GNOME Desktop Sessions Working With Menus

Working With Panels

The information in this chapter describes how to use panels.

I.4.1. Introducing Panels

A panel is an area in the GNOME Desktop from which you can run applications and applets, and perform other tasks. When you start a session for the first time, the GNOME Desktop contains at least one panel. Your system administrator might have set your default panels according to your local requirements, so you might see slightly different default panels.

You can change the behavior and appearance of your panels to suit your requirements. You can also add or remove objects from your panels. You can create multiple panels, and choose different properties, objects, and backgrounds for each panel. You can also hide panels.

Typically, the GNOME Desktop contains a panel at the top edge of the screen, and a panel at the bottom edge of the screen. The following sections describe these panels.

I.4.1.1. Top Edge Panel

Figure I.4-1 shows an example panel at the top edge of the screen. Your system administrator might have set your default top edge panel according to your local requirements, so you might see a slightly different top edge panel.

Figure I.4-1 Sample Top Edge Panel

A top edge panel may contain the following objects:

Object Description
Menu Bar applet Contains the Applications and the Actions menu. The Applications menu contains the standard GNOME applications. The Actions menu provides commands that enable you to various tasks.
File Browser Launcher Click on this launcher to open your home folder in a Nautilus file browser window.
Terminal launcher Click on this launcher to start the Terminal application. Terminal provides access to a UNIX command line.
Clock applet Clock shows the current time. Click on the time readout to display a menu of clock commands.
Volume Control applet Volume Control enables you to control the volume of the speaker on your system.

Window Selector icon

 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 select the window.

I.4.1.2. Bottom Edge Panel

Figure I.4-2 shows a typical bottom edge panel. Your system administrator might have set your default bottom edge panel according to your local requirements, so you might see a slightly different bottom edge panel.

Figure I.4-2 Typical Bottom Edge Panel

The bottom edge panel contains the following items:

  • Show Desktop button: Click on this button to minimize all open windows and show the desktop.
  • Window List applet: Displays a button for each window that is open. Window List enables you to minimize and restore windows.
  • Workspace Switcher applet: Enables you to navigate between your workspaces.

I.4.2. Managing Your Panels

The following sections describe how to manage your panels.

I.4.2.1. To Add a New Panel

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.

I.4.2.2. To Interact With a Panel

To interact with a panel, you must left-click, middle-click, or right-click on a vacant space on the panel. You can also middle-click or right-click on one of the hide buttons to select the panel, if the panel has no vacant space. If the hide buttons are not visible on a panel, modify the properties of the panel so that the hide buttons are visible.

You use the mouse buttons to interact with a panel in the following ways:

Middle-click

Enables you to grab a panel, then drag the panel to a new location.

Right-click

Opens the panel popup menu.

I.4.2.3. To Move a Panel

You can move panels to different locations. To move a panel, middle-click and hold on any vacant space on the panel, then drag the panel to the new location.

I.4.2.4. To Hide a Panel

You can hide or show panels. To hide a panel, use a hide button. If the hide buttons are not visible on a panel, modify the panel properties so that the hide buttons are visible.

Hide buttons are at either end of a panel. The hide buttons contain an optional arrow icon. The following illustration shows hide buttons.

To hide a panel, click on one of the hide buttons. The panel reduces in the direction of the arrow on the hide button. The hide button at the other end of the panel remains visible.

To show a hidden panel again, click on the visible hide button. The panel expands in the direction of the arrow on the hide button. Both hide buttons are now visible.

You can set a panel to autohide. When you set autohide, the panel hides automatically when the mouse is not pointing to the panel. The panel reappears when you point to the part of the screen where the panel resides. To set your panel to autohide, modify the properties of the panel.

I.4.2.5. To Modify Panel Properties

To modify preferences for all panels, use the Panel preference tool to make the changes that you require. For example, you can modify animation preferences for panels.

You can also modify properties for each individual panel. You can change the features for each panel, such as the position of the panel, the hide behavior, and the visual appearance.

