Hiding Desktop icons in GNOME (during presentations etc.)

[kai12]

Hi all,

is there a way to hide the icons put on the Desktop temporarily? I've done some
searching on the web, and Windows simply has a "Show Desktop Icons" item
to enable/disable, is there anything similar in GNOME?

I like Desktop icons, I just don't want the world to see them when I run a presentation
on my computer.

thanks! kai

[GNU-Fan]

Hi,

if not already done so, install the program gconf-editor.
I think you must start in on the command line.

Then go to the entry /apps/nautilus/preferences
and uncheck the box "show_desktop".

There might be an easier way to switch this registry key -- I don't know.

[reed9]

I don't think there is an easier option, unless you write your own script to do it. Or, find someone who has already done the work, such as this person
Show/Hide Desktop Icon On Ubuntu – Silent's Spot

[kai12]

Thanks for you both! The script looks very promising, I'll give that a try. Else
I can resort to gconf editing.

cheers, kai

[blinky]

try

gconftool-2 --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop --type boolean false

to diable desktop icons

then

gconftool-2 --set /apps/nautilus/preferences/show_desktop --type boolean true
nohup nautilus &

to enable.

[kai12]

thanks, blinky.

the gconftool calls is what the script at Silent's Spot is using, too.
i'm using the "-n" flag in the nautilus call to start up without additional browser windows.

cheers, kai