27
38
you should see a default startup screen, with panels, windows,
28
39
and various icons.</para>
30
<para>The major components of the GNOME Desktop are as follows:</para>
35
<para>Panels are areas in the GNOME Desktop from which you
36
can access all of your system applications and menus. Panels are very
38
<para>A particularly important panel is the top edge panel. The top
39
edge panel includes the <application>Menu Bar</application>. The
40
<application>Menu Bar</application> contains two special menus, as
43
<listitem><para><guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu: Contains all
44
applications and configuration tools. This menu also includes the
45
file browser and the help browser.</para></listitem>
46
<listitem><para><guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu: Contains various
47
commands that perform various functions, for example
48
<guimenuitem>Search for Files</guimenuitem> and <guimenuitem>Log
49
Out</guimenuitem>.</para></listitem>
51
<para>Click on the <guibutton>Window Selector</guibutton> icon at the
52
extreme right of the top edge panel to display a list of all open
59
<para>You can access all GNOME Desktop functions through menus. You
60
can use the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu to access almost all
61
of the standard applications, commands, and configuration options.
62
You can access the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu from the
63
<guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> and from the <application>Menu
64
Bar</application> applet. You can add the <guimenu>Main
65
Menu</guimenu> and the <application>Menu Bar</application>
66
applet to your panels.</para>
67
<para>The <application>Menu Bar</application> applet contains an
68
<guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu. The <guimenu>Actions</guimenu>
69
menu contains commands that perform various functions, for example
70
<guimenuitem>Search for Files</guimenuitem> and <guimenuitem>Log
71
Out</guimenuitem>. The items in the <guimenu>Actions</guimenu>
72
menu are at the top level of the
73
<guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>.</para>
78
<listitem><para>You can display many windows at the same time. You
79
can run different applications in each window. The window manager
80
provides frames and buttons for windows. The window manager enables
81
you to perform standard actions such as move, close, and resize
82
windows.</para></listitem>
85
<term>Workspaces</term>
86
<listitem><para>You can subdivide the GNOME Desktop into separate
87
<firstterm>workspaces</firstterm>. A workspace is a discrete area
88
in which you can work. You can specify the number of workspaces
89
in the GNOME Desktop. You can switch to a different workspace,
90
but you can only display one workspace at a time.</para></listitem>
93
<term><application>Nautilus</application> file manager</term>
95
<para>The <application>Nautilus</application> file manager
96
provides an integrated access point to your files and
97
applications. You can manage the contents of folders in
98
the file manager and open the files in the appropriate
105
<para>The desktop is behind all of the other components on the
106
desktop. The desktop is an active component of the user interface.
107
You can place objects on the desktop to access your files and
108
directories quickly, or to start applications that you use often.
109
You can also right-click on the desktop to open a menu.</para>
113
<term>Preferences</term>
114
<listitem><para>The GNOME Desktop contains dedicated
115
<firstterm>preference tools</firstterm>. Each tool controls
116
a particular part of the behavior of the GNOME Desktop. To
117
start a preference tool, choose <menuchoice>
118
<guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guimenuitem>Desktop
119
Preferences</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. Choose the item
120
that you want to configure from the submenus.</para></listitem>
123
<para>The components of the GNOME Desktop are interoperable. Usually, you
124
can perform the same action in several different ways. For example, you can
125
start applications from panels, from menus, or from the desktop.</para>
126
<para>Your system administrator can make configuration changes to suit your
127
needs, so that the GNOME Desktop that you use might not be exactly the same
128
as described in this chapter. Nevertheless, this chapter provides a useful
129
quick guide to how to work with the GNOME Desktop.</para>
131
<section id="gosoverview-502">
132
<title>Panels</title>
134
<primary>panels</primary>
135
<secondary>overview</secondary>
137
<para>You can add or delete panels at any time. When you start a session for
138
the first time, the GNOME Desktop contains at least one panel. </para>
139
<para>You can perform the following actions with panels:</para>
142
<para>Create panels.</para>
145
<para>Delete panels.</para>
148
<para>Hide panels.</para>
151
<para>Add objects to panels.</para>
154
<para>Manipulate panel objects.</para>
157
<section id="gosoverview-26">
158
<title>To Create Panels</title>
159
<para>To add a panel, right-click on a vacant space on any panel, then choose <guimenuitem>New Panel</guimenuitem>. The new panel is added to the GNOME Desktop. The
160
new panel contains no objects. You can customize the new panel to suit your
161
preferences. You can add objects to the panel to fit your own requirements.