To modify the properties of a panel, perform the following steps:

  1. Right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Properties to display the Panel Properties dialog. The Panel Properties dialog contains the following tabbed sections:

    • General
    • Background

  2. To modify panel size, position, and hiding properties, click on the General tab. The following table describes the dialog elements on the General tabbed section:

    Dialog Element Description
    Name Type a name for the panel. When you use shortcut keys to switch between your panels and the desktop, this panel name is displayed.
    Orientation Select the position of the panel on your screen. Click on the required position for the panel.
    Size Use the spin box to specify the size of the panel.
    Expand Select this option if you want the panel to expand to the full length of the edge of the screen where the panel is located.
    Autohide Select this option to enable autohide.
    Show hide buttons Select this option to display hide buttons on your panel.
    Arrows on hide button Select this option to display arrows on the hide buttons, if the hide button is enabled.

  3. To modify the panel background, click on the Background tab. Choose the type of background for the panel. The choices are as follows:

    Dialog Element Description
    None (use system theme) Select this option to use the default panel background. The default panel background depends on the settings in the Theme preference tool.
    Solid color

    Select this option to specify a single color for the panel background. Click on the Color button to display the color selector dialog. Choose the color that you require from the color selector dialog.

    Use the Style slider to specify the degree of transparency or opaqueness for the color. For example, to make the panel transparent, move the slider towards the Transparent end.
    Background image Select this option to specify an image for the panel background. Enter the filename of the image to use in the drop-down combination box. Alternatively, to browse for the file, click on the Browse button. When you have selected the file, click OK.

    You can also drag a color or image on to a panel to set the color or image as the background of the panel. For more information, see Section I.4.2.5.1 ― To Drag a Color or Image to the Background of a Panel.

  4. Click Close to close the Panel Properties dialog.

I.4.2.5.1. To Drag a Color or Image to the Background of a Panel

You can drag a color or image on to a panel to set the color or image as the background of the panel. You can drag a color or image from many applications. For example, you can drag a color from the Nautilus file manager to a panel to set the color as the background of the panel. You can also drag a color from any color selector dialog.

You can drag an image to a panel to set the image as the background of the panel. You can also drag pattern images from the file manager to set the background of the panel.

I.4.2.6. To Delete a Panel

To delete a panel from the GNOME Desktop, right-click on the panel that you want to delete, then choose Delete This Panel.

You must always have at least one panel in the GNOME Desktop. If you have only one panel in the GNOME Desktop, you cannot delete that panel.

I.4.3. Panel Objects

This section describes the objects that you can add to your panels, and use from your panels.

I.4.3.1. Interacting With Panel Objects

You use the mouse buttons to interact with a panel object in the following ways:

Left-click

Launches the panel object.

Middle-click

Enables you to grab an object, then drag the object to a new location.

Right-click

Opens the panel object popup menu.

You interact with applet panel objects in a different way. For more information, see Section I.4.4.2 ― To Select an Applet.

I.4.3.2. To Add an Object to a Panel

You can add an object to a panel in several ways, as follows:

  • From the panel popup menu

    Right-click on a vacant space on a panel to open the panel popup menu. The panel popup menu contains an Add to Panel submenu. The Add to Panel submenu enables you to add the following objects to your panels:

    • Applets in the following categories: Accessory, Amusement, Internet, Multimedia, Utility.
    • Buttons for quick access to common actions: Force Quit button, Lock button, Log Out button, , Run button, Screenshot button, Search button, Show Desktop button.
    • Launchers
    • Launchers from menus
    • Main Menu
    • Menu Bar
    • Drawers

  • From any menu

    When you right-click on a launcher in any menu, a popup menu for the launcher opens. You can use this popup menu to add the launcher to a panel.

    You can also drag menus, launchers, and applets from menus to panels.

  • From the file manager

    Each launcher corresponds to a .desktop file. You can drag the .desktop file on to your panels to add the launcher to the panel.

I.4.3.3. To Modify the Properties of an Object

Some panel objects, such as launchers and drawers, have a set of associated properties. The properties are different for each type of object. The properties specify details such as the following:

  • The command that starts a launcher application.
  • The location of the source files for a menu.
  • The icon that represents the object.

To modify the properties of an object perform the following steps:

  1. Right-click on the object to open the panel object popup menu, as shown in Figure I.4-3.

    Figure I.4-3 Panel Object Popup Menu

  2. Choose Properties. Use the Properties dialog to modify the properties as required. The properties in the Properties dialog depend on which object you select in step 1.

