Working With MenusThis chapter describes how to use menus in the desktop.Introduction to MenusmenusintroductionYou can access all desktop functions through menus. The Menu Panel contains
menus, so you can use a combination of menus and panels to perform your tasks.
You can perform various actions on your menus, such as copy menu items to
panels.You can access the following menus from the desktop:Applications menu: You can access many
of your applications, commands, and configuration options from the Applications menu. You can also access the desktop preference tools
from the Applications menu.Actions menu: You can access various commands
that enable you to perform desktop tasks from the Actions
menu. For example, you can start the Search Tool
application, or log out of the desktop. Main Menu: You can also access the items
in the Applications and Actions menus
from the Main Menu. You can have many Main Menu buttons in your panels. You can also right-click on the desktop background to open the Desktop Background menu. The Desktop Background
menu enables you to perform desktop background-related tasks. All of these menus provide you with multiple ways to perform your tasks,
and enable you to work in the way that you prefer.Menu FeaturesmenusfeaturesMenus can contain the following items: SubmenusLaunchers or menu itemsAn arrow to the right of an item in a menu indicates that the item is
a submenu. When you point to the submenu, the submenu opens. You can choose
items from the submenu. When you choose a launcher, the launcher starts an application or runs
a command. You can also right-click on a launcher to open a popup menu. The
popup menu enables you to add the item to a panel, and perform other tasks.
For more information on the popup menu, see the next section. You can change the theme for your session to change how all your menus
look. To change the theme, choose ApplicationsDesktop PreferencesTheme.Menu Item Popup Menumenusmenu item popup menumenu item popup menudescriptionItems in menus have an associated
popup menu that enables you to perform tasks related to the item. When you
right-click on an item in a menu, the popup menu for the item opens. The popup
menu also contains a submenu that allows you to perform menu-related tasks. You can use the menu item popup menu to perform the following tasks: Add menu items as launchers to panels. Remove items from menus.Open the Run Program dialog with the
menu item command in the dialog.Add menus to panels. You can add a menu as a menu object or
as a drawer object. Add new items to menus.Change the properties of submenus and menu items. shows the popup menu.menu item popup menuillustration describes menu item popup menus. launchersadding to panel
Menu Item Popup MenusItemDescriptionAdd this launcher to panelAdds the launcher to the panel from which you open
the menu.Remove this itemRemoves the launcher from the menu.Put into run dialogDisplays the Run Program dialog
with the command from the Command field of the launcher
in the command field on the Run Program dialog. Help on application_nameOpens the online help for the application.PropertiesDisplays a dialog that enables you to edit
the properties of the launcher.Entire
menuAdd this as drawer to panelAdds the submenu as a drawer to the panel from which you open the menu.Entire
menuAdd this as menu to panelAdds the submenu as a menu object to the panel from which you open the menu.Entire menuAdd new item to this menuEnables you to add an item to the submenu.Entire menuPropertiesDisplays a dialog that enables you to edit
the properties of the submenu.
menusadding to panelApplications MenumenusApplications menuThe Applications menu contains a hierarchy
of submenus, from which you can start the standard GNOME applications and
preference tools. The Applications menu contains the Desktop Preferences menu. You can use the Desktop Preferences menu to start the desktop preference tools. The Applications menu also includes the file manager and the help browser.The Applications menu resides in the following places: Menu PanelStart Here location in NautilusMain MenuActions MenumenusActions menuThe Actions menu contains various commands that enable
you to perform desktop tasks. describes
the commands in the Actions menu.
Actions Menu CommandsMenu ItemFunctionRun ProgramOpens the Run Program dialog.
Use the Run Program dialog to run commands. For more
information, see .Search for FilesStarts the Search Tool
application. For more information, see the Search Tool
manual.Open RecentDisplays a submenu of the last ten files which
you saved.ScreenshotTakes a screenshot of the desktop, and opens the Screenshot dialog. Use the Screenshot dialog
to save the screenshot.Lock ScreenLocks your screen. Log OutLogs you out of the current session.
