path: root/gnome2-user-guide/C/goseditmainmenu.xml

<chapter id="goseditmainmenu-1">
<title>Working With Menus</title>
<highlights><para>This chapter describes how to use menus in the desktop.
</para></highlights>
<sect1 id="goseditmainmenu-2">
<title>Introduction to Menus</title>
<indexterm><primary>menus</primary><secondary>introduction</secondary></indexterm>
<para>You can access all desktop functions through menus. The default panels
contain 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.</para>
<para>You can access the following menus from the desktop:</para>
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu: You can access many
of the applications, commands, and configuration options on your desktop from
the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu: You can access various desktop
commands from the <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu. For example, you can start
the <application>Search Tool</application> application, or log out from the
desktop. </para></listitem>
<listitem><para><guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu>: You can also access the items
in the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> and <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menus
from the <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu>. You can have many <guimenu>GNOME Menu
</guimenu> buttons in your panels. </para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
<para>You can also right-click on the desktop background to open the <guimenu>
Desktop Background</guimenu> menu. The <guimenu>Desktop Background</guimenu>
menu enables you to perform desktop background-related tasks. For information
on the <guimenu>Desktop Background</guimenu> menu, see <xref linkend="gosdeskback-1"/>.
</para>
<para>All of these menus provide you with multiple ways to perform your tasks,
and enable you to work in the way that you prefer.</para>
</sect1>
<sect1 id="goseditmainmenu-5">
<title>Menu Features</title>
<indexterm><primary>menus</primary><secondary>features</secondary></indexterm>
<para>Menus can contain the following items: </para>
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>Submenus</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>Launchers</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
<para>An 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. </para>
<para>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. </para>
<para>You can change the theme for your session to change how all your menus
look. To change the theme, choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Applications
</guimenu><guisubmenu>Desktop Preferences</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>
Theme</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para>
<sect2 id="goseditmainmenu-11">
<title>Launcher Popup Menu</title>
<indexterm><primary>menus</primary><secondary>launcher popup menu</secondary>
</indexterm><indexterm><primary>launcher popup menu</primary><secondary>description
</secondary></indexterm><para>Launchers on menus have an associated popup
menu that enables you to perform tasks related to launchers. When you right-click
on a launcher in a menu, the popup menu for the launcher opens. The popup
menu also contains a submenu that allows you to perform menu-related tasks. 
</para>
<para>You can use the launcher popup menu to perform the following tasks: 
</para>
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>Add launchers to panels. </para></listitem>
<listitem><para>Remove launchers from menus. </para></listitem>
<listitem><para>Open the <guilabel>Run Program</guilabel> dialog with the
launcher command in the dialog.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>Add menus to panels. You can add a menu as a menu object or
as a drawer object. </para></listitem>
<listitem><para>Add new items to menus.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>Change the properties of submenus and launchers.</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
<para>Some items in the popup menu might not be available to you. Your user
privileges determine which items are available. For example, if you do not
have system administrator privileges, you can not modify the properties of
the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu. </para>
<para><xref linkend="goseditmainmenu-FIG-39"/> shows the popup menu.</para>
<indexterm><primary>launcher popup menu</primary><secondary>illustration</secondary>
</indexterm>
<figure id="goseditmainmenu-FIG-39">
<title>Launcher Popup Menu</title>
<screenshot>
<mediaobject>
  <imageobject>
    <imagedata fileref="figures/launcher_popup.png" format="PNG"/>
  </imageobject>
  <textobject>
	<phrase>Shows launcher popup menu. The context describes the graphic.
