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diff --git a/gnome-users-guide/gnome-users-guide-1.4/C/panel.sgml b/gnome-users-guide/gnome-users-guide-1.4/C/panel.sgml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f50feab --- /dev/null +++ b/gnome-users-guide/gnome-users-guide-1.4/C/panel.sgml @@ -0,0 +1,2414 @@ +<chapter id="panel-chap"> + <title>The GNOME Panel</title> + <sect1 id="introduction"> + <title>Introduction</title> + <para> + <indexterm id="idx-a2"> + <primary>Panel</primary> + </indexterm> + The GNOME <interface>Panel</interface> is the heart of the GNOME + user interface and acts as a repository for the <link + linkend="mainmenu">Main Menu</link>, user <link + linkend="menus">menus</link>, application <link + linkend="launchers">launchers</link>, <link + linkend="applets">applets</link> (applications which run entirely + within the panel), <link linkend="drawers">drawers</link>, and + several <link linkend="specialobjects">special objects</link>. + The <interface>Panel</interface> was designed to be highly + configurable. You can easily <link + linkend="panelproperties">customize its behavior and + appearance</link> and <link linkend="appletadd">add or remove + objects</link> to suite your personal needs and preferences. You + can even have <link linkend="paneladd">multiple panels</link>, + each with its own appearance, properties, and contents. This + flexibility allows you to easily create a comfortable and + efficient personalized desktop environment. + </para> + <para> This manual describes version 1.2 of the GNOME + <interface>Panel</interface>. + </para> + + </sect1> + + +<!-- ########### Panel Basics ############## --> + <sect1 id="panelbasics"> + <title>Panel Basics</title> + <para> + Using the GNOME <interface>Panel</interface> is very simple and + will come easily to anyone who has used a graphical desktop + environment. This section will give you a basic introduction to + help you get started, and the following sections will discuss the + various Panel objects and features in more detail. + </para> + + <sect2 id="intropanel"> + <title>Introduction to Panel Objects</title> + <para> + A <interface>Panel</interface> can hold several types of objects. + The example <interface>Panel</interface> in <xref + linkend="examplepanelfig"> shows each type of Panel object. + </para> + <figure id="examplepanelfig"> + <title>An Example Panel</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>An Example Panel.</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/example_panel" format="png" + srccredit="muet"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + + <para> + This example <interface>Panel</interface> contains the following + objects: <itemizedlist> <listitem> + <formalpara> + <title>Menus</title> + <para> + Menus are lists of items, each of which either starts an + application, executes a command, or is a submenu. In the + example <interface>Panel</interface> in <xref + linkend="examplepanelfig"> , the left-most icon after the + arrow is a stylized footprint icon (the GNOME logo). This is + the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>, one of the most important + objects in the <interface>Panel</interface>. This menu + provides access to almost all the applications, commands, and + configuration options available in GNOME. The <guimenu>Main + Menu</guimenu> is described in detail in <xref + linkend="mainmenu">. The second icon shown is a folder, the + default icon used for user menus. GNOME allows users to + create their own menus with personalized contents to use in + addition to the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>. To open a + menu, just click on the icon with the left mouse button. For + more information on menus, see <xref linkend="menus">. + </para> + </formalpara> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <formalpara> + <title>Launchers</title> + <para> + Launchers are buttons which either start an application or + execute a command when you press them (click with the left + mouse button). The third icon in the example + <interface>Panel</interface> is a launcher which starts the + <application>Gnumeric</application> spreadsheet. For more + information on launchers, see <xref linkend="launchers">. + </para> + </formalpara> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <formalpara> + <title>Applets</title> <para> Applets are applications which + run inside a small part of the + <interface>Panel</interface>. The fourth through eighth icons + in the example <interface>Panel</interface> are applets. The + first applet shown is the <application>GNOME + Weather</application> applet, which periodically downloads the + current weather conditions off the Web and displays the + information. The second applet shown is the <application>Drive + Mount</application> applet, which shows whether a disk (in + this case, the floppy drive) is mounted and allows you to + mount and unmount the drive with a single click of the mouse. + The third applet shown is the <application>Quick + Launch</application> applet, which acts as a container for + launchers, but saves more space than placing your launchers + directly on the <interface>Panel</interface>. In the example + shown the <application>Quick Launch</application> applet + contains six application launchers. Next is the + <application>GNOME Desk Guide</application>, which allows you + to control multiple virtual desktops, each of which can have + multiple screens. You can move between desktops and screens + by clicking with your left mouse button. The final applet + shown is the <application>Tasklist</application>, which allows + you to control your application windows in various ways, + including changing the focus, iconifying windows, closing + windows, and killing applications. The + <application>Tasklist</application> shown is for a screen with + only two windows, both of which are <application>Electric + Eyes</application>. For more information on applets, see + <xref linkend="applets">. + </para> + </formalpara> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <formalpara> + <title>Drawers</title> <para> Drawers are essentially + extensions of a <interface>Panel</interface> which can be + opened or closed. They can hold anything the + <interface>Panel</interface> can. The brown icon of a drawer + in the example <interface>Panel</interface> is the default + icon for drawers, although any icon can be used. Click on the + <guiicon>Drawer</guiicon> icon with the left mouse button to + open or close it. For more information on drawers, see <xref + linkend="drawers">. + </para> + </formalpara> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <formalpara> + <title>Special Objects</title> + <para> + Special objects are items you can add to a + <interface>Panel</interface> which perform functions which + are generally not available through the other + <interface>Panel</interface> objects. The last item in the + example <interface>Panel</interface> is a special object + called the <guibutton>Logout Button</guibutton>. Pressing + this with the left mouse button begins the logout sequence + to end your GNOME session. For more information on special + objects, see <xref linkend="specialobjects">. + </para> + </formalpara> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </para> + <para> + Each of these object types is described in detail in the + following sections. You can easily add, move, or remove Panel + objects (see <xref linkend="appletadd">). + </para> + </sect2> + + + <sect2 id="rightclick"> + <title>Right-Click Menu</title> + <para> + Clicking on any Panel object with the right mouse button brings + up the Panel object's <guimenu>right-click</guimenu> menu. This + menu contains <guimenuitem>Remove from panel</guimenuitem> for + removing the object from the <interface>Panel</interface>, + <guimenuitem>Move</guimenuitem> for moving objects within the + <interface>Panel</interface> or between two + <interface>Panels</interface>, the + <guisubmenu>Panel</guisubmenu> submenu described below, and + typically one or more object-specific menu items. For drawers, + menus, and launchers the only object-specific item is + <guimenuitem>Properties...</guimenuitem> which allows you to + customize the properties and settings of the object. For applets, + the <guimenu>right-click</guimenu> menu will often contain + <guimenuitem>About...</guimenuitem> for viewing information about + the applet such as the author's name and the applet version, + <guimenuitem>Help</guimenuitem> for viewing the applet's + documentation, and <guimenuitem>Properties...</guimenuitem> for + configuring preferences and settings for the applet. Applets + often have other applet-specific controls in their + <guimenu>right-click</guimenu> menus. + </para> + <para> + The <guisubmenu>Panel</guisubmenu> submenu allows you to <link + linkend="panelmove">create and remove + <interface>Panels</interface></link> and <link + linkend="appletadd">add objects</link> to the + <interface>Panel</interface>. It also allows you to modify the + properties of the particular <interface>Panel</interface> of + interest using the <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> menu + item (see <xref linkend="panelproperties">) or the properties of + all <interface>Panels</interface> using the <guimenuitem>Global + Preferences...</guimenuitem> menu item (see <xref + linkend="globalpanelprefs">). + </para> + <para> + You can also right-click on the <interface>Panel</interface> + itself. This will bring up the <link + linkend="mainmenu"><guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu></link>. In + particular, this menu also contains the + <guisubmenu>Panel</guisubmenu> submenu described above. + </para> + </sect2> + + <sect2 id="panelhide"> + <title>Hiding the Panel</title> + <para> + <indexterm id="idx-a4"> + <primary>Panel</primary> <secondary>Hide Buttons</secondary> + </indexterm> + <indexterm id="idx-a5"> + <primary>Panel</primary> <secondary>Hiding</secondary> + </indexterm> + The left and right arrow icons seen at either end of the example + <interface>Panel</interface> and in <xref linkend="fig2"> are + used to hide the <interface>Panel</interface>. + <figure id="fig2"> + <title>The Hide Button</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>The Hide Button</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/hide-button" format="png" + srccredit="dcm"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + </para> + <para> + Pressing one of these arrows will hide the + <interface>Panel</interface> by sliding it in the direction of + the arrow pressed, so that the only part of the + <interface>Panel</interface> which remains visible is the + <guibutton>Hide</guibutton> button itself. Pressing it a second + time will expand the <interface>Panel</interface>. + </para> + <para> + <interface>Panels</interface> can be configured to automatically + hide when you are not using it and reappear when you move the + mouse to the part of the screen where the + <interface>Panel</interface> resides. This can be useful if you + are unable to run your system in a high resolution. To learn how + to have a <interface>Panel</interface> auto-hide, see <xref + linkend="panelproperties">. + </para> + </sect2> + + <sect2 id="loggingout"> + <title>Logging Out</title> + <para> + To log out of GNOME, right click on the + <interface>Panel</interface> and select <guimenuitem>Log + out</guimenuitem>. This will bring up the + <interface>Logout</interface> dialog, shown in <xref + linkend="logoutdialog-fig">. + </para> + <figure id="logoutdialog-fig"> + <title>The Logout Dialog</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>Logout</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/logout-screen" format="png" + srccredit="dcm"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> + If you would like to save your current setup, select the + <guilabel>Save current setup</guilabel> checkbox. This will save + any GNOME applications you have open and configuration changes + you may have made in the <application>Control + Center</application>. + </para> + <para> + The default way to log out is by using the + <guilabel>Logout</guilabel> option, which ends your GNOME session + but does not shut down the computer. Depending on your system + configuration, you may also have the <guilabel>Halt</guilabel> + option, which shuts down the computer, and the + <guilabel>Reboot</guilabel> option, which will reboot the + computer. + </para> + <note> + <title>Note for advanced users</title> + <para>The + <guilabel>Halt</guilabel> and <guilabel>Reboot</guilabel> choices + will only be shown if you have permission to execute the command + <command>/usr/bin/shutdown</command>. + </para> + </note> + <para> + If you do not want to log out, press the + <guibutton>No</guibutton> button and you will be returned to your + GNOME session. Otherwise press the <guibutton>Yes</guibutton> + button to log out. + </para> + <note> + <title>Logging Out and Window Managers</title> + <para> + If you are running a window manager that is GNOME compliant, the + logout feature will quit the window manager as well as GNOME. If + you are running a non-compliant window manager you will have to + quit the window manager yourself. + </para> + </note> + <para> + You can disable the <interface>Logout</interface> dialog so that + selecting the <guimenuitem>Log out</guimenuitem> menu item will + end your GNOME session without asking any questions. To do so, + start the GNOME <application>Control Center</application> by + selecting <menuchoice> <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> + <guisubmenu>Settings</guisubmenu> <guisubmenu>Startup + programs</guisubmenu> </menuchoice> and uncheck the + <guilabel>Prompt on logout</guilabel> button. <!-- Commented out + - as suggested by Drake You may also control whether changes to + your session are automatically saved using the + <guilabel>Automatically save changes to session</guilabel> + button. --> + </para> + </sect2> + <sect2 id="lockscreen"> + <title>Locking the Screen</title> + <para> + Sometimes you may want to leave your computer with GNOME running + and not allow others to use or view your GNOME session. GNOME + allows you to do this by locking the screen, requiring a password + to unlock it. To lock your GNOME session, right click on either + end of a <interface>Panel</interface> and select + <guimenuitem>Lock screen</guimenuitem>. Alternately, if you have + the <guibutton>Lock Button</guibutton>(see <xref + linkend="lockbutton">) on a <interface>Panel</interface>, you may + just press this button to lock the screen. To unlock the screen, + just type your login password. + </para> + <note> + <title>Screensavers and the Lock Button</title> + <para> + The <guibutton>Lock screen</guibutton> button uses a feature of + the <application>xscreensaver</application> program. This is the + same program that the <application>Control Center</application> + uses to set your screensaver. In order for the <guibutton>Lock + screen</guibutton> button to work properly, you must have a + screensaver enabled in the <application>Control + Center</application>. + </para> + </note> + </sect2> + + </sect1> + + + + <!-- ########### Main Menu ############## --> + + <sect1 id="mainmenu"> + <title>The Main Menu</title> + <para> + <indexterm id="idx-a3"> <primary>Main Menu</primary> + </indexterm> + The footprint icon seen towards the left end of the example + <interface>Panel</interface> (see <xref + linkend="examplepanelfig">) and in <xref + linkend="main-menu-button-fig"> is the <guibutton>Main + Menu</guibutton> (yes, you guessed right, it is the footprint of + the gnome). This menu provides access to almost all GNOME + features — all the applications, configuration tools, + command line prompt, <guimenuitem>Logout</guimenuitem> and + <guimenuitem>Lock Screen</guimenuitem> commands, and much more. + To access any of these items, click on the <guibutton>Main + Menu</guibutton> button. You should release the mouse after + pressing the <guibutton>Main Menu</guibutton> button so that you + can take advantage of other mouse-activated features in the + <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> such as right-click pop-up menus and + drag-and-drop from the menu to the desktop or + <interface>Panel</interface>. + </para> + <figure id="main-menu-button-fig"> + <title>The Main Menu Button</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>The Main Menu Button</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/mm-button" format="png" + srccredit="dcm"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> You can have several <guibutton>Main + Menu</guibutton> buttons on different + <interface>Panels</interface>; all of them can be configured + independently. + </para> + + <sect2 id="globalmenu"> + <title>Global menu</title> + <para> + In addition to the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> which you get by + clicking on the foot icon, GNOME also provides a <guimenu>Global + Menu</guimenu>, which contains the same commands but is not + linked to any button. To access the <guimenu>Global + Menu</guimenu>, right-click on any empty place on the + <interface>Panel</interface>. You can also access the + <guimenu>Global Menu</guimenu> by pressing + <keycombo action=simul> + <keycap>Alt</keycap> <keycap>F1</keycap> </keycombo>. (You can + change the default key for activating the <guimenu>Global + Menu</guimenu> in the <link + linkend="misctab"><guilabel>Miscellaneous</guilabel></link> tab + of the <interface><link linkend="globalpanelprefs">Global Panel + Preferences</link> dialog</interface>.) + </para> + <para> + Note that the <guimenu>Global Menu</guimenu> is configured + independently from the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>, by using the + <guilabel>Menu</guilabel> tab in the <link + linkend="globalpanelprefs"><interface>Global Panel + Preferences</interface></link> dialog. + </para> + </sect2> + + <sect2 id="submenus"> + <title> Components of the Main Menu</title> + <para> + The primary component of the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> is the + <guisubmenu>Programs</guisubmenu> submenu, which contains a list + of preconfigured submenus and menu items. Here you will find all + the GNOME applications, from the + <application>Gnumeric</application> spreadsheet to the + <application>Free Cell</application> game, as well as quite a + few non-GNOME ones, such as the + <application>Netscape</application> web browser and the + <application>emacs</application> text editor. In addition, the + <guisubmenu>Programs</guisubmenu> submenu also contains the + following commands: + </para> + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + <guimenuitem>File Manager</guimenuitem> — launches the + GNOME graphical file manager. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guimenuitem>Help system</guimenuitem> — launches the + <application>GNOME Help Browser</application>. The + <application>GNOME Help Browser</application> gives you access + to most of the documentation installed on your system — + not only GNOME documentation (the GNOME User's Guide, + application manuals, …), but also other types of + documentation (man pages, info pages, …). + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + + <para> In addition to the <guisubmenu>Programs</guisubmenu> + submenu, the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> also contains a + number of other submenus and useful commands. Depending on your + configuration, you may not see all of these. Also, some of them + may be shown as submenus, and others included as part of the + <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>, separated by horizontal lines from + the other parts. These additional submenus and commands are: + </para> + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + <guisubmenu>Favorites</guisubmenu>. This submenu, which is + originally empty, is a place where you can put your favorite + applications for quick access. You can edit this menu using + the <application>Menu Editor</application>, which can be + accessed from the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> by choosing + <menuchoice><guisubmenu>Settings</guisubmenu> + <guimenuitem>Menu editor</guimenuitem> </menuchoice>. You can + also add any item from any other menu (in particular, from the + <guimenu>Programs</guimenu> menu) to the + <guisubmenu>Favorites</guisubmenu> menu by clicking on the + item with the right mouse button and selecting + <guimenuitem>Add this to Favorites menu</guimenuitem>. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + <guisubmenu>Applets</guisubmenu>. This submenu contains all + the applets installed on your system. Selecting an applet will + add it to your <interface>Panel</interface>. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + <guisubmenu>KDE menus</guisubmenu>. This shows the menus of + the K Desktop Environment (KDE) if you have it installed on + your system. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + <guisubmenu>AnotherLevel menus</guisubmenu> and + <guisubmenu>Debian menus</guisubmenu>. These submenus show the + default application menus for Red Hat Linux and Debian + GNU/Linux, respectively. These will only appear for users of + the particular distributions. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + <guimenuitem>Panel</guimenuitem>. This submenu can be used to + change <interface>Panel</interface> properties (both for <link + linkend="panelproperties"> <interface>individual + Panels</interface></link> and <link + linkend="globalpanelprefs">global</link>, i.e. for all + <interface>Panels</interface>), <link linkend="add">add an + object</link> to the <interface>Panel</interface>, <link + linkend="panelremoving">remove the whole + <interface>Panel</interface></link>, <link + linkend="paneladd">create a new + <interface>Panel</interface></link>, or view the + <citetitle>Panel Manual</citetitle>. