6
6
<para>In this lesson, you will learn how to:</para>
9
<para>Customise the look and feel of the GNOME desktop (default Ubuntu desktop).</para>
9
<para>Customise the look and feel of the Ubuntu desktop</para>
12
<para>Work with the Nautilus file manager.</para>
12
<para>Work with the Nautilus file manager</para>
15
15
<para>Identify the different package (application) managers and their
19
19
<para>Add and remove an applications using three different tools:</para>
22
<para>Add and remove a software using Add/Remove Applications.</para>
22
<para>Add and remove a software using Add/Remove Applications</para>
25
25
<para>Add and remove a software package using Synaptic Package
29
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<para>Add and remove a software package using a command line
35
<para>Identify the types of single package files and their use.</para>
38
<para>Install and uninstall Debian packages.</para>
41
<para>Identify the categories of software repositories.</para>
44
<para>Add extra repositories.</para>
35
<para>Identify the types of single package files and their use</para>
38
<para>Install and uninstall Debian packages</para>
41
<para>Identify the categories of software repositories</para>
44
<para>Add extra repositories</para>
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<title>Customising the Desktop</title>
63
<para>Ubuntu comes with various GUIs (for our purpose, desktops) such as GNOME, K Desktop
64
Environment (KDE) and Xfce. GNOME is the
65
default desktop for Ubuntu. Though it is optional, you can also use a
66
command line interface to perform most tasks.</para>
67
<para>The graphical tools in GNOME are available as menu options on
63
<para>Ubuntu and its derivatives can be customised through a Graphical User Interface or a Command Line Interface
64
(for those who prefer).</para>
65
<para>The graphical tools for Ubuntu are available as menu options in
68
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the <emphasis role="strong">System</emphasis> menu. Point to
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67
<emphasis role="strong">Preferences</emphasis> on the
70
68
<emphasis role="strong">System menu</emphasis> to view the tools.
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the <emphasis role="strong">Appearance Preferences</emphasis>
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dialogue box to accept the changes. You can now
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view the new desktop background.</para>
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<figure><title><emphasis role="italic">Viewing Added Wallpaper</emphasis></title>
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<figure><title><emphasis role="italic">Added Wallpaper</emphasis></title>
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<mediaobject><imageobject>
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<imagedata fileref="images/Lesson07_images_007.png" format="PNG" />
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</imageobject></mediaobject>
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<para>Click <emphasis role="strong">Close</emphasis> to
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close the <emphasis role="strong">Appearance
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Preferences</emphasis> dialogue box.</para>
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<figure><title><emphasis role="italic">Viewing Changed Background Colour</emphasis></title>
249
<figure><title><emphasis role="italic">Changed Background Colour</emphasis></title>
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<mediaobject><imageobject>
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<imagedata fileref="images/Lesson07_images_011.png" format="PNG" />
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</imageobject></mediaobject>
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<title>The 3D Effects</title>
553
<title>3D Effects</title>
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<para>A computer screen is two-dimensional (2D) in nature and until recently most
557
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applications were developed with a 2D layout.</para>
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<para>However, advancements in technology fuelled the demand for more life-like on screen visuals,
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reduce the burden on the operating system and increase the speed of applications, 3D
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accelerator cards were developed, which use the graphics processor on the graphics
563
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card instead of consuming valuable CPU resources. Almost all modern graphics cards
564
do have a built-in acceleration for displaying 3D.</para>
565
<para>Ubuntu can utilize the 3D capabilities of a graphics card for desktop effects. Example of these effects are the placement of the desktops on a rotating cube, windows have shadows, and motion effects.</para>
566
<para>The effects are enabled by default and can be controlled from the <emphasis role='strong'>Appearance</emphasis> menu. From here the desktop effects can either be completely disabled or enabled. The number of effects can be controlled via the <emphasis role='strong'>normal effects</emphasis> and <emphasis role='strong'>extra effects</emphasis> setting.</para>
567
<para>If a graphics card has either no 3D capabilities or support for 3D is missing from the Linux drivers for the card, you will be notified that <emphasis role='strong'>desktop effects could not be enabled</emphasis>.</para>
562
have a built-in acceleration to display 3D.</para>
563
<para>Ubuntu can utilize the 3D capabilities of a graphics card for desktop effects. An example of
564
these effects are the placement of the desktops on a rotating cube, windows have shadows, and motion effects (Compiz Fusion application).</para>
565
<para>The effects are enabled by default and can be controlled from the <emphasis role='strong'>Appearance</emphasis> menu. From here the
566
desktop effects can either be completely disabled or enabled. The number of effects can be controlled via the <emphasis role='strong'>normal effects</emphasis>
567
and <emphasis role='strong'>extra effects</emphasis> setting.</para>
568
<para>If a graphics card does not have 3D capabilities or support for 3D is missing from the Linux drivers for the card, you will be notified that <emphasis role='strong'>desktop effects could not be enabled</emphasis>.</para>
570
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<title>Working with Files Using Nautilus</title>
575
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<title>Features of Nautilus</title>
576
577
<para>The Nautilus file manager allows you to organise files into
577
folders and perform the following tasks:</para>
578
folders and perform tasks such as:</para>
580
<para>Create and display folders and documents: You can
581
create new files, organise them into folders and save them.
