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 GNOME 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 environment functions through menus. The
panels 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.</para>
    <para>You can access the following menus in your desktop environment:</para>
    <itemizedlist>
      <listitem>
        <para><guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu: You can access many
of your applications, commands, and configuration options from the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu. You can also access the desktop environment preference
tools from the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu.</para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para><guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu: You can access various commands
that enable you to perform desktop environment tasks from the <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu. For example, you can start the <application>Search Tool</application>
application, or log out of the desktop environment. </para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para><guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>: You can access the items in
the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> and <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menus from
the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>. You can have many <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>
buttons in your panels. </para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para><application>Menu Bar</application>: You can also access the
items in the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> and <guimenu>Actions</guimenu>
menus from the <application>Menu Bar</application>. You can have many <application>Menu Bar</application> objects in your panels. </para>
      </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
    <para>You can also right-click on the desktop to open the <guimenu>Desktop</guimenu> menu. The <guimenu>Desktop</guimenu> menu enables you to perform
desktop-related tasks. </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 or menu items</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, use the <application>Theme</application> preference
tool.</para>
    <sect2 id="goseditmainmenu-11">
      <title>Menu Item Popup Menu</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>menus</primary>
        <secondary>menu item popup menu</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>menu item popup menu</primary>
        <secondary>description</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>Items 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. </para>
      <para>You can use the menu item popup menu to perform the following tasks: </para>
      <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>Add menu items as launchers to panels. </para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Remove items from menus.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Open the <guilabel>Run Application</guilabel> dialog with
the menu item 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 menu items.</para>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
      <para><xref linkend="goseditmainmenu-FIG-39"/> shows the popup menu.</para>
      <figure id="goseditmainmenu-FIG-39">
        <title>Menu Item Popup Menu<indexterm><primary>menu item popup menu</primary><secondary>illustration</secondary></indexterm></title>
        <screenshot>
          <mediaobject>
            <imageobject>
              <imagedata fileref="figures/launcher_popup.png" format="PNG"/>
            </imageobject>
            <textobject>
              <phrase>Menu item popup menu. The context describes the graphic.</phrase>
            </textobject>
          </mediaobject>
        </screenshot>
      </figure>
      <para><xref linkend="goseditmainmenu-TBL-30"/> describes menu item popup menus. <indexterm><primary>launchers</primary><secondary>adding to panel</secondary></indexterm></para>
      <table frame="topbot" id="goseditmainmenu-TBL-30">
        <title>Menu Item 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 colname="colspec0">
                <para>
                  <guimenuitem>Remove this item</guimenuitem>
                </para>
              </entry>
              <entry colname="colspec1">
                <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 Application</guilabel>
dialog with  the command from the <guilabel>Command</guilabel> field of the
launcher in  the command field on the <guilabel>Run Application</guilabel>
dialog. </para>
              </entry>
            </row>
            <row>
              <entry colname="colspec0">
                <para>
                  <guimenuitem>Help on <replaceable>application-name</replaceable></guimenuitem>
                </para>
              </entry>
              <entry colname="colspec1">
                <para>Opens the online help for the application.</para>
              </entry>
            </row>
            <row>
              <entry colname="colspec0">
                <para>
                  <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem>
                </para>
              </entry>
              <entry colname="colspec1">
                <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">
                <para>
                  <menuchoice>
                    <guimenu>Entire menu</guimenu>
                    <guimenuitem>Add new item to this menu</guimenuitem>
                  </menuchoice>
                </para>
              </entry>
              <entry colname="colspec1">
                <para>Enables you to add an item to the submenu.</para>
              </entry>
            </row>
            <row>
              <entry colname="colspec0">
                <para>
                  <menuchoice>
                    <guimenu>Entire menu</guimenu>
                    <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem>
                  </menuchoice>
                </para>
              </entry>
              <entry colname="colspec1">
                <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 menu</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 contains the <guimenu>Desktop Preferences</guimenu> menu. You can use the <guimenu>Desktop Preferences</guimenu> menu to start the desktop environment 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>
          <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>
        </para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para>
          <application>Menu Bar</application>
        </para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para><guilabel>Start Here</guilabel> location in the file manager</para>
      </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
  </sect1>
  <sect1 id="goseditmainmenu-51">
    <title>Actions Menu</title>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>menus</primary>
      <secondary>Actions menu</secondary>
    </indexterm>
    <para>The <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu contains various commands that enable
you to perform desktop environment tasks. <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 colname="colspec0" colwidth="38.48*"/>
        <colspec colname="colspec1" 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 Application</guimenuitem>
              </para>
            </entry>
            <entry valign="top">
              <para>Opens the <guilabel>Run Application</guilabel> dialog.
