How to change default desktop for all users

[MarieRivier]

Hello,
I work as a school IT in a French school and I want to recycle old Winshit computers using cool tool like Linux Lite.

I've already installed Linux Lite on 20 computers, linked all of them to the AD, created useful .desktop (for online Scratch, GeoGebra, Thonny...) and put them in the  /etc/skel/Desktop directory...

Now (even if I like its design) I want to replace the feather on the default desktop by our school logo.

I know its not in /usr/share/backgrounds cause I already tried it (maybe not enough)

Can someone help me with this?

[stevef]

The default location for the desktop background is /usr/share/xfce4/backdrops

[Şerban S.]

[...] Can someone help me with this?

You can use any directory.
When you click on the "Folder" ComboBox, the last option is "Other...". Then you may choose a directory (folder) of your liking.
I always use a custom directory that resides on my data partition (different from /home!).
Still, if you use the /home (directory or partition) you can create a directory "Backgrounds" and place there your favorite images.
This approach prevents an overwriting in case of upgrade.

Below is a sample to help you get the idea:

Best regards, Șerban.

[MarieRivier]

Thanks to both of you, I'll look forward to do it when all computers are up to date in 7.0.

Edit: After trying your ideas on a 7.0 :
It doesn't work as intended. Your ideas are not bad but I'll repost to explain myself in a better way. English isn't my native language so I might not be able to be understood.

[MarieRivier]

:012:
Gomene Senpaï  !!

You can use any directory.
When you click on the "Folder" ComboBox, the last option is "Other...". Then you may choose a directory (folder) of your liking.
I always use a custom directory that resides on my data partition (different from /home!).
Still, if you use the /home (directory or partition) you can create a directory "Backgrounds" and place there your favorite images.
This approach prevents an overwriting in case of upgrade.

The image you show below this quote just allow to impose the same background on any desktop for ONE user: all his/her workspace.

I want to impose a default background to all new users something like /etc/skel/backgrounds which will set an imposed background for users when the usr folder is created .

The default location for the desktop background is /usr/share/xfce4/backdrops

Cool, now I can set my default background and share it with all user account. My question is "How can I set it as default background for all users and forbid them to change it ? "

[stevef]

My question is "How can I set it as default background for all users and forbid them to change it ? "

xfce kiosk mode may be interesting

https://wiki.xfce.org/howto/kiosk_mode

[trinidad]

The dirty way to do it would be to rename the backdrops folder to oldbackdrops and create a new folder named backdrops that contains only your new wallaper with the same name as the currently default wallpaper. I'm not sure if series point upgrades would add the old wallpapers back in or not though. The new wallpaper must be a .png file the same pixel dimension as the old one since the default is named that way. The problem is since the wallpaper in XFCE can be accessed from any image file on the system DE tinkerers could still replace it.


You might be better off to just brand the ligthdm login screen and allow the users to use whatever wallpaper they want. Other options are auto scripts at the end of boot (after Xorg starts), or conky with which you could brand no matter what wallpaper was selected.

Otherwise full boat you need to add a package and a license for/with the brand and then use OEM install which currently is unavailable.Kiosk mode could make the wallpaper persist but other Lite apps would be unavailble like updates, tweaks, and software manager which could be automated similar to an immutable methodology but what happens then when there's a problem?


TC 

[Şerban S.]

The dirty way to do it would be to rename the backdrops folder to oldbackdrops and create a new folder named backdrops that contains only your new wallaper with the same name as the currently default wallpaper. I'm not sure if series point upgrades would add the old wallpapers back in or not though. The new wallpaper must be a .png file the same pixel dimension as the old one since the default is named that way. The problem is since the wallpaper in XFCE can be accessed from any image file on the system DE tinkerers could still replace it.


You might be better off to just brand the ligthdm login screen and allow the users to use whatever wallpaper they want. Other options are auto scripts at the end of boot (after Xorg starts), or conky with which you could brand no matter what wallpaper was selected.

