Setting Screensavers
This chapter describes how to set preferences for the screensaver.
This chapter also provides information on how to modify the displays that
are available for the screensaver.
Introduction to Screensavers
screensavers
introduction
gnome-screensaver
screensavers
A screensaver is an application that
replaces the image on a screen when the screen is not in use. The screensaver
application for the GNOME Desktop is gnome-screensaver.
The following sections describe how to set preferences for the gnome-screensaver application, and how to change the themes that
are available for the screensaver.
Setting Screensaver Preferences
screensavers
setting preferences
All screensaver preferences and settings are stored in GConf.
To modify screensaver application preferences, users can use the Screensaver preference tool. For information on screensaver preferences, see GNOME Desktop User's Guide.
Users can also run the command /usr/bin/gnome-screensaver-preferences to open
the Screensaver Preferences dialog.
To set default screensaver settings and policy for all users, modify the screensaver settings in the Default GConf Configuration Source.
To set mandatory screensaver settings and policy for all users, modify the screensaver settings in the Mandatory GConf Configuration Source.
Modifying Screensaver Themes
screensavers
modifying screensaver themes
The screensaver application allows users
to choose one or more screensaver themes. A screensaver
theme is an application that displays images on the screen of the user when
the screen is not in use. The available screensaver themes are listed in the Screensaver preference tool.
To add a new screensaver theme, copy the executable file for the screensaver theme engine to somewhere in your PATH or into the
screensaver theme engine executable directory. The screensaver theme engine executable directory for your system can be determined using the following command:
pkg-config --variable=privlibexecdir gnome-screensaver
Next, add a .desktop file for the theme into the screensaver themes directory. The screensaver themes directory for your system
can be determined using the following command:
pkg-config --variable=themesdir gnome-screensaver
In the Exec field of the .desktop file include any arguments that are required to run the screensaver
theme on the whole screen, rather than in a window. For example, some legacy screensaver theme engines may require you
to include the -root option to display the screensaver
display on the whole screen.
The Screensaver infrastructure implements themes according to the XDG menu
specification. By supporting this specification, GNOME allows you
to:
Customize the themes easily. You can edit a small number
of files to customize the available themes. You do not need to modify
your applications or move files.
Install themes easily. You do not need to provide
information about the system when you install
the themes.
Configure the system so that users cannot modify the themes.
For more information, see .