Use the <guilabel>Run Application</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 colname="colspec0">
              <para>
                <guimenuitem>Open Recent</guimenuitem>
              </para>
            </entry>
            <entry colname="colspec1">
              <para>Displays a submenu of the last ten files which
you saved.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry valign="top">
              <para>
                <guimenuitem>Take Screenshot</guimenuitem>
              </para>
            </entry>
            <entry valign="top">
              <para>Takes a screenshot of the screen, and opens the <guilabel>Save Screenshot</guilabel> dialog. Use the <guilabel>Save Screenshot</guilabel>
dialog to save the screenshot.</para>
            </entry>
          </row>
          <row>
            <entry valign="top">
              <para>
                <guimenuitem>Lock Screen</guimenuitem>
              </para>
            </entry>
            <entry valign="top">
              <para>Locks your screen. </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. </para>
            </entry>
          </row>
        </tbody>
      </tgroup>
    </table>
    <para>The <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu resides in the following places: </para>
    <itemizedlist>
      <listitem>
        <para><guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>. The items in the <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu are at the top level of the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>.</para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para><application>Menu Bar</application>. </para>
      </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
    <sect2 id="gospanel-23">
      <title>Using the Run Application Dialog</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>Run Application dialog, using</primary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>The <guilabel>Run Application</guilabel> dialog gives you access to the command
line. When you run a command in the <guilabel>Run Application</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 Application</guilabel> dialog. You
can display the <guilabel>Run Application</guilabel> dialog in any of the
following ways:<itemizedlist><listitem><para>From any panel</para><para>Add the <guibutton>Run</guibutton> button to a panel. Right-click on
the panel, then choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Add to Panel</guimenu><guisubmenu>Actions</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>Run</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.
Click on the <guibutton>Run</guibutton> button.</para></listitem><listitem><para>From the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu></para><para>Open the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>, then choose <guimenuitem>Run
Application</guimenuitem>.</para></listitem><listitem><para>From the <application>Menu Bar</application></para><para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Actions</guimenu><guimenuitem>Run
Application</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para></listitem><listitem><para>Use shortcut keys</para><para>The default shortcut keys to display the <guilabel>Run Application</guilabel>
dialog are <keycombo><keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F2</keycap></keycombo>. You can change the
shortcut keys that display the <guilabel>Run Application</guilabel> dialog
in the <application>Keyboard Shortcuts</application> preference tool.</para></listitem><listitem><para>From a menu item popup menu</para><para>Right-click on an item in a menu, then choose <guilabel>Put into run
dialog</guilabel> from the popup menu. The <guilabel>Run Application</guilabel>
dialog opens with the command from the menu in the command field.</para></listitem></itemizedlist></para>
          <para>The <guilabel>Run Application</guilabel> dialog is displayed.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <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 beside the command field, then choose the command to run.</para>
          <para>Alternatively, select the <guibutton>Show list of known applications</guibutton> option to display a list of available applications.</para>
          <para>You can also use the <guibutton>Run with 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 Application</guilabel> dialog. </para>
        </listitem>
      </orderedlist>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="goseditmainmenu-53">
      <title>To Take a Screenshot</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>screenshots, taking</primary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>You can
take a screenshot in any of the following ways:</para>
      <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>From the <application>Menu Bar</application></para>
          <para>To take a screenshot of the entire screen, choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Actions</guimenu><guimenuitem>Take Screenshot</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.
A <guilabel>Save Screenshot</guilabel> dialog is displayed. To save the screenshot,
select the <guilabel>Save screenshot to file</guilabel> option. Enter the
path and filename for the screenshot in the drop-down combination box. Alternatively,
to save the screenshot to another directory, click <guibutton>Browse</guibutton>.