  3. Click OK to apply the changes, then close the Properties dialog.

I.4.3.4. To Move a Panel Object

You can move panel objects within a panel, and from one panel to another panel. You can also move objects between panels and drawers.

To move a panel object, middle-click and hold on the object and drag the object to a new location. When you release the middle mouse button, the object anchors at the new location.

Alternatively, you can use the panel object popup menu to move an object, as follows:

  1. Right-click on the object, then choose Move.
  2. Point to the new location for the object, then click any mouse button to anchor the object to the new location. This location can be on any panel that is currently in the GNOME Desktop.

Movement of a panel object affects the position of other objects on the panel. To control how objects move on a panel, you can specify a movement mode. To specify the movement mode, press one of the following keys as you move the panel object:

Key Movement Mode Description
No key Switched movement The object swaps places with other panel objects. Switched movement is the default movement mode.
Alt key Free movement The object jumps over other panel objects into the next vacant space on the panel.
Shift key Push movement The object pushes other panel objects further along the panel.

I.4.3.5. To Lock a Panel Object

You can lock panel objects so that the objects stay in the same position on the panel. This feature is useful if you do not want some panel objects to change position when you move other panel objects.

To lock an object to the current location of the object in the panel, right-click on the object to open the panel object popup menu, then choose Lock. To unlock the object, right-click on the object, then choose Unlock.

I.4.3.6. To Remove a Panel Object

To remove an object from a panel right-click on the object to open the panel object popup menu, then choose Remove From Panel.

I.4.4. Applets

An applet is a small application whose user interface resides within a panel. You use the applet panel object to interact with the applet. For example, the following figure shows the following applets, from left to right:

  • Window List: Displays the windows currently open on your system.
  • CD Player: Enables you to control the compact disc player on your system.
  • Volume Control: Enables you to control the volume of the speaker on your system.

I.4.4.1. To Add an Applet to a Panel

You can add an applet to a panel from the panel popup menu. Right-click on any vacant space on the panel to open the panel popup menu. Choose Add to Panel, then choose the applet that you want to add from one of the following submenus:

  • Accessories
  • Amusements
  • Internet
  • Multimedia
  • Utility

Alternatively, drag the applet from the submenu on to the panel.

I.4.4.2. To Select an Applet

To modify the properties of an applet, you must first right-click on the applet to display the panel object popup menu. To move an applet, you must middle-click on the applet.

Some restrictions apply on where you can click on an applet in order to display the panel object popup menu, or to move the applet, as follows:

  • Some applets have popup menus of applet-specific commands that open when you right-click on particular parts of the applet. For example, the Window List applet has a vertical handle on the left side, and buttons that represent your windows on the right side. To open the panel object popup menu for the Window List applet, you must right-click on the handle. If you right-click on a button on the right side, a popup menu for the button opens.
  • Some applets have areas that you cannot use to select the applet. For example, the Command Line applet has a field in which you enter commands. You cannot middle-click or right-click on this field to select the applet. Instead, middle-click or right-click on another part of the applet.

I.4.4.3. To Modify Preferences for an Applet

To modify the preferences for an applet perform the following steps:

  1. Right-click on the applet, then choose Preferences. Use the Preferences dialog to modify the preferences as required. The preferences for applets vary depending on the applet.
  2. Click Close to close the Preferences dialog.

I.4.5. Launchers

When you click on a launcher, you initiate one of the following actions:

  • Start a particular application.
  • Execute a command.
  • Open a folder in a file manager window.
  • Open a Web browser at a particular Uniform Resource Locator (URL). A URL is the address of a particular location on the Web.
  • Open special Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs). The GNOME Desktop contains special URIs that enable you to access particular functions from the file manager.

You can find launchers in the following places in the GNOME Desktop:

  • Panels: On panels, launchers are represented by icons.
  • Menus: On menus, launchers are represented by menu items. The menu items usually have an icon beside the menu item.
  • Desktop: On the desktop, launchers are represented by icons.

You can modify the properties of a launcher. For example, the properties of a launcher include the name of the launcher, the icon that represents the launcher, and how the launcher runs.

