Script Execution at user logout (non root user)

Solution 1:

This is the step by step procedure of gnome_save_yourself method. Let's do a test.

1. Save following code as ~/Desktop/execute_script_on_shutdown.sh (From http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-desktop-74/gnome-run-script-on-logout-724453/#post3560301)

   #!/usr/bin/env python
   
   #Author: Seamus Phelan
   
   #This program runs a custom command/script just before gnome shuts 
   #down.  This is done the same way that gedit does it (listening for 
   #the 'save-yourself' event).  This is different to placing scipts 
   #in /etc/rc#.d/ as the script will be run before gnome exits.
   #If the custom script/command fails with a non-zero return code, a 
   #popup dialog box will appear offering the chance to cancel logout
   #
   #Usage: 1 - change the command in the 'subprocess.call' in 
   #           function 'session_save_yourself' below to be what ever
   #           you want to run at logout.
   #       2 - Run this program at every gnome login (add via menu System 
   #           -> Preferences -> Session)
   # 
   #
   
   import sys
   import subprocess
   import datetime
   
   import gnome
   import gnome.ui
   import gtk
   
   
   class Namespace: pass
   ns = Namespace()
   ns.dialog = None
   
   
   def main():
       prog = gnome.init ("gnome_save_yourself", "1.0", gnome.libgnome_module_info_get(), sys.argv, [])
       client = gnome.ui.master_client()
       #set up call back for when 'logout'/'Shutdown' button pressed
       client.connect("save-yourself", session_save_yourself)
       client.connect("shutdown-cancelled", shutdown_cancelled)
   
   
   def session_save_yourself( *args):
           #Lets try to unmount all truecrypt volumes
   
   
       #execute shutdowwn script
       #########################################################################################
       retcode = subprocess.call("bash /home/totti/Desktop/shutdown_script.sh", shell=True)
       ##########################################################################################
       if retcode != 0:
           #command failed  
           show_error_dialog()
       return True
   
   def shutdown_cancelled( *args):
       if ns.dialog != None:
           ns.dialog.destroy()
       return True
   
   
   def show_error_dialog():
       ns.dialog = gtk.Dialog("There was a problem running your pre-shutdown script",
                              None,
                              gtk.DIALOG_MODAL | gtk.DIALOG_DESTROY_WITH_PARENT,
                              ("There was a problem running your pre-shutdown script - continue logout", gtk.RESPONSE_ACCEPT))
       if ns.test_mode == True:
           response = ns.dialog.run()
           ns.dialog.destroy()
       else:
           #when in shutdown mode gnome will only allow you to open a window using master_client().save_any_dialog()
           #It also adds the 'Cancel logout' button
           gnome.ui.master_client().save_any_dialog(ns.dialog)
   
   
   
   #Find out if we are in test mode???
   if len(sys.argv) >=2 and sys.argv[1] == "test":
       ns.test_mode = True
   else:
       ns.test_mode = False
   
   if ns.test_mode == True:
       main()
       session_save_yourself()
   else:
       main()
       gtk.main() 
   

2. Make it executable:

   chmod +x ~/Desktop/execute_script_on_shutdown.sh
   

3. Save the following as ~/Desktop/shutdown_script.sh

   #!/usr/bin/bash
   touch ~/Desktop/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA  
   

4. Execute the main script

   bash ~/Desktop/execute_script_on_shutdown.sh
   

Now you feel the script wait for something

1. Log Out or shutdown your OS (Ubuntu)
2. Log in

3. Check for a file named AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA on your desktop.

   ls -l ~/Desktop/AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
   

If you see the file everything OK. Now you can edit the shutdown_script.sh to suit your need. Also remember to execute the execute_script_on_shutdown.sh on login (or make it auto executable on startup).