162
You can also change the background of the panel. You can create as many panels
165
<section id="gosoverview-508">
166
<title>To Delete Panels</title>
167
<para>To delete a panel, right-click on the panel then choose <guimenuitem>Delete This Panel</guimenuitem>.</para>
169
<section id="gosoverview-24">
170
<title>To Hide Panels</title>
171
<para>Panels can have hide buttons at each end of the panel. You click on
172
the hide buttons to hide or show the panel.</para>
174
<section id="gosoverview-4">
175
<title>To Add Objects to Panels</title>
176
<para>A panel can hold several types of objects. The panel in <xref linkend="gosoverview-FIG-28"/>
177
contains each type of panel object. </para>
178
<figure id="gosoverview-FIG-28">
179
<title>A Panel With Various Panel Objects</title>
183
<imagedata fileref="figures/sample_anno_panel.png" format="PNG"/>
186
<phrase>A panel with various panel objects. Callouts: Calculator launcher, Menu, CD Player applet, Drawer, Lock button.</phrase>
191
<para>You can add any of the following objects to all types of panels:</para>
197
<para><firstterm>Applets</firstterm> are small, interactive
198
applications that reside within a panel, for example <application>CD
199
Player</application> in <xref linkend="gosoverview-FIG-28"/>.
200
Each applet has a simple user interface that you can operate with
201
the mouse or keyboard. The following applets appear in your panels
205
<listitem><para><application>Menu Bar</application>: Provides
206
access to the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu and the
207
<guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu. You can use the menus
208
to access your applications, preference tools, and other
209
tasks.</para></listitem>
211
<listitem><para><application>Clock</application>: Displays the time.
212
You can also configure <application>Clock</application> to display
213
the date.</para></listitem>
215
<listitem><para><application>Window Selector</application>: Lists
216
all your open windows. To give focus to a window, click on the
217
window selector icon at the extreme right of the top edge panel,
218
then choose the window.</para></listitem>
220
<listitem><para><application>Window List</application>: Displays
221
a button for each window that is open. You can click on a window
222
list button to minimize and restore windows. By default,
223
<application>Window List</application> appears in the edge panel
224
at the bottom of the screen.</para></listitem>
226
<listitem><para><application>Workspace Switcher</application>:
227
Displays a visual representation of your workspaces. You can use
228
<application>Workspace Switcher</application> to switch between
229
workspaces. By default, <application>Workspace
230
Switcher</application> appears in the edge panel
231
at the bottom of the screen.</para></listitem>
234
<para>To add an applet to a panel, right-click on a vacant space
235
on the panel, then choose <guimenuitem>Add to Panel</guimenuitem>.
236
Choose the applet from the <application>Add to the panel</application>
241
<term>Launchers</term>
243
<para>A <firstterm>launcher</firstterm> starts a particular
244
application, executes a command, or opens a file. The calculator
245
icon in <xref linkend="gosoverview-FIG-28"/> is a launcher for
246
the <application>Calculator</application> application. A launcher
247
can reside in a panel or in a menu. Click on the launcher to perform
248
the action that is associated with the launcher.</para>
250
<para>You can create your own launchers for applications. For
251
example, you can create a launcher for a word processor application
252
that you use frequently, and place the launcher in a panel for
253
convenient access. To add a new launcher to a panel, right-click
254
on a vacant space on the panel, then choose <menuchoice>
255
<guimenu>Add to Panel</guimenu><guimenuitem>Launcher</guimenuitem>
256
</menuchoice>.</para>
258
<para>Alternatively, to add a launcher from a menu, right-click
259
on a vacant space on the panel, then choose <guimenuitem>Add
260
to Panel</guimenuitem>. Select <guilabel>Application
261
Launcher</guilabel> in the <application>Add to the
262
panel</application> dialog and click <guibutton>Forward</guibutton>.
