Gnome default desktop for new users

[jeremyswalker]

Hello all. I was wondering if there was a way to graphically set up a desktop environment in gnome, and then make that setup the default for new users. I want to customize everything, from panel location, background, menus, and applets. I understand that the defaults can be set at the command line, but I have not had a lot of time to explore this option. It seems to me that there should be a way to set it up graphically. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[mcduck]

Create a new user, configure the desktop as you want it to be and then copy all files (including hidden ones) from that user's home to /etc/skel.

Everything inside /etc/skel should be copied to home directories of all new users.

[jeremyswalker]

Thanks for your help, mcduck. I will be sure to try that when I get some time. Once again, thank you.

[Maddy]

Create a new user, configure the desktop as you want it to be and then copy all files (including hidden ones) from that user's home to /etc/skel.

Everything inside /etc/skel should be copied to home directories of all new users.

Don't we have a problem with user rights then ?

[mcduck]

Don't we have a problem with user rights then ?

No. The files in /etc/skel can owned by root, the ownerships and permissions will be handled automatically when the new user is created.

[billybowden]

Thank you this is the answer i have been looking for a long time

[arrange]

There might be a problem with references to your home folder inside config files. For example on my system the following files contain a reference to /home/arrange and thus will not possibly work under a new user

/home/arrange/.config/menus/applications.menu # changes to the main menu
/home/arrange/.gtk-bookmarks # Nautilus bookmarks
... and some more in other applications' config files (Thunderbird, Firefox, Evolution, Gedit etc)

You can try this out on your home folder by running
grep -lIR '\/home\/arrange' /home/arrange 2> /dev/null (change arrange to your username of course)