Basic Skills Desktop Sessions

Overview of the Desktop

This chapter introduces you to the features and main components of the GNOME desktop. Before you start to use the desktop read this chapter to familiarize yourself with the various features, and how the main components work. The desktop is very configurable, so this chapter describes the typical default configuration, covering the following topics.

I.2.1. Introducing Desktop Components

When you start a desktop session for the first time, you should see a default startup screen, with panels, windows, and various icons. Figure I.2-1 shows a typical desktop.

Figure I.2-1 A Typical Desktop

The desktop is the visible area of the screen, and everything that appears on the screen. The major components of the desktop are as follows:

  • Panels

    Panels are areas on your desktop from which you can access all of your system applications and menus. Panels are very configurable. A particularly important panel in Figure I.2-1 is the Menu Panel. The Menu Panel stretches the full width of the top edge of the desktop. The Menu Panel includes two special menus, as follows:

    • Applications menu: Contains all applications and configuration tools. This menu also includes the file manager and help browser.
    • Actions menu: Contains various desktop commands, for example Search for Files and Log Out.

    Click on the icon at the extreme right of the Menu Panel to display a list of all open windows on the desktop.

  • Menus

    You can access all desktop functions through menus. The Menu Panel contains menus, so you can use a combination of menus and panels to perform your tasks. You can use the Applications menu and the Actions menu to access almost all of the applications, commands, and configuration options on your desktop. You can also access the items in the Applications and Actions menus from the GNOME Menu .

  • Windows

    You can display many windows at the same time on your desktop. You can run different applications in each window. The window manager provides frames and buttons for windows. The window manager enables you to perform standard actions such as move, close, and resize windows.

  • Workspaces

    You can subdivide your desktop into separate workspaces. A workspace is a discrete area on the desktop in which you can work. When you start a desktop session for the first time, you have four workspaces. You can create more workspaces on the desktop. You can switch to a different workspace, but you can only display one workspace at a time on the screen.

  • Nautilus file manager

    The Nautilus file manager provides an integrated access point to your files and applications. You can display the contents of your files within a Nautilus window, or open the files in the appropriate application from Nautilus. You can use the Nautilus file manager to manage your files and folders.

  • Desktop background

    The desktop background lies behind all of the other components on the desktop. The desktop background is an active component of the user interface. You can place objects on the desktop background to quickly access your files and directories, or to start applications that you use often. You can also right-click on the background to open a menu.

  • Start Here location

    The Start Here location provides an access point to some of the key features of the GNOME desktop. You can access your GNOME applications and configuration tools. You can also access programs that enable you to configure your system as a server, and to choose other system settings.

  • Desktop preferences

    The GNOME desktop contains dedicated preference tools. Each tool controls a particular part of the behavior of the desktop. To start a preference tool, choose Applications ▸ Desktop Preferences. Choose the item that you want to configure from the submenus.

The most powerful features of the desktop are the high degree of configurability and the multiple ways that you can perform tasks.

The desktop provides interoperability of the desktop components. Usually, you can perform the same action in several different ways. For example, you can start applications from panels, from menus, or from the desktop background.

Your system administrator can make configuration changes to suit your needs, so that the desktop might not be exactly the same as described in this chapter. Nevertheless, this chapter provides a useful quick guide to how to work with the desktop.

I.2.2. Panels

You can add and delete panels at any time. When you start a session for the first time, the desktop usually contains at least two panels, as follows:

  • Menu Panel
  • Edge panel at the bottom of the desktop

You can perform the following actions with panels:

  • Create panels.
  • Delete panels.
  • Hide panels.
  • Add objects to panels.
  • Manipulate panel objects.

I.2.2.1. To Create Panels

To create panels on the desktop follow these steps:

  1. Right-click on a vacant space on any of the panels on the desktop to open the panel popup menu, then choose Create panel .
  2. Choose the type of panel you want to create from the submenu. The panel is added to the desktop.