263
On the following screen, select the application launcher to add
264
and click <guibutton>Add</guibutton>.</para></listitem>
267
<term>Action buttons</term>
269
<para>You can add buttons to your panels to provide quick access
270
to common actions. You can add the following buttons to your
273
<listitem><para><guibutton>Force Quit</guibutton>: Use this
274
button to terminate applications that do not respond to your
275
commands.</para></listitem>
277
<listitem><para><guibutton>Lock</guibutton>: Click on this button
278
to lock your screen. The lock icon in <xref
279
linkend="gosoverview-FIG-28"/> is the <guibutton>Lock</guibutton>
280
button.</para></listitem>
282
<listitem><para><guibutton>Log Out</guibutton>: Click on this
283
button to end your session</para></listitem>
285
<listitem><para><guibutton>Run</guibutton>: Click on this button
286
to open the <guilabel>Run Application</guilabel> dialog, from
287
which you can run commands.</para></listitem>
289
<listitem><para><guibutton>Screenshot</guibutton>: Click on this
290
button to take a screenshot of the screen.</para></listitem>
292
<listitem><para><guibutton>Search</guibutton>: Click on this
293
button to start the <application>Search Tool</application>
294
application, from which you can search for files.</para></listitem>
296
<listitem><para><guibutton>Show Desktop</guibutton>: Click
297
on this button to minimize all windows and show the
298
desktop.</para></listitem>
305
<para>You can access all GNOME Desktop functions through menus.
306
To open a menu from a panel, click on the icon that represents
307
the menu. To open a menu from the <application>Menu
308
Bar</application>, click on the text that represents
311
<para>Menus that you add to your panels are represented by an
312
icon with an arrow. The arrow indicates that the icon represents
313
a menu. For example, see the menu icon in <xref
314
linkend="gosoverview-FIG-28"/>.</para>
316
<para>You can add the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> to any of your
317
panels. To add the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> to a panel,
318
right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose
319
<guimenuitem>Add to Panel</guimenuitem>. In the
320
<application>Add to the panel</application> dialog,
321
select <guilabel>Main Menu</guilabel> and click
322
<guibutton>Add</guibutton>.</para>
324
<para>You can also add the <application>Menu Bar</application>
325
to any of your panels. To add the <application>Menu Bar</application>
326
to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose
327
<guimenuitem>Add to Panel</guimenuitem>. In the
328
<application>Add to the panel</application> dialog,
329
select <guilabel>Menu Bar</guilabel> and click
330
<guibutton>Add</guibutton>.</para>
336
<para><firstterm>Drawers</firstterm> are sliding extensions to
337
a panel that you can open or close from a drawer icon, as shown
338
in <xref linkend="gosoverview-FIG-28"/>. Drawers can help you to
339
organize your work when you run a lot of applications
340
simultaneously. You can place all the same functional elements
341
in a drawer that you can put in any other type of panel.</para>
343
<para>To add a drawer to a panel, right-click on a vacant space
344
on the panel, then choose <guimenuitem>Add to Panel</guimenuitem>.
345
In the <application>Add to the panel</application> dialog,
346
select <guilabel>Drawer</guilabel> and click
347
<guibutton>Add</guibutton>.</para>
349
<para>To open a drawer click on the drawer. To close a drawer
350
click on the drawer again.</para>
355
<section id="gosoverview-21">
356
<title>To Manipulate Panel Objects</title>
357
<para>You can manipulate panel objects in the following ways:</para>
360
<para>Move objects within a panel, or to another panel.</para>
361
<para>You can move any object to another location in the panel. You can also
362
move an object from one panel to another panel. Use the middle mouse button
363
to drag the panel object to the new location.</para>
366
<para>Copy menu items to a panel.</para>
367
<para>Drag the item from the menu to the panel. Alternatively, if the menu
368
item is a launcher right-click on the menu item, then choose <guimenuitem>Add this launcher to panel</guimenuitem>.</para>
373
<section id="gosoverview-42">
376
<primary>menus</primary>
377
<secondary>overview</secondary>
379
<para>You can access all GNOME Desktop functions through menus. You can
380
access your menus from the following GNOME Desktop components:</para>
383
<term><application>Main Menu</application></term>
385
<para>The <application>Main Menu</application> contains the
386
<guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu, and various other functions.
