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diff --git a/gnome-users-guide/gnome-users-guide-1.4/C/wheeler.sgml b/gnome-users-guide/gnome-users-guide-1.4/C/wheeler.sgml new file mode 100644 index 0000000..cc5f6c7 --- /dev/null +++ b/gnome-users-guide/gnome-users-guide-1.4/C/wheeler.sgml @@ -0,0 +1,266 @@ +<!-- ############################# WHEELER'S INTRO ############################ --> + +<chapter id="intro"> + <title>An Introduction to GNOME</title> + <sect1 id="What-is-GNOME"> + <title>What is GNOME</title> + <para> + GNOME is a user-friendly desktop environment that enables users to easily + use and configure their computers. GNOME includes a panel (for starting + applications and displaying status), a desktop (where data and applications + can be placed), a set of standard desktop tools and applications, and a set + of conventions that make it easy for applications to cooperate and be + consistent with each other. Users of other operating systems or + environments should feel right at home using the powerful graphics-driven + environment GNOME provides. + </para> + <para> + GNOME is completely open source (free software), with freely available + source code developed by hundreds of programmers around the world. If you + would like to learn more about the GNOME project please visit the <ulink + url="http://www.gnome.org" type="http">GNOME web site</ulink>. + </para> + <para> + GNOME has a number of advantages for users. GNOME makes it easy to use and + configure applications using a simple yet powerful graphical interface. + </para> + <para> + GNOME is highly configurable, enabling you to set your desktop the way you + want it to look and feel. GNOME's session manager remembers previous + settings, so once you've set things the way you like they'll stay that + way. GNOME supports many human languages, and you can add more without + changing the software. GNOME even supports several Drag and Drop protocols + for maximum interoperability with applications that aren't GNOME-compliant. + </para> + <para> + GNOME also has a number of advantages for developers, which indirectly also + help users. Developers don't need to purchase an expensive software license + to make their commercial application GNOME compliant. In fact, GNOME is + vendor neutral - no component of the interface is controlled solely by one + company or restricted from modification and redistribution. GNOME + applications can be developed in a variety of computer languages, so you're + not stuck with a single language. GNOME uses the Common Object Request + Broker Architecture (CORBA) to allow software components to inter-operate + seamlessly, regardless of the computer language in which they are + implemented, or even what machine they are running on. Finally, GNOME runs + on a number of Unix-like operating systems, including Linux. + </para> + <para> + GNOME is an acronym for the GNU Network Object Model Environment, so GNOME + is a part of the larger GNU project. The GNU Project started in 1984 to + develop a completely free Unix-like operating system. If you'd like to + learn more about the GNU project you can read about it at the <ulink + url="http://www.gnu.org" type="http">GNU Website</ulink>. + </para> + </sect1> + <sect1 id="aboutug"> + <title>About This Guide</title> + <para> + This user's guide is designed to help you find your way around GNOME with + ease. Both new and experienced computer users can benefit from this guide. + If you're new to GNOME, or even computers, you'll gain an idea of how to use + your desktop. If you're an advanced computer user trying out GNOME, you can + work with expert tips, which will help you to become familiar with GNOME. + </para> + <para> + Although this was written originally in English, there are many translations + of the guide available now or in the near future. If you would like to have + this guide in another language you should check your operating system + distribution or visit the <ulink url="http://www.gnome.org" type="http"> + GNOME Web Site</ulink> to find out more information on translation. + </para> + <para> + GNOME is rapidly developing, so some parts of this guide may be not up to + date; in these cases, please use on-line help in the application you are + having trouble with. + </para> + <para> + This manual was written by Dave Mason (<email>dcm@redhat.com</email>), + Chris Lyttle (<email>chris@wilddev.net</email>) and Alexander Kirillov + (<email>kirillov@math.sunsyb.edu</email>) with some help from other members + of Gnome Documentation Project. Please send all comments and + suggestions regarding this manual to the <ulink type="http" + url="http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gdp/">Gnome Documentation + Project</ulink> by sending an email to + <email>docs@gnome.org</email>. You can also add your comments + online by using the <ulink type="http" + url="http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gdp/doctable/">Gnome + Documentation Status Table</ulink>. + </para> + </sect1> + </chapter> + +<!-- ###################### WHEELER'S QUICK START GUIDE #################### --> + + <chapter id="quickstart"> + <title>GNOME Quick Start</title> + <sect1 id="quick"> + <title>A First Glance At GNOME</title> + <para> + <emphasis>Figure 1</emphasis> shows an example of GNOME running. GNOME is + very configurable, so your screen may look quite different. + </para> + <figure> + <title>Sample GNOME Display.