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)