bundle exec rake Redmineflux_scarlet:install_theme RAILS_ENV=production
Q: Does the plugin require database changes?
A: No. The Redmineflux Scarlet plugin does not create any database tables. All settings are stored using Redmine’s built-in plugin settings system.
Q: Can I install the plugin without activating the theme?
A: Yes. The plugin can be installed without activating the Scarlet theme. All visual changes are only applied when “Redmineflux Scarlet” is selected in Administration → Settings → Display. Until then, Redmine looks and behaves exactly as before.
Q: Is there a keyboard shortcut to toggle the sidebar?
A: Yes. Press Ctrl+B anywhere on the page to toggle the sidebar open or closed. The sidebar state is saved in your browser.
Q: Can I upload animated GIFs as priority icons?
A: Yes. The plugin accepts GIF files for priority icon uploads, in addition to SVG, PNG, and JPG formats. The maximum allowed file size is 100 KB.
Q: Is the plugin compatible with other Redmineflux plugins?
A: Yes. The Scarlet plugin is designed to work seamlessly with other Redmineflux plugins, including the Dashboard, Agile Board, and Workload plugins.
Q: Will the theme affect other users immediately?
A: Yes. Once an administrator activates the Scarlet theme, the new layout is applied for all users across the Redmine instance.
To uninstall the Redmineflux Scarlet Theme Plugin:
The Scarlet theme, all custom icons, and all plugin settings will be removed from your Redmine instance.
The Redmineflux Scarlet Theme Plugin transforms Redmine into a modern, professional-looking project management tool that your team will enjoy using every day. With its collapsible sidebar, collapsible page header, keyboard shortcuts, customizable tracker colors, priority icons, and a polished login page — it brings a complete visual upgrade without touching your database or disrupting your workflow.
Whether you’re managing a small team or a large organization, Scarlet makes Redmine feel like a premium, app-style experience right out of the box.
