1.4. GConf Command Line Tool

GConf includes a command line tool, gconftool-2. You can use the gconftool–2 command to perform the following tasks:

  • Set the values of keys.

  • Display the values of keys.

  • Install schemas from schema definition files when you install an application.

For example, use the following command to display the values of all keys in the /desktop/gnome directory and subdirectories.

# gconftool-2 --recursive-list /desktop/gnome

Table 1.1 lists some of the options that you can use with the gconftool-2 command.

Table 1.1. gconftool-2 Command Options

Option

Function

--all-dirs

Lists all subdirectories in a directory that you specify.

--all-entries

Displays the values of all keys in a directory that you specify.

--config-source=configuration_source

Use this option with the --direct option to specify a configuration source to use. If you do not specify a configuration source with this option, the command runs on all configuration sources in the path file.

--direct

Use this option with the --config-source option to access a configuration source directly. When you use this option, GConf bypasses the server. Ensure that the GConf daemon, gconfd-2, is not running before you use this option.

--get

Displays the value of a preference key that you specify. Also displays the values of the elements in the schema object for a schema key that you specify.

--help

Displays a help message about the gconftool-2 command, and the options that you can use with the gconftool-2 command.

--long-desc=description

Use this option with the --set-schema option to specify a long description for a schema key.

--makefile-install-rule

Installs schema definition files to applications.

--owner=owner

Use this option with the --set-schema option to specify an owner for a schema key.

--recursive-list

Displays the value of all preference keys in all subdirectories in a directory that you specify.

--recursive-unset

Resets the values of all preference keys, in all subdirectories in a directory, from the user setting to the setting in the default configuration source.

--set

Sets the value of a preference key, and writes the value to the user configuration source. Use the --type option with the --set option to specify the data type of the value that you want to set. For example, the following command sets the value of the /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/background_color key in the user configuration source:

# gconftool-2 --set "/apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/background_color" --type string "#000000"

You can also use the --direct option and the --config-source option with the --set option to write a value to another configuration source.

--set-schema

Sets the value of an attribute in a schema key, and writes the value to the default configuration source.

Use the following options with the --set-schema option to specify the attribute that you want to update:

  • --type

  • --short-desc

  • --long-desc

  • --owner

For example, the following command sets the short description in the schema key for the /apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/background_color key:

# gconftool-2 --set-schema "/schemas/apps/gnome-terminal/profiles/Default/background_color" --short-desc "Default background color of terminal"

--short-desc=description

Use this option with the --set-schema option to specify a short description for a schema key.

--shutdown

Terminates the GConf daemon.

--type=data_type

Use this option to specify the data type when you set a value of a preference key. You can also use this option when you set the value of an attribute in a schema key. The following is a list of valid data types:

  • bool

  • float

  • int

  • list

  • pair

  • string

--unset

Resets the value of a preference key from the user setting to the setting in the default configuration source.

--usage

Displays a brief help message about the gconftool-2 command, and the options that you can use with the gconftool-2 command.