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I am planning on setting up about 20 computers at a school with Ubuntu which presently have Windows XP. The move should be easy as the computers are already locked down and the users simply open desktop icons to do things. We use a program called Fortres on Windows to prevent users from deleting and moving icons. Is there a way in Ubuntu to accomplish this either with a program or through changing permissions on the desktop icons?

Each computer will have three accounts on them: admin, teacher, and student. We do not have accounts made for each user.

WinEunuuchs2Unix
  • 102,282
Buford T. Justice
  • 1,524

3 Answers3

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I wrote iconic and it lets you save and restore icon positions. Basically after a new user logs in have it restore saved icons. You will need to "tweak the script" to have it run during login. Additionally it will:

  • Allow you to move icons to any of three monitors
  • Not suffer the "lost icon syndrome" that occurs when monitors of multiple resolutions are used
  • Sort icons alphabetically, alphabetically with "Link to" prefix ignored, sort by modified date ascending or date descending
  • Allow different grid size (columns x rows) depending on monitor, EG more on 4K monitor than 2K monitor
  • Instant Test button for quick experimentation on column x row changes or reserved space changes for monitor left, top, right or bottom areas
  • Test button will last for x seconds defined by you, clear all windows before test and restore them after test
  • Bash script for easy modifications

You can get the script on github.

Here's the main screen:

iconic main menu.png

Visit the github page for iconic to see all the other screens, explanations and a copy of the script.

WinEunuuchs2Unix
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1

You can prevent files from being deleted using permissions. What you need is :

755 (rwxr-xr-x) The file's owner may read, write, and execute the file. All others may read and execute the file. This setting is common for programs that are used by all users.

(learn more here, and here)

Command line

Assuming a launcher icon "launcher" in /home/student/Desktop/launcher owned by admin (superuser)

set correct permissions using the following command :

sudo chmod 755 /home/student/Desktop/launcher

You can do that for the folder (and for all files in it) this way :

sudo chmod -R 755 /home/student/Desktop

and neither teacher nor student can delete these icons (files, actually).

Graphically

Right clic on file > Properties > Permissions (take a look here)

  • owner "admin" access "read and write" (or "create and delete")

  • group "admin" access "read" (or "access files")

  • others access "read" (or "access files")

For the "moving" part of your question, I don't know.

Community
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mxdsp
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I have only half response:

sudo chattr +i /home/teacher/Desktop/* && sudo chattr +i /home/student/Desktop/* `

That way the file actually in the /Desktop became "immutable", so can't be deleted or changed directory by no one.

But still be change position inside the desktop.

man chattr explain the other options

feligiotti
  • 564