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + <guimenuitem>Desktop</guimenuitem>— This submenu + contains <guimenuitem>Log out</guimenuitem>, which ends your + GNOME session (see <xref linkend="loggingout">), and + <guimenuitem>Lock screen</guimenuitem> (see <xref + linkend="lockscreen">). + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem id="runcommand"> + <para> + <guimenuitem>Run …</guimenuitem> — This menu item + opens the <interface>Run Program</interface> dialog for + executing shell commands (see <xref linkend="runbutton">). + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </sect2> + + <sect2 id="mainmenuconfig"> + <title>Configuring the Main Menu</title> + <para> + To change the configuration of the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>, + right-click on the <guibutton>Main Menu</guibutton> button + (shown in <xref linkend="main-menu-button-fig">) and select + <guimenuitem>Properties …</guimenuitem> from the pop-up + menu. This will show the <interface>Menu Properties</interface> + dialog. In this dialog, for each of the submenus of the + <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> listed above + (<guisubmenu>Programs</guisubmenu>, + <guisubmenu>Favorites</guisubmenu>, …) you can choose + whether you want it to be shown as part of the <guimenu>Main + Menu</guimenu>, as a submenu, or not at all. + </para> + + + <figure> + <title>Menu Properties Dialog</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>Menu Properties Dialog</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/mainmenu_properties" format="png" + srccredit="muet"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + + <para> + You can also edit the contents of the + <guisubmenu>Favorites</guisubmenu> submenu (or, if you are the + system administrator, also of the + <guisubmenu>Programs</guisubmenu> submenu) using the + <application>GNOME Menu Editor</application>. To start it, + right-click on the <guibutton>Main Menu</guibutton> button and + select <guimenuitem>Edit Menus + …</guimenuitem>. Alternatively, you can start + <application>GNOME Menu Editor</application> by selecting + <menuchoice> <guisubmenu>Programs</guisubmenu> + <guisubmenu>Settings</guisubmenu> <guimenuitem>Menu + editor</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> from the <guimenu>Main + Menu</guimenu> itself. + </para> + </sect2> + +<!-- Do we need it now that we have information about Global menu? + <sect2 id="kbdnav"> + <title>Keyboard Navigation in the Main Menu</title> + + <para> If you prefer, you can use the keyboard instead of the + mouse to navigate the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>. To activate + the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>, press the + <keycap>Menu</keycap> key on your keyboard (if you are using a + standard PC keyboard, this key usually is located to the left of + the space bar and labelled with a picture of a menu); you can + change the default key for activating the <guimenu>Main + Menu</guimenu> in the <link + linkend="misctab"><guilabel>Miscellaneous</guilabel></link> tab + of the <interface><link linkend="globalpanelprefs">Global Panel + Preferences</link> dialog</interface>. Use the + <keycap>Up</keycap> and <keycap>Down</keycap> arrow keys to + move inside the menu, <keycap>Right</keycap> arrow to go to a + submenu, and <keycap>Enter</keycap> to select an item. To exit + the menu, just press the <keycap>Esc</keycap> key. + </para> + </sect2> --> + + </sect1> + + + <!-- ########### Menus ############## --> + <sect1 id="menus"> + <title>Menus</title> + <para> + In addition to the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>, discussed in <xref + linkend="mainmenu">, you can also add "normal menus" to a + <interface>Panel</interface>. An example menu, in this case a + <guimenu>Favorites</guimenu> menu containing three application + launchers and one submenu titled <guisubmenu>Games</guisubmenu>, is + shown in <xref linkend = "example-menu-fig">. Unlike the + <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>, normal menus only contain whatever + launchers and submenus you place in them - no default submenus, + <guimenuitem>Run...</guimenuitem> command, etc. as the + <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> has. You can also add any submenu of + your <guimenu>Favorites</guimenu> menu or the + <guimenu>Programs</guimenu> menu as a separate menu to a + <interface>Panel</interface>; to do so, bring up this submenu from + the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>, right click on the submenu + title, and select <guimenuitem>Add this as menu to + panel</guimenuitem>. + </para> + <figure id="example-menu-fig"> + <title>An Example Menu</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>An Example Menu</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/example_menu" format="png" + srccredit="muet"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + + <sect2 id="addingmenus"> + <title>Adding a Menu to a Panel</title> <para> To learn how + to add a menu to a <interface>Panel</interface>, see <xref + linkend="add">. + </para> + </sect2> + + <sect2 id="tearoff"> + <title>Tearing Off a Menu</title> + <para> + All menus in GNOME have the tear-off feature: if you left-click on + the "perforation" (thin dashed line at the top of the menu, right + above the menu title), the menu will be turned into a separate + window on your desktop, which will stay there even after you move + the mouse cursor elsewhere. This is very convenient if you will be + using the same command from some deeply nested submenu + frequently. To remove a "torn-off" menu from your desktop, click + on the <guibutton>Close</guibutton> button in the window title + (its appearance and location depends on the window manager you are + using, but usually it is the rightmost button, labelled by an "x"). + </para> + </sect2> + + <sect2 id="menusconf"> + <title>Configuring a Menu</title> + <para> + You can easily change a menu name and icon (for user menus only, + not for submenus taken from the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>). To + do so, click on the menu, right-click on the menu title (at the + very top of the list, above all other items), and select + <guimenuitem>Properties…</guimenuitem> from the pop-up + menu. This will bring up the <interface>Desktop Entry + Properties</interface> dialog, quite similar to the <link + linkend="launchers"><interface>Launcher Properties</interface> + dialog</link>. + </para> + <para> To add a new item to the menu, click on the menu button, + right-click on the Menu name, and select <guimenuitem>Add new + item to this menu</guimenuitem>. This will bring up + <interface>Create Menu Item</interface> dialog, in which you can + enter the menu item name, comment, command, and type (see <xref + linkend="launchers"> for more information). To remove an item + from the menu, right-click on the item and choose + <guimenuitem>Remove this item</guimenuitem>. + </para> + <para> + Finally, a frequently asked question is "How I can change the + font and the background used by the menus?" The answer is that it + is determined by the current GTK Theme, which can be changed + using the <application>GNOME Control Center</application> by + selecting <menuchoice> <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> + <guisubmenu>Programs</guisubmenu> + <guisubmenu>Settings</guisubmenu> + <guisubmenu>Desktop</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>Theme Selector</guimenuitem> + </menuchoice>. + </para> + </sect2> + + </sect1> + + + <!-- ########### Launchers ############## --> + <sect1 id="launchers"> + <title>Launchers</title> + <para> + Launchers are buttons which reside in your + <interface>Panel</interface> and start an application or execute a + command when clicked. A launcher can use any icon and has a + customized tooltip to display a message when the cursor is passed + over the launcher. + </para> + <para> + You can change a launcher's properties, such as the icon it uses + and its name, by right-clicking on the launcher and selecting + <guimenuitem>Properties...</guimenuitem> from the pop-up menu. This + brings up the <interface>Launcher properties</interface> dialog, + shown in <xref linkend="launcherpropsfig">. A similar dialog is + used when you create a new launcher (see <xref + linkend="add">). Note that internally GNOME makes no distinction + between menu items and launchers: these are just different + representations of the same thing. You can place any menu item on a + <interface>Panel</interface>, and it will appear as a + launcher. Therefore, all the information below applies equally to + launchers and menu items. + </para> + <figure id="launcherpropsfig"> + <title>Create Launcher/Launcher Properties Dialog</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>Create Launcher/Launcher Properties Dialog</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/launcher_properties_basic" format="png" + srccredit="muet"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> + The <interface>Laucher Properties</interface> dialog has two tabs: + <guilabel>Basic</guilabel> and <guilabel>Advanced</guilabel>. In + the <guilabel>Basic</guilabel> tab, you can set: + </para> + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Name</guilabel> — this is the application + name, for example, <userinput>GNOME + terminal</userinput>. This name will be used if you later + put this launcher in a menu. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Comment</guilabel> — this is a brief + explanation of what this application does, for example, + <userinput>Terminal emulation program</userinput>. This will + be used for tooltips. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Command</guilabel> — the actual command that + runs the application, for example, + <userinput>gnome-terminal</userinput>. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Type</guilabel> — should be + <guilabel>Application</guilabel>; do not change it unless + you want to create something other than an application + launcher. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Icon</guilabel> — this is the icon which + will be used to represent the launcher in the + <interface>Panel</interface>. If no icon is specified, a + default icon will be used. To change the icon, just click on + it to launch the icon browser. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Run in Terminal</guilabel> — this specifies + whether the application should be run inside a terminal. If + the application doesn't create any windows on its own, check + this button. If you are unsure, leave it unchecked. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + + <para> + The <guilabel>Advanced</guilabel> properties tab is shown + below. It is intended for advanced users; most of the time, you + will not need to change any of these settings. + </para> + <figure id="launcheradvpropsfig"> + <title>Launcher Advanced Properties Dialog</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>Launcher Advanced Properties Dialog</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/launcher_properties_advanced" format="png" + srccredit="muet"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> + In the <guilabel>Advanced</guilabel> tab, you can set: + </para> + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Try this before using</guilabel> — you can + enter a command here, and GNOME will check if this command + can be executed. If the command cannot be successfully + executed, the launcher (or menu item) will not be shown even + if you added it to a <interface>Panel</interface> or + menu. It is mostly used by people preparing GNOME + distributions. For example, the default GNOME <guimenu>Main + Menu</guimenu> contains an item for the + <application>TkRat</application> e-mail program, but you + will only see this item if you have + <application>TkRat</application> installed on your system. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Documentation</guilabel> — currently not + used. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Name/Comment translations</guilabel> — here + you can set translations of the <guilabel>Name</guilabel> + and <guilabel>Comment</guilabel> to other languages. For + example, for <application>GNOME Terminal</application>, the + translations to Spanish (es) are name: <userinput>Terminal + UNIX de GNOME</userinput> and comment: <userinput>Emulador + de terminal GNOME</userinput>. This means that if a user + sets his language to Spanish during login (this can be done + by selecting the desired language from + <guimenu>Languages</guimenu> menu of the <application>GNOME + Display Manager</application> when logging in) he will see + <guimenuitem>Terminal UNIX de GNOME</guimenuitem> in the + menu and <guilabel>Emulador de terminal GNOME</guilabel> as + the tooltip. The actual command that runs the terminal is + unchanged. + </para> + <para> + To add a new translation, enter the language 2-letter code + and translations of <guilabel>Name</guilabel> and + <guilabel>Comment</guilabel> fields in the empty fields + under the list of current translations, and press the + <guibutton>Add/Set</guibutton> button. To change one of + existing translations, select the row from the list, edit + the fields you want to change, and press the + <guibutton>Add/Set</guibutton> button. To remove one of + existing translations, select it in the list and press the + <guibutton>Remove</guibutton> button. + </para> + <para> + You can find the list of all languages supported by GNOME + along with their 2-letter codes in <ulink type="http" + url="http://www.gnome.org/gnomefaq/html/x867.html">GNOME + Frequently Asked Questions</ulink>. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + + <para> + All of the changes you make in the <interface>Launcher + Properties</interface> dialog will take effect when you press + <guibutton>Apply</guibutton> or + <guibutton>OK</guibutton>. Pressing <guibutton>OK</guibutton> + closes the dialog; pressing <guibutton>Apply</guibutton> will + allow you to continue editing. + </para> + + </sect1> + + +<!-- ########### Applets ############## --> + <sect1 id="applets"> + <title>Applets</title> + <para> + Applets are GNOME applications which reside in a + <interface>Panel</interface>. An applet's appearance typically + reveals the state of the applet or other information. Applets often + have buttons, sliders, entries, or other methods to allow you to + control their behavior. + </para> + <figure id="example-applets-fig"> + <title>Example Applets</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>Example Applets</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/panel_applets" format="png" + srccredit="muet"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> + Some example applets are shown above(see <xref + linkend="example-applets-fig">). At the very left is the + <application>Mixer Applet</application> which allows you to change + the volume level and mute the sound. Next is the<application>Sound + Monitor Applet</application>, which displays the current volume of + sound being played and allows you to control various sound + features. The third applet is the <application>GTCD + Applet</application>, a CD player which has all its controls + available in the applet and displays the track and time.The next + applet is the <application>Drive Mount Applet</application>, used + to mount and unmount drives with a single click of the mouse. This + is followed by the <application>Desk-Guide Applet</application> + which shows you your desktops and the applications which are + running on them. The last applet shown is the <application>Tasklist + Applet</application> which allows you to control certain aspects of + each application or window which is open. + </para> + <para> + GNOME has many useful applets. Just right click on a + <interface>Panel</interface> and add some applets to your + <interface>Panel</interface> to find out which applets are + available and which ones are best for you. Right click on each + applet to see a menu listing various commands and operations the + applet can do and to access the documentation for the applet. + </para> + + </sect1> + + +<!-- ########### Drawers ############## --> + <sect1 id="drawers"> + <title>Drawers</title> + <para> + The simplest way to think about a drawer is that it is a container + to store things. Typically one may use a drawer to hold multiple + launchers which are related to each other in some way, such as the + various applications in GNOME Office. The drawers in the GNOME + <interface>Panel</interface> take this one step further by making a + drawer an actual extension of the <interface>Panel</interface> + itself. Thus, a drawer is a collapsible branch of an existing + <interface>Panel</interface>. It can contain anything that a + <interface>Panel</interface> can, including launchers, applets, and + other drawers. + </para> + <figure> + <title>An open Drawer</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>An open Drawer</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/drawer_open" format="png" + srccredit="dcm"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> + Once you have placed a drawer on a <interface>Panel</interface>, + you may click on it to "open" the drawer, revealing its contents. + You may then add items to the drawer in the same way you would add + items to a <interface>Panel</interface>, right clicking on the end + of the drawer with the arrow to open the <link + linkend="globalmenu"><interface>Global Menu</interface></link>. + You can close the drawer by clicking on its icon again or by + clicking on the arrow at its end. + </para> + <para> + You can configure a drawer's properties by right clicking on the + drawer's icon and selecting + <guimenuitem>Properties...</guimenuitem>. This brings up the + <interface>Drawer Properties</interface> dialog. Here you can + select the icon used for the drawer by clicking on the icon. A + tooltip may be entered by typing in the + <guilabel>Tooltip/Name</guilabel> entry. This tooltip will be + displayed whenever the mouse is moved over the drawer to remind you + what is inside. One may also select whether the <guibutton>hide + button</guibutton> and arrow are displayed at the end of the drawer. + </para> + <figure> + <title>Drawer Properties Dialog</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>Drawer Properties Dialog</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/drawer_properties" format="png" + srccredit="dcm"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> + You may also control the background color or image of the + drawer. Just right click on the drawer and select + <guimenuitem>Properties...</guimenuitem> to open the + <interface>Drawer Properties</interface> dialog. Then select the + <guilabel>Background</guilabel> tab to bring up the + <interface>Panel Background Dialog</interface> (see <xref + linkend="panelbacktab">). + </para> + + </sect1> + + + +<!-- ########### Special Panel Objects ############## --> + <sect1 id="specialobjects"> + <title>Special Panel Objects</title> + <para> + There are several special Panel objects which are not considered + menus, applets, or launchers. These special objects are described + below. + </para> + <sect2 id="lockbutton"> + <title>The Lock Button</title> + <figure> + <title>The Lock Button</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>The Lock Button</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/panel_lockbut" format="png" + srccredit="muet"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> + The <guibutton>Lock Button</guibutton> is a + <interface>Panel</interface> button which starts a screensaver + which locks the screen. In order to remove the screensaver and + access the GNOME session again, you must supply your password. + For more information on locking the screen, see <xref + linkend="lockscreen">. + </para> + </sect2> + <sect2 id="logoutbutton"> + <title>The Logout Button</title> + <figure id="logoutbuttonfig"> + <title>The Logout Button</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>The Logout Button</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/panel_logoutbut" + format="png" srccredit="muet"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> + The <guibutton>Logout</guibutton> button is used to exit the GNOME + desktop environment. It initiates the logout sequence, bringing + up the <interface>Logout Dialog</interface>, as described in <xref + linkend="loggingout">. + </para> + </sect2> + <sect2 id="runbutton"> + <title>The Run Button</title> + <figure id="runbuttonfig"> + <title>The Run Button</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>The Run Button</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/panel_runbutton" + format="png" srccredit="muet"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> + The <guibutton>Run</guibutton> button opens the <interface>Run + Program</interface> dialog, shown in <xref + linkend="runprogramdialog-fig">. This gives you access to the + command line prompt. It is not a full-blown shell, so it is not a + replacement for <application>GNOME terminal</application>, but it + is very convenient when you need to enter just one command + quickly. You can also open the <interface>Run Program</interface> + dialog by using a keyboard shortcut. The default keyboard + shortcut is + <keycombo action=simul> + <keycap>Alt</keycap> <keycap>F2</keycap> + </keycombo> + but you can change this in the <link + linkend="misctab"><guilabel>Miscellaneous</guilabel></link> tab of + the <interface><link linkend="globalpanelprefs">Global Panel + Preferences</link> dialog</interface>. + </para> + <figure id="runprogramdialog-fig"> + <title>The Run Program Dialog</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>The Run Program Dialog</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/panel_runprogram" + format="png" srccredit="muet"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> + The command entry has a history buffer which allows you to execute + a previously entered command by pressing the <guiicon>down + arrow</guiicon> icon located to the right of the text field and + selecting the command. It also has a + <guibutton>Browse…</guibutton> button, which allows you to + choose a file — this filename will be appended to the end of + your command. For example, you can enter + <userinput>emacs</userinput> (an extremely powerful text editor) + on the command line and then use the + <guibutton>Browse…</guibutton> button to select the file to + be edited. + </para> + </sect2> + <sect2 id="swallowedapps"> + <title>Swallowed Applications</title> + <para> + You can run many applications which are not applets inside the + <interface>Panel</interface> as if they were applets. + Applications which you pull into the <interface>Panel</interface>, + even though they are not GNOME applets, are called "swallowed + applications". Applications do not have to be GNOME-compliant to + be swallowed. In general, the only constraints for swallowing an + application are that the application must be small enough to fit + in your <interface>Panel</interface> and you must know the title + of the window you would like to swallow. In many cases, the + application can be automatically shrank to fit in the + <interface>Panel</interface>, as specified in the + <interface>Create Swallowed Application Dialog</interface>. If + the application is not small enough to fit in the + <interface>Panel</interface>, the <interface>Panel</interface> + will generally grow to allow the application to fit. + </para> + <figure id="swallappfig"> + <title>Create Swallowed Application Dialog</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>Create Swallowed Application Dialog</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/panel_swallow" format="png" + srccredit="muet"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> + The <guilabel>Title of application to swallow</guilabel> is the + window title, typically displayed on the top left edge of the + window. (Note that the window