Setting up Xubuntu

A few commands on how to configure Xubuntu via the commandline (where possible)

Customising XScreensaver in Xubuntu

Copy over .xscreensaver to the home directory

timeout:        0:10:00
cycle:          0:10:00
lock:           False
lockTimeout:    0:00:00
passwdTimeout:  0:00:30
visualID:       default
installColormap:    True
verbose:        False
timestamp:      True
splash:         True
splashDuration: 0:00:05
demoCommand:    xscreensaver-demo
prefsCommand:   xscreensaver-demo -prefs
nice:           10
memoryLimit:    0
fade:           True
unfade:         False
fadeSeconds:    0:00:03
fadeTicks:      20
captureStderr:  True
ignoreUninstalledPrograms:False
font:           *-medium-r-*-140-*-m-*
dpmsEnabled:    True
dpmsQuickOff:   False
dpmsStandby:    2:00:00
dpmsSuspend:    2:00:00
dpmsOff:        2:00:00
grabDesktopImages:  False
grabVideoFrames:    False
chooseRandomImages: True
imageDirectory: /mnt/inbox/background

mode:           one
selected:       142

textMode:       url
textLiteral:    XScreenSaver
textFile:
textProgram:    fortune
textURL:        http://fridge.ubuntu.com/node/feed

programs:                                                                     \
...
- GL:                           glslideshow -root -delay 100000 -duration     \
                                  10 -zoom 100 -pan 1 -fade 0 -letterbox      \n\
...

pointerPollTime:    0:00:05
pointerHysteresis:  10
windowCreationTimeout:0:00:30
initialDelay:   0:00:00
GetViewPortIsFullOfLies:False
procInterrupts: True
xinputExtensionDev: False
overlayStderr:  True

Customising Desktop in Xubuntu

To use xfconf-query you need to set the DISPLAY variable

export DISPLAY=:0.0;

List all the possible channels

rob@ubuntu:~/.config/xfce4$ xfconf-query --list
Channels:
  xfce4-power-manager
  xsettings
  xfprint
  thunar-volman
  xfce4-notifyd
  xfce4-session
  xfwm4
  thunar
  xfce4-panel
  ristretto
  keyboards
  xfce4-keyboard-shortcuts
  xfce4-desktop
  displays

To set a list of pictures

xfconf-query \
	--channel xfce4-desktop \
	--property /backdrop/screen0/monitor0/image-path \
	--set /mnt/inbox/background/desktop.list

To set it to blank

xfconf-query \
	--channel xfce4-desktop \
	--property /backdrop/screen0/monitor0/image-path \
	--set empty

To get it to select the next picture

DISPLAY=:0.0 xfdesktop --reload

or through cron (every 5 minutes)

*/5 * * * * DISPLAY=:0.0 xfdesktop --reload > /dev/null 2>&1

Panel Configuration

Add an item by opening:
Menu -> Accessories -> Application Finder.
Then drag the applications onto the panel.

List all properties and their values about panels

xfconf-query -c xfce4-panel -p /panels -l -v

Stop the autohide

xfconf-query \
--channel xfce4-panel \
--property /panels/panel-1/autohide \
--set false

Set the panel vertical

xfconf-query \
--channel xfce4-panel \
--property /panels/panel-1/mode \
--set 1

Make the side panel slightly shorter so it does not interfere with the top panel

xfconf-query -c xfce4-panel -p /panels/panel-1/length -s 96

Update the number of workspaces

xfconf-query \
--channel xfwm4 \
--property /general/workspace_count \
--set 4

Configure the workspace names

xfconf-query \
--channel xfwm4 \
--property /general/workspace_names \
--set General \
--set Web \
--set Dev \
--set Terminal \
--set "Workspace 5" \
--set "Workspace 6" \
--set "Workspace 7" \
--set "Workspace 8" \
--set "Workspace 9" \
--set "Workspace 10"

Configure Thunar (File manager)

xfconf-query -c thunar -p /misc-single-click -s false
xfconf-query -c thunar -p /default-view -s ThunarDetailsView
xfconf-query -c thunar -p /misc-thumbnail-mode -s THUNAR_THUMBNAIL_MODE_ALWAYS
xfconf-query -c thunar -p /misc-date-style -s THUNAR_DATE_STYLE_ISO
xfconf-query -c thunar -p /last-details-view-column-widths -s 50,261,50,50,166,50,50,64,130
xfconf-query -c thunar -p /misc-middle-click-in-tab -s true
xfconf-query -c thunar -p /last-window-width -s 796
xfconf-query -c thunar -p /last-window-height -s 509
xfconf-query -c thunar -p /last-window-maximized -s false
xfconf-query -c thunar -p /last-details-view-zoom-level -s THUNAR_ZOOM_LEVEL_SMALLEST

Allow restart from the menu

Right Click on the username (Top right) and select properties. This could be done through xfconf, but the panel items are all generic (panel123, etc)

References