Using xfconf-query to modify panels and panel items

[Havard Blok]

Hi,

I'm trying to use xfconf-query to modify the panels and panels items. However, I cannot make the changes take effect.

E.g. deleting an item with the '-r' option will remove it from the list of items if I query with '-l -v', however the item will not disappear from the panel. Looking at the config file under .config/xfce4/xfconf/xfce-perchannel-xml/xfce4-panel.xml, it is also unchanged. If I log out and back again, everything remains the same, and the item is also back on the xfconf-query list.

Is there something I have to run in addition to xfconf-query to make the change take effect? Or, is there a better way of doing this, e.g. by editing the xfce4-panel.xml config directly. The goal is to create a small script or template to personalize the UI on a fresh install.

I'm currently on Ubuntu 12.04, with Xfce 4.8. Upgrading the OS is unfortunately not an option, however, as a last resort, I guess a custom install of Xfce would be possible.

Thanks for comments or suggestions.

Regards,
Havard