title is case sensitive.) The + <guilabel>Width</guilabel> and <guilabel>Height</guilabel> + determine the size of the swallowed application in the + <interface>Panel</interface> in pixels. + </para> + <para> + If you leave the <guilabel>Command</guilabel> field empty, this + dialog will create an empty window of given size on the panel + which will sit there waiting for a window with the given title to + appear on your desktop. As soon such a window appears (for + example, when you choose appropriate item in the menu), it will be + swallowed. + </para> + <para> + You can also enter any command in the <guilabel>Command</guilabel> + field; this command will be executed before trying to swallowing + the window to the <interface>Panel</interface> (and each time the + <interface>Panel</interface> is restarted afterwards). This is + normally used to start an application which you want the + <interface>Panel</interface> to swallow. + </para> + + </sect2> + <sect2 id="statusdock"> + <title>Status Dock</title> + <para> + The <interface>status dock</interface> is a + <interface>Panel</interface> object which can hold status docklets + — small windows which applications place in the + <interface>status dock</interface> to provide status information. + Status docklets can also be used to control the + application. Essentially, docklets are small (both in size and in + complexity) applets. GNOME currently does not have many + applications which place status docklets in the <interface>status + dock</interface>. However, GNOME's <interface>status + dock</interface> is compatible with that of the K Desktop + Environment (KDE), so KDE applications, such as + <application>kscd</application>, may place status docklets in + GNOME's <interface>status dock</interface>. Future versions of + GNOME applications will make use of this recently added + <interface>Panel</interface> object. + </para> + <figure id="statusdockfig"> + <title>Example Status Dock With Docklet</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>Example Status Dock With Docklet</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/status_dock" format="png" + srccredit="lebl"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> + The above example shows the <interface>status dock</interface> + with a status docklet from the <application>kscd</application> CD + player program. This particular docklet is used to open and close + the main <application>kscd</application> window without ending the + program. + </para> + </sect2> + + </sect1> + + +<!-- ####### Adding, Moving, and Removing Panel Objects ########## --> + <sect1 id="appletadd"> + <title>Adding, Moving, and Removing Panel Objects</title> + <sect2 id="moving"> + <title>Moving objects</title> + <para> + To move any object in a <interface>Panel</interface> to a + different location, just hold down the middle mouse button and + drag it to the new location. Or, you can right-click on it and + choose <guimenuitem>Move</guimenuitem>, then move the mouse to + the new location and press any mouse button to anchor it in its + new position. You can move it to a different location on the same + <interface>Panel</interface>, or to a different + <interface>Panel</interface>. If in the course of this + movement it hits other objects, the behavior depends on the + global preferences (see <xref linkend="appletstab">): the + object you are moving can switch places with other objects, + "push" all objects it meets, or "jump" over all other objects + without disturbing them. You can also override the default + behavior by holding the <keycap>Shift</keycap> button (for + "push" mode), the <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> button (for "switched" + mode), or the <keycap>Alt</keycap> button (for "free" mode, + i.e. jumping other objects without disturbing them) while + moving the object. + </para> + </sect2> + + <sect2 id="remove"> + <title>Removing objects from the Panel</title> + <para> + To remove an object from a <interface>Panel</interface>, + right-click on it and choose <guimenuitem>Remove from + panel</guimenuitem> from the pop-up menu. + </para> + </sect2> + + + <sect2 id="add"> + <title>Adding objects to the panel</title> + <para> + By default, the GNOME <interface>Panel</interface> contains + only a few basic objects, such as the <guimenu>Main + Menu</guimenu>. However, there are many + <interface>Panel</interface> objects you can + add to it. For example, every menu item in the <guimenu>Main + Menu</guimenu> or its submenus can be added to a + <interface>Panel</interface> as an + application launcher. GNOME also has many applets + that can be added to a <interface>Panel</interface>, ranging from + <application>Printer Applet</application>, which prints files + which you drag and drop onto the applet, to + <application>Wanda the Fish</application>. There are many + additional GNOME applets and applications available on the + Internet. + </para> + <variablelist> + <varlistentry> + <term> <emphasis>Applets</emphasis></term> + <listitem> + <para> + To add an applet to a <interface>Panel</interface>, + right-click on the <interface>Panel</interface> and select + <menuchoice><guisubmenu>Panel</guisubmenu><guisubmenu>Add + to panel</guisubmenu> + <guisubmenu>Applet</guisubmenu></menuchoice>. This + will show you a + menu of all the applets on your system, divided into + categories; choosing any applet from this menu will + add it to the <interface>Panel</interface>. + </para> + </listitem> + </varlistentry> + + + <varlistentry> + <term> <emphasis>Application launchers</emphasis></term> + <listitem> + <para> + To create a new application launcher, right-click on + the <interface>Panel</interface> and select + <menuchoice><guisubmenu>Panel</guisubmenu><guisubmenu>Add + to panel</guisubmenu> + <guimenuitem>Launcher</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. + This will open the <interface>Create Launcher + dialog</interface>, shown below. In this dialog you + should enter a name for your launcher, a comment, and + the command line to launch the application. This + dialog is virtually identical to <interface>Launcher + Properties</interface> dialog. See <xref + linkend="launchers"> for a more detailed description. + </para> + <figure> + <title>The Create launcher dialog</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>Create launcher dialog</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/create_launcher" format="png" + srccredit="muet"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> + You can also add any application in the <guimenu>Main + Menu</guimenu> or application launcher on your + desktop to a <interface>Panel</interface>. + To do so, use the first mouse button to drag the object + onto the <interface>Panel</interface>. Be + careful to drop it in an empty space on the + <interface>Panel</interface> and + not on any existing object: for example, if you drop + it on the <interface>Printer Applet</interface>, it + will be printed. You can also right-click on an item + in the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> + and select <guimenuitem>Add this launcher to + panel</guimenuitem>. After this, you can change any + options for that launcher by clicking on it with the + right mouse button and selecting + <guimenuitem>Properties...</guimenuitem>. + </para> + </listitem> + </varlistentry> + + <varlistentry> + <term> <emphasis>Menus</emphasis></term> + <listitem> + <para> + To add a menu, right-click on the + <interface>Panel</interface> and select + <menuchoice><guisubmenu>Panel</guisubmenu> <guisubmenu>Add + to panel</guisubmenu> <guisubmenu>Menu</guisubmenu> + </menuchoice>. This gives you a choice of the <guimenu>Main + menu</guimenu>, <guimenu>Programs menu</guimenu>, and + <guimenu>Favorites menu</guimenu>. + </para> + <para> + You can also add the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> or + any its submenu as a new menu to the + <interface>Panel</interface> by + right-clicking on the menu title (the top line of the + menu, separated from menu items by a thin line) and + selecting <guimenuitem>Add this as a menu to the + panel</guimenuitem>. + </para> + <note> + <title>Creating Menus By Hand</title> + <para> + Advanced users can also create new menus + manually. To do so, you need to know that internally, + GNOME represents a menu by a directory, with menu items + presented by files of special type + (<filename>.desktop</filename> files — these files + also represent the application launchers), and submenus + presented by subdirectories. For example, the + <guimenu>Favorites</guimenu> menu corresponds to the + directory <filename>~/.gnome/apps</filename> (where + <filename>~</filename> denotes your home directory), and + the <guimenu>Programs</guimenu> menu corresponds to the + directory + <filename>/usr/share/gnome/apps</filename>. Thus, you + can create a new directory, using the GNOME File + Manager, drag and drop there any + <filename>.desktop</filename> files from any other + directories you might have (for example, from + <filename>/usr/share/gnome/apps</filename>) or from the + desktop, and then drag and drop this directory from the + File Manager window to the + <interface>Panel</interface>. This will add this + directory as a menu to the <interface>Panel</interface>. + </para> + </note> + <para> + After you have added a menu to your + <interface>Panel</interface> using any of the methods + described above, you can modify its properties (for + example, add new items to this menu or change the icon + used by the menu), as described in <xref + linkend="menus">. + </para> + </listitem> + </varlistentry> + + <varlistentry> + <term> <emphasis>Drawers</emphasis></term> + <listitem> + <para> + To add a new empty drawer, select + <menuchoice><guisubmenu>Panel</guisubmenu> + <guisubmenu>Add to panel</guisubmenu> + <guisubmenu>Drawer</guisubmenu></menuchoice>. Then + right-click on the drawer and select + <guimenuitem>Properties...</guimenuitem> to change its + properties (for example, the icon it uses). You can + add new items to this drawer in the same way as you + add items to a <interface>Panel</interface>: all the + methods for adding new objects to the + <interface>Panel</interface> described in this section + will also work for adding new items to a drawer. + </para> + <para> + You can also add the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> or any + of its submenus to the <interface>Panel</interface> as a + drawer by right-clicking on the menu title and selecting + <guimenuitem>Add this as drawer to + panel</guimenuitem>. + </para> + </listitem> + </varlistentry> + <varlistentry> + <term> <emphasis>Swallowed application</emphasis></term> + <listitem> + <para>To add a swallowed application to your + <interface>Panel</interface>, select + <menuchoice><guisubmenu>Panel</guisubmenu> + <guisubmenu>Add to panel</guisubmenu> + <guisubmenu>Swallowed + app</guisubmenu></menuchoice>. This will + open the <interface>Create Swallowed + Application</interface> dialog. For detailed information + on using this dialog, see <xref + linkend="swallowedapps">. + </para> + </listitem> + </varlistentry> + </variablelist> + + </sect2> + + </sect1> + + + + +<!