Except for the Menu Panel, you can create as many panels as you want. You can create different types of panel on the desktop to fit your own requirements. You can customize the behavior and appearance of your panels. For example, you can change the background of your panels.

I.2.2.2. To Delete Panels

To delete a panel, right-click on the panel to open the panel popup menu, then choose Remove this panel.

I.2.2.3. To Hide Panels

Except for the Menu Panel, panels can have hide buttons at each end of the panel. You click on the hide buttons to hide or show the panel.

I.2.2.4. To Add Objects to Panels

A panel can hold several types of objects. The panel in Figure I.2-2 contains each type of panel object.

Figure I.2-2 A Panel With Various Panel Objects

You can add any of the following objects to all types of panels in the desktop:

  • Launchers

    A launcher starts a particular application, executes a command, or opens a file. The calculator icon in Figure I.2-2 is a launcher for the Calculator application. A launcher can reside in a panel or in a menu. Click on the launcher to perform the action that is associated with the launcher.

    You can create your own launchers for applications. For example, you can create a launcher for a word processor application that you use frequently, and place the launcher in a panel for convenient access. To add a new launcher to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel to open the panel popup menu, then choose Add to panel ▸ Launcher.

  • Menus

    You can access all desktop functions through menus. The default panels contain menus, so you can use a combination of menus and panels to perform your tasks. To open a menu from a panel, click on the icon that represents the menu. To open a menu from the Menu Panel, click on the text that represents the menu.

    Menus that you add to your panels are represented by an icon with an arrow. The arrow indicates that the icon represents a menu. The icon in Figure I.2-2 is the icon that is displayed when you add the Desktop Preferences menu to a panel.

    You can also add the GNOME Menu to any of your panels. To add the GNOME Menu to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel to open the panel popup menu, then choose Add to panel ▸ GNOME Menu.

  • Applets

    Applets are small, interactive applications that reside within a panel, for example CD Player in Figure I.2-2. Each applet has a simple user interface that you can operate with the mouse or keyboard. The following applets appear in your panels by default:

    • Workspace Switcher: Displays a visual representation of your workspaces. You can use Workspace Switcher to switch between workspaces. By default, Workspace Switcher appears in the edge panel at the bottom of the desktop.
    • Window List: Displays a button for each window that is open. You can click on a window list button to minimize and restore windows. By default, Window List appears in the edge panel at the bottom of the desktop.

    To add an applet to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to panel from the panel popup menu. Choose the panel applet that you require from one of the following submenus:

    • Accessories
    • Amusements
    • Internet
    • Multimedia
    • Utility

  • Drawers

    Drawers are sliding extensions to a panel that you can open or close from a drawer icon, as shown in Figure I.2-2. Drawers can help you to organize your work when you run a lot of applications simultaneously. You can place all the same functional elements in a drawer that you can put in any other type of panel.

    To add a drawer to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel to open the panel popup menu, then choose Add to panel  ▸ Drawer.

    To open a drawer click on the drawer. To close a drawer click on the drawer again.

  • Other panel objects

    Some panel objects perform special functions that are not available through other panel objects. For example, the Lock screen object enables you to lock your screen. The lock icon in Figure I.2-2 is the Lock screen object.

    To add panel objects to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel to open the panel popup menu, then choose Add to panel . You can then choose the specific panel object you require.

I.2.2.5. To Manipulate Panel Objects

You can manipulate panel objects in the following ways:

  • Move objects within a panel, or to another panel.

    You can move any object to another location in the panel. You can also move an object from one panel to another panel. Use the middle mouse button to drag the panel object to the new location.

  • Copy menu items to a panel.

    Drag the item from the menu to the panel. Alternatively, if the menu item is a launcher right-click on the menu item, then choose Add this launcher to panel.

I.2.3. Menus

You can access all desktop functions through menus. Your default panels contain menus, so you can use a combination of menus and panels to perform your tasks. The Menu Panel contains Applications and Actions menus, and you can also add the GNOME Menu to your panels.

You can use the Applications menu and the Actions menu to access almost all of the applications, commands, and configuration options on your desktop. You can also access the items in the Applications and Actions menus from the GNOME Menu.

