# Disabling GNOME Desktop Features

This chapter describes how to disable particular features of the GNOME Desktop.

## Introduction to Disabling GNOME Desktop Features

The GNOME Desktop includes features that you can use to restrict access to certain functions in the GNOME Desktop. The disable features are useful in various situations where you want to restrict the actions that users can perform on a computer. For example, you might want to prevent command line operations on a computer that is for public use at a trade show. The disable features are also known as lockdown features.

You set GConf keys to disable features. For information about how to set GConf keys, see gconf-0. You can also use the Configuration Editor application to set GConf keys in a user configuration source. For more information about the Configuration Editor application, see the GConf Editor Manual.

## To Disable Lock Screen and Log Out

To disable the lock screen and log out functions, set the `/apps/panel/global/disable_lock_screen` key and the `/apps/panel/global/disable_log_out` key to `true`.

When you disable the lock screen and log out functions, the following items are removed from the panels:

- Lock Screen and Log Out `user` menu items from the Main Menu.

- Lock and Log Out menu items from the Add to Panel Actions menu. To open this menu, right-click on a vacant space on a panel, then choose Add to Panel Actions.

- Lock Screen and Log Out `user` menu items from the Actions menu in the Menu Bar applet.

Also, any Lock Screen buttons and Log Out buttons on panels are disabled.

## To Disable Command Line Operations

To disable operations from a command line, set the `/desktop/gnome/lockdown/disable_command_line` key to `true`.

When you disable command line operations, the following changes occur in the user interface:

- The Run Application menu item is removed from the following menus:

  - Main Menu

  - Actions submenu in the Add to Panel menu

  - Actions menu in the Menu Bar applet

- Any Run buttons on panels are disabled.

To disable command line operations, you must also remove menu items that start terminal applications. For example, you might want to remove menu items that contain the following commands from the menus:

- GNOME Terminal command, that is `/usr/bin/gnome-terminal`

- `/usr/bin/xterm`

- `/usr/bin/setterm`

The items are removed from the following menus:

- Main Menu

- Add to Panel Launcher from menu

To disable command line operations, you must also disable the Command Line applet. To disable the Command Line applet, add the applet to the `/apps/panel/global/disabled_applets` key. When you disable the Command Line applet, the Command Line applet is removed from the Main Menu and the Add to Panel Utility menu.

## To Disable Panel Configuration

To disable panel configuration, set the `/apps/panel/global/locked_down` key to `true`.

When you disable panel configuration, the following changes occur in the user interface:

- The following items are removed from the panel popup menu, and from the drawer popup menu:

  - Add to Panel

  - Delete This Panel

  - Properties

  - New Panel

- The launcher popup menu is disabled.

- The following items are removed from the applet popup menu:

  - Remove From Panel

  - Lock

  - Move

- The Main Menu popup menu is disabled.

- The launcher drag feature is disabled, so that users cannot drag launchers to, or from, panels.

- The panel drag feature is disabled, so that users cannot drag panels to new locations.