387
You can use the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu to access
388
almost all of the standard applications, commands, and configuration
390
<para>To add the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> to a panel, right-click
391
on a vacant space on the panel, then choose <guimenuitem>Add to
392
Panel</guimenuitem>. In the <application>Add to the
393
panel</application> dialog, select <guilabel>Main Menu</guilabel>
394
and click <guibutton>Add</guibutton>.</para>
398
<term><application>Menu Bar</application></term>
400
<para>The <application>Menu Bar</application> contains
401
<guimenu>Applications</guimenu> and <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menus.
402
You can use the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu and the
403
<guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu to access almost all of the standard
404
applications, commands, and configuration options.</para>
405
<para>To add the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> to a panel, right-click
406
on a vacant space on the panel, then choose <guimenuitem>Add to
407
Panel</guimenuitem>. In the <application>Add to the
408
panel</application> dialog, select <guilabel>Menu Bar</guilabel>
409
and click <guibutton>Add</guibutton>.</para>
415
<para>You can add as many additional menus as you want to any of your
416
panels. To open a menu that you add to a panel, click on the menu
417
icon on the panel. You can perform other actions on your menus,
418
such as copy menu items to panels.</para>
424
<section id="gosoverview-18">
425
<title>Windows</title>
427
<primary>windows</primary>
428
<secondary>overview</secondary>
430
<para>You can display many windows at the same time in the GNOME Desktop.
431
Each window has a frame. The window frame contains active control elements
432
that you can use to work with the window.</para>
434
<section id="gosoverview-16">
435
<title>Types of Windows</title>
436
<para>The GNOME Desktop features the following types of window:</para>
439
<term>Application windows</term>
41
<para>The major components of the desktop are as follows:</para>
46
<listitem><para>Panels are usually located along the edges of the screen,
47
although they can be configured to float on the desktop. Panels can
48
contain menus, launchers, and various other tools. Panels can also
49
contain small utility applications, called
50
<firstterm>panel applets</firstterm>. For example, you can configure
51
your panel to display the current weather for your location. For more
52
information on panels, see <xref linkend="panels"/>.</para></listitem>
57
<listitem><para>Most applications run inside of one or more windows.
58
You can display multiple windows on your desktop at the same time.
59
Windows can be resized and moved around to accomodate your workflow.
60
Each window has a <firstterm>titlebar</firstterm> at the top with
61
buttons which allow you to minimize, maximize, and close the window.
62
For more information on working with windows, see
63
<xref linkend="overview-windows"/>.</para></listitem>
67
<term>Workspaces</term>
68
<listitem><para>You can subdivide your desktop into separate
69
<firstterm>workspaces</firstterm>. Each workspace can contain
70
separate windows, allowing you to group related tasks together.
71
For more information on working with workspaces, see
72
<xref linkend="overview-workspaces"/>.</para></listitem>
76
<term>File Manager</term>
77
<listitem><para>The <application>Nautilus</application> file manager
78
provides access to your files, folders, and applications. You can
79
manage the contents of folders in the file manager and open the files
80
in the appropriate applications. See <xref linkend="nautilus"/> for
81
more information.</para></listitem>
86
<listitem><para>The desktop is behind all of the other components on the
87
desktop. You can place objects on the desktop to access your files and
88
directories quickly, or to start applications that you use often. See
89
<xref linkend="nautilus-desktop"/> for more information.</para></listitem>
93
<term>Preferences</term>
94
<listitem><para>You can customize your desktop using the desktop
95
<firstterm>preference tools</firstterm>. Each tool controls
96
a particular part of the behavior of the desktop. The preference
97
tools can be found in the <guimenu>Preferences</guimenu> submenu
98
of the <guimenu>Desktop</guimenu> top-level menu on your panel.
