Chapter 8. Customizing desktop appearance

Procedure

1. Create a local database for machine-wide settings in /etc/dconf/db/local.d/00-background:

   [org/gnome/desktop/background]
   
   picture-uri='file:///usr/local/share/backgrounds/wallpaper.jpg' 

   1

   
   picture-options='scaled' 

   2

   
   primary-color='000000' 

   3

   
   secondary-color='FFFFFF' 

   4

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   1

   Specify the path to the desktop background image file.

   2

   Specify one of the rendering options for the background image:

   • none
   • wallpaper
   • centered
   • scaled
   • stretched
   • zoom
   • spanned

   3

   Specify the left or top color when drawing gradients or the solid color.

   4

   Specify the right or bottom color when drawing gradients.

2. Optional: If you want to prevent a user from changing the default background, override the user’s setting in the /etc/dconf/db/local.d/locks/background file:

   # List the keys used to configure the desktop background
   /org/gnome/desktop/background/picture-uri
   /org/gnome/desktop/background/picture-options
   /org/gnome/desktop/background/primary-color
   /org/gnome/desktop/background/secondary-color

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3. Update the system databases:

   # dconf update

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4. Users must log out and back in again before the system-wide settings take effect.

Procedure

1. Create the /usr/share/gnome-background-properties/extra-backgrounds.xml file.

2. In the new file, specify the extra background files and their appearance in the following format:

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
   <!DOCTYPE wallpapers SYSTEM "gnome-wp-list.dtd">
   <wallpapers>
     <wallpaper deleted="false">
       <name>Background name</name>
       <filename>full-path-to-the-image</filename>
       <options>display-option</options>
       <shade_type>background-shade</shade_type>
       <pcolor>primary-color</pcolor>
       <scolor>secondary-color</scolor>
     </wallpaper>
   </wallpapers>

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3. The new backgrounds are now available to all users in the Background section of the Settings application.

Procedure

1. Create the /etc/dconf/db/gdm.d/01-screensaver file:

   [org/gnome/desktop/screensaver]
   picture-uri='file:///opt/corp/background.jpg'

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   Replace /opt/corp/background.jpg with the absolute path to the image file that you want to use as the default screen shield. Supported formats are PNG, JPG, JPEG, and TGA. Note that the screen shield scales your image if necessary to fit the screen.

2. Update the system databases:

   # dconf update

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3. Users must log out and back in again before the system-wide settings take effect.

Procedure

1. Create a local database file for machine-wide settings in /etc/dconf/db/local.d/00-extensions:

   [org/gnome/shell]
   # List all extensions that you want to have enabled for all users
   enabled-extensions=['myextension1@myname.example.com', 'myextension2@myname.example.com']

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   The enabled-extensions key specifies the enabled extensions using the extensions' UUID (myextension1@myname.example.com and myextension2@myname.example.com).

2. Update the system databases:

   # dconf update

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3. Users must log out and back in again before the system-wide settings take effect.

   Note

   There is currently no way to enable additional extensions for users who have already logged in. This does not apply for existing users who have installed and enabled their own GNOME extensions.

Procedure

1. Create a local database file for machine-wide settings in /etc/dconf/db/local.d/00-extensions:

   [org/gnome/shell]
   # List all extensions that you want to have enabled for all users
   enabled-extensions=['myextension1@myname.example.com', 'myextension2@myname.example.com']

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   The enabled-extensions key specifies the enabled extensions using the extensions' UUID (myextension1@myname.example.com and myextension2@myname.example.com).

2. Override the user’s setting and prevent the user from changing it in /etc/dconf/db/local.d/locks/extensions:

   # Lock the list of mandatory extensions
   /org/gnome/shell/enabled-extensions

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3. Update the system databases:

   # dconf update

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4. Users must log out and back in again before the system-wide settings take effect.

Procedure

1. Create a local database file for machine-wide settings in /etc/dconf/db/local.d/00-extensions-mandatory:

   [org/gnome/shell]
   # List all mandatory extensions
   enabled-extensions=['myextension1@myname.example.com', 'myextension2@myname.example.com']

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   The enabled-extensions key specifies the enabled extensions using the extensions' UUID (myextension1@myname.example.com and myextension2@myname.example.com).

2. Override the user’s setting and prevent the user from changing it in /etc/dconf/db/local.d/locks/extensions-mandatory:

   # Lock the list of mandatory extensions
   /org/gnome/shell/enabled-extensions

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3. Update the system databases:

   # dconf update

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4. Users must log out and back in again before the system-wide settings take effect.