When you select a directory, click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>. </para>
          <para>You can also save the screenshot to the desktop. To save the screenshot
to the desktop, select the <guilabel>Save screenshot to desktop</guilabel>
option. </para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>From any panel</para>
          <para>Add the <guibutton>Screenshot</guibutton> button to a panel. Right-click
on the panel, then choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Add to Panel</guimenu><guisubmenu>Actions</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>Screenshot</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. Click on the <guibutton>Screenshot</guibutton> button to take
a screenshot of the entire screen. Use the <guilabel>Save Screenshot</guilabel>
dialog to save the screenshot.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Use shortcut keys</para>
          <para>To take a screenshot, use the following shortcut keys:</para>
          <informaltable frame="topbot">
            <tgroup cols="2" colsep="0" rowsep="0">
              <colspec colname="colspec0" colwidth="35.67*"/>
              <colspec colname="colspec1" colwidth="64.33*"/>
              <thead>
                <row rowsep="1">
                  <entry valign="top">
                    <para>Default Shortcut Keys</para>
                  </entry>
                  <entry valign="top">
                    <para>Function</para>
                  </entry>
                </row>
              </thead>
              <tbody>
                <row>
                  <entry colname="colspec0">
                    <para>
                      <keycap>Print Screen</keycap>
                    </para>
                  </entry>
                  <entry colname="colspec1">
                    <para>Takes a screenshot of the entire screen, and
displays the <guilabel>Save Screenshot</guilabel> dialog. Use the <guilabel>Save Screenshot</guilabel> dialog to save the screenshot.</para>
                  </entry>
                </row>
                <row>
                  <entry colname="colspec0">
                    <para><keycombo><keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>Print
Screen</keycap></keycombo></para>
                  </entry>
                  <entry colname="colspec1">
                    <para>Takes a screenshot
of the window to which the mouse points, and displays the <guilabel>Save Screenshot</guilabel> dialog. Use the <guilabel>Save Screenshot</guilabel> dialog to
save the screenshot.</para>
                  </entry>
                </row>
              </tbody>
            </tgroup>
          </informaltable>
          <para>You can use the <application>Keyboard Shortcuts</application> preference
tool to modify the default shortcut keys.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Use a command</para>
          <para>You can use the <command>gnome-panel-screenshot</command> command to
take a screenshot. The <command>gnome-panel-screenshot</command> command takes
a screenshot of the entire screen, and displays the <guilabel>Save Screenshot</guilabel> dialog. Use the <guilabel>Save Screenshot</guilabel> dialog to
save the screenshot.</para>
          <para>You can also use options on the <command>gnome-panel-screenshot</command>
command as follows: </para>
          <informaltable frame="topbot">
            <tgroup cols="2" colsep="0" rowsep="0">
              <colspec colname="colspec0" colwidth="35.67*"/>
              <colspec colname="colspec1" colwidth="64.33*"/>
              <thead>
                <row rowsep="1">
                  <entry valign="top">
                    <para>Option</para>
                  </entry>
                  <entry valign="top">
                    <para>Function</para>
                  </entry>
                </row>
              </thead>
              <tbody>
                <row>
                  <entry colname="colspec0">
                    <para>
                      <command>--window</command>
                    </para>
                  </entry>
                  <entry colname="colspec1">
                    <para>Takes a screenshot of the window that has
focus, and displays the <guilabel>Save Screenshot</guilabel> dialog. Use the <guilabel>Save Screenshot</guilabel> dialog to save the screenshot.</para>
                  </entry>
                </row>
                <row>
                  <entry colname="colspec0">
                    <para>
                      <command>--delay=<replaceable>seconds</replaceable></command>
                    </para>
                  </entry>
                  <entry colname="colspec1">
                    <para>Takes
a screenshot after the specified number of seconds, and displays the <guilabel>Save Screenshot</guilabel> dialog. Use the <guilabel>Save Screenshot</guilabel>
dialog to save the screenshot.</para>
                  </entry>
                </row>
                <row>
                  <entry colname="colspec0">
                    <para>
                      <command>--help</command>
                    </para>
                  </entry>
                  <entry colname="colspec1">
                    <para>Displays the options for the command.</para>
                  </entry>
                </row>
              </tbody>
            </tgroup>
          </informaltable>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
    </sect2>
  </sect1>
  <sect1 id="goseditmainmenu-7">
    <title>Main Menu</title>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>menus</primary>
      <secondary>Main Menu</secondary>
      <see>Main
Menu</see>
    </indexterm>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>Main Menu</primary>
      <secondary>introduction</secondary>
    </indexterm>
    <screenshot>
      <mediaobject>
        <imageobject>
          <imagedata fileref="figures/open_main_menu.png" format="PNG"/>
        </imageobject>
        <textobject>
          <phrase>Open Main Menu. Menu items: Applications, Run Application, Search for Files, Open Recent, Take Screenshot, Lock Screen, Log Out.</phrase>
        </textobject>
      </mediaobject>
    </screenshot>
    <para>The <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> provides access to the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu and the many of the items in the <guimenu>Actions</guimenu>
menu. You can access almost all of the standard applications, commands, and
configuration options from the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>. </para>
    <para>You can add <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> buttons to your panels. By
default, the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> is represented on panels by a stylized
footprint icon, as illustrated in the graphic above.</para>
    <sect2 id="goseditmainmenu-15">
      <title>To Open the Main Menu</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>Main Menu</primary>
        <secondary>opening</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>You can open the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> in the following ways: </para>
      <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>From a panel with a <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu></para>
          <para>Click on the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>. </para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Use shortcut keys</para>
          <para>You can use shortcut keys to open the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>.
