Using the Advanced Preference Tools

You can open an Advanced preference tool in either of the following ways:

Use the File Types and Programs preference tool to specify how files of various types are created, displayed, and edited. For example, you can specify that if the MIME type of a file indicates that the file is an audio file, the desktop launches the file with an audio application.

Figure II.10-1 File Types and Programs Preference Tool

Table II.10-1 describes the elements on the File Types and Programs preference tool.

The Panel preference tool enables you to configure the behavior of panels. Any changes that you make with the Panel preference tool affect all of the panels on your desktop.

Figure II.10-2 Settings for Panels

Use the Preferred Applications preference tool to specify the applications that you want the desktop to use when the desktop starts an application for you. For example, you can specify xterm as your preferred terminal application. When you open the Desktop Background menu then choose New Terminal, xterm starts.

You can customize the settings for the Preferred Applications preference tool in the following functional areas.

II.10.4.1. Web Browser Settings

Use the Web Browser tabbed section to configure your preferred web browser.

Figure II.10-3 Settings for Preferred Web Browser

Table II.10-3 lists the preferred web browser settings that you can configure.

Table II.10-3 Settings for Preferred Web Browser

Option	Function
Select a Web Browser	Select this option if you want to use a standard web browser. Use the drop-down combination box to specify your preferred web browser.
Custom Web Browser	Select this option if you want to use a custom web browser.
Command	Enter the command to execute to start the custom web browser.
Start in Terminal	Select this option to run the command in a terminal window. Select this option for a browser that does not create a window in which to run.

II.10.4.2. Text Editor Settings

Use the Text Editor tabbed section to configure your preferred text editor.

Figure II.10-4 Settings for Preferred Text Editor

Table II.10-4 lists the preferred text editor settings that you can configure.

Table II.10-4 Settings for Preferred Text Editor

Option	Function
Select an Editor	Select this option if you want to use a standard text editor. Use the drop-down combination box to specify your preferred text editor.
Custom Editor	Select this option if you want to use a custom text editor. A Custom Editor Properties dialog is displayed. Name: Type the name of the custom text editor. Command: Enter the command to execute to start the custom text editor. The application can open multiple files: Select this option if the default text editor can open multiple files. The application needs to be run in a shell: Select this option to run the command in a terminal window. Select this option for an editor that does not create a window in which to run.
Properties	Click on this button to display the Custom Editor Properties dialog. Use the dialog to modify the properties of the custom text editor.
Use this editor to open text files in the file manager	Select this option if you want the file manager to start the custom text editor to display text files.

II.10.4.3. Terminal Settings

Use the Terminal tabbed section to configure your preferred terminal.

Figure II.10-5 Settings for Preferred Terminal

Table II.10-5 lists the preferred terminal settings that you can configure.

Table II.10-5 Settings for Preferred Terminal

Option	Function
Select a Terminal	Select this option if you want to use a standard terminal. Use the drop-down combination box to specify your preferred terminal.
Custom Terminal	Select this option if you want to use a custom terminal.
Command	Enter the command to execute to start the custom terminal.
Exec Flag	Enter the exec option to use with the command.

The Session Properties & Startup Programs preference tool enables you to manage your sessions. You can set session preferences, and specify which applications to start when you start a session. You can configure sessions to save the state of applications on your desktop, and to restore the state when you start another session. You can also use this preference tool to manage multiple GNOME sessions.

You can customize the settings for sessions and startup applications in the following functional areas:

II.10.5.1. Setting Session Options

Use the Session Options tabbed section to manage multiple sessions, and to set preferences for the current session.

Figure II.10-6 Settings for Session Options

Table II.10-6 lists the session options settings that you can configure.

Table II.10-6 Settings for Session Options

Option	Function
Show splash screen on login	Select this option to display a splash screen when you start a session.
Prompt on logout	Select this option to display a confirmation dialog when you end a session.
Automatically save changes to session	Select this option if you want the session manager to save the current state of your session. The session manager saves the session-managed applications that are open, and the settings associated with the session-managed applications. The next time that you start a session, the applications start automatically, with the saved settings. If you do not select this option, when you end you session the Logout Confirmation dialog displays a Save current setup option.
Choose Current Session	Use this area of the dialog to manage multiple sessions on the desktop, as follows: To create a new session, click on the Add button. The Add a new session dialog is displayed. Use this dialog to specify a name for your session. To change the name of a session, select the session in the Choose Current Session table. Click on the Edit button . The Edit session name dialog is displayed. Type a new name for your session. To delete a session, select the session in the Choose Current Session table. Click on the Delete button.

II.10.5.2. Configuring Startup Applications

Use the Startup Programs tabbed section of the Session Properties & Startup Programs preference tool to specify non-session-managed startup applications. Startup applications are applications that start automatically when you start a session. You specify the commands that run the non-session-managed applications in the Startup Programs tabbed section. The commands execute automatically when you log in.

You can also start session-managed applications automatically. For more information, Section II.10.5.1 ― Setting Session Options.

Figure II.10-7 Settings for Startup Programs

Table II.10-7 lists the startup applications settings that you can configure.

Table II.10-7 Settings for Startup Programs

Option

Function

Non-session-managed Startup Programs

Use this area of the dialog to manage non-session-managed startup applications as follows: To add a startup application, click on the Add button. The Add Startup Program dialog is displayed. Enter the command to start the application in the Startup Command field. Alternatively, you can use the Browse button to choose a command to run. You can also use the Browse button to choose a file to append to the command line. For example, you can enter emacs on the command line, then choose a file to edit. If you specify more than one startup application, use the Priority spin box to specify the startup order of the each application. The startup order is the order in which you want the startup applications to start. To edit a startup application, select the startup application, then click on the Edit button. The Edit Startup Program dialog is displayed. Use the dialog to modify the command and the startup order for the startup application. To delete a startup application, select the startup application, then click on the Delete button.

II.10.5.3. Setting Session Properties

Use the Current Session tabbed section to specify startup order values, and to choose restart styles for the session-managed applications in your current session.

Figure II.10-8 Session Properties

Table II.10-8 lists the session properties that you can configure.

Table II.10-8 Session Properties

Option	Function
Order	The Order setting specifies the order in which the session manager starts session-managed startup applications. The session manager starts applications with lower order values first. The default value is 50. To specify the startup order of an application, select the application in the table. Use the Order spin box to specify the startup order value.
Style	The Style setting determines the restart style of an application. To select a restart style for an application, select the application in the table, then choose one of the following styles: Normal Starts automatically when you start a GNOME session. Use the kill command to close applications with this restart style during a session. Respawn Restarts automatically whenever you close or kill the applications. Choose this style for a program if the program must run continuously during your session. To kill an application with this restart style, select the application in the table, then click on the Remove button. Trash Does not start when you start a GNOME session. Settings Starts automatically when you start a session. Applications with this style usually have a low startup order, and store your configuration settings for GNOME and session-managed applications.
Remove	Click on the Remove button to delete the selected application from the list. The application is removed from the session manager, and closed. Deleted applications are not started the next time that you start a session.