Basic Skills GNOME Desktop Sessions

Overview of the GNOME Desktop

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

I.2.1. Introducing GNOME Desktop Components

When you start a GNOME Desktop session for the first time, you should see a default startup screen, with panels, windows, and various icons.

The major components of the GNOME Desktop are as follows:

Panels

Panels are areas in the GNOME Desktop from which you can access all of your system applications and menus. Panels are very configurable.

A particularly important panel is the top edge panel. The top edge panel includes the Menu Bar. The Menu Bar contains two special menus, as follows:

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

Click on the Window Selector icon at the extreme right of the top edge panel to display a list of all open windows.

Menus

You can access all GNOME Desktop functions through menus. You can use the Applications menu to access almost all of the standard applications, commands, and configuration options. You can access the Applications menu from the Main Menu and from the Menu Bar applet. You can add the Main Menu and the Menu Bar applet to your panels.

The Menu Bar applet contains an Actions menu. The Actions menu contains commands that perform various functions, for example Search for Files and Log Out. The items in the Actions menu are at the top level of the Main Menu.

Windows

You can display many windows at the same time. 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 the GNOME Desktop into separate workspaces. A workspace is a discrete area in which you can work. You can specify the number of workspaces in the GNOME Desktop. You can switch to a different workspace, but you can only display one workspace at a time.

Nautilus file manager

The Nautilus file manager provides an integrated access point to your files and applications. You can manage the contents of folders in the file manager and open the files in the appropriate applications.

Desktop

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

Preferences

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

The components of the GNOME Desktop are interoperable. 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.

Your system administrator can make configuration changes to suit your needs, so that the GNOME Desktop that you use 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 GNOME Desktop.

I.2.2. Panels

You can add or delete panels at any time. When you start a session for the first time, the GNOME Desktop contains at least one panel.

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 add a panel, right-click on a vacant space on any panel, then choose New Panel. The new panel is added to the GNOME Desktop. The new panel contains no objects. You can customize the new panel to suit your preferences. You can add objects to the panel to fit your own requirements. You can also change the background of the panel. You can create as many panels as you want.

I.2.2.2. To Delete Panels

To delete a panel, right-click on the panel then choose Delete This Panel.

I.2.2.3. To Hide Panels

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.2-1 contains each type of panel object.

Figure I.2-1 A Panel With Various Panel Objects

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

Applets

Applets are small, interactive applications that reside within a panel, for example CD Player in Figure I.2-1. 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:

  • Menu Bar: Provides access to the Applications menu and the Actions menu. You can use the menus to access your applications, preference tools, and other tasks.
  • Clock: Displays the time. You can also configure Clock to display the date.
  • Window Selector: Lists all your open windows. To give focus to a window, click on the window selector icon at the extreme right of the top edge panel, then choose the window.
  • 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 screen.
  • 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 screen.

To add an applet to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel. Choose the applet from the Add to the panel dialog.

Launchers

A launcher starts a particular application, executes a command, or opens a file. The calculator icon in Figure I.2-1 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, then choose Add to Panel ▸ Launcher.

Alternatively, to add a launcher from a menu, right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel. Select Application Launcher in the Add to the panel dialog and click Forward. On the following screen, select the application launcher to add and click Add.

Action buttons

You can add buttons to your panels to provide quick access to common actions. You can add the following buttons to your panels:

  • Force Quit: Use this button to terminate applications that do not respond to your commands.
  • Lock: Click on this button to lock your screen. The lock icon in Figure I.2-1 is the Lock button.
  • Log Out: Click on this button to end your session
  • Run: Click on this button to open the Run Application dialog, from which you can run commands.
  • Screenshot: Click on this button to take a screenshot of the screen.
  • Search: Click on this button to start the Search Tool application, from which you can search for files.
  • Show Desktop: Click on this button to minimize all windows and show the desktop.
Menus

You can access all GNOME Desktop functions through menus. To open a menu from a panel, click on the icon that represents the menu. To open a menu from the Menu Bar, 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. For example, see the menu icon in Figure I.2-1.

You can add the Main Menu to any of your panels. To add the Main Menu to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel. In the Add to the panel dialog, select Main Menu and click Add.

You can also add the Menu Bar to any of your panels. To add the Menu Bar to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel. In the Add to the panel dialog, select Menu Bar and click Add.

Drawers

Drawers are sliding extensions to a panel that you can open or close from a drawer icon, as shown in Figure I.2-1. 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, then choose Add to Panel. In the Add to the panel dialog, select Drawer and click Add.

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

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 GNOME Desktop functions through menus. You can access your menus from the following GNOME Desktop components:

Main Menu

The Main Menu contains the Applications menu, and various other functions. You can use the Applications menu to access almost all of the standard applications, commands, and configuration options.

To add the Main Menu to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel. In the Add to the panel dialog, select Main Menu and click Add.

Menu Bar

The Menu Bar contains Applications and Actions menus. You can use the Applications menu and the Actions menu to access almost all of the standard applications, commands, and configuration options.