99
See <xref linkend="prefs"/> for more information on the various
100
preference tools.</para></listitem>
104
<para>Your vendor or system administrator can make configuration changes to
105
suit your needs, so your desktop might not match exactly what is described
106
in this manual. Nevertheless, this manual provides a useful introduction
107
to using the various components of your desktop.</para>
110
<section id="overview-windows">
111
<title>Windows</title>
113
<!-- Maintained for 2.8 compatibility -->
114
<anchor id="gosoverview-18"/>
117
<primary>windows</primary>
118
<secondary>overview</secondary>
121
<para>Each application can run inside of one or more windows. You can
122
display multiple windows at the same time on your desktop. Each window
123
has a frame and titlebar which allow you to control the window.</para>
125
<para>The following sections describe the types of windows and how you
126
can interact with them.</para>
128
<section id="windows-types">
129
<title>Types of Windows</title>
131
<!-- Maintained for 2.8 compatibility -->
132
<anchor id="gosoverview-16"/>
134
<remark>This section needs work.</remark>
136
<para>The GNOME Desktop features the following types of window:</para>
140
<term>Application windows</term>
441
142
<para>When you run an application, a frame usually borders the
442
143
window. The top edge of the application window contains a titlebar.
443
144
The titlebar contains buttons that you can use to work with the
457
158
window as a dialog. The frame of a dialog window contains buttons
458
159
that enable you to open the <guimenu>Window Menu</guimenu>, or to
459
160
close the dialog window.</para>
465
<section id="gosoverview-32">
466
<title>To Manipulate Windows</title>
467
<para>You use the frame of an application window or dialog window to perform
468
various actions with the window. Most of the control elements are located
469
on the top edge of the window frame. <xref linkend="gosoverview-FIG-33"/> shows
470
the top edge of a frame for a typical application window.</para>
471
<figure id="gosoverview-FIG-33">
472
<title>Top Edge of Frame for a Typical Application Window</title>
476
<imagedata fileref="figures/titlebar_anno_window.png" format="PNG"/>
479
<phrase>Top edge of application window frame. Callouts: Window Menu button, Titlebar, Minimize, Maximize, Close Window buttons.</phrase>
484
<para>The active control elements of the window frame are as follows: </para>
485
<informaltable frame="topbot">
486
<tgroup cols="2" colsep="0" rowsep="0">
487
<colspec colname="colspec0" colwidth="41.65*"/>
488
<colspec colname="colspec1" colwidth="58.35*"/>
492
<para>Control Element</para>
495
<para>Description </para>
501
<entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
502
<para><guibutton>Window Menu</guibutton>
505
<entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
507
the <guibutton>Window Menu</guibutton> button to open the <guimenu>Window
508
Menu</guimenu>. </para>
513
<para>Titlebar</para>
516
<para>You can use the titlebar to move and shade the window. </para>
521
<para><guibutton>Minimize</guibutton> button</para>
524
<para>Click on the <guibutton>Minimize</guibutton> button
525
to minimize the window. </para>
530
<para><guibutton>Maximize</guibutton> button</para>
533
<para>You can use the <guibutton>Maximize</guibutton>
534
button to maximize and restore the window.</para>
535
<para>To maximize a window
536
click on the <guibutton>Maximize</guibutton> button. To restore the window
