# Xfce 4 Settings Manager

### François Le Clainche

`<fleclainche@wanadoo.fr>`

### Jasper Huijsmans

`<huysmans@users.sourceforge.net>`

This manual describes `xfce-mcs-manager` version 4.1.x

Copyright © 2004 François Le Clainche

Copyright © 2004 Jasper Huijsmans

## Introduction

The Xfce 4 settings manager provides access to the settings of all Xfce 4 components. The application consists of two parts. The settings manager dialog, which is the only part a user should need to know about, and the settings manager backend that talks to the Xfce 4 programs and informs them of changes to the preferences.

On a technical note, the settings manager backend uses an the XSETTINGS protocol as defined on freedesktop.org, adapted to allow multiple channels, so a module can listen only to changes it is interested in; The mcs in the name stands for multichannel settings.

## Settings Manager Dialog

### Opening the dialog

There are several ways to open the settings manager dialog.

First of all, you can open it from the Xfce 4 panel. There is a launcher on the panel in the default configuration. If you want you can also add a special setup button that is part of the Systemsbuttons item.

Figure 1. Setup button on Xfce 4 panel

The root window menu provided by the Xfce 4 Desktop Manager (`xfdesktop`) contains an entry to open the settings manager dialog. Right-click on the desktop background and choose Xfce 4 Settings Manager in the Settings sub-menu.

Figure 2. Root window mouse menu

Finally, you can open the settings manager dialog by running `xfce-setting-show`.

### Using the dialog

The Xfce 4 Settings Manager dialog provides centralized access to the preferences of all installed Xfce 4 components. They don't necessarily have to be running.

Figure 3. Settings Manager Dialog

Just click on the button corresponding to the module that you want to configure. This action will open a new properties dialog. Usually, all modifications will have an immediate effect on the behaviour of the selected module (instant apply). Once you have finished changing the options, you can close the dialog by clicking on the Close button. Note that there is no Cancel; if you change your mind about a setting you will manually have to change it back.

Please refer to the manuals of the different Xfce 4 components to learn more about their configuration options.

## Settings Manager Backend

The `xfce-mcs-manager` application should be started before the other Xfce 4 components. In fact, the panel and the windowmanager both will try to run the manager if it is not already running.

The `startxfce4` script provided with Xfce 4 (part of the xfce-utils package) takes care of running it at the start of an X session. If you don't use that add it to your `~/.xinitrc` file. The manager will run in the background after it has initialized, so there is no need to add an '&' after the command.

After installing a new package that provides a settings dialog, you can make the manager reread its configuration by sending a SIGUSR1 signal:

     $ killall -USR1 xfce-mcs-manager

## About Xfce 4 Settings Manager

This package was written by Olivier Fourdan (`<fourdan@xfce.org>`), Jasper Huijsmans (`<jasper@xfce.org>`) and Benedikt Meurer (`<benny@xfce.org>`). To find more information, please visit the Xfce web site.

To report a bug or make a suggestion regarding this application or this manual, use the bug tracking system at http://bugzilla.xfce.org/.

If you have questions about the use or installation of this package, please ask on the xfce mailing list. Development discussion takes place on the xfce4-dev mailing list.

This program is distributed under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place - Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307, USA.