I.4.5.1. To Add a Launcher to a Panel

You can add a launcher to a panel in one of the following ways:

  • From the panel popup menu

    To create a new launcher, right-click on any vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel ▸ Launcher. A Create Launcher dialog is displayed. For more information on how to complete this dialog, see Section I.4.5.1.1 ― To Create a Launcher With the Create Launcher Dialog.

    Alternatively, to add an existing launcher to the panel, choose Add to Panel ▸ Launcher from menu from the panel popup menu. Choose the launcher that you want to add from the menu.

  • From any menu

    To add a launcher to a panel from any menu, perform one of the following steps:

    • Open a menu that contains the launcher. Drag the launcher on to the panel.
    • Open the menu that contains the launcher from the panel where you want the launcher to reside. Right-click on the title of the launcher. Choose Add this launcher to panel.

  • From the file manager

    To add a launcher to a panel from the file manager, find the .desktop file for the launcher in your file system. To add the launcher drag the .desktop file to the panel.

I.4.5.1.1. To Create a Launcher With the Create Launcher Dialog

To create a launcher with the Create Launcher dialog perform the following steps:

  1. Right-click on any part of a panel to open the panel popup menu. Choose Add to Panel ▸ Launcher to display the Create Launcher dialog. The dialog displays the Basic tabbed section.

  2. Enter the properties of the launcher in the dialog. The following table describes the dialog elements on the Basic tabbed section:

    Dialog Element Description
    Name Use this text box to specify the name of the launcher. You can use the Advanced tab to add translations of the name. This name is the name that appears when you add the launcher to a menu or to the desktop.
    Generic name Use this text box to specify the class of application to which the launcher belongs. For example, you might type Text Editor in this text box for a gedit launcher. You can use the Advanced tab to add translations of the generic name.
    Comment Use this text box to specify a short description of the launcher. The comment is displayed as a tooltip when you point to the launcher icon on the panel. You can use the Advanced tabbed section to add translations of the comment.
    Command Use this field to specify a command to execute when you click on the launcher. For sample commands, see the next section.
    Type

    Use this drop-down combination box to specify the type of launcher. Select from the following:

    • Application: Select this option to create a launcher that starts an application.
    • Link: Select this option to create a launcher that links to a URI.
    Icon Choose an icon to represent the launcher. To choose an icon, click on the No Icon button. An icon selector dialog is displayed. Choose an icon from the dialog. Alternatively, to choose an icon from another directory, click Browse. When you choose an icon, click OK.
    Run in terminal Select this option to run the application or command in a terminal window. Choose this option for an application or command that does not create a window in which to run.

  3. To set advanced properties for the launcher, click on the Advanced tab. The Launcher Properties dialog displays the Advanced tabbed section.

  4. Enter the advanced properties of the launcher in the dialog. The following table describes the dialog elements on the top part of the Advanced tabbed section:

    Dialog Element Description
    Try this before using Enter a command here to check before starting the launcher. If the command is executable and is in your path, the launcher appears on the panel.
    Documentation Enter the path to the help file for the launcher. If you enter a path in this field, a Help on launcher-name Application menu item is displayed on the popup menu for the launcher.

  5. You can also add a translation of the Name, Generic name, and Comment fields from the Basic tabbed section. To add a translation, enter the details of the translation in the Name/Comment translations table as follows:

    Field Description
    First field Enter the two-letter code for the language for which you want to add a translation.
    Second field Enter the translation of the Name of the launcher.
    Third field Enter the translation of the Generic name of the launcher.
    Fourth field Enter the translation for the Comment for the launcher.

    Then click on the Add/Set button.

    To edit a translation, select the translation. The translated text appears in the lower part of this dialog. Edit the fields as required, then click on the Add/Set button.

    To remove a translation, select the translation, then click on the Remove button.

  6. To create the launcher and close the Launcher Properties dialog, click OK.

I.4.5.1.2. Launcher Commands

The type of commands that you can enter in the Command field depend on the option that you choose from the Type drop-down combination box. If you choose Application from the Type drop-down combination box, you can enter a normal command. The following table shows some sample commands and the actions that the commands perform:

Sample Application Command Action
gedit Starts the gedit text editor application.
gedit /user123/loremipsum.txt Opens the file /user123/loremipsum.txt in the gedit text editor application.
nautilus /user123/Projects Opens the folder /user123/Projects in a file object window.

