Hidden Directories
This appendix describes the hidden directories that the
GNOME Desktop adds to the home directories of users.
hidden directories
.* directories
hidden directories
A hidden
directory is a directory that has a name that begins with a period (.).
describes the hidden directories that the GNOME
Desktop adds to the home directories of users.
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.
.gnome-desktop
The
Nautilus
file manager
contains a preference that enables users to use the file manager to manage
the desktop. If this option is selected, this directory contains the objects
that are on the desktop of the user. This directory contains the following:
Objects on the desktop, for example, the
Home
object, the
Trash
object, and other launchers. The objects
appear in the directory as desktop entry files. For example, the
starthere.desktop
file contains a link to the
Start Here
location.
Removable media volumes that are mounted.
The file manager also contains a preference that enables
users to use the home directory as the desktop directory, instead of
.gnome-desktop
. If a user selects this option, the contents of
the home directory are displayed as desktop objects.
.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  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.
