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diff --git a/gnome-users-guide/gnome-users-guide-1.4/C/desktop.sgml b/gnome-users-guide/gnome-users-guide-1.4/C/desktop.sgml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6ad4fc0 --- /dev/null +++ b/gnome-users-guide/gnome-users-guide-1.4/C/desktop.sgml @@ -0,0 +1,205 @@ +<!-- #################### THE GNOME DESKTOP - CHAPTER ###################### --> + + <chapter id="desk"> + <title>The GNOME Desktop</title> + <sect1> + <title>Introduction</title> + <para> + <indexterm id="idx-a27"> + <primary>GNOME Desktop</primary> + </indexterm> + The GNOME Desktop provides the functionality of any traditional operating + system desktop. You can drag files, programs and directory folders to the + desktop; you can also drag those items back into GNOME-compliant + applications, allowing you to quickly access any items you select. + </para> + <important> + <title>IMPORTANT</title> + <para> + The GNOME Desktop is actually provided by a backend process in the GNOME + File Manager. If, for any reason, that backend process has stopped running + you may start the Nautilus File Manager again and your desktop will be + restored. Even if you do have to do this you do not need to keep the + Nautilus File Manager window open to enable the desktop. + </para> + </important> + </sect1> + <sect1 id="deskuse"> + <title>Using the Desktop</title> + <para> + Using the Desktop is as simple as dragging items you wish to use + routinely to the desktop. The default desktop includes a + folder of your home directory (usually <filename>/home/[user + name]</filename>). By default the Nautilus File Manager window will + also appear so you can quickly access other areas of your system. + </para> + <para> + Once an item is on the desktop you can double-click on it to perform its + default action or right-click on it (click on it using the mouse's right + button) to see a menu of actions that can be performed on it. The default + action depends on the kind of item it is; if it's a program, that program + will start, if it's data, the appropriate program will be started with + that data loaded, and if it's a directory, a file manager window will be + opened showing that directory's contents. + </para> + <para> + To use drag and drop you need to be using either a GNOME compliant + application or a Motif application. GNOME is compliant with Motif drag and + drop so you will find it works with many applications you already have + installed. + </para> + <para> + All items that are stored on your desktop are located in the following + directory: + <programlisting> + <prompt>$</prompt>/home/[user name]/.nautilus/desktop/ + </programlisting> + This is helpful to remember when you want your desktop to contain an item + for which you cannot use drag and drop. + </para> + <para> + <indexterm id="idx-a28"> + <primary>GNOME Desktop</primary> + <secondary>Hardware Devices</secondary> + </indexterm> + Once you have started GNOME you can mount CDROM or floppy drives you have + connected to your system by right clicking on the desktop and selecting the + disks menu. This will show an icon on your desktop that you can use to + access these drives. + </para> + <important> + <title>IMPORTANT</title> + <para> + You must have permission to mount the device shown on your desktop before + you can use these icons. If you do not have mount permission someone + with root access such as your system administrator can give it as + follows. You can read more about this and other items of system knowledge + in <xref linkend="newbies">. + </para> + <para> + <indexterm id="idx-a29"> + <primary>Mounting Drives</primary> + </indexterm> + Giving mount access to ordinary users can be done quite easily if you have + <application><emphasis>linuxconf</emphasis></application> installed on + your machine. Just select the drive you want to access in the + <guilabel>Access local drive</guilabel> section. In the + <guilabel>Options</guilabel> tab select the <guilabel>User + Mountable</guilabel> option. Your drive will now be mountable by users. + </para> + <para> + If <application><emphasis>linuxconf</emphasis></application> is not + available someone with root access must edit the + <emphasis>/etc/fstab</emphasis> file to include user access. This is done + by adding the user attribute to the drive. For example: + </para> + <para> + If your fstab file contains a line like this: + <programlisting> + /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom iso9660 exec,dev,ro,noauto 0 0 + </programlisting> + Add "user" to the fourth column: + <programlisting> + /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom iso9660 user,exec,dev,ro,noauto 0 0 + </programlisting> + </para> + <para> + Depending on your system and work environment, there could be some + security risks in permitting users to mount disks. Please consult your + system administrator before taking this action. + </para> + </important> + </sect1> + <sect1 id="deskareas"> + <title>Desktop Areas</title> + <para> + <indexterm id="idx-a30"> + <primary>Desktop Areas</primary> + </indexterm> + <indexterm id="idx-a31"> + <primary>Multiple Desktops</primary> + </indexterm> + Desktop areas allow you to keep a well organized system when you have many + tasks to perform at one time. Just like adding a new desk when you have too + much material to fit on one, desktop areas allow you to move to another area + to launch more programs. + </para> + <para> + GNOME is aware of desktop areas even though they are controlled by another + software program called the 'window manager'. You can set the number of + desktop areas within the configuration of the window manager you are + using. If you are using the default window manager or your window manager + has a graphical configuration tool you may be able to launch it from the + Window Manager Capplet. You may read more about this Capplet in <xref + linkend="gccwm"> + </para> + <important> + <title>IMPORTANT</title> + <para> + Most window managers will give you the option of having multiple desktops, + which are different from desktop areas. Desktop areas are virtual + extensions of one desktop whereas multiple desktops are actually separate. + </para> + <para> + The default setup of GNOME is to use desktop areas with only one + desktop. The reason for this is with some applications, such as those which + use Motif, users can experience problems with some drag and drop + functionality across desktops. + </para> + </important> + </sect1> + <sect1 id="deskmenus" + <title>Other Desktop Menus</title> + <para> + <indexterm id="idx-a32"> + <primary>GNOME Desktop</primary> + <secondary>Desktop menus</secondary> + </indexterm> + There are a few desktop menus you may use in GNOME. These menus are accessed + by making a right-button mouse click on any clean space on the desktop. This + will bring up a <guimenu>pop-up</guimenu> menu which contains a few items: + </para> + <ITEMIZEDLIST mark="bullet"> + <listitem> + <para> + <guimenuitem>New Window</guimenuitem> - This launches a new Nautilus + File Manager window displaying your Home directory. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guimenuitem>New Folder</guimenuitem> - This creates a new folder + on your desktop into which you can place files: a convenient way to clean + up your desktop. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guimenuitem>New Terminal</guimenuitem> - This launches a new GNOME + Terminal window that will automatically navigate to the + <filename>/home/[username]</filename> + directory. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guimenuitem>Clean Up by Name</guimenuitem> - This automatically arranges + your desktop icons. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guimenuitem>Disks</guimenuitem> - This accesses the submenu to mount + removable drives + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guimenuitem>Change Desktop Background</guimenuitem> - This opens the + GNOME Control-center at the Background Capplet to allow you to reconfigure + the background of your desktop. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </sect1> +</chapter> |