</phrase>
  </textobject>
</mediaobject>
</screenshot>
</figure>
<para><xref linkend="goseditmainmenu-TBL-30"/> describes the items on launcher
popup menus. <indexterm><primary>launchers</primary><secondary>adding to panel
</secondary></indexterm></para>
<table frame="topbot" id="goseditmainmenu-TBL-30">
<title>Items on Launcher Popup Menus</title>
<tgroup cols="2" colsep="0" rowsep="0"><colspec colname="COLSPEC0" colwidth="42.71*"/>
<colspec colname="COLSPEC1" colwidth="57.29*"/>
<thead>
<row rowsep="1"><entry valign="top"><para>Item</para></entry><entry valign="top"><para>
Description</para></entry></row>
</thead>
<tbody>
<row><entry valign="top"><para><guimenuitem>Add this launcher to panel</guimenuitem></para></entry>
<entry valign="top"><para>Adds the launcher to the panel from which you open
the menu.</para></entry></row>
<row><entry valign="top"><para><guimenuitem>Remove this item</guimenuitem></para></entry>
<entry valign="top"><para>Removes the launcher from the menu.</para></entry>
</row>
<row><entry valign="top"><para><guimenuitem>Put into run dialog</guimenuitem></para></entry>
<entry valign="top"><para>Displays the <guilabel>Run Program</guilabel> dialog
with  the command from the <guilabel>Command</guilabel> field of the launcher
in  the command field on the <guilabel>Run Program</guilabel> dialog. </para></entry>
</row>
<row><entry colname="COLSPEC0"><para><guimenuitem>Help on <replaceable>application_name
</replaceable></guimenuitem></para></entry><entry colname="COLSPEC1"><para>
Open the online help for the application.</para></entry></row>
<row><entry valign="top"><para><guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem></para></entry>
<entry valign="top"><para>Displays a dialog that enables you to edit the properties
of the launcher.</para></entry></row>
<row><entry colname="COLSPEC0" valign="top"><para><menuchoice><guimenu>Entire
menu</guimenu><guimenuitem>Add this as drawer to panel</guimenuitem>
</menuchoice></para></entry><entry colname="COLSPEC1" valign="top"><para>
Adds the submenu as a drawer to the panel from which you open the menu.</para></entry>
</row>
<row><entry colname="COLSPEC0" valign="top"><para><menuchoice><guimenu>Entire
menu</guimenu><guimenuitem>Add this as menu to panel</guimenuitem>
</menuchoice></para></entry><entry colname="COLSPEC1" valign="top"><para>
Adds the submenu as a menu object to the panel from which you open the menu.
</para></entry></row>
<row><entry colname="COLSPEC0" valign="top"><para><menuchoice><guimenu>Entire
menu</guimenu><guimenuitem>Add new item to this menu</guimenuitem>
</menuchoice></para></entry><entry colname="COLSPEC1" valign="top"><para>
Enables you to add an item to the submenu.</para></entry></row>
<row><entry colname="COLSPEC0" valign="top"><para><menuchoice><guimenu>Entire
menu</guimenu><guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem></menuchoice></para></entry>
<entry colname="COLSPEC1" valign="top"><para>Displays a dialog that enables
you to edit the properties of the submenu.</para></entry></row>
</tbody>
</tgroup>
</table>
<indexterm><primary>menus</primary><secondary>adding to panel</secondary>
</indexterm></sect2>
</sect1>
<sect1 id="goseditmainmenu-8">
<title>Applications Menu</title>
<indexterm><primary>menus</primary><secondary>Applications</secondary></indexterm>
<para>The <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu contains a hierarchy of submenus,
from which you can start the standard GNOME applications and preference tools.
The <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu also includes the file manager and
the help browser.</para>
<para>The <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu resides in the following places: 
</para>
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>Menu Panel</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><guilabel>Start Here</guilabel> location in <application>
Nautilus</application></para></listitem>
<listitem><para><guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu></para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</sect1>
<sect1 id="goseditmainmenu-51">
<title>Actions Menu</title>
<indexterm><primary>menus</primary><secondary>Actions</secondary></indexterm>
<para>The <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu contains various desktop commands. <xref
linkend="goseditmainmenu-TBL-52"/> describes the commands in the <guimenu>
Actions</guimenu> menu.</para>
<table frame="topbot" id="goseditmainmenu-TBL-52">
<title>Actions Menu Commands</title>
<tgroup cols="2" colsep="0" rowsep="0"><colspec colwidth="38.48*"/><colspec
colwidth="61.52*"/>
<thead>
<row rowsep="1"><entry valign="top"><para>Menu Item</para></entry><entry valign="top"><para>
Function</para></entry></row>
</thead>
<tbody>
<row><entry valign="top"><para><guimenuitem>Run Program</guimenuitem></para></entry>
<entry valign="top"><para>Opens the <guilabel>Run Program</guilabel> dialog.