To add the Main Menu to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel. In the Add to the panel dialog, select Menu Bar and click Add.

Panels

You can add as many additional menus as you want to any of your panels. 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

You can display many windows at the same time in the GNOME 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 GNOME Desktop features the following types of window:

Application windows

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

Dialog windows

Dialog windows are associated with interactive 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 open the Window Menu, or to close the dialog window.

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.2-2 shows the top edge of a frame for a typical application window.

Figure I.2-2 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, but not the titlebar. Drag the border 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 keys Use shortcut keys to switch between the windows that are open. To give focus to a window, release the keys. The default shortcut keys to switch between windows are Alt+Tab.
Window List Click on the button that represents the window in Window List.
Window Selector Click on the Window Selector icon, then select the window that you want to give focus to from the 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 in your GNOME Desktop. Your windows are displayed in subdivisions of the GNOME Desktop that are called workspaces. A workspace is a discrete area in which you can work.

Every workspace contains the same desktop, 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 in the GNOME Desktop but you can have windows open in other workspaces.

Workspaces enable you to organize the GNOME 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.

Workspaces are displayed in the Workspace Switcher applet. In Figure I.2-3, Workspace Switcher contains four workspaces. The first three workspaces contain open windows. The last workspace does not contain currently active windows.

Figure I.2-3 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 the GNOME Desktop, right-click on the Workspace Switcher applet, then choose Preferences. The Workspace Switcher Preferences dialog is displayed. Use the Number of workspaces spin box to specify the number of workspaces that you require.

I.2.6. File Manager

The Nautilus file manager provides an integrated access point to your files, applications, FTP sites, and URIs.

The file manager 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 use the file manager to launch applications to view or edit your files.

Manage your files and folders

You can use the file manager to create, move, copy, rename, and remove files and folders.

Run scripts

You can run scripts from the file manager, 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 or pattern for a folder.
  • Specify a zoom setting for a folder.
Open special Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs)

The GNOME Desktop contains special URIs that enable you to access particular functions from the file manager. For example, to access the preference tools, you can access the preferences:/// URI in the file manager.

Write CDs

The file manager provides a special location where you can copy files and folders that you want to write to a CD. You can write the contents of the location to a CD easily.

The file manager also creates the desktop.

I.2.6.1. To Open Files from the File Manager

To navigate to the file that you want to open, double-click on the Home object on the desktop. A file object window opens. To navigate to the folder where the file that you want to open resides, double-click on the folder icons in the file object window. When the file that you want to open is displayed, double-click on the file icon to open the file in an application.

I.2.6.2. To Move Files Between Folders

You can move files between folders by opening two or more file manager windows. Drag the files from one window to the other.

I.2.7. Desktop and Desktop Objects

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

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

    You can add desktop objects for convenient access to the files, folders, and applications that you use frequently. For example, you add a launcher for an application that you use often.

  • Open the Desktop menu.

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

The file manager manages the desktop.

I.2.7.1. To Open Desktop Objects

To open an object from the desktop, 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

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

  • Use the Desktop menu to add a launcher to the desktop.
  • Drag an object from a file manager window to the desktop. For example, you can create a symbolic link to a file that you use often, then drag the link to your desktop. The icon for the link is moved to the desktop. To open the file, double-click on the icon. You can also drag files and folders to the desktop.
  • Drag an application launcher from a menu to the desktop. 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.

I.2.8. GNOME Desktop Preferences

You can use preference tools to configure almost every feature of the GNOME Desktop. Each tool controls a particular part of the behavior of the GNOME Desktop. For example, you can use a preference tool to select a theme for the GNOME Desktop. A theme is a group of coordinated settings that specify the visual appearance of a part of your interface.

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

  • Choose Applications ▸ Desktop Preferences. Choose the item that you require from the submenus.

I.2.9. 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 the gedit text editor 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 applications 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 preference tools. You can use the following tools to change the look-and-feel of your GNOME-compliant applications:

    • Menus & Toolbars preference tool
    • Theme preference tool

  • Menubars, toolbars, and statusbars

    Most GNOME-compliant applications have a menubar, a toolbar, and a statusbar. The menubar always contains a File menu and a Help menu. The File menu always contains an Quit 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 screen. For example, you can detach the menubar, toolbar, and location bar in the 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 web browser, the file is displayed in HTML format in the browser. However, when you drag the HTML file to a text editor, the file is displayed in plain text format in the text editor.

I.2.10. To Find Out More

The GNOME Desktop provides help if you want to find out more about the following areas:

  • GNOME Desktop topics
  • Applets
  • Applications

I.2.10.1. To Find Out More About GNOME Desktop Topics

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

I.2.10.2. To Find Out More About Applets

To find out more about a specific applet, right-click on the applet, then choose Help.

I.2.10.3. To Find Out More About Applications

To find out more about a specific application, start the application, then choose Help ▸ Contents. Alternatively, start the application then press F1.

Basic Skills GNOME Desktop Sessions