581
<para>Create and display folders and documents: Create new files, organise them
582
into folders and save them.
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<para>Spatial mode: Allows you to open each
600
folder in a separate window, which helps open your files as
601
folder in a separate window, which then helps open your files as
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physical objects in different locations. You can view the
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content of various folders simultaneously.</para>
613
<instructornote><title>Instructor Notes:</title><para><emphasis role="italic">Compare browser mode with Firefox to help students appreciate the
614
similarity.</emphasis></para>
614
<instructornote><title>Instructor Notes:</title><para><emphasis role="italic">Compare browser mode with
615
Firefox to help students appreciate the similarity.</emphasis></para>
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</instructornote>
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<title>Nautilus</title>
619
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<note><title><emphasis role="strong">Note:</emphasis></title>
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<para>Spatial mode is the default mode for the Nautilus file manager in
621
GNOME, but while compiling Ubuntu, the mode changes to
622
browser mode. By default, your files open in browser mode in
623
Ubuntu.</para></note>
622
GNOME but while compiling Ubuntu, the mode changes to browser mode by default.</para></note>
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623
<para>To choose the required mode:</para>
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<orderedlist numeration="arabic">
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<para>Click any of the above items on the
657
656
<emphasis role="strong">Places</emphasis> menu.</para>
658
<figure><title><emphasis role="italic">Using Nautillus File Manager</emphasis></title>
657
<figure><title><emphasis role="italic">Using Nautilus File Manager</emphasis></title>
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<mediaobject><imageobject>
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<imagedata fileref="images/Lesson07_images_027.png" format="PNG" />
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</imageobject></mediaobject>
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<para>As the default mode is browser mode, the Nautilus file
664
manager opens in this mode. If you open a folder in this mode,
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<para>The Nautilus file manager opens files in browser mode by default. If you open a folder in this mode,
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the folder will open in the same window. The location bar shows
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the current location of the opened folder in the hierarchy of
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folders, and the sidebar shows other folders saved on your
669
<figure><title><emphasis role="italic">Nautillus File Manager Displaying Files Inside a Folder</emphasis></title>
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<figure><title><emphasis role="italic">Files Display</emphasis></title>
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<mediaobject><imageobject>
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<imagedata fileref="images/Lesson07_images_028.png" format="PNG" />
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</imageobject></mediaobject>
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<title>Package Managers</title>
736
<instructornote><title>Instructor Notes:</title><para><emphasis role="italic">Initiate a discussion on the common
737
applications the participants use at their homes or offices and where
738
they source it, the cost and difficulty or ease in installation and the
739
support they get. On one side of the whiteboard, keep recording the
740
problems they face or the good points of the applications they use.
741
Start with the topic and tick the points on the whiteboard as and when
742
they come up and you explain how each point is addressed by
743
Ubuntu during the delivery of this lesson.</emphasis></para>
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<para>Similar to other operating systems, most packages in Ubuntu
746
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depend on a number of shared libraries and fail to install, uninstall and
747
736
work if the associated libraries are missing. Therefore, to simplify the
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required, from the Internet and install it.</para>
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<title>Types of Package Managers</title>
757
<para>Ubuntu includes a few package managers by default, and
746
<para>Ubuntu includes a few package managers by default and
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747
which one you use depends on how advanced the package
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management tasks are that you want to achieve. Depending on their
760
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features, package managers are divided into the following categories:
1115
1104
tarballs and are available with the tar.gz and tar.bz2 suffixes.</para>
1117
1106
</itemizedlist>
1118
<note><title><emphasis role="strong">Note:</emphasis></title>
1119
1107
<para>Compiling and installing programs from source tarballs can often be quite
1120
1108
straightforward, however it can also be very complex to debug when things go wrong.