</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>Sample GNOME Display</screeninfo> + <Graphic Format="png" Fileref="./figures/full-desk" srccredit="wilddev"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> + <indexterm id="idx-a1"> + <primary>Quick Start</primary> + </indexterm> + The long bar at the bottom of <emphasis>figure 1</emphasis> is a GNOME + Panel, which contains a collection of menus, useful panel applets, and + application launchers. The button containing the stylized foot is the + Main Menu button (the most common kind of menu); just click on the Main + Menu button and you'll see a menu of pre-loaded applications and options, + including a logout command. Panel applets are tiny programs designed to + be placed in a panel, for example, the the Desk Guide applet on the + far right shows 4 virtual desktops to place your applications. + Application launchers are buttons that, when + pressed, immediately start programs (including GNOME utilities and office + applications). In this example the toolbox button starts the GNOME + Control Center (for configuring your system), the question mark button + starts the GNOME Help browser (for viewing documentation), the display + starts the terminal (if you'd prefer to use a text interface), and the + world starts your web browser. The arrows on each + side of the panel hide (and unhide) the panel. + </para> + <para> + Outside of the Panel is the "Desktop". Just drag items from the panel on to + your desktop you use most often and you can double-click on an item (with the + left mouse button) to use it: + </para> + <itemizedlist mark="bullet"> + <listitem> + <para> + If the item is a program, that program will start. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + If it's data, the appropriate program will start up with that data + loaded. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + If it's a folder, the Nautilus file manager will start and + show the + contents of that folder. Your desktop will probably have a folder icon + labeled "Home". Double-clicking on it will start the Nautilus file manager + at your home directory. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + <para> + The Nautilus file manager lets you manipulate your files. + The left side of its window shows the current folder with tabs for Help, + History and Notes, and the right side shows the current folder's contents: + </para> + <itemizedlist mark="bullet"> + <listitem> + <para> + To move the file or folder, just drag and drop it. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + To copy a file or folder, hold down the <keycap>CTRL</keycap> key while dragging. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + To run a program or edit a data file, double-click it. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + To perform other operations on a file (such as rename or delete), select it + using the right mouse button and then choose the operation you want. You + can also use this to select an application to open the file. + </para> + </listitem> + <listitem> + <para> + To select more than one item at a time, click on the items after the first + one while holding down the <keycap>CTRL</keycap> key. + </para> + </listitem> + </itemizedlist> + <para> + You can easily move or copy files between folders by starting two file + manager applications, each one showing a different folder. If you want to + put a file on your desktop, simply drag it from the file manager onto the + desktop. In fact, dragging and dropping items onto other items generally + "does the right thing" in GNOME, making it easy to get work done. + </para> + <para> + GNOME is very configurable; for example, you can have multiple panels + (horizontal and vertical), choose what goes in them, and have them hide + automatically. There are many panel applets you can include in your panel. + You can also change how the screen looks; later portions of this document + tell you how. + </para> + <para> + GNOME follows several UNIX conventions you should be aware of. The left + mouse button is used to select and drag items. The right mouse button brings + up a menu for the selected object (if a menu applies). Most UNIX mice have 3 + buttons, and the middle button is used to paste text (if in a text area) or + to move things. If you only have two buttons, press the left and right + buttons simultaneously to simulate the middle button. To copy text, use the + left button to drag across the text you want to copy, move the mouse cursor + to the place you want the text to be, and press the middle button (or mouse + wheel). + </para> + <para> + When an application window is displayed, there will be some buttons in + its borders for controlling the window. These include buttons to minimize, + maximize, and close the window. Their appearance can be configured and is + controlled by a component called the "Window Manager." + </para> + <para> + An example of border styles is the MicroGUI style (<emphasis>Figure + 2</emphasis>) which is a window manager theme used in both Sawmill and + Enlightenment. You can read more about window managers in <xref + linkend="wm">. + </para> + <para> + In the MicroGUI border style, the down arrow means minimize, the up arrow means + maximize (use the whole screen), and the X button means close the window, + and the down triangle brings up the <guimenu>Window</guimenu> menu. + </para> + <figure> + <title>MicroGUI Border Style</title> + <screenshot> + <screeninfo>Clean Border Style</screeninfo> + <graphic format="png" fileref="./figures/border1" srccredit="dcm"> + </graphic> + </screenshot> + </figure> + <para> + If you've never used a Unix or Linux system before, you might find the + overview in <link linkend="newbies">Appendix A</link> helpful as well. + </para> + <para> + The following sections go into more detail, describing each component of + the system: <link linkend="wm">the window manager</link>, <link + linkend="panel-chap">panel</link>, <link linkend="main-menu">main menu</link>, + <link linkend="desk">desktop</link>, <link linkend="nautilus">file + manager</link>, <link linkend="gnomecc">control center</link> and <link + linkend="gnome-applets">applets</link>. + </para> + </sect1> +</chapter> + + + + + + + + + |