537
click on the <guibutton>Maximize</guibutton> button again. </para>
542
<para><guibutton>Close Window</guibutton> button</para>
545
<para>Click on the <guibutton>Close Window</guibutton> button to close the window. </para>
549
<entry colname="colspec0">
552
<entry colname="colspec1">
553
<para>Right-click on the border to open the <guimenu>Window Menu</guimenu>.</para>
559
<para>To change the size of windows grab the border of the window, but not
560
the titlebar. Drag the border until the window is the size that you require.</para>
166
<section id="windows-manipulating">
168
<title>Manipulating Windows</title>
170
<!-- Maintained for 2.8 compatibility -->
171
<anchor id="gosoverview-32"/>
173
<remark>This section needs work.</remark>
175
<para>You use the frame of an application window or dialog window to perform
176
various actions with the window. Most of the control elements are located on
177
the top edge of the window frame. <xref linkend="fig-titlebar-anno-window"/>
178
shows the top edge of a frame for a typical application window.</para>
180
<figure id="fig-titlebar-anno-window">
181
<title>Titlebar for a Typical Application Window</title>
182
<!-- Maintained for 2.8 compatibility -->
183
<anchor id="gosoverview-FIG-33"/>
187
<imagedata fileref="figures/titlebar_anno_window.png" format="PNG"/>
190
<phrase>Titlebar of application window frame. Callouts: Window Menu
191
button, Titlebar, Minimize, Maximize, Close Window buttons.</phrase>
197
<para>The active control elements of the window frame are as follows: </para>
199
<informaltable frame="topbot">
200
<tgroup cols="2" colsep="0" rowsep="0">
201
<colspec colname="colspec0" colwidth="41.65*"/>
202
<colspec colname="colspec1" colwidth="58.35*"/>
206
<para>Control Element</para>
209
<para>Description </para>
215
<entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
216
<para><guibutton>Window Menu</guibutton> button</para>
218
<entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
219
<para>Click on the <guibutton>Window Menu</guibutton> button to
220
open the <guimenu>Window Menu</guimenu>.</para>
225
<para>Titlebar</para>
228
<para>You can use the titlebar to move and roll up the window.</para>
233
<para><guibutton>Minimize</guibutton> button</para>
236
<para>Click on the <guibutton>Minimize</guibutton> button to
237
minimize the window.</para>
242
<para><guibutton>Maximize</guibutton> button</para>
245
<para>You can use the <guibutton>Maximize</guibutton>
246
button to maximize and restore the window.</para>
247
<para>To maximize a window click on the
248
<guibutton>Maximize</guibutton> button. To restore the window
249
click on the <guibutton>Maximize</guibutton> button again.</para>
254
<para><guibutton>Close Window</guibutton> button</para>
257
<para>Click on the <guibutton>Close Window</guibutton> button to
258
close the window. </para>
262
<entry colname="colspec0">
265
<entry colname="colspec1">
266
<para>Right-click on the border to open the <guimenu>Window
267
Menu</guimenu>.</para>
274
<para>To change the size of windows grab the border of the window,
275
but not the titlebar. Drag the border until the window is the size
276
that you require.</para>
562
279
<section id="gosoverview-20">
563
<title>To Give Focus to a Window</title>
280
<title>Giving Focus to a Window</title>
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<para>A window that has focus can receive input from the mouse and the keyboard.