The Actions menu resides in the following places: Menu Panel. Main Menu. The items in the Actions menu are at the top level of the Main Menu.Using the Run Program DialogRun Program dialog, usingThe Run Program dialog gives you access to the command
line. When you run a command in the Run Program dialog,
you cannot receive output from the command.To run a command from the command line perform the following steps: Display the Run Program dialog. You can
display the Run Program dialog in any of the following
ways:From the Menu PanelChoose ActionsRun
Program.From any panelAdd the Run button to a panel. Right-click on
the panel, then choose Add to PanelButtonRun.
Click on the Run button.From the Main MenuOpen the Main Menu, then choose Run
Program.Use shortcut keysThe default shortcut keys to display the Run Program
dialog are AltF2. You can change the
shortcut keys that display the Run Program dialog in
the Keyboard Shortcuts preference tool. To change
the shortcut keys, choose ApplicationsDesktop PreferencesKeyboard
Shortcuts.From a menu item popup menuRight-click on an item in a menu, then choose Put into run
dialog from the popup menu. The Run Program
dialog opens with the command from the menu in the command field.The Run Program dialog is displayed.Enter the command that you want to run in the blank field.
Alternatively, to choose a command that you ran previously, click the down
arrow button beside the command field, then choose the command to run.Alternatively, click on the Known Applications
button to display a list of available applications.You can also use the Append File button to choose
a file to append to the command line. For example, you can enter emacs as the command, then choose a file to edit.Select the Run in terminal option to run the application
or command in a terminal window. Choose this option for an application or
command that does not create a window in which to run.Click on the Run button on the Run Program dialog. To Take a Screenshotscreenshots, takingYou can
take a screenshot in any of the following ways:From the Menu PanelTo take a screenshot of the entire screen, choose ActionsScreenshot.
A Screenshot dialog is displayed. To save the screenshot,
select the Save screenshot to file option. Enter the
path and filename for the screenshot in the drop-down combination box. Alternatively,
to save the screenshot to another directory, click Browse.
When you select a directory, click OK. You can also save the screenshot to the desktop background. To save
the screenshot to the desktop background, select the Save screenshot
to desktop option. From any panelAdd the Screenshot button to a panel. Right-click
on the panel, then choose Add to PanelButtonScreenshot. Click on the Screenshot button to take
a screenshot of the entire screen. Use the Screenshot
dialog to save the screenshot.Use shortcut keysTo take a screenshot, use the following shortcut keys:Default Shortcut KeysFunctionPrint ScreenTakes a screenshot of the entire screen, and
displays the Screenshot dialog. Use the Screenshot dialog to save the screenshot.AltPrint
ScreenTakes a screenshot
of the window that has focus, and displays the Screenshot
dialog. Use the Screenshot dialog to save the screenshot.You can use the Keyboard Shortcuts preference
tool to modify the default shortcut keys.Use a commandYou can use the gnome-panel-screenshot command to
take a screenshot. The gnome-panel-screenshot command takes
a screenshot of the entire screen, and displays the Screenshot
dialog. Use the Screenshot dialog to save the screenshot.You can also use options on the gnome-panel-screenshot
command as follows: OptionFunction--windowTakes a screenshot of the window that has
focus, and displays the Screenshot dialog. Use the Screenshot dialog to save the screenshot.--delay=secondsTakes
a screenshot after the specified number of seconds, and displays the Screenshot dialog. Use the Screenshot dialog
to save the screenshot.--helpDisplays the options for the command.Main MenumenusMain MenuMain
MenuMain MenuintroductionOpen Main Menu. Menu items: Applications, CDE Menu, Run Program, Search for Files, Screenshot, Lock Screen, Log Out.You can access almost all of the standard applications, commands, and
configuration options from the Main Menu. The Main Menu provides the following top-level menus
and special menu items: Applications: Contains all applications
and preference tools. This menu also includes the file manager and the help
browser.Actions: Contains commands that enable
you to perform desktop tasks, for example the Lock Screen
and Log Out commands. The items in the Actions menu are at the top level of the Main Menu. You can add Main Menu buttons to your panels. By
default, the Main Menu is represented on panels by a stylized
footprint icon, as follows:Main Menu icon.To Open the Main MenuMain MenuopeningYou can open the Main Menu in the following ways: From a panel with a Main MenuClick on the Main Menu. Use shortcut keysYou can use shortcut keys to open the Main Menu.
