GNOME 2.8 Desktop User Guide

Sun GNOME Documentation Team

Sun Microsystems

This manual describes version 2.8 of the GNOME desktop.

This document is distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL)

Table of Contents

I. A Tour of the GNOME Desktop

1. Basic Skills

Mouse Skills

Mouse Button Conventions
Mouse Actions
Mouse Action Terminology
Mouse Pointers

Keyboard Skills

General Shortcut Keys
Window Shortcut Keys
Panel Shortcut Keys
Application Shortcut Keys
Access Keys

Using Windows

To Resize Panes
Using Tables

2. Overview of the GNOME Desktop

Introducing GNOME Desktop Components

Panels

To Create Panels
To Delete Panels
To Hide Panels
To Add Objects to Panels
To Manipulate Panel Objects

Menus

Windows

Types of Windows
To Manipulate Windows
To Give Focus to a Window

Workspaces

To Switch Between Workspaces
To Add Workspaces

File Manager

To Open Files from the File Manager
To Move Files Between Folders

Desktop and Desktop Objects

To Open Desktop Objects
To Add Objects to the Desktop

GNOME Desktop Preferences

Applications

To Find Out More

To Find Out More About GNOME Desktop Topics
To Find Out More About Applets
To Find Out More About Applications

3. GNOME Desktop Sessions

Starting a Session

To Log in to a Session
To Log in to a Session in a Different Language

To Lock Your Screen

Managing the Session

Defining Session Behavior When You Log In and Log Out
To Use Startup Applications
To Browse Applications in the Current Session
To Save Session Settings

Ending a Session

4. Working With Panels

Introducing Panels

Top Edge Panel
Bottom Edge Panel

Managing Your Panels

To Add a New Panel
To Interact With a Panel
To Move a Panel
To Hide a Panel
To Modify Panel Properties
To Delete a Panel

Panel Objects

Interacting With Panel Objects
To Add an Object to a Panel
To Modify the Properties of an Object
To Move a Panel Object
To Lock a Panel Object
To Remove a Panel Object

Applets

To Add an Applet to a Panel
To Select an Applet
To Modify Preferences for an Applet

Launchers

To Add a Launcher to a Panel
To Modify the Properties of a Launcher

Buttons

Force Quit Button
Lock Button
Log Out Button
Run Button
Screenshot Button
Search Button
Show Desktop Button
Notification Area Applet

Menus

Drawers

To Open and Close a Drawer
To Add a Drawer to a Panel
To Add an Object to a Drawer
To Modify Drawer Properties

5. Working With Menus

Introduction to Menus

Menu Features

Menu Item Popup Menu

Applications Menu

Actions Menu

Using the Run Application Dialog
To Take a Screenshot

Main Menu

To Add a Main Menu to a Panel

Menu Bar

To Add a Menu Bar to a Panel

Customizing Your Menus

To Add a Menu
To Add a Launcher to a Menu
To Add a Launcher to an Empty Menu
To Copy a Launcher to a Menu
To Edit the Properties of a Menu
To Edit a Menu Item
To Delete an Item from a Menu

6. Working With Windows

Windows and Workspaces

Window Manager Behavior

Types of Window

Window Frames

Menus and Applets for Working With Windows and Workspaces

Window Menu
Window List Applet
Workspace Switcher Applet
Window Selector Applet

Manipulating Windows

To Give Focus to a Window
To Minimize a Window
To Maximize a Window
To Restore a Window
To Place a Window on Top of Other Windows
To Close a Window
To Resize a Window
To Move a Window
To Roll Up a Window
To Put a Window on All Workspaces
To Move a Window to Another Workspace

Manipulating Workspaces

To Switch Between Workspaces
To Add Workspaces
To Name Workspaces
To Delete Workspaces

7. Nautilus File Manager

Introduction to Nautilus File Manager

Browsing Your Files

File Browser Windows
File Browser Window Components
View Pane
Side Pane
To Show and Hide File Browser Window Components
To Display Your Home Folder
To Display a Folder
Using the Tree From the Side Pane
Using Your Navigation History
Viewing Files in a File Browser Window
To Bookmark Your Favorite Locations
Adding Notes to Files and Folders

Navigating Your Files and Folders as Objects

File Object Windows
To Display Your Home Location in a File Object Window
To Display a Folder
To Display a Parent Folder
To Display a Folder in a File Browser Window
Using the Start Here Location

Modifying the Appearance of Files and Folders

Icons and Emblems
To Add an Emblem to a File or Folder
To Add a New Emblem
To Change the Icon for a File or Folder
To Change the Size of Items in a View
Using Views to Display Your Files and Folders

Assigning Actions to Files

To Modify Actions

Customizing the File Manager

Setting Your Preferences
Changing Backgrounds

Opening Files

To Execute the Default Action
To Execute Non-Default Actions Using the Open With Submenu
To Execute Other Actions When Displaying a File

Navigating Your Computer

To Access an FTP Site
To Access Network Places
To Access Network Servers
Accessing Special URI Locations