To add a GNOME Menu to a panel, right-click on the panel then choose Add to panel ▸ GNOME Menu from the panel popup menu. The GNOME Menu is represented by a stylized footprint, as follows:

Click on the GNOME Menu button on a panel to open the GNOME Menu.

You can add as many additional menus as you want to any of the panels on the desktop. To open a menu that you add to a panel, click on the menu icon on the panel. You can perform other actions on your menus, such as copy menu items to panels.

I.2.4. Windows in the Desktop

You can display many windows at the same time on your desktop. Each window has a frame. The window frame contains active control elements that you can use to work with the window.

I.2.4.1. Types of Windows

The desktop features the following types of window:

  • Application windows

    When you run an application on the desktop, a frame usually borders the window. The top edge of the application window contains a titlebar with buttons that you can use to work with the window. The buttons in an application window frame enable you to perform actions such as close the window, or open the Window menu. The Window menu provides commands that you can perform on the window.

  • Dialog windows

    Dialog windows are associated with interactive desktop processes. A dialog window consists of the window frame, and a single interactive pane that provides information and controls for the user. This manual refers to the interactive part of a dialog window as a dialog. The frame of a dialog window contains buttons that enable you to close the dialog window, or to open the Window menu.

I.2.4.2. To Manipulate Windows

You use the frame of an application window or dialog window to perform various actions with the window. Most of the control elements are located on the top edge of the window frame. Figure I.2-3 shows the top edge of a frame for a typical application window.

Figure I.2-3 Top Edge of Frame for a Typical Application Window

The active control elements of the window frame are as follows:

Control Element Description
Window Menu button Click on the Window Menu button to open the Window menu.
Titlebar You can use the titlebar to move and shade the window.
Minimize button Click on the Minimize button to minimize the window.
Maximize button

You can use the Maximize button to maximize and restore the window.

To maximize a window click on the Maximize button. To restore the window click on the Maximize button again.

Close Window button Click on the Close Window button to close the window.
Border Right-click on the border to open the Window menu.

To change the size of windows grab the border of the window, then move the cursor until the window is the size that you require.

I.2.4.3. To Give Focus to a Window

A window that has focus can receive input from the mouse and the keyboard. Only one window can have focus at a time. The window that has focus has a different appearance than other windows.

You can use the following elements to give focus to a window:

Element Action
Mouse Click on the window, if the window is visible.
Shortcut key Switch between the windows that are open with a shortcut key. To give focus to a window, release the keys. The default shortcut key to switch between windows is Alt+Tab.
Window List Click on the button that represents the window in Window List .
Workspace Switcher Click on the window that you want to give focus to in the Workspace Switcher display.

I.2.5. Workspaces

You can display many windows at the same time on your desktop. Your windows are displayed in subdivisions of your desktop that are called workspaces. A workspace is a discrete area on the desktop in which you can work. Every workspace on the desktop contains the same desktop background, the same panels, and the same menus. However, you can run different applications, and open different windows in each workspace. You can display only one workspace at a time on your desktop but you can have windows open in other workspaces.

Workspaces enable you to organize the desktop when you run many applications at the same time. When your current workspace becomes crowded with windows, you can move your work to another workspace. You can also switch to another workspace then start more applications.

The default setup of the desktop is to use four workspaces. Workspaces are displayed in the Workspace Switcher applet. In Figure I.2-4, Workspace Switcher contains four workspaces. The first three workspaces contain open windows. The last workspace does not contain currently active windows.

Figure I.2-4 Workspaces Displayed in Workspace Switcher

I.2.5.1. To Switch Between Workspaces

You can switch between workspaces in the following ways:

  • In Workspace Switcher, click on the workspace where you want to work.
  • Press Ctrl+Alt+right arrow to switch to the workspace on the right of the current workspace.
  • Press Ctrl+Alt+left arrow to switch to the workspace on the left of the current workspace.