When you use shortcut keys to open the Main Menu, the Main Menu appears at the mouse pointer. The default shortcut keys to open the Main Menu are AltF1. To change the shortcut keys that open
the Main Menu, choose ApplicationsDesktop PreferencesKeyboard Shortcuts.To Add a Main Menu to a PanelMain Menuadding to panelYou can add as many Main Menu buttons
as you want to your panels. To add a Main Menu to a panel,
right-click on any vacant space on the panel. Choose Add to PanelMain Menu.Customizing Your MenusmenuscustomizingYou can modify the contents of the following menus:Applications menuDesktop Preferences menuYou use the following desktop components to customize menus:Menus on panelsNautilus file managerWhen you use panels to customize your menus, you use the menu item popup
menu. For more information, see .When you use Nautilus to customize your menus,
you must access the Applications menu or the Desktop Preferences menu from within Nautilus.
To access the Applications menu or the Desktop
Preferences menu, open a Nautilus window.
Choose GoStart Here. Double-click on the Applications object
or on the Desktop Preferences object. For more information
on Nautilus, see Nautilus File Manager.To Add a MenumenusaddingTo add a menu, perform the following steps:In a Nautilus window, access the
location where you want to add the menu. For example, to add a menu to the Applications menu, choose GoStart Here, then double-click on the Applications object.Choose FileNew Folder. An untitled folder is added to the
view pane. The name of the folder is selected.Type a name for the folder, then press Return. The next time that you log out then log in again, the menu is in the
assigned location.To Add a Launcher to a Menumenusadding launchers toTo add a launcher to a menu, perform the following steps:Right-click on any item in the menu to which you want to add
the launcher.Choose Entire menuAdd new item to this menu. A Create Launcher dialog is displayed.Enter the properties of the launcher in the Create
Launcher dialog. For more information on the elements in the Create Launcher dialog, see Working With Panels.Click OK.To Add a Launcher to an Empty MenuTo add a launcher to an empty menu, perform the following steps:Open a Nautilus window, then choose GoStart Here.
Alternatively, double-click on the Start Here object
on the desktop background. The Start Here location is
displayed. In the Nautilus window, double-click
on the object that represents the menu to which you want to add the launcher. Choose FileNew Launcher. A Create Launcher
dialog is displayed.Enter the properties of the launcher in the Create
Launcher dialog. For more information on the elements in the Create Launcher dialog, see Working With Panels.Click OK.To Copy a Launcher to a Menumenuscopying launchers toTo copy an existing launcher to a menu, perform the following
steps:In a Nautilus window, access the
location from which you want to copy the launcher. For example, to copy a
launcher from the Applications menu, choose GoStart Here,
then double-click on the Applications object.Select the launcher that you want to copy, then choose EditCopy File.In a Nautilus window, access the
location to which you want to copy the launcher.Choose EditPaste Files. The launcher is added to the new location.Alternatively, you can drag the launcher from one location to another.The next time that you log out then log in again, the launcher is in
the new menu location.To Edit the Properties of a Menumenusediting propertiesTo edit the properties of a menu, perform the following
steps:Right-click on any item in the menu that you want to edit.Choose Entire menuProperties. A Launcher Properties dialog is displayed.Modify the properties of the menu in the Launcher
Properties dialog. For more information on the elements in the Launcher Properties dialog, see Working With Panels.Click OK.To Edit a Menu Itemmenusediting menu itemsTo edit a menu item, perform the following steps:Right-click on the item that you want to edit.Choose Properties. A Launcher Properties dialog is displayed.Modify the properties of the launcher in the Launcher
Properties dialog. For more information on the elements in the Launcher Properties dialog, see Working With Panels.Click OK.To Delete an Item from a Menumenusdeleting menu itemsTo delete an item from a menu, use the menu item popup menu.
To delete an item from a menu, perform the following steps:Right-click on the item that you want to delete.Choose Remove this item.