1121
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Tarballs are simple structures which don't specify what dependencies are required
1122
1110
to enable compilation to take place. For this reason it can also be time consuming
1123
and complex to determine the necessary depenancies and either install or compile them
1124
also. Compiling from tarball is therefore not covered on this course.</para></note>
1111
and complex to determine the necessary dependencies and either install or compile them
1112
also. Compiling from tarball is therefore not covered on this course.</para>
1125
1113
<note><title><emphasis role="strong">Note:</emphasis></title>
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1114
<para>It is not guaranteed that these files will be compatible with your
1127
1115
system and you will not receive security updates if you install these
1134
1122
which are in the Ubuntu repositories, however if the package requires
1135
1123
further dependencies which are not in the Ubuntu repositories these will also
1136
1124
need to be installed manually.</para>
1137
<para>To install a Debian package simply open the .deb file from the folder
1138
it resides in</para>
1125
<para>To install a Debian package, open the .deb file from the folder
1126
in which it resides.</para>
1139
1127
<para>Installing a Debian package:
1140
1128
<orderedlist numeration="arabic">
1166
<title>Software Repositories (A software depot)</title>
1167
<para>A software repository is a depot of software from where you can
1154
<title>Software Repositories</title>
1155
<para>A software repository is a library of software from where you can
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download and install packages (applications) over the Internet. The Ubuntu software
1169
1157
repository contains thousands of packages that are freely available for
1170
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installation over the Internet. It is easy to install these packages because
1171
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they are specially built for Ubuntu.</para>
1172
<instructornote><title>Instructor Notes:</title><para><emphasis role="italic">This section is a recap of section 1. However, it is very critical to understand the concept of software repositories.</emphasis></para>
1160
<instructornote><title>Instructor Notes:</title><para><emphasis role="italic">This section is a recap
1161
of section 1. However, it is very critical to understand the concept of software repositories.</emphasis></para>
1173
1162
</instructornote>
1175
1164
<title>Software Repository Categories</title>
1209
1198
standard Ubuntu installation CD, but they can be easily removed.
1211
1200
<para><emphasis role="strong">The Universe Component</emphasis></para>
1212
<para>The universe component includes thousands of
1213
packages for software that are not officially supported by Canonical. The
1214
software are available under a variety of licenses reputed free,
1215
taken from a variety of public sources. This component is
1201
<para>The universe component includes thousands of packages for software that
1202
is not officially supported by Canonical. The software is available under
1203
a variety of free licenses, taken from a variety of public sources. This component is
1216
1204
available only through the Internet.</para>
1217
1205
<para>All the packages in this component are expected to work correctly.
1218
1206
However, there is no guarantee of security fixes and
1219
1207
support for these packages. The packages in this component are
1220
1208
maintained by the community.</para>
1221
<instructornote><title>Instructor Notes:</title><para><emphasis role="italic">It could be considered risky to use packages from the
1222
universe component, especially because the availability of security
1209
<instructornote><title>Instructor Notes:</title><para><emphasis role="italic">It could be
1210
considered risky to use packages from the Universe component, especially because the availability of security
1223
1211
updates is not guaranteed.</emphasis></para>
1224
1212
</instructornote>
1225
1213
<para><emphasis role="strong">The Multiverse Component</emphasis></para>
1230
1218
and comply with their licensing terms. The packages in this component
1231
1219
do not come with any support or security updates. Examples of these
1232
1220
packages include VLC and the Adobe Flash plugin.</para>
1233
<instructornote><title>Instructor Notes:</title><para><emphasis role="italic">Software from the multiverse component could be
1221
<instructornote><title>Instructor Notes:</title><para><emphasis role="italic">Software from the Multiverse component could be
1234
1222
hindered by patents or other forms of restriction on usage and distribution.
1235
It is the responsibility of the user to determine if the software of question can be
1236
used in its juridiction and to comply with local laws.</emphasis></para></instructornote>
1237
<para>Many packages are not available in default Ubuntu
1223
It is the user's responsibility to determine if the software can be
1224
used in its jurisdiction and complies with local laws.</emphasis></para></instructornote>
1225
<para>Many packages are not available in default Ubuntu
1238
1226
repositories. These packages can either be installed from other
1239
1227
Ubuntu repositories or from third-party software. To use the packages
1240
1228
present in third-party software, you need to add the software. Perform
1357
1345
sarge main</emphasis> in the
1358
1346
<emphasis role="strong">APT line</emphasis> box. Click
1359
1347
<emphasis role="strong">Add Source</emphasis>.</para>
1360
<para><emphasis role="italic">Software from the multiverse component could be
1361
hindered by patents or other forms of restriction on usage and distribution.