When you use shortcut keys to open the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>, the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> appears at the mouse pointer. </para>
          <para>The default shortcut keys to open the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> are <keycombo><keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F1</keycap></keycombo>. To change the shortcut keys that open
the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>, use the <application>Keyboard Shortcuts</application> preference tool.</para>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="goseditmainmenu-29">
      <title>To Add a Main Menu to a Panel</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>Main Menu</primary>
        <secondary>adding to panel</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>You can add as many <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> buttons
as you want to your panels. To add a <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> to a panel,
right-click on any vacant space on the panel. Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Add to Panel</guimenu><guimenuitem>Main Menu</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para>
    </sect2>
  </sect1>
  <sect1 id="goseditmainmenu-65">
    <title>Menu Bar</title>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>menus</primary>
      <secondary>Menu Bar</secondary>
      <see>Menu
Bar</see>
    </indexterm>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>Menu Bar</primary>
      <secondary>introduction</secondary>
    </indexterm>
    <screenshot>
      <mediaobject>
        <imageobject>
          <imagedata fileref="figures/menu_bar_applet.png" format="PNG"/>
        </imageobject>
        <textobject>
          <phrase>Menu Bar applet. Menus: Applications, Actions.</phrase>
        </textobject>
      </mediaobject>
    </screenshot>
    <para>The <application>Menu Bar</application> provides access to the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> and <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menus. You can access
almost all of the standard applications, commands, and configuration options
from the <application>Menu Bar</application>. </para>
    <sect2 id="goseditmainmenu-66">
      <title>To Add a Menu Bar to a Panel</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>Menu Bar</primary>
        <secondary>adding to panel</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>You can add as many <application>Menu Bar</application>
applets as you want to your panels. To add a <application>Menu Bar</application>
to a panel, right-click on any vacant space on the panel. Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Add to Panel</guimenu><guimenuitem>Menu Bar</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para>
    </sect2>
  </sect1>
  <sect1 id="goseditmainmenu-54">
    <title>Customizing Your Menus</title>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>menus</primary>
      <secondary>customizing</secondary>
    </indexterm>
    <para>You can modify the contents of the following menus:</para>
    <itemizedlist>
      <listitem>
        <para><guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu</para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para><guimenu>Desktop Preferences</guimenu> menu</para>
      </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
    <para>You use the following desktop environment components to customize menus:</para>
    <itemizedlist>
      <listitem>
        <para>Menus on panels</para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para><application>Nautilus</application> file manager</para>
      </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
    <para>When you use panels to customize your menus, you use the menu item popup
menu. For more information, see <xref linkend="goseditmainmenu-11"/>.</para>
    <para>When you use the file manager to customize your menus, you must access
the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu or the <guimenu>Desktop Preferences</guimenu> menu from within the file manager. To access the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu or the <guimenu>Desktop Preferences</guimenu> menu, open a
file manager window. Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Go</guimenu><guimenuitem>Start Here</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. Double-click on the <guilabel>Applications</guilabel> object or on the <guilabel>Desktop Preferences</guilabel> object.