Use the <guilabel>Run Program</guilabel> dialog to run commands. For more
information, see <xref linkend="gospanel-23"/>.</para></entry></row>
<row><entry valign="top"><para><guimenuitem>Search for Files</guimenuitem></para></entry>
<entry valign="top"><para>Starts the <application>Search Tool</application>
application. For more information, see the <citetitle>Search Tool</citetitle>
manual.</para></entry></row>
<row><entry valign="top"><para><guimenuitem>Take a Screen Shot</guimenuitem></para></entry>
<entry valign="top"><para>Opens the <guilabel>Screenshot</guilabel> dialog.
Use the <guilabel>Screenshot</guilabel> to take screenshots of your desktop.
</para></entry></row>
<row><entry valign="top"><para><guimenuitem>Lock Display</guimenuitem></para></entry>
<entry valign="top"><para>Locks your screen. For more information, see <xref
linkend="gosstartsession-1"/>.</para></entry></row>
<row><entry valign="top"><para><guimenuitem>Log Out</guimenuitem></para></entry>
<entry valign="top"><para>Logs you out of the current session. For more information,
see <xref linkend="gosgetstarted-73"/>.</para></entry></row>
</tbody>
</tgroup>
</table>
<para>The <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu resides in the following places: 
</para>
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>Menu Panel. </para></listitem>
<listitem><para><guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu>. The items in the <guimenu>
Actions</guimenu> menu are at the top level of the <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu>.
</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
<sect2 id="gospanel-23">
<title>Using the Run Program Dialog</title>
<indexterm><primary>Run Program dialog, using</primary></indexterm>
<para>The <guilabel>Run Program</guilabel> dialog gives you access to the
command line. When you run a command in the <guilabel>Run Program</guilabel>
dialog, you cannot receive output from the command.</para>
<para>To run a command from the command line perform the following steps: 
</para>
<orderedlist>
<listitem><para>Display the <guilabel>Run Program</guilabel> dialog. You can
display the <guilabel>Run Program</guilabel> dialog in any of the following
ways:<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>From the Menu Panel</para>
<para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Actions</guimenu><guimenuitem>Run
Program</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>From the <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu></para>
<para>Open the <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu>, then choose <guimenuitem>Run
Program</guimenuitem>.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>Use a shortcut key</para>
<para>The default shortcut key to display the <guilabel>Run Program</guilabel>
dialog is <keycombo><keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F2</keycap></keycombo>. You can change the shortcut
key that displays the <guilabel>Run Program</guilabel> dialog in the <application>
Desktop Preferences</application>. To change the shortcut key, choose <menuchoice>
<guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guisubmenu>Desktop Preferences
</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>Keyboard Shortcuts</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para>
</listitem>
<listitem><para>From a launcher popup menu</para>
<para>Right-click on a launcher in a menu, then choose <guilabel>Put into
run dialog</guilabel> from the popup menu. The <guilabel>Run Program</guilabel>
dialog opens with the command from the menu in the command field.</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist></para>
<para>The <guilabel>Run Program</guilabel> dialog is displayed as follows:
</para>
<screenshot>
<mediaobject>
  <imageobject>
    <imagedata fileref="figures/runprogram_dialog.png" format="PNG"/>
  </imageobject>
  <textobject>
	<phrase>Shows Run Program dialog. Contains applications drop-down combination box, Run in terminal check box. Contains Append File, Help, Close, Run buttons. Contains Known Applications button.
</phrase>
  </textobject>
</mediaobject>
</screenshot>
</listitem>
<listitem><para>Choose the command that you want to run from the applications
drop-down combination box.</para>
<para>Alternatively, click on the <guibutton>Known Applications</guibutton>
button to display a list of available applications, as shown in the following
figure:</para>
<screenshot>
<mediaobject>
  <imageobject>
    <imagedata fileref="figures/runprogram2_dialog.png" format="PNG"/>
  </imageobject>
  <textobject>
	<phrase>Shows Run Program dialog, with advanced options. Contains applications drop-down combination box, Run in terminal check box. Contains Append File, Help, Close, Run buttons. Contains expanded Known Applications list.
