CrunchBang Linux

Mr.Voorxotho

Member

From: Here

Registered: 2011-02-05

Posts: 34

Apply menu changes for ALL users?

I'm sure there is an easy way, but I have not been able to find a solution to this problem anywhere, especially not on the OB website.

I have edited the OB-menu & shortcut keys, but the changes only apply to my user-session.

Any new user is presented with a default menu that is virtually useless, because many applications have been removed or replaced.

Is there a straightforward way of applying menu/key changes for all users, across the entire system, or is it necessary to rewrite the entire menu every time a new user is added?

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If your favourite book were translated into code, what kind of operating system would be the result?

slapfish

#! Die Hard

From: Athens, Greece

Registered: 2009-10-22

Posts: 601

Re: Apply menu changes for ALL users?

EDIT2: You can copy your version of config files to /etc/skel/.config. This is the location of the default configuration files for a new user.

If you already have several users on your system and you want to share the same openbox menu/theme/shortcut keys:
You can move menu.xml and rc.xml in, lets say /etc or /etc/default and create links to that file on all users home directory: /home/*/.config/openbox. However because shortcut keys and theme are set up inside rc.xml you can't share only one of them, but both.

My apologies for the multiple editing of my post.

Last edited by slapfish (2011-03-30 13:15:49)

Awebb

The Singularity

Registered: 2009-07-23

Posts: 2,812

Re: Apply menu changes for ALL users?

I would not recommend setting links to config files of other users, you might have some trouble with permissions and groups.

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I'm so meta, even this acronym

slapfish

#! Die Hard

From: Athens, Greece

Registered: 2009-10-22

Posts: 601

Re: Apply menu changes for ALL users?

I wouldn't do that either, but it's the only way I can think of to edit one config file and change all user's menus. On the other hand I think I misunderstood what he is asking and the answer he was expecting is to just change the files on /etc/skel which is a fine thing to do.

Mr.Voorxotho

Member

From: Here

Registered: 2011-02-05

Posts: 34

Re: Apply menu changes for ALL users?

[@ slapfish & Awebb] That's got me thinking:

Without setting links to other users, would it work to simply either copy 'my' .xml scripts & paste them into the new users' scripts (after deleting the default text, of course), or, just replace their script files entirely, as if replacing a text document with an updated version of the same name?

All that would be required then would be a minimal amount of editing to remove privileged items from their new scripts.

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If your favourite book were translated into code, what kind of operating system would be the result?

slapfish

#! Die Hard

From: Athens, Greece

Registered: 2009-10-22

Posts: 601

Re: Apply menu changes for ALL users?

Hmm, now that you are asking I see what were Awebb's concerns. Copying/replacing the xml files will do what you want, but before any reboot or logout make sure the privileges and groups are correct. I only have one user so I can't check what will happen, but I think you will have no problem at all, if you log in to the account you want to copy your version and copy it from your home folder. If your user name is YOU and the new account name is guest then:

guest$ cp /home/YOU/.config/menu.xml /home/guest/.config/

this way the files copied on guest's home folder will be owned by guest.

Awebb

The Singularity

Registered: 2009-07-23

Posts: 2,812

Re: Apply menu changes for ALL users?

Well, OP initially asked to apply the changes to NEW users, which is solved by editing /etc/skel.

If you think about tinkering with other users configs, you should consider the fact that they might not want to have theirs edited in the first place. I don't know who your other users are, but I'd be mad if a jerk of an admin killed my menu for something he thinks that is good for me :-D

If you, however, have a demand for that, you could write a script that applys the changes to all other users and add it as a cron job or autostart entry. You could also writes a script that copies the files as root and chowns them later.

Like I already mentioned half-ways: If your users have edited a single line in their config files (which is likely, people tend to customize everything to the death), you might have a hard time altering that automatically... assuming you don't know how to grep/sed/awk.

You could, however, email your users, give them the changes you intended and let them merge their stuff by themselves :-D

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I'm so meta, even this acronym

Mr.Voorxotho

Member

From: Here

Registered: 2011-02-05

Posts: 34

Re: Apply menu changes for ALL users?

Apologies: I should have explained myself better.

I just want to set up an account on my own machine for my better-half, who isn't very familiar with computers, & naturally, I want to protect my install from 'other user' errors. I'm not looking at a network, or anything like that. I'm just trying to figure out an easy way of giving a complete novice access to a decent OS, without administrator's privileges (I know, I've been there too#!).

If it means a bit of script editing, then that's not too much of a problem. I guess I was looking for a shortcut, & of course, any other user should be free to edit the menu according to their own preferences, (just as long as it doesn't crash the main install#!).

If I can work out a safe script that works, then I'll certainly post it. Don't hold your breath, though.:cool:

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If your favourite book were translated into code, what kind of operating system would be the result?