For more information on the file manager, see <citetitle>Nautilus File Manager</citetitle>.</para>
    <sect2 id="goseditmainmenu-61">
      <title>To Add a Menu</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>menus</primary>
        <secondary>adding</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>To add a menu, perform the following steps:</para>
      <orderedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>In a file manager window, access the location where you want
to add the menu. For example, to add a menu to the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu>
menu, choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Go</guimenu><guimenuitem>Start Here</guimenuitem></menuchoice>, then double-click on the <guilabel>Applications</guilabel> object.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>New Folder</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. An untitled folder is added to the
view pane. The name of the folder is selected.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Type a name for the folder, then press <keycap>Return</keycap>. </para>
        </listitem>
      </orderedlist>
      <para>The next time that you log out then log in again, the menu is in the
assigned location.</para>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="goseditmainmenu-55">
      <title>To Add a Launcher to a Menu</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>menus</primary>
        <secondary>adding launchers to</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>To add a launcher to a menu, perform the following steps:</para>
      <orderedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>Right-click on any item in the menu to which you want to add
the launcher.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Entire menu</guimenu><guimenuitem>Add new item to this menu</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. A <guilabel>Create Launcher</guilabel> dialog is displayed.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Enter the properties of the launcher in the <guilabel>Create
Launcher</guilabel> dialog. For more information on the elements in the <guilabel>Create Launcher</guilabel> dialog, see <emphasis>Working With Panels</emphasis>.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>.</para>
        </listitem>
      </orderedlist>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="goseditmainmenu-63">
      <title>To Add a Launcher to an Empty Menu</title>
      <para>To add a launcher to an empty menu, perform the following steps:</para>
      <orderedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>Open a file manager window, then choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Go</guimenu><guimenuitem>Start Here</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. Alternatively,
double-click on the <guilabel>Start Here</guilabel> object on the desktop.
The <guilabel>Start Here</guilabel> location is displayed. </para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>In the file manager window, double-click on the object that
represents the menu to which you want to add the launcher. </para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>New Launcher</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. A <guilabel>Create Launcher</guilabel>
dialog is displayed.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Enter the properties of the launcher in the <guilabel>Create
Launcher</guilabel> dialog. For more information on the elements in the <guilabel>Create Launcher</guilabel> dialog, see <emphasis>Working With Panels</emphasis>.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>.</para>
        </listitem>
      </orderedlist>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="goseditmainmenu-56">
      <title>To Copy a Launcher to a Menu</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>menus</primary>
        <secondary>copying launchers to</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>To copy an existing launcher to a menu, perform the following
steps:</para>
      <orderedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>In a file manager window, access the location from which you
want to copy the launcher. For example, to copy a launcher from the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu, choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Go</guimenu><guimenuitem>Start Here</guimenuitem></menuchoice>, then double-click on the <guilabel>Applications</guilabel> object.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Select the launcher that you want to copy, then choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Edit</guimenu><guimenuitem>Copy File</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>In a file manager  window, access the location to which you
want to copy the launcher.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Edit</guimenu><guimenuitem>Paste Files</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. The launcher is added to the new location.</para>
        </listitem>
      </orderedlist>
      <para>Alternatively, you can drag the launcher from one location to another.</para>
      <para>The next time that you log out then log in again, the launcher is in
the new menu location.</para>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="goseditmainmenu-62">
      <title>To Edit the Properties of a Menu</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>menus</primary>
        <secondary>editing properties</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>To edit the properties of a menu, perform the following
steps:</para>
      <orderedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>Right-click on any item in the menu that you want to edit.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Entire menu</guimenu><guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. A <guilabel>Launcher Properties</guilabel> dialog is displayed.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Modify the properties of the menu in the <guilabel>Launcher
Properties</guilabel> dialog. For more information on the elements in the <guilabel>Launcher Properties</guilabel> dialog, see <emphasis>Working With Panels</emphasis>.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>.</para>
        </listitem>
      </orderedlist>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="goseditmainmenu-57">
      <title>To Edit a Menu Item</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>menus</primary>
        <secondary>editing menu items</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>To edit a menu item, perform the following steps:</para>
      <orderedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>Right-click on the item that you want to edit.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Choose <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem>. A <guilabel>Launcher Properties</guilabel> dialog is displayed.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Modify the properties of the launcher in the <guilabel>Launcher
Properties</guilabel> dialog. For more information on the elements in the <guilabel>Launcher Properties</guilabel> dialog, see <emphasis>Working With Panels</emphasis>.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Click <guibutton>OK</guibutton>.</para>
        </listitem>
      </orderedlist>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="goseditmainmenu-58">
      <title>To Delete an Item from a Menu</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>menus</primary>
        <secondary>deleting menu items</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>To delete an item from a menu, use the menu item popup menu.
To delete an item from a menu, perform the following steps:</para>
      <orderedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>Right-click on the item that you want to delete.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Choose <guimenuitem>Remove this item</guimenuitem>. </para>
        </listitem>
      </orderedlist>
    </sect2>
  </sect1>
</chapter>