Managing Your Files and Folders

Drag-and-Drop in the File Manager
To Select Files and Folders
To Move a File or Folder
To Copy a File or Folder
To Duplicate a File or Folder
To Create a Folder
Templates and Documents
To Rename a File or Folder
To Move a File or Folder to Trash
To Delete a File or Folder
To Create a Symbolic Link to a File or Folder
To View the Properties of a File or Folder
To Change Permissions
Using Trash

Using Removable Media

To Mount Media
To Display Media Contents
To Display Media Properties
To Format a Floppy Diskette
To Eject Media

Writing CDs

Running Scripts From the File Manager

8. Using Your Desktop

Introduction to the Desktop

Desktop Objects

To Select Objects on the Desktop
To Open an Object from the Desktop
To Add a Launcher to the Desktop
To Add a Symbolic Link to the Desktop
Adding a File or Folder to the Desktop
To Rename a Desktop Object
To Remove an Object from the Desktop
To Delete an Object from the Desktop
To View the Properties of a Desktop Object
To Change the Permissions of a Desktop Object
To Add an Emblem to a Desktop Object
To Add a Note to a Desktop Object
To Change the Icon for a Desktop Object
To Resize a Desktop Object Icon

Using Trash on the Desktop

To Display Trash
To Empty Trash

Using the Desktop Menu

Changing the Pattern or Color of the Desktop

9. Setting Session Sharing Preferences

II. Customizing Your GNOME Desktop

10. Starting Preference Tools

Starting a Preference Tool
Where to Find Preference Tools

11. Using Preference Tools

Setting Assistive Technology Preferences

Customizing the Desktop Background

Configuring a CD Database

Setting File Management Preferences

Configuring File Types and Programs

To Add a File Type
To Add a Service

Choosing Default Fonts

To Preview a Font
To Add a TrueType Font

Setting Your Login Photo

Configuring Your Network Proxy Connection

Configuring Keyboard Accessibility Options

Basic Preferences
Filter Preferences
Mouse Preferences

Configuring Keyboard Preferences

Keyboard Preferences
Typing Break Preferences
Keyboard Layout
Keyboard Layout Options

Customizing Menus and Toolbars in Applications

Setting Mouse Preferences

Buttons Preferences
Pointer Preferences
Motion Preferences

Customizing Your Panels

Choosing Your Preferred Applications

Web Browser Preferences
Email Client Preferences
Text Editor Preferences
Terminal Preferences

Setting Screen Resolution Preferences

Configuring Sessions

Setting Session Preferences
Setting Session Properties
Configuring Startup Applications

Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts

Setting Sound Preferences

General Sound Preferences
Sound Event Preferences
System Bell Settings

Customizing Themes

To Create a Custom Theme
To Install a New Theme
To Install a New Theme Option
To Delete a Theme Option
Previewing Themes

Customizing Windows

Glossary

List of Figures

2.1. A Panel With Various Panel Objects
2.2. Top Edge of Frame for a Typical Application Window
2.3. Workspaces Displayed in Workspace Switcher
4.1. Sample Top Edge Panel
4.2. Typical Bottom Edge Panel
4.3. Panel Object Popup Menu
4.4. Typical Menu Objects on a Panel
6.1. Workspace Switcher Applet
6.2. Window List Applet
6.3. Workspace Switcher Applet
7.1. Contents of a Folder in a File Browser Window
7.2. Contents of a Folder in a File Object Window

List of Tables

4.1. Lock Screen Menu Items
5.1. Menu Item Popup Menus
5.2. Actions Menu Commands
6.1. Window Frame Control Elements
6.2. Window Menu Commands and Submenus
6.3. Window Status Information on Window List Buttons
7.1. File Browser Window Components
7.2. Tree Tasks
7.3. Zoom Buttons
7.4. Views Preferences
7.5. File and Folder Behavior Preferences
7.6. Preview Preferences
7.7. Special URI Locations
7.8. Drag-and-Drop in the File Manager
7.9. Selecting Items in the File Manager
8.1. Functions of Default Desktop Objects
8.2. Types of Desktop Objects
8.3. Items on the Desktop Menu
9.1. Session Sharing Preferences
10.1. Location of Preference Tools in GNOME Desktop Menu Structure
11.1. Assistive Technology Preferences
11.2. Desktop Background Preferences
11.3. CD Database Preferences
11.4. Elements on File Types and Programs Preference Tool
11.5. Font Preferences
11.6. Internet Connection Preferences
11.7. Keyboard Accessibility Preferences
11.8. Filter Preferences
11.9. Mouse Preferences
11.10. Keyboard Preferences
11.11. Typing Break Preferences
11.12. Menu and Toolbar Preferences
11.13. Mouse Button Preferences
11.14. Mouse Pointer Preferences
11.15. Mouse Motion Preferences
11.16. Panel Preferences
11.17. Preferred Web Browser Preferences
11.18. Preferred Email Client Preferences
11.19. Preferred Text Editor Preferences
11.20. Preferred Terminal Preferences
11.21. Screen Resolution Preferences
11.22. Session Options
11.23. Session Properties
11.24. Startup Programs Preferences
11.25. Keyboard Shortcuts Preferences
11.26. General Sound Preferences
11.27. Sound Event Preferences
11.28. System Bell Preferences
11.29. Windows Preferences

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		Part I. A Tour of the GNOME Desktop