1362
It is the responsibility of the user to determine if the software of question can be
1363
used in its juridiction and to comply with local laws.</emphasis></para>
1348
<para><emphasis role="italic">Software from the Multiverse component could be
1349
hindered by patents and other restriction on usage and distribution.
1350
It is the user's responsibility to ascertain whether the software in question can be
1351
used in its jurisdiction and to complies with local laws.</emphasis></para>
1366
<title>Adding Repositories (More depots)</title>
1354
<title>Adding Repositories</title>
1367
1355
<para>Many packages are not available in default Ubuntu
1368
1356
repositories. These packages can either be installed from other
1369
1357
Ubuntu repositories or from third-party software. To use the packages
1471
1459
<title>Adding New Language Settings</title>
1472
<para>Ubuntu provides you the option to enable new language settings for your desktop.</para>
1473
<para>Support for new languages can be installed via <emphasis role="strong">Language Support</emphasis>, which is found in the <emphasis role="strong">Administration/System</emphasis> menu. When adding a new language additional packages may need to be downloaded and installed.</para>
1474
<para>Depending on the language the input method and keyboard mapping needs to be changed as well. The <emphasis>Smart Common Input Method</emphasis> (SCIM) is used in Ubuntu to switch between different input methods. The <emphasis>ctrl space</emphasis> hotkey is a convenient switch between different input methods.</para>
1460
<para>Ubuntu provides the option to enable new language settings for your desktop.</para>
1461
<para>Support for new languages can be installed via <emphasis role="strong">Language Support</emphasis>, which
1462
is found in the <emphasis role="strong">Administration/System</emphasis> menu. When adding a new language,
1463
additional packages may need to be downloaded and installed.</para>
1464
<para>Depending on the language the input method and keyboard mapping needs to be changed as well.
1465
The <emphasis>Smart Common Input Method</emphasis> (SCIM) is used in Ubuntu to switch between different input methods.
1466
The <emphasis>ctrl space</emphasis> hotkey is a convenient switch between different input methods.</para>
1477
1469
<title>Lesson Summary</title>
1478
1470
<para>In this lesson, you learned that:
1479
1471
<orderedlist numeration="arabic">
1481
<para>GNOME is the default graphical interface or desktop for
1482
Ubuntu. You can use the <emphasis role="strong">Preferences</emphasis>
1473
<para>GNOME is the default desktop for Ubuntu. You can use the <emphasis role="strong">Preferences</emphasis>
1483
1474
option on the <emphasis role="strong">System</emphasis>
1484
menu to customise the Ubuntu desktop for look and
1475
menu to customise the Ubuntu desktop look and feel.</para>
1488
1478
<para>You can manage your file system using the Nautilus file
1516
1506
code of a program. You can use advanced command line tools to install or
1517
1507
uninstall the tarball file.</para>
1520
<para>You can easily install packages over the Internet from
1521
Ubuntu software repositories because the packages are specially
1522
built and tested for Ubuntu.</para>
1597
1582
<title>Lab Exercise</title>
1598
<instructornote><title>Instructor Notes:</title><para><emphasis role="italic">Explain to the students the purpose of each
1599
application. xpdf is a suite of tools for portable document format (pdf).
1600
It is a small and efficient package for viewing pdf files. This package
1601
supports standard X fonts, true type fonts and type1 fonts. Gnumeric
1583
<instructornote><title>Instructor Notes:</title><para><emphasis role="italic">Explain to
1584
the students the purpose of each application. xpdf is a suite of tools used to view Portable Document Format (pdf).
1585
This package supports standard X fonts, true type fonts and type1 fonts. Gnumeric
1602
1586
is a stand-alone spreadsheet application that interoperates well with
1603
1587
other spreadsheets. 7Zip is a package with high compression ratios.</emphasis></para>
1604
1588
</instructornote>
1605
1589
<para><emphasis role="strong">Exercise 1</emphasis></para>
1606
1590
<para>You have installed Ubuntu 7.10 on your personal computer. You
1607
want to view your pdf files, use an easy-to use spreadsheet application
1608
for creating your daily tasks and archive your files. Install the following
1591
want to view your pdf files, use a spreadsheet application for creating your daily tasks and archive your files.
1592
Install the following packages:</para>
1610
1593
<para>a) xpdf</para>
1611
1594
<para>b) gnumeric</para>
1612
1595
<para>c) 7zip</para>