-- ########### Creating, Moving, and Removing Panels ########### --> + <sect1 id="panelmove"> + <title>Creating, Moving, and Removing Panels</title> + <sect2 id="paneladd"> + <title>Creating new panels</title> + <para> + To add a new <interface>Panel</interface> to your desktop, + select + <menuchoice><guisubmenu>Panel</guisubmenu><guisubmenu>Create + panel</guisubmenu></menuchoice> from the <guimenu>Main + Menu</guimenu>. Choose from the following + <interface>Panel</interface> types: + </para> + <itemizedlist mark="bullet"> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Menu Panel</guilabel> — The <interface>Menu + Panel</interface> is a special <interface>Panel</interface> + which is always placed at the top of your screen and + contains several pull-down menus. These are + <guimenu>Programs</guimenu>, <guimenu>Favorites</guimenu>, + <guimenu>Settings</guimenu>, <guimenu>Desktop</guimenu>, and + a special menu which provides quick access to GNOME-related + Internet resources (look for the bullet hole icon). This + <interface>Panel</interface> can also hold the other objects + which other <interface>Panel</interface>s can hold, but it + does not have the configuration properties which other + <interface>Panel</interface>s have. Note that the + <interface>Menu Panel</interface> is more restrictive than + other <interface>Panel</interface>s, and some normal + <interface>Panel</interface> operations, such as moving the + <interface>Panel</interface>, cannot be performed on it. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Edge Panel</guilabel> — An <interface>Edge + Panel</interface> is exactly like the main + <interface>Panel</interface> that starts up with GNOME; it + stretches along the whole length of one of screen edges. By + selecting this type of <interface>Panel</interface>, you + may add a new <interface>Panel</interface> to another edge + of your screen to give yourself more functionality. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Aligned Panel</guilabel> — An + <interface>Aligned Panel</interface> is also positioned + along one of the screen edges. But unlike an <interface>Edge + Panel</interface>, an <interface>Aligned Panel</interface> + will not stretch across the entire edge of the screen it is + on; It will only stretch as much as necessary to display + the icons and applets it contains. It can be positioned + either at one of the corners (in this case, it will stretch + towards the opposite corner) or at the center of the edge + (in this case, it will stretch in both directions, + automatically recentering when you add new objects). + </para> + <para> + If an <interface>Aligned Panel</interface> is aligned with + one of the corners, the hide buttons will work slightly + differently than for an <interface>Edge Panel</interface>. + The hide button closest to the edge of your screen will hide + the <interface>Panel</interface> as usual but the other hide + button will send the whole <interface>Panel</interface> to + the opposite corner. When the latter move is made it will + not hide the <interface>Panel</interface> since it is + changing the side of the screen it resides on. If you want + to hide it you will have to press the hide button once again. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Sliding Panel</guilabel> — A + <interface>Sliding Panel</interface> is very similar to an + <interface>Aligned Panel</interface>, but can be placed + anywhere along the screen edge, not necessarily in one of + the corners or in the center. As you add objects, it will + only grow in one direction — it won't automatically + recenter. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Floating Panel</guilabel> — A + <interface>Floating Panel</interface> can be placed anywhere + on your screen, not necessarily along one of the edges. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + + <tip> + <title>Changing Panel Type</title> + <para> + You can also change type of existing panel — for example, + convert edge panel to a floating panel, see <xref + linkend="panelproperties">. + </para> + </tip> + + </sect2> + + <sect2 id="panelmoving"> + <title>Moving Panels</title> + <para> + Any <interface>Panel</interface> you have on your desktop(except + a <interface>Menu Panel</interface>) can be + moved by pressing the middle mouse button, or by simultaneously + pressing the left and right mouse buttons, while dragging the + <interface>Panel</interface> to + the desired position on your screen. If you do not have a middle + mouse button and did not configure your mouse to emulate a + middle button you may also move a <interface>Panel</interface> + by changing its location in the <interface>Panel + properties</interface> dialog. You can read more about this in + <xref linkend="panelproperties"> of this documentation. + </para> + </sect2> + <sect2 id="panelremoving"> + <title>Removing Panels</title> + <para> + To remove an existing <interface>Panel</interface>, right-click + on it and choose + <menuchoice><guisubmenu>Panel</guisubmenu><guisubmenu>Remove + this panel</guisubmenu></menuchoice>. If the + <interface>Panel</interface> is not empty, you will be prompted + to confirm. + </para> + <note> + <title>Removing Your Only Panel</title> + <para> + You must have at least one <interface>Panel</interface> + running at all times. GNOME will not allow you to remove your + only <interface>Panel</interface>. + </para> + </note> + </sect2> + + </sect1> + + +<!-- ############### Global Panel Preferences ################## --> + <sect1 id="globalpanelprefs"> + <title>Global Panel Preferences</title> + <para> + To start configure the behavior of all of your + <interface>Panel</interface>s, select + <menuchoice><guisubmenu>Panel</guisubmenu> <guisubmenu>Global + Preferences</guisubmenu></menuchoice> from the <link + linkend="mainmenu"><guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu></link>. + </para> + <para> + This will open the <interface>Global Panel + Preferences</interface> dialog. (This dialog is a + component of the <application>GNOME Control + Center</application>). With this dialog you can control many + properties shared by all of your <interface>Panel</interface>s. + <figure> + <title>The Global Panel Configuration Dialog</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>The Global Panel Configuration Dialog</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/glob_pref_anim" + format="png" srccredit="muet"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + </para> + <para> + The <interface>Global Panel Configuration</interface> dialog + contains the following five tabs: + <guilabel>Animation</guilabel>, <guilabel>Buttons</guilabel>, + <guilabel>Panel Objects</guilabel>, <guilabel>Menu</guilabel>, and + <guilabel>Miscellaneous</guilabel>. Each of these tabs is + explained below. + </para> + <sect2 id="animtab"> + <title>Animation Tab</title> + <itemizedlist mark="bullet"> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Enable animations</guilabel> — This allows + <interface>Panel</interface>s and drawers to animate as the + hide and unhide. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Constant speed animations</guilabel> — By + default, the animations start slowly, but then accelerate. If + you enable this option, the animations will not use any + acceleration. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>[Animation speed] Auto hide</guilabel> — This + controls the speed of animation for any + <interface>Panel</interface> which is set to hide automatically + when the mouse leaves the <interface>Panel</interface>. The + slowest setting is 1, and the fastest is 100. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>[Animation speed] Explicit hide</guilabel> — This + controls the hide speed when you press a <interface>Panel</interface>'s + <guibutton>Hide Button</guibutton>. The slowest setting is 1, + and the fastest is 100. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>[Animation speed] Drawer sliding</guilabel> — + This controls how fast a drawer menu will raise when you + press a drawer button on a <interface>Panel</interface>. The + slowest setting is 1, and the fastest is 100. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>[Auto hide] Delay (ms)</guilabel> — If you have + a <interface>Panel</interface> set to minimize automatically + after the mouse leaves the <interface>Panel</interface> + this will allow you to control how much time passes before it + minimizes. The <interface>Panel</interface> + will start the time count once the mouse is no longer over + it. It will appear again when the mouse is passed over the + portion of the <interface>Panel</interface> that remains + visible. This time is measured in milliseconds. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>[Auto hide] Size (pixels)</guilabel> — + This determines the number of pixels that show when a + <interface>Panel</interface> is minimized, for any + <interface>Panel</interface> which is set to hide automatically. + To maximize the <interface>Panel</interface>, the pointer must + enter the <interface>Panel</interface> area. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </sect2> + <sect2 id="launchtab"> + <title>Buttons Tab</title> + <para> + In this section, you can set the + appearance of the various types of buttons: launcher buttons, menu + buttons, drawer buttons, and special buttons(such as the <link + linkend="logoutbutton">Logout Button</link> and the <link + linkend="lockbutton">Lock Button</link>). + </para> + <itemizedlist mark="bullet"> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Button Type</guilabel> — Select the type of + button you wish to configure. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Tiles enabled</guilabel> — This checkbox will + enable background tiles for buttons of the given type on the + <interface>Panel</interface>. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Normal tile</guilabel> — This shows the image + used for the tile in the up position (inactive, not + pressed). To choose another image file, just click on the + image, and it will launch the icon browser. Tiles must be + enabled to access this option. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Clicked tile</guilabel> — This shows the image + used for the tile in the down position (active, pressed). To + choose another image file, just press on the image, and it will + launch the icon browser. Tiles must be enabled to access this + option. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Border width (tile only)</guilabel> — This + determines the width of the border around an icon. For example, + if you set border width equal to 5, this will ensure that at + least 5 pixels of the tile will be shown on every side of the + icon; if necessary, the icon will be cropped. This is very + useful if you have an icon that would normally cover up a tile. + Tiles must be enabled to access this option. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Depth (displacement when pressed)</guilabel> — + This determines the depth an icon will displace when + pressed. Tiles must be enabled to access this option. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + <para> + This tab also contains 3 options which affect all types + of buttons simultaneously: + </para> + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Make buttons flush with panel edge</guilabel> + — This allows you to align the button with + the edge of the <interface>Panel</interface>. If this + option is not set then the border width setting is obeyed. + By default this option is off. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Show button tiles only when cursor is over + the button</guilabel> — If this option is enabled, the + tiles will only appear when mouse cursor is over the button. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Prelight buttons on mouseover</guilabel> + — Choosing this option will make the buttons + brighten up when the mouse cursor is over them. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </sect2> + <sect2 id="appletstab"> + <title>Panel objects Tab</title> + <para> + This tab shows some options related to the placement and moving + of objects on the <interface>Panel</interface>. + </para> + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Default movement mode</guilabel> — Here + you can choose the default mode for moving objects on + the <interface>Panel</interface>. Possible variants are + </para> + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + <emphasis>Switched</emphasis> — + When the object you are moving hits another object, + they switch places. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + <emphasis>Free</emphasis> — When + the object you are moving hits another object, it + "jumps" over it, so no other object is disturbed. + This is a convenient option if you like the + current arrangement of objects on your + <interface>Panel</interface> and want to leave the + other objects in place. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + <emphasis>Push</emphasis> — The object you are + moving pushes all other objects in front of it, like + a snow plow. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + <para> + You can override the default movement mode by dragging + an object while holding <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> (for + switched movement), <keycap>Alt</keycap> (for free + movement), or <keycap>Shift</keycap> (for push movement) + button pressed. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Padding</guilabel> — This changes + the amount of space (padding) between objects on the + <interface>Panel</interface>. It is measured in pixels. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </sect2> + + <sect2 id="menutab"> + <title>Menu Tab</title> + <para> + In this tab, you can set the options determining the + appearance of <interface>Panel</interface> menus. + </para> + + <itemizedlist> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Use large icons</guilabel> — This will use + large icons (rather than the default size) in menus. This is only + practical for those with high resolution screens (1280x1024 and + higher). + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Show [...] buttons</guilabel> — This will add + small buttons labelled by three dots (...) to all the items of + the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>. Clicking on such a button + with the left mouse button will bring the + <guimenu>pop-up</guimenu> menu for this item, i.e. the same + menu which you get by clicking on the menu item with the right + mouse button. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Show popup menus outside of panels</guilabel> — + When this button is on, it allows pop-up menus to appear away + from the <interface>Panel</interface>. When toggled off, the + pop-ups will appear over the <interface>Panel</interface>. This + can be useful on smaller screens or cluttered desktops. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Keep menus in memory</guilabel> — This will + keep your menus in memory so that they do not rescan for added + items. This can increase the speed of GNOME, but may also + result in you missing new items added to your menu. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Global menu</guilabel> — This + allows you to configure the <link linkend="globalmenu"> + <guimenu>Global Menu</guimenu></link> + which you get by right-clicking on a + <interface>Panel</interface>, or by using + the keyboard shortcut. For each of the possible submenus + (<guisubmenu>Programs</guisubmenu>, + <guisubmenu>Favorites</guisubmenu>, etc.), you can choose + whether it should be included as a part of the <guimenu>Global + Menu</guimenu>, as a submenu, or not included at all. A + description of these submenus is given in <xref + linkend="submenus">. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </sect2> + + <sect2 id="misctab"> + <title>Miscellaneous Tab</title> + <para> + The <guilabel>Miscellaneous</guilabel> tab contains options for various + customizable behavior that didn't fit anywhere else. + </para> + + <itemizedlist mark="bullet"> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Tooltips enabled</guilabel> — This option + defines whether GNOME should show a tooltip when the + pointer pauses on a <interface>Panel</interface> item. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Close drawer if a launcher inside it is + pressed</guilabel> — By default drawers will remain open + when you select an item within one. This can be annoying as the + drawer will remain open until you close it with a mouse + click. With this option selected drawers will close + automatically when you select any item within one. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Raise panels on mouse-over</guilabel> — If you + are using a window manager that is not GNOME compliant it will + not understand its relationship with the + <interface>Panel</interface>. This can cause + your <interface>Panel</interface> to be covered by + applications. If you enable this feature you can have the + <interface>Panel</interface> automatically raise when your + mouse is over it. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Keep panel below windows</guilabel> — If you + are using a GNOME compliant window manager, the window manager + will understand its relationship with the + <interface>Panel</interface>. If you choose + this feature the window manager and GNOME will allow + applications to appear over the + <interface>Panel</interface>. This can be useful on + smaller screens. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Confirm removal of panels with a + dialog</guilabel> — If this option is enabled, + GNOME will ask for confirmation before removing a + <interface>Panel</interface>. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + <para> + This tab also allows you to configure some global key + bindings. You can define key bindings for the <link + linkend="globalmenu"><guimenu>Global Menu</guimenu></link>(ie. + <guimenu>Popup Menu</guimenu>) and + for the <link linkend="runbutton"><interface>Run + Program</interface></link> dialog. (The default key bindings for + these are + <keycombo action=simul> + <keycap>Alt</keycap> + <keycap>F1</keycap> + </keycombo> + and + <keycombo action=simul> + <keycap>Alt</keycap> + <keycap>F2</keycap> + </keycombo> + respectively.) To + change these key bindings, select a key from the drop-down list + or press the <guibutton>Grab key…</guibutton> button and then + press the desired key. + </para> + <note> + <title>Using the Menu and Window keys</title> + <para> + You should be able to use the special <keycap>Menu</keycap> + and <keycap>Windows</keycap> keys for keybindings. If you + have problems with using these keys, the most probable reason + is that your X server was incorrectly configured: the + keyboard type chosen during installation does not match + your actual keyboard. If you are using + <application>XFree86</application> server, you can fix it by + manually editing the configuration file. This file, named + <filename>XF86Config</filename>, is usually located in + the <filename class="directory">/etc</filename> or <filename + class="directory">/etc/X11</filename> + directory. Open this file with any text editor (not a + word-processor!) and find the line containing the word + <literal>XkbModel</literal>. Change it to read + <programlisting> + XkbModel "pc104" + </programlisting> + You must be root (system administrator) to do this. Now, + logout of GNOME and restart the X server by simultaneously + pressing <keycombo> <keycap>Ctrl</keycap> + <keycap>Alt</keycap> <keycap>Backspace</keycap> </keycombo>. + </para> + </note> + <warning> + <title>Use Caution When Editing XF86Config</title> + <para> + Making a mistake while editing the <filename>XF86Config</filename> + file can make your keyboard or screen unusable in X + Windows. Before editing this file, you should make a backup copy of + it and make sure you know how to restore it from the backup file + without using X Windows or GNOME, i.e., from a terminal. If + you don't know how to do this, then do not edit this file. + </para> + </warning> + </sect2> + + </sect1> + + +<!-- ############### Individual Panel Properties ################ --> + + <sect1 id="panelproperties"> + <title>Individual Panel Properties</title> + <para> + <indexterm id="idx-a62"> <primary>Panel</primary> + <secondary>Individual Panel Properties</secondary> + </indexterm> + <indexterm id="idx-a63"> + <primary>Panel</primary> <secondary>properties</secondary> + </indexterm> + In addition to global Panel properties, described in <xref + linkend="globalpanelprefs">, some properties can be configured + individually for each <interface>Panel</interface>. This + includes <interface>Panel</interface> type (Edge, + Aligned, Sliding, Floating), size, location, background color, + and hiding preferences. To change these properties for a + <interface>Panel</interface>, + click on it with the right mouse button and select + <menuchoice><guimenu>Panel</guimenu> + <guisubmenu>Properties</guisubmenu></menuchoice>. You may also + press the <guibutton>Main Menu</guibutton> button and select + <menuchoice><guimenu>Panel</guimenu> + <guisubmenu>Properties</guisubmenu></menuchoice>. + </para> + <para> + From the <guisubmenu>Properties</guisubmenu> submenu, you can + choose <guimenuitem>All properties...</guimenuitem>, which will + launch the <interface>Panel properties</interface> dialog. If you + are already familiar with this dialog, you can more quickly + change some of the properties — say, + <interface>Panel</interface> size or type + — by selecting the appropriate item in the + <guisubmenu>Properties</guisubmenu> menu. + </para> + <para> + The <interface>Panel properties</interface> dialog contains two + tabs to help you set the active <interface>Panel</interface> + properties: <guilabel>Edge + Panel</guilabel> (or <guilabel>Aligned</guilabel>, … - + depending on your <interface>Panel</interface> type) and + <guilabel>Background</guilabel>. Both of these tabs are explained + below. + </para> + + <sect2 id="edgetab"> + <title>Edge Panel Tab</title> + <figure> + <title>Panel Edge Properties Dialog</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>Panel Edge Properties Dialog</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/panel_props_edge" + format="png" srccredit="muet"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <itemizedlist mark="bullet"> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Panel Position</guilabel> — This changes + the position of the <interface>Panel</interface> on the screen. For + <interface>Edge Panel</interface>, you must specify an + edge (<guilabel>Top</guilabel>, + <guilabel>Right</guilabel>, <guilabel>Left</guilabel> or + <guilabel>Bottom</guilabel>). For <interface>Aligned + Panel</interface>, you have to specify an edge and one of + the edge's ends or the center. For <interface>Sliding + Panel</interface>, you must specify the edge and offset + from one of the corners (in pixels). Finally, for + <interface>Floating Panel</interface> you must specify + orientation (horizontal or vertical) and position of + <interface>Panel</interface>'s left top corner (relative + to the left top corner of the screen and measured in pixels). + </para> + <para> + The <interface>Panel</interface> will change position once + you have pressed the <guibutton>Apply</guibutton> or + <guibutton>OK</guibutton> button. + </para> + <tip> + <title>Manually Moving a Panel</title> + <para> + You can also change <interface>Panel</interface> + position by dragging it with the middle mouse button to + the new location. + </para> + </tip> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Panel size</guilabel> — Here you can + choose the <interface>Panel</interface> width. The default + size is 48 pixels, which is + also the default size of icons used by GNOME. Users with low + screen resolution might want to decrease the + <interface>Panel</interface> size to + free some screen space; conversely, users with high + resolution displays may try using larger + <interface>Panel</interface> sizes. + </para> + <para> + Changing <interface>Panel</interface> size automatically + resizes all the icons on this <interface>Panel</interface>, + which can lead to some quality loss. Also, + the <interface>Panel</interface> will ask all the applets to resize + themselves. Most of the applets will comply; however, if + some applets do not obey this request, then the + <interface>Panel</interface> will resize itself so that it + can fit all the applets. + </para> + </listitem> + + <listitem> + <para> + <indexterm id="idx-a64"> <primary>Panel</primary> + <secondary>Auto-hide</secondary> + </indexterm> + <guilabel>Hiding</guilabel> — In this section, you + can choose whether you want to <guilabel>Enable + Auto-hide</guilabel> — that is, have the + <interface>Panel</interface> automatically hide when + the mouse is not over the <interface>Panel</interface>. The + autohide parameters + can be configured in the <link linkend="animtab">Global + Preferences dialog</link>. If you choose to auto-hide, you + might want to disable the hide buttons here as well. You + may also disable the hide button arrows graphics on the + hide buttons. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </sect2> + + <sect2 id="panelbacktab"> + <title>Background Tab</title> + <indexterm id="idx-a65"> + <primary>Panel</primary> <secondary>Background</secondary> + </indexterm> + + <figure> + <title>Panel Background Properties Dialog</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>Panel Background Properties Dialog</screeninfo> + <graphic fileref="./figures/panel_props_back" + format="png" srccredit="muet"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + + + <para> + These options allow you to change the background of the + <interface>Panel</interface> + itself. You may choose, if you wish, to have the + <guilabel>Standard</guilabel>, <guilabel>Pixmap</guilabel>, or + <guilabel>Color</guilabel> background. The standard look for + the <interface>Panel</interface> is determined by the GTK theme + you are running at the + time (you can configure the GTK theme using the + <application>GNOME Control Center</application>). The + <guilabel>Pixmap</guilabel> option allows you to choose an + image to tile or scale to the <interface>Panel</interface>. The + <guilabel>Color</guilabel> option allows you to specify a + particular color for the <interface>Panel</interface>. + </para> + + <itemizedlist mark="bullet"> + + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Color to use</guilabel> — If you choose to have + your <interface>Panel</interface> one color, this button will + launch a dialog which allows you to specify which color to use. + </para> + </listitem> + + + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Image</guilabel> — If you wish to have a + <guilabel>Pixmap</guilabel> + for the background of your <interface>Panel</interface>, this + section of the dialog allows you to choose which image to use. + If you press the <guibutton>Browse</guibutton> button, you can + search for the file you want to use. The current filename is + shown to the left of this button. The window above it shows you + the preview of this background. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + + + <tip> + <title>Drag and Drop With Images</title> + <para> + An easier way to change the background of your + <interface>Panel</interface> is to + drag and drop an image file from the <application>GNOME + File Manager</application> onto the + <interface>Panel</interface>. This will automatically + change the background of the <interface>Panel</interface> to + that image. + </para> + </tip> + + <itemizedlist mark="bullet"> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Don't scale image to fit</guilabel> — If this + button is checked, the background image will be tiled to cover + the <interface>Panel</interface>, rather than scaled. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Scale image (keep proportions)</guilabel> — If + this button is checked, the background image will be scaled as + much as possible preserving image's proportions, and then the + scaled image will be used to tile the + <interface>Panel</interface>. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Stretch image (change proportions)</guilabel> — + If this button is checked, the background image will be + stretched in both dimensions to the size of the + <interface>Panel</interface>. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + <guilabel>Rotate image for vertical panel</guilabel> — If + this button is checked, the image will be rotated when you + change <interface>Panel</interface> orientation + (horizontal/vertical). + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + </sect2> + + </sect1> + +<!-- ############### Current Bugs and Limitations ############### --> + +<sect1 id="panelbugs"> + + <title>Current bugs and limitations</title> + <para> + Most of the things here are not really bugs; rather, they + describe situations when the <interface>Panel</interface>'s + behavior is not what you would expect. + </para> + + <para> + You cannot place an ordinary file or directory on the + <interface>Panel</interface>. If you try to drag and drop a file + from the File Manager window to the + <interface>Panel</interface>, it won't work. The only type of + file that can be placed on the <interface>Panel</interface> are + <filename>.desktop</filename> + files, which describe launchers (and + <filename>.kdelnk</filename> files, which describe launchers in + the format used by K Desktop Environment); any directory dropped on the + <interface>Panel</interface> will be interpreted as a menu + — that is, all the + files other than <filename>.desktop</filename> files will be + ignored. + </para> + + <para> + Editing menus other than the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> + is rather confusing. <application>Menu Editor</application> at + the moment cannot be used for this, and the + <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> item of the right-click + menu is not too helpful either - for example, it doesn't allow + one to change the menu's icon (see <xref linkend="menusconf"> for + instructions for doing this). This will be improved in the next + release. + </para> + + <para> + The <guimenu>Global Menu</guimenu> (which you get by + pressing the + <keycombo><keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F1</keycap></keycombo> key + on the keyboard or by + right-clicking on the <interface>Panel</interface>), and the + <guimenu>Main + Menu</guimenu> (which you get by clicking on the foot icon) + are configured separately. The reason is that you + can have several <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> buttons on + different <interface>Panel</interface>s. + </para> + + <para> + The <guibutton>Screen Lock</guibutton> button does not lock the + screen if <guilabel>No Screensaver</guilabel> is set in the + <application>GNOME Control Center</application>. + </para> + + <para> + The only way of changing a <interface>Panel</interface>'s type + (Edge, Aligned, etc.) + is by choosing <menuchoice><guisubmenu>Panel</guisubmenu> <guisubmenu>Properties</guisubmenu> + <guisubmenu>Type</guisubmenu> </menuchoice> from the + <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> or <guimenu>Global Menu</guimenu>: + you can not change <interface>Panel</interface> type in the + <interface>Panel Properties</interface> dialog. Conversely, + <menuchoice> <guisubmenu>Panel</guisubmenu><guisubmenu>Properties</guisubmenu> + <guisubmenu>Background type</guisubmenu></menuchoice> allows + you to change the background type (Pixmap/Color/Standard), but + not to choose the actual color or image to use. + </para> + + + </sect1> + + +<!-- ############### Authors ################## --> + <sect1 id="panel-authors"> + <title>Authors</title> + <para> + <application>GNOME Panel</application> was written by many GNOME + developers; you can find a partial list in the + <interface>About</interface> dialog. By + the way: if you wonder what is the name of the animal shown in + the <interface>About</interface> dialog, it is called + "Gegl" and it has its own + <ulink type="http" url="http://www.gegl.org/">Web page</ulink>. + </para> + <para> + Please send all comments, suggestions, and bug reports to the + <ulink url="http://bugs.gnome.org/" type="http">GNOME bug + tracking database</ulink>. Instructions for submitting bug + reports can be found on-line at <ulink + url="http://bugs.gnome.org/Reporting.html" type="http"> + http://bugs.gnome.org/Reporting.html</ulink>. You can also use + the <application>Bug Report Tool</application> + (<command>bug-buddy</command>), available in the + <guisubmenu>Utilities</guisubmenu> submenu of <guimenu>Main + Menu</guimenu>, for submitting bug reports. + </para> + <para> + This manual was written by Dave Mason + (<email>dcm@redhat.com</email>), Dan Mueth + (<email>d-mueth@uchicago.edu</email>), and Alexander Kirillov + (<email>kirillov@math.sunysb.edu</email>). Please send all + comments and suggestions regarding this manual to the GNOME + Documentation Project at <email>docs@gnome.org</email> or enter + your comments online using the <ulink type="http" + url="http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gdp/doctable/">GNOME + Documentation Status Table</ulink>. + </para> + </sect1> + <!-- + + <sect1 id="license"> + <title>License</title> + <para> + This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or + modify it under the terms of the <ulink type="help" + url="gnome-help:gpl"><citetitle>GNU General Public + License</citetitle></ulink> as published by the Free Software + Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) + any later version. + </para> + <para> + This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but + WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of + MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the + <ulink type="help" url="gnome-help:gpl"><citetitle>GNU General + Public License</citetitle></ulink> for more details. + </para> + <para> + A copy of the <ulink type="help" + url="gnome-help:gpl"><citetitle>GNU General Public + License</citetitle></ulink> is included with the GNOME documentation. + You may also obtain a + copy of the <ulink type="help" url="gnome-help:gpl"><citetitle>GNU + General Public License</citetitle></ulink> from the Free Software + Foundation by visiting <ulink type="http" + url="http://www.fsf.org/">their Web site</ulink> or by writing to + <address> + Free Software Foundation, Inc. + <street>59 Temple Place</street> - Suite 330 + <city>Boston</city>, <state>MA</state> <postcode>02111-1307</postcode> + <country>USA</country> + </address> + </para> + + </sect1> + --> + </chapter> + + + + + + |