I.2.5.2. To Add Workspaces

To add workspaces to your desktop, right-click on the Workspace Switcher applet, then choose Preferences from the applet popup menu. The Workspace Switcher Preferences dialog is displayed. Use the Number of workspaces spin box to specify the number of workspaces you require.

I.2.6. Nautilus File Manager

The Nautilus file manager provides an integrated access point to your files, applications, and the World Wide Web. To open a Nautilus window, choose Applications ▸ Home Folder. The following figure shows a Nautilus window that displays the contents of a folder.

A Nautilus window contains the following panes:

  • Side pane

    Enables you to navigate through your files and the online help system. This pane also displays information about the current file or folder. The side pane is on the left side of the window.

  • View pane

    Displays the contents of files and folders. The view pane is on the right side of the window.

Nautilus enables you to do the following:

  • View files and folders

    You can view your files and folders as icons or as a list. You can view the contents of some types of file within a Nautilus window. Alternatively, you can open the files in the appropriate application from Nautilus.

  • Manage your files and folders

    You can use Nautilus to create, move, copy, rename, and remove files and folders.

  • Run scripts

    You can run scripts from Nautilus, and you can select files and folders on which to run your scripts.

  • Customize your files and folders

    You can add emblems to your files and folders to indicate particular states. For example, you can add an Important emblem to a file to indicate that the file is important. You can also customize folders in the following ways:

    • Add a note to a folder.
    • Specify a custom background pattern for a folder.
    • Specify a zoom setting for a folder.

Nautilus also creates the desktop background.

I.2.6.1. To Open Files From the Nautilus File Manager

To navigate to the folder where the file that you want to open resides, double-click on the folder icons in the view pane. When the file that you want to open is displayed, double-click on the file icon to open the file.

I.2.6.2. To Move Files Between Folders

You can move files between folders by opening two or more Nautilus windows. Open a different folder in each window, then drag the files from one window to the other.

I.2.7. Desktop Background

The desktop background is an active component of the desktop. You can use the desktop background to perform the following actions:

  • Start your applications, and open your files and folders.

    You can add desktop background objects for convenient access to the files, folders, and applications that you use frequently. For example, you can create a symbolic link to a file that you use often, then drag the link to your desktop background.

  • Open the Desktop Background menu.

    Right-click on the desktop background to open the Desktop Background menu. You can use the Desktop Background menu to perform actions on the desktop background.

The Nautilus file manager manages the desktop background.

I.2.7.1. To Open Desktop Background Objects

To open an object from the desktop background, double-click on the object. You can set your preferences in a Nautilus window so that you click once on an object to execute the default action.

I.2.7.2. To Add Objects to the Desktop Background

You can add desktop background objects for convenient access to files, folders, and applications that you use frequently. You can add objects to your desktop background in the following ways:

  • Drag an object from a file manager window to the desktop background. For example, you can create a symbolic link to a file that you use often, then drag the link to your desktop background. The icon for the link is moved to the desktop background. To open the file, double-click on the icon.

    You can also drag files and folders to the desktop background. When you drag a file or folder to the desktop background, the file or folder resides in your $HOME/.nautilus/desktop directory.

  • Drag an application launcher from a menu to the desktop background. For example, you can open a menu that contains a launcher for an application that you use often, then drag the launcher to your desktop background.

I.2.8. Start Here Location

The Start Here location enables you to access the following desktop functions:

  • Applications

    Double-click on Applications to access your key GNOME applications. You can also access the Applications menu through the GNOME Menu and the Menu Panel.

  • Desktop Preferences

    Double-click on Desktop Preferences to customize your desktop. For more information on how to customize your desktop, see Part II ― Customizing Your GNOME Desktop.

  • Programs that enable you to configure your system as a server, and to choose other system settings.

You can access the Start Here location in the following ways:

  • From a Nautilus window

    Choose Go ▸ Start Here . The contents of the Start Here location are displayed in the window.

  • From the desktop background

    Double-click on the Start Here object on the desktop background. The contents of the Start Here location are displayed in a Nautilus window.

