1.2. Setting System-Wide Default and Mandatory Preferences

You can set system-wide settings using either the graphical GConf editor or the command line utility, gconftool-2. Examples of each method are given below.

CautionCaution
 

You should make sure that all users are logged out before changing any system-wide default or mandatory preference settings.

1.2.1. Using GConf Editor

When logged in as root, you can use GConf editor to set system-wide default and system-wide mandatory settings by opening a special GConf editor window. For example, to set mandatory system-wide settings, run GConf editor and choose New Mandatory Window from the File menu as shown in Figure 1-2.

Figure 1-2. Mandatory Settings Using GConf Editor

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Refer to the Configuration Editor Manual (available through the online help system) for more detailed information on using the GConf editor.

1.2.2. Using the gconftool-2 Utility

For example, using gconftool-2 you can set the system-wide default number of workspaces to 5 by issuing the command:

# gconftool-2 --direct --config-source \
  xml:readwrite:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.defaults \
  xml:readwrite:/etc/gconf/gconf.xml.defaults --type int --set \
  /apps/metacity/general/num_workspaces 5

TipTip
 

Refer to the GConf Section of the GNOME Desktop System Administration Guide (available through the online help system) for more detailed information regarding the use of gconftool-2.