</phrase>
  </textobject>
</mediaobject>
</screenshot>
<para>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,
then choose the command to run.</para>
<para>You can also use the <guibutton>Append File</guibutton> button to choose
a file to append to the command line. For example, you can enter <application>
emacs</application> as the command, then choose a file to edit.</para>
<para>Select the <guilabel>Run in terminal</guilabel> 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.</para></listitem>
<listitem><para>Click on the <guibutton>Run</guibutton> button on the <guilabel>
Run Program</guilabel> dialog. </para></listitem>
</orderedlist>
</sect2>
</sect1>
<sect1 id="goseditmainmenu-7">
<title>GNOME Menu</title>
<indexterm><primary>menus</primary><secondary>GNOME Menu</secondary><see>
GNOME Menu</see></indexterm><indexterm><primary>GNOME Menu</primary><secondary>
introduction</secondary></indexterm>
<screenshot>
<mediaobject>
  <imageobject>
    <imagedata fileref="figures/open_main_menu.png" format="PNG"/>
  </imageobject>
  <textobject>
	<phrase>Shows open GNOME Menu. Menu items: Programs, Favorites, Applets, Run, Panel, Lock Screen, Log Out.
</phrase>
  </textobject>
</mediaobject>
</screenshot>
<para>You can access almost all of the standard applications, commands, and
configuration options on your desktop from the <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu>. 
</para>
<para>The <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu> provides the following top-level menus
and special menu items: </para>
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><guimenu>Applications</guimenu>: Contains all applications
and preference tools. This menu also includes the file manager and help browser.
</para></listitem>
<listitem><para><guimenu>Actions</guimenu>: Contains desktop commands the <guimenuitem>
Lock screen</guimenuitem> and <guimenuitem>Log out</guimenuitem> menu items.
By default, the items in the <guimenu>Desktop</guimenu> menu are at the top
level of the <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu>. </para></listitem>
<listitem><para><guimenuitem>Run</guimenuitem> launcher: Displays the <guilabel>
Run Program</guilabel> dialog. </para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
<para>You can add <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu> buttons to your panels. By
default, the <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu> is represented on panels by a stylized
footprint icon, as follows:</para>
<screenshot>
<mediaobject>
  <imageobject>
    <imagedata fileref="figures/footprint_icon.png" format="PNG"/>
  </imageobject>
  <textobject>
	<phrase>Shows GNOME Menu icon.</phrase>
  </textobject>
</mediaobject>
</screenshot>
<sect2 id="goseditmainmenu-15">
<title>To Open the GNOME Menu</title>
<indexterm><primary>GNOME Menu</primary><secondary>opening</secondary></indexterm>
<para>You can open the <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu> in the following ways: 
</para>
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para>From a panel with a <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu></para>
<para>Click on the <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu>. </para></listitem>
<listitem><para>Use a shortcut key</para>
<para>You can use a shortcut key to open the <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu>.
When you use a shortcut key to open the <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu>, the <guimenu>
GNOME Menu</guimenu> appears at the mouse pointer. </para>
<para>The default shortcut key to open the <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu> is <keycombo><keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F1</keycap></keycombo>. To change the shortcut key that opens
the <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu>, choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Applications
</guimenu><guisubmenu>Desktop Preferences</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>
Keyboard Shortcuts</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</sect2>
<sect2 id="goseditmainmenu-29">
<title>To Add a GNOME Menu to a Panel</title>
<indexterm><primary>GNOME Menu</primary><secondary>adding to panel</secondary>
</indexterm><para>You can add as many <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu> buttons
as you want to your panels. To add a <guimenu>GNOME Menu</guimenu> to a panel,
right-click on any vacant space on the panel to open the panel popup menu.
Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Add to panel</guimenu><guimenuitem>GNOME
Menu</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para>
</sect2>
</sect1>
</chapter>