If you choose Link from the Type drop-down combination box, you can enter a link command. The following table shows some sample link commands and the actions that the commands perform:

Sample Link Command Action
http://www.gnome.org Opens the GNOME website in your default browser.
ftp://ftp.gnome.org Opens the GNOME FTP site in your default browser.
applications:/// Opens the Applications location in a file manager window. Double-click on an application to start the application.
preferences:/// Opens the Desktop Preferences location in a file manager window. Double-click on a preference tool to start the preference tool.

I.4.5.2. To Modify the Properties of a Launcher

To modify the properties of a launcher perform the following steps:

  1. Right-click on the launcher to open the panel object popup menu.
  2. Choose Properties. Use the Launcher Properties dialog to modify the properties as required. For more information on the Launcher Properties dialog, see Section I.4.5.1.1 ― To Create a Launcher With the Create Launcher Dialog.
  3. Click Close to close the Launcher Properties dialog.

I.4.6. Buttons

You can add buttons to your panels to provide quick access to common actions and functions.

I.4.6.1. Force Quit Button

The Force Quit button enables you to select a window to terminate an application. This button is useful if you want to terminate an application that does not respond to your commands.

To terminate an application, click on the Force Quit button, then click on a window from the application that you want to terminate. If you do not want to terminate an application after you click on the Force Quit button, press Esc.

I.4.6.2. Lock Button

The Lock button locks your screen and activates your screensaver. To access your session again, you must enter your password. To lock your screen correctly, you must have a screensaver enabled.

To add a Lock button to a panel, right-click on any vacant space on the panel. Choose Add to Panel ▸ Actions ▸ Lock.

Right-click on the Lock button to open a menu of screensaver-related commands. Table I.4-1 describes the commands that are available from the menu.

Table I.4-1 Lock Screen Menu Items
Menu Item Function
Activate Screensaver Activates the screensaver immediately, but does not lock the screen.
Lock Screen Locks the screen immediately. This command performs the same function as when you click on the Lock button.
Kill Screensaver Daemon Terminates the screensaver process. After you terminate the screensaver process, you cannot lock your screen.
Restart Screensaver Daemon Terminates and restarts the screensaver process. Use this command after you change your password. When you restart the screensaver process, use your new password with the screensaver.
Properties Displays the XScreenSaver preference tool.

I.4.6.3. Log Out Button

The Log Out button begins the process to log out of a GNOME session.

To add a Log Out button to a panel, right-click on any vacant space on the panel. Choose Add to Panel ▸ Actions ▸ Log Out. To log out of your session or shut down your system, click on the Log Out button.

I.4.6.4. Run Button

You can use the Run button to open the Run Application dialog.

To add a Run button to a panel, right-click on any vacant space on the panel. Choose Add to Panel ▸ Actions ▸ Run. To open the Run Application dialog, click on the Run button.

For more information on the Run Application dialog, see Working With Menus.

I.4.6.5. Screenshot Button

You can use the Screenshot button to take a screenshot of your screen.

To add a Screenshot button to a panel, right-click on any vacant space on the panel. Choose Add to Panel ▸ Actions ▸ Screenshot. To take a screenshot of your screen, click on the Screenshot button.

For more information on how to take screenshots, see Working With Menus.

I.4.6.6. Search Button

You can use the Search button to open the Search Tool.

To add a Search button to a panel, right-click on any vacant space on the panel. Choose Add to Panel ▸ Actions ▸ Search. To open the Search Tool, click on the Search button.

For more information on the Search Tool, see the Search Tool Manual.

I.4.6.7. Show Desktop Button

You can use the Show Desktop button to minimize all open windows and show the desktop.

To add a Show Desktop button to a panel, right-click on any vacant space on the panel. Choose Add to Panel ▸ Actions ▸ Show Desktop. To minimize all windows and show the desktop, click on the Show Desktop button.

I.4.6.8. Notification Area Applet

The Notification Area applet displays icons from various applications to indicate activity in the application. For example, when you use the CD Player application to play a CD, a CD icon is displayed in the Notification Area applet. The graphic above illustrates the CD icon in the Notification Area applet.

