Java Desktop System Release 3 Administration Guide

Appendix A Hidden Directories

This appendix describes the hidden directories that the GNOME Desktop adds to the home directories of users.

A hidden directory is a directory that has a name that begins with a period (.). Table A–1 describes the hidden directories that the GNOME Desktop adds to the home directories of users.

Table A–1 Hidden Directories in User Home Directories

Directory 

Description 

.esd_auth

Contains the authentication cookie for the GNOME sound daemon. The GNOME sound daemon is the Enlightened Sound Daemon (ESD). 

.gconf

Contains the GConf configuration source for the user. When the user sets a preference, the new preference information is added to this location.

.gconfd

Contains the following GConf daemon details:

  • Configuration information.

  • Lock information for objects that are referenced by an Interoperable Object Reference (IOR).

  • State information for objects that are referenced by an IOR.

.gnome

Contains user-specific application data that is not stored in the GConf repository. For example, this directory contains MIME type information and session information for the user.

.gnome2

Contains user-specific application data that is not stored in the GConf repository. For example, this directory contains the following:

  • Keyboard shortcut information.

  • Window location information.

  • Desktop entry files for panel launchers.

This directory also contains user-specific menu data. If a user modifies menus, the details are stored here. 

.gnome2-private

Ignore this directory. This directory has no function at the time of publication of this guide. 

.metacity

Contains session data for the Metacity window manager.

.nautilus

Contains file manager data that is specific to the user. For example, this directory can contain the following:  

  • Metadata for the directories with which the user works.

  • Nautilus emblems that the user adds.

  • Nautilus desktop background images.

.themes

Contains controls theme options, window frame theme options, and icons theme options that the user adds. The user can add themes from the Theme preference tool.

.thumbnails

Contains image thumbnails for the user. The image thumbnails are used in the file manager. The file manager contains a preference that the user can select to stop generation of thumbnail images. 

.xscreensaver

Contains screensaver configuration data and screensaver preference data.