Fedora 15 - How To Modify the Clock to Show Date

Fedora 15 released on 05/24/2011 introducing the world to Gnome 3 (and Gnome Shell).

For those of us used to the Windows 95 look and feel of Gnome 2, the new Gnome is going to take some getting use to.

I'm going to borrow a line from Dos Equis, "I don't always use the graphical desktop in Linux, but when I do, I prefer Gnome"

Here's a quick configuration tip for Gnome 3. One of the first things I've noticed is that the clock applet doesn't show the date by default, only showing Day and Time.

I always forget the date and like for the clock to show Day Date, Time. The applet doesn't provide a preferences option when clicked, so there isn't a way to make this change within the applet (correct me if I'm wrong, please).

There is a way, however. The dconf-editor tool! On my Fedora 15 test workstation, dconf-editor was not installed by default.

$ sudo yum install dconf-editor

Once it's installed, run the application as your user (not root)

$ dconf-editor

The "Configuration Editor" window will open. Click the following in the tree on the left:

• org
  
• gnome
  
• shell
  
• clock
  

Click the check box next to "show-date". Your clock applet should now display similar to: Thu May 26, 09:58 It's also possible to move the position of the clock and other applets via the dconf-editor tool. An Annonymous comment indicated that the F15 release notes also contain a method of configuring the clock (see section 2.1.1.1.7): http://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/Fedora/15/html/Release_Notes/sect-Release_Notes-Changes_for_Desktop_Users.html