I.2.9. Desktop Preferences

You can use desktop preference tools to configure almost every feature of the desktop. Each tool controls a particular part of the behavior of the desktop. For convenience, the tools are grouped under the following headings:

  • Basic
  • Accessibility
  • Advanced

You can open your desktop preference tools in either of the following ways:

  • Choose Applications ▸ Desktop Preferences. Choose the item that you require from the submenus.
  • Double-click on the Start Here object on the desktop background. A Nautilus window opens at the Start Here location. Double-click on the Desktop Preferences object in the Nautilus window to display the desktop preference tools. Double-click on the item that you require.

I.2.10. Desktop Applications

The applications that are provided with the GNOME desktop share several characteristics. For example, the applications have a consistent look-and-feel. The applications share characteristics because the applications use the same programming libraries. An application that uses the standard GNOME programming libraries is called a GNOME-compliant application . For example, Nautilus and gedit are GNOME-compliant applications.

GNOME provides libraries in addition to the libraries provided by your operating system. The libraries enable GNOME to run your existing applications as well as GNOME-compliant applications. For example, if your operating system is UNIX-based, you can run your current X11 and Motif applications from the GNOME desktop.

Some of the features of GNOME-compliant applications are as follows:

  • Consistent look-and-feel

    GNOME-compliant applications have a consistent look-and-feel. GNOME-compliant applications use the look-and-feel settings that you specify in the desktop preference tools. You can use the following tools to change the look-and-feel of your GNOME-compliant applications:

    • Applications ▸ Desktop Preferences ▸ Theme
    • Applications ▸ Desktop Preferences ▸ Toolbars & Menus

  • Menubars, toolbars, and statusbars

    Most GNOME-compliant applications have a menubar, a toolbar, and a statusbar. A menubar is a bar at the top of a window that contains the menus for the application. The menubar in a GNOME-compliant application always contains a File menu and a Help menu. The File menu always contains an Exit menu item, and the Help menu always contains an About menu item.

    A toolbar is a bar that appears under the menubar. A toolbar contains buttons for the most commonly-used commands. A statusbar is a bar at the bottom of a window that provides information about the current state of what you are viewing in the window. GNOME-compliant applications might also contains other bars. For example, Nautilus contains a location bar.

    Some of the bars in GNOME-compliant applications are detachable. That is, the bar has a handle that you can grab then drag the bar to another location. You can drag the bar to snap to another side of the window, or to another part of the desktop. For example, you can detach the menubar, toolbar, and location bar in the Nautilus file manager.

  • Default shortcut keys

    GNOME-compliant applications use the same shortcut keys to perform the same actions. For example, to quit a GNOME-compliant application, press Ctrl+Q. To undo an action in a GNOME-compliant application, press Ctrl+Z.

  • Drag-and-drop

    GNOME-compliant applications use the same protocol to implement drag-and-drop operations. Therefore, GNOME-compliant applications provide consistent feedback when you drag-and-drop items.

    The use of the same protocol also enables GNOME-compliant applications to interoperate in a sophisticated manner. For example, GNOME-compliant applications recognize the format of the items that you drag. When you drag a HTML file from a Nautilus window to a browser such as Netscape, the file is displayed in HTML format in the browser. However, when you drag the HTML file to a text editor such as gedit, the file is displayed in plain text format in the text editor.

I.2.11. To Find Out More

The desktop provides Help if you want to find out more about the following areas:

  • Desktop topics
  • Applets
  • Applications

I.2.11.1. To Find Out More About Desktop Topics

You can find out more about particular desktop topics in the integrated Yelp help system. To start the Yelp help system, choose Applications  ▸ Help.

I.2.11.2. To Find Out More About Panel Applets

To find out more about a specific applet follow these steps:

  1. Right-click on the relevant applet icon to display the applet popup menu.
  2. Choose the Help menu item on the popup menu to display an online reference manual specific to that applet.

I.2.11.3. To Find Out More About Applications

To find out more about a specific application, start the application, then choose Help from the menubar.

Basic Skills Desktop Sessions