Ubuntu

Is there a tool to change default Gnome settings?

Asked by Jacob Popov

I'm creating a customized CD of Ubuntu. It has slightly different set of installed packages, and it should have a bit different Gnome settings.

How do I configure Gnome defaults (e.g., different panels and applets configuration)? Where should I start? Is there a tool for that?

I've tried Sabayon but it doesn't seem suitable for the task.

Thanks for helping,
JP

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Rodrigo Donado (frezeeer) said : 		#1

Hi:

you could try with gconf-editor
hope that helps

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Jacob Popov (j-a-popov) said : 		#2

Thanks for your reply, Rodrigo

Unfortunately this won't do either. First, I can't run X apps from chroot (see 'LiveCD Customizations' in the Wiki). Then, I don't see any help using gconf-editor.. I can as well edit the %gconf%.xml files manually...

I'd start with creating a user and setting everything for him... So I have a homefolder with the correct settings. Can I copy them somewhere to make them default for all new users?

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Simos Xenitellis  (simosx) said : 		#3

Sabayon appears to be what you need.

What you do with Sabayon is you log in to the "new" session and you make the changes you need. Sabayon is recording these changes. In this way, you do not need to tinker with configuration files; the changes are being applied themselves. Finally, at the dot files created with Sabayon on the home directory of the user in the LiveCD or bootable USB stick.

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Jacob Popov (j-a-popov) said : 		#4

to Simos Xenitellis:

I've tested Sabayon and it is not what I need. I can't have Sabayon installed on every machine!

I've found the hint in https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LiveCDCustomization

What I was actually looking for was a procedure like this:
1) create a temp user and adjust the settings
2) $ gconftool-2 --dump > /home/tempusername/filename
3) figure out the settings branch I need (e.g., /apps/panel)
4 $ sudo cp /home/tempusername/filename /home/realusername/live/edit/
5) chroot into the CD being customized (see the link above)
6) # gconftool-2 --direct --config-source xml:readwrite:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.defaults --load /filename
7) # rm /filename
8) remove the temp user

That's all: the settings are imported into the customized CD

Thanx all for help