Dolibarr is a powerful open-source ERP and CRM solution used by businesses of all sizes to manage operations such as invoicing, inventory, HR, and more. As with any business tool, branding and visual identity matter. One of the first steps to making Dolibarr truly your own is to customize its appearance—especially the logo and color scheme. This comprehensive guide walks you through the entire process, step-by-step, so that your Dolibarr instance reflects your company's brand.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction to Dolibarr

  2. Why Customize Dolibarr?

  3. Understanding Dolibarr's File Structure

  4. Preparing Your Custom Assets

  5. Changing the Logo

    • Login Page Logo

    • Top Navigation Logo

    • PDF Document Logos

  6. Customizing the Color Scheme

    • CSS Files and Themes

    • Modifying Theme Files

    • Using Custom CSS

  7. Creating and Applying a Custom Theme

  8. Tips for Maintaining Customizations During Updates

  9. Reverting to Default Appearance

  10. Final Thoughts and Best Practices

1. Introduction to Dolibarr

Dolibarr ERP/CRM is a modular software suite that enables businesses to manage a wide range of activities. It is built with PHP and uses MySQL or PostgreSQL for database management. Because it's open source, it offers a high degree of flexibility and customization. Users can adapt it to their specific operational needs without the licensing constraints of proprietary software.

Dolibarr can be installed on-premise or hosted on a cloud server, making it accessible to a wide user base. It's popular among small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), freelancers, and NGOs looking for an all-in-one business management solution.

2. Why Customize Dolibarr?

Brand consistency is essential for internal and external communications. A personalized Dolibarr installation can:

  • Improve user experience by aligning the interface with company branding

  • Enhance professionalism during client interactions (e.g., when sending PDF invoices)

  • Make your instance easier to navigate and use internally

Customization is not just about aesthetics; it's about usability and identity. By tailoring the look and feel of Dolibarr, you make it a more integrated part of your company's ecosystem.

3. Understanding Dolibarr's File Structure

Before making any changes, it's crucial to understand how Dolibarr is structured. Knowing where to find certain files will save time and avoid unnecessary errors.

The typical Dolibarr installation includes the following directories:

  • /htdocs - The main web-accessible directory

  • /htdocs/theme - Contains all the theme-related files

  • /htdocs/includes - Houses core configuration files

  • /documents - Stores uploaded documents and logos

Within /htdocs/theme, each subfolder corresponds to a theme (e.g., eldy, md, bureau2crea). Each theme folder includes CSS files, images, and JavaScript specific to that theme.

4. Preparing Your Custom Assets

Before diving into changes, gather your custom assets:

  • Logo files: Preferably in PNG format with transparent backgrounds

  • Color codes: Hex codes of your brand's primary and secondary colors

  • Backup: Always backup the original theme files before modification

Having these ready ensures a smoother customization process.

5. Changing the Logo

Dolibarr uses different logos for different parts of the application. You will need to replace or reference your new logo in several places.

Login Page Logo

The login page logo is often located in the following path:

/htdocs/theme/eldy/img/logo_login.png

To change it:

  1. Rename your custom logo to logo_login.png.

  2. Replace the original file in the img directory.

  3. Clear your browser cache or restart the web server to see the changes.

Top Navigation Logo

The top-left logo in the application header is located here:

/htdocs/theme/eldy/img/logo_setup.png

Steps to change:

  1. Rename your new logo to logo_setup.png.

  2. Replace the file in the same img directory.

  3. Optionally, adjust its size via CSS if it doesn't fit properly.

PDF Document Logos

Invoices, proposals, and other PDF documents generated by Dolibarr also use logos. These are usually stored in the documents directory or specified per third-party or company.

To set a custom logo:

  1. Go to Home > Setup > Company/Organization.

  2. Upload your logo in the section labeled "Logo used on documents".

  3. Save the settings and test by generating a PDF invoice.

Each third-party can also have their own logo set individually, useful for multisite or multi-brand operations.

6. Customizing the Color Scheme

Dolibarr themes are built using CSS. The default theme is called eldy, but others exist and can be cloned or modified.

CSS Files and Themes

Theme CSS files are located in:

/htdocs/theme/eldy/style.css.php

This is a dynamic PHP file that outputs CSS. Editing it directly allows you to change colors globally.

Common color references in the file include:

--colorbackbody: #f4f4f4;
--colorbackhmenu1: #333;
--colortexttitle: #222;

Modifying Theme Files

To modify colors:

  1. Open style.css.php in a code editor.

  2. Search for the CSS variable you wish to change (e.g., --colorbackbody).

  3. Replace the value with your brand color.

  4. Save and refresh your Dolibarr instance.

Always test in a development environment first.

Using Custom CSS

Instead of editing the default theme, you can create a custom CSS file:

  1. Copy the existing theme folder and rename it (e.g., mytheme).

  2. Modify style.css.php and any image assets within.

  3. Go to Home > Setup > Display > Theme and select your custom theme.

This is a safer approach as it avoids overwriting changes during updates.

7. Creating and Applying a Custom Theme

To make a fully custom theme:

  1. Duplicate an existing theme folder:

cp -r /htdocs/theme/eldy /htdocs/theme/mytheme

  1. Edit style.css.php within the new folder to match your color palette.

  2. Replace image assets (like logos) inside your custom theme directory.

  3. Update the theme selection in Dolibarr's settings.

This approach allows full control over the UI and ensures compatibility with future updates (provided Dolibarr doesn't overhaul theme handling).

8. Tips for Maintaining Customizations During Updates

Dolibarr is actively maintained, and updates can overwrite core files. To avoid losing your customizations:

  • Use a custom theme folder: Never modify the default theme directly.

  • Document your changes: Keep a changelog of files edited and assets replaced.

  • Automate backups: Regular backups help you revert if updates break anything.

  • Test updates in a staging environment: Never update your live installation without testing.

Following these practices will save you hours of rework.

9. Reverting to Default Appearance

If something goes wrong or you simply want to go back:

  1. Restore original logo files from a backup.

  2. Switch back to the default theme under Display > Theme.

  3. Delete or rename your custom theme folder to avoid conflicts.

10. Final Thoughts and Best Practices

Customizing Dolibarr can enhance user experience and reinforce your company's brand. However, it's important to do it systematically:

  • Plan your changes ahead of time.

  • Use development and staging environments.

  • Keep backups and documentation.

  • Stick to custom themes to minimize disruption during upgrades.

Whether you're adjusting a logo or overhauling the entire UI, personalization makes Dolibarr feel like a natural part of your business operations. With the steps in this guide, you can confidently take control of your instance's look and feel.