Otherwise full boat you need to add a package and a license for/with the brand and then use OEM install which currently is unavailable.Kiosk mode could make the wallpaper persist but other Lite apps would be unavailble like updates, tweaks, and software manager which could be automated similar to an immutable methodology but what happens then when there's a problem?


TC

Thanks!

I love that thinking!

My reluctance over this strange request, resides in the fact that the idea in itself, violates the GNU-GPL licence, that states clearly the freedom of choice at the user level.
So, imposing forcibly a specific element (regardless the type), is out of the boundaries of what we call "freedom" and "freedom of choice", which gets us back to the commercial software world.
It is also against the SPIRIT of the FOSS movement!
So, a legitimate question is: Why bother?
Specifically, Why bother to install Linux (whatever flavor...) if you love the forced solutions software, and generally speaking, the commercial world?


A different approach

I'm less found of the people that throw a stone into the lake, than wait to/and laugh at those who struggle to get it out.

So, I've been thinking of something more lucrative.
Since we're dealing with a learning environment -- at least, this is the theory when speaking of a school! -- a far more interesting solution I belive is the following:

1. Ask each user to design its own image for desktop background. This can be a school level creativity project, for all levels of students.
2. Encourage collaboration in the use of the available tools for this specific task: Inkscape (vector graphics) and GIMP (photo editing).
3. Help the students build the creation teams.
4. Provide the school logo that is required to represent the school.
5. Further more, ask the students to design a logo for the school.
6. Gather the community of students to vote for "The greatest school logo", and "The greatest desktop background". This can be done online, so it will be a complex project for the entire school.
If my understanding is right, there is a network of 20 systems. There you have it! Mail practice, HTML editing, site building, there are a plethora of options.
And this can go far beyond the simple task of creating a logo and a background. This way, you can discover each and every student's native skills that worth developing.
Management skills that are involved, are the most in demand nowadays. So, as I see it, it is a WIN-WIN situation, as opposed to the previous idea.
7. Ask the more advanced students to pack the top 20 (or 30...) backgrounds and install them in a custom directory, so they are available for each and every user.

Obviously, this is what I would do.
I strongly belive that school, has to be the place where we develop skills of communication, team building, self management, creativity, and many more skills.
But we have to accept that creativity, is like any organ or muscle, that needs a thorough training. The school, ANY SCHOOL, is supposed to provide exactly this environment.

Do we do this now?

Best regards, Șerban.

[MarieRivier]

Thanks!

I love that thinking!

...

Best regards, Șerban.

I like how you see things...
The idea of freedom is, sure, attractive and I like that in GNU too.
But too much freedom in a n high school might lead to unwanted development.

I'd love to be able to trust students ... But if they have the littlest way to break things, they'll use it.
We've rebuild our classrooms last year and they looks like they have been used since 5 years already... (lights broken, emergency signals destroyed... ) It might be the doing of just a few of them but it clearly show that I can't trust them all with keeping their environment clean and clear...


To set a big project with wallpaper designing and all these things, I already discussed it with teachers and none of them wants to take that kind of project, the dean thinks it as a good idea if we have teachers to take the lead but won't force teachers to do it if they don't want to.
So for the moment I'm out of move in that regard. Next year we'll have a new Art teacher so I'll try to bring her in that project.

For the moment, I think I'll go with trinitad's idea

The dirty way to do it would be to rename the backdrops folder to oldbackdrops and create a new folder named backdrops that contains only your new wallaper with the same name as the currently default wallpaper. I'm not sure if series point upgrades would add the old wallpapers back in or not though. The new wallpaper must be a .png file the same pixel dimension as the old one since the default is named that way. The problem is since the wallpaper in XFCE can be accessed from any image file on the system DE tinkerers could still replace it.

It might be a dirty way but I'll be able to set a default wallpaper for every one...

If then they change it to set a sexual assault as defaut wallpaper (I think that will happens a few week after deployment) for one or two desktop, they are free to do it... and to get scolded for it.
But I want to try to inspire them a feeling of belonging even if they will just smug that away without event thinking about it...