To add a Notification Area applet to a panel, right-click on any vacant space on the panel. Choose Add to Panel ▸ Utility ▸ Notification Area.

I.4.7. Menus

You can add the following types of menu to your panels:

  • Main Menu: You can access almost all of the standard applications, commands, and configuration options from the Main Menu. To add a Main Menu to a panel, right-click on any vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel ▸ Main Menu. You can add as many Main Menu objects to your panels as you want.
  • Menu Bar: You can access almost all of the standard applications, commands, and configuration options from the menus in the Menu Bar. The Menu Bar contains the Applications menu and the Actions menu. To add a Menu Bar to a panel, right-click on any vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel ▸ Menu Bar. You can add as many Menu Bar objects to your panels as you want.
  • System menus: System menus contain the standard applications and tools that you can use in the GNOME Desktop. The Applications menu and Actions menu are system menus. To add a system menu to a panel, right-click on a launcher in the menu, then choose Entire menu ▸ Add this as menu to panel.

Menus that you add to your panels are represented by an icon with an arrow. The arrow indicates that the icon represents a menu or drawer. Figure I.4-4 shows how menus typically appear on panels.

Figure I.4-4 Typical Menu Objects on a Panel

I.4.8. Drawers

A drawer is an extension of a panel. You can open and close a drawer in the same way that you can show and hide a panel. A drawer can contain all panel objects, including launchers, menus, applets, other panel objects, and other drawers. When you open a drawer, you can use the objects in the same way that you use objects on a panel.

The following figure shows an open drawer that contains two panel objects.

The arrow on the drawer icon indicates that the icon represents a drawer or menu.

You can add, move, and remove objects from drawers in the same way that you add, move, and remove objects from panels.

I.4.8.1. To Open and Close a Drawer

To open a drawer, click on the drawer object in a panel. You can close a drawer in the following ways:

  • Click on the drawer.
  • Click on the drawer hide button.

I.4.8.2. To Add a Drawer to a Panel

You can add a drawer to a panel in the following ways:

  • From the panel popup menu

    Right-click on any vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel ▸ Drawer.

  • From any menu

    You can add a menu as a drawer object to a panel.

    To add a menu as a drawer to a panel, open the menu from the panel. Right-click on any launcher in the menu, then choose Entire menu ▸ Add this as drawer to panel.

I.4.8.3. To Add an Object to a Drawer

You add an object to a drawer in the same way that you add objects to panels. For more information, see Section I.4.3.2 ― To Add an Object to a Panel.

I.4.8.4. To Modify Drawer Properties

To modify preferences for all panels and drawers, use the Panel preference tool. For example, you can select various options related to the appearance and behavior of objects on panels and drawers. You can also select options that relate to drawers only. For example, you can select an option to close your drawers when you click on a launcher in the drawer.

You can also modify other properties for each individual drawer. You can change features for each drawer, such as the visual appearance of the drawer and whether the drawer has hide buttons.

To modify properties for a drawer perform the following steps:

  1. Right-click on the drawer, then choose Properties to display the Panel Properties dialog. The dialog displays the General tabbed section.

  2. Select the properties for the drawer in the dialog. The following table describes the elements on the General tabbed section:

    Dialog Element Description
    Name Type a name for the panel. When you use shortcut keys to switch between your panels and the desktop, this panel name is displayed.
    Size Select the size of the panel.
    Icon Choose an icon to represent the drawer. Click on the Icon button to display an icon selector dialog. Choose an icon from the dialog. Alternatively, click Browse to choose an icon from another directory. When you choose an icon, click OK.
    Show hide buttons Select this option to display hide buttons on your panel.
    Arrows on hide button Select this option to display arrows on the hide buttons, if the hide button is enabled.

  3. You can use the Background tabbed section to set the background for the drawer. For information on how to complete the Background tabbed section, see the step on this topic in Section I.4.2.5 ― To Modify Panel Properties. You can also drag a color or image on to a drawer to set the color or image as the background of the drawer. For more information, see Section I.4.2.5.1 ― To Drag a Color or Image to the Background of a Panel.

  4. Click Close to close the Panel Properties dialog.

GNOME Desktop Sessions Working With Menus