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Only one window can have focus at a time. The window that has focus has a
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different appearance than other windows. </para>
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specify the number of workspaces that you require.</para>
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<section id="gosoverview-56">
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<title>File Manager</title>
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<primary>Nautilus file manager</primary>
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<see>file manager</see>
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<primary>file manager</primary>
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<secondary>overview</secondary>
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<para>The <application>Nautilus</application> file manager provides an
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integrated access point to your files, applications, FTP sites, and
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<para>The file manager enables you to do the following:</para>
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<term>View files and folders</term>
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<listitem><para>You can view your files and folders as icons or as
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a list. You can use the file manager to launch applications to
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view or edit your files.</para></listitem>
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<term>Manage your files and folders</term>
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<listitem><para>You can use the file manager to create, move, copy,
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rename, and remove files and folders.</para></listitem>
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<term>Run scripts</term>
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<listitem><para>You can run scripts from the file manager,
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and you can select files and folders on which to run your
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scripts.</para></listitem>
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<term>Customize your files and folders</term>
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<para>You can add emblems to your files and folders to
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indicate particular states. For example, you can add an
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<guilabel>Important</guilabel> emblem to a file to indicate
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that the file is important. You can also customize folders
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in the following ways:</para>
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<listitem><para>Add a note to a folder.</para></listitem>
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<listitem><para>Specify a custom background or pattern for a
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folder.</para></listitem>
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<listitem><para>Specify a zoom setting for a folder.</para></listitem>
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<term>Open special <firstterm>Uniform Resource Identifiers</firstterm>
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<listitem><para>The GNOME Desktop contains special URIs that enable
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you to access particular functions from the file manager. For example,
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to access the preference tools, you can access the
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<systemitem role="protocol">preferences:///</systemitem>
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URI in the file manager.</para></listitem>
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<term>Write CDs</term>
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<listitem><para>The file manager provides a special location where
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you can copy files and folders that you want to write to a CD. You
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can write the contents of the location to a CD easily.</para></listitem>
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<para>The file manager also creates the desktop.</para>
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<section id="gosoverview-58">
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<title>To Open Files from the File Manager</title>
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<para>To navigate to the file that you want to open, double-click on the <guilabel>Home</guilabel> object on the desktop. A file object window opens. To navigate
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to the folder where the file that you want to open resides, double-click on
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the folder icons in the file object window. When the file that you want to
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open is displayed, double-click on the file icon to open the file in an application.</para>
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<section id="gosoverview-57">
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<title>To Move Files Between Folders</title>
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<para>You can move files between folders by opening two or more file
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manager windows. Drag the files from one window to the other. </para>
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<section id="gosgetstarted-11">
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<title>Desktop and Desktop Objects</title>
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<primary>Nautilus desktop</primary>
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<primary>desktop</primary>
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<secondary>overview</secondary>
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<para>The desktop is an active component of the user interface. You can use
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the desktop to perform the following actions:</para>
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<para>Start your applications, and open your files and folders. </para>
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<para>You can add <firstterm>desktop objects</firstterm> for convenient access
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to the files, folders, and applications that you use frequently. For example,
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you add a launcher for an application that you use often.</para>
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<para>Open the <guimenu>Desktop</guimenu> menu.</para>
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<para>Right-click on the desktop to open the <guimenu>Desktop</guimenu> menu.
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You can use the <guimenu>Desktop</guimenu> menu to perform actions on the
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<para>The file manager manages the desktop.</para>
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<section id="gosoverview-29">
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<title>To Open Desktop Objects</title>
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<para>To open an object from the desktop, double-click on the object. You
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can set your preferences in a <application>Nautilus</application> window so
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that you click once on an object to execute the default action.</para>
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<section id="gosoverview-19">
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<title>To Add Objects to the Desktop</title>
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<para>You can add desktop objects for convenient access to files, folders,
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and applications that you use frequently. You can add objects to your desktop
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in the following ways:</para>
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<para>Use the <guimenu>Desktop</guimenu> menu to add a launcher
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to the desktop.</para>
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<para>Drag an object from a file manager window to the desktop.
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For example, you can create a symbolic link to a file that you use often,
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then drag the link to your desktop. The icon for the link is moved to the
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desktop. To open the file, double-click on the icon. You can also drag files
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and folders to the desktop. </para>
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<para>Drag an application launcher from a menu to the desktop. For
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example, you can open a menu that contains a launcher for an application that
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you use often, then drag the launcher to your desktop. </para>
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<section id="gosoverview-55">
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<title>GNOME Desktop Preferences</title>
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<primary>preference tools</primary>
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<secondary>overview</secondary>
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<para>You can use preference tools to configure almost every feature
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of the GNOME Desktop. Each tool controls a particular part of the behavior
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of the GNOME Desktop. For example, you can use a preference tool to select
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a theme for the GNOME Desktop. A <firstterm>theme</firstterm> is a group of
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coordinated settings that specify the visual appearance of a part of your
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<para>You can start your preference tools in either of the following ways:</para>
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<para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guimenuitem>Desktop Preferences</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. Choose the item
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that you require from the submenus. </para>
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<section id="gosoverview-54">
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<title>Applications</title>