And for your arguments, Sir Serban, I totally agree !
School is intended to provide a safe environment to develop skills for everyone.
But the best way to do that is to be, financially, able to procure that environment. If we could do that the dean would have gone to a firmly secured paid solution, but we can't, so I try to provide them with a good environment at a lower cost.
Environment that I try to make as secured as I can without cutting to much of their freedom, cause I want them to learn to be free internet citizens by themselves.
That's why I have to thank you for the usefulness of LinuxLite that can revive old computers and make them running again, it will helps some of our poorest students that can't have a computer at home.
Because school is meant for everyone one and that means even those who will do everything in their capabilities to destroy stuff and they are legion in high school...

[Şerban S.]

[...] I like how you see things...
The idea of freedom is, sure, attractive and I like that in GNU too.
But too much freedom in a n high school might lead to unwanted development. [...]

Isn't that the very purpose of the idea of education? To create the sense of belonging? Of being something greater than the trivial physical body?
I recommend you a reading: Pyotr Demianovich Ouspensky -- "The Psychology of Man's Possible Evolution"
Maybe this would help you understand the difference between "army" and "school".

[...] I'd love to be able to trust students ... But if they have the littlest way to break things, they'll use it.
We've rebuild our classrooms last year and they look like they have been used since 5 years already... (lights broken, emergency signals destroyed... ) It might be the doing of just a few of them but it clearly shows that I can't trust them all with keeping their environment clean and clear...  [...]

What you were describing here, is an army barracks facility and has nothing to do with "school".
From that perspective, with this kind of thinking, it's extremely difficult to find a solution.

I'm aware of the fact that building a learning environment, is a task for a team. What you describe here though, is a battlefield, where the (alleged) Teachers, dispute their supremacy.
And the students, do the exact same thing: they apply what they are taught by their "teachers".
So, one question for you is: Are you sure you are in the right place for what you want to be and to do?
Being up for that kind of task, requires a high level of resilience. Look for Tom Bilyeu's teachings about building discipline and resilience.
The lack of discipline at the level of the teaching personnel, is obviously reflected in what the students think and do.
Want a proof?
Here it is:

[...] To set a big project with wallpaper designing and all these things, I already discussed it with teachers and none of them wants to take that kind of project, the dean thinks it as a good idea if we have teachers to take the lead but won't force teachers to do it if they don't want to.
So for the moment I'm out of move in that regard. Next year we'll have a new Art teacher so I'll try to bring her in that project.
[...]

[...] And for your arguments, Sir Serban, I totally agree !  [...]

Thank you very much! I'm glad at least we think the same. As for doing things... As I see it and said it above, you're in the wrong place.
The teachers are to be taught years before anything can be changed in this place. They are the real problem, not the students.

[...] School is intended to provide a safe environment to develop skills for everyone.
But the best way to do that is to be, financially, able to procure that environment.  [...]

You're very wrong about that.
Money, is a substitut for SKILLS. If you lack a skill, you need lots of money to buy it, one way or another. The form or "shape" if you will, is irrelevant.
A skilled person, does all what is required. There is a lot to say about that... Essentially, what this school lacks, is SKILLED TEACHERS.

[...] Environment that I try to make as secured as I can without cutting to much of their freedom, cause I want them to learn to be free internet citizens by themselves.
[...] Because school is meant for everyone  [...]

The real freedom, is inside. If you are free inside, this will reflect outside you.
That means the bible verse "As above, so below."
Thales, made a geometric version of this verse, called "The Resemblance Theorem" if you remember. It's a triangle related theorem.

So... Rephrasing my question for you:
Are you sure you are ready to teach the teachers?

Because this is the way to make things work. They live in a tiny-tiny box they call "my life" or "my career" or "my money" or whatever they see appropriate to call it, but is exactly this: a very small cage. And they want and pretend everybody to live in their cage.
It's nothing but sad. Very, very sad...

Best regards, Șerban.