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

<chapter id="gosoverview-1"><!-- -*- indent-tabs-mode: nil -*- -->
  <title>Overview of the GNOME Desktop</title>
  <highlights>
    <para>This chapter introduces you to the features and main components
of the GNOME Desktop. Before you start to use the GNOME Desktop read this
chapter to familiarize yourself with the various features, and how the main
components work. The GNOME Desktop is very configurable, so this chapter describes
the typical default configuration, covering the following topics.</para>
  </highlights>
  <sect1 id="gosoverview-5">
    <title>Introducing GNOME Desktop Components</title>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>GNOME Desktop components, introducing</primary>
    </indexterm>
    <para>When you start a GNOME Desktop session for the first time,
    you should see a default startup screen, with panels, windows, and
    various icons.</para>
    <para>The major components of the GNOME Desktop are as follows:</para>
    <variablelist>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Panels</term>
        <listitem>
          <para>Panels are areas in the GNOME Desktop from which you
          can access all of your system applications and menus. Panels are very
          configurable.</para>
          <para>A particularly important panel is the top edge panel. The top
          edge panel includes the <application>Menu Bar</application>. The
          <application>Menu Bar</application> contains two special menus, as
          follows:</para>
          <itemizedlist>
            <listitem><para><guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu: Contains all
            applications and configuration tools. This menu also includes the
            file browser and the help browser.</para></listitem>
            <listitem><para><guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu: Contains various
            commands that perform various functions, for example
            <guimenuitem>Search for Files</guimenuitem> and <guimenuitem>Log
            Out</guimenuitem>.</para></listitem>
          </itemizedlist>
          <para>Click on the <guibutton>Window Selector</guibutton> icon at the
          extreme right of the top edge panel to display a list of all open
          windows.</para>
        </listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Menus</term>
        <listitem>
          <para>You can access all GNOME Desktop functions through menus. You
          can use the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu to access almost all
          of the standard applications, commands, and configuration options.
          You can access the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu from the
          <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> and from the <application>Menu
          Bar</application> applet.  You can add the <guimenu>Main
          Menu</guimenu> and the <application>Menu Bar</application>
          applet to your panels.</para>
          <para>The <application>Menu Bar</application> applet contains an
          <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu.  The <guimenu>Actions</guimenu>
          menu contains commands that perform various functions, for example
          <guimenuitem>Search for Files</guimenuitem> and <guimenuitem>Log
          Out</guimenuitem>.  The items in the <guimenu>Actions</guimenu>
          menu are at the top level of the
          <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu>.</para>
        </listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Windows</term>
        <listitem><para>You can display many windows at the same time.  You
        can run different applications in each window. The window manager
        provides frames and buttons for windows. The window manager enables
        you to perform standard actions such as move, close, and resize
        windows.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Workspaces</term>
        <listitem><para>You can subdivide the GNOME Desktop into separate
        <firstterm>workspaces</firstterm>. A workspace is a discrete area
        in which you can work. You can specify the number of workspaces
        in the GNOME Desktop. You can switch to a different workspace,
        but you can only display one workspace at a time.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term><application>Nautilus</application> file manager</term>
        <listitem>
          <para>The <application>Nautilus</application> file manager
          provides an integrated access point to your files and
          applications.  You can manage the contents of folders in
          the file manager and open the files in the appropriate
          applications.</para>
        </listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Desktop</term>
        <listitem>
          <para>The desktop is behind all of the other components on the
          desktop.  The desktop is an active component of the user interface.
          You can place objects on the desktop to access your files and
          directories quickly, or to start applications that you use often.
          You can also right-click on the desktop to open a menu.</para>
        </listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Preferences</term>
        <listitem><para>The GNOME Desktop contains dedicated
        <firstterm>preference tools</firstterm>. Each tool controls
        a particular part of the behavior of the GNOME Desktop.  To
        start a preference tool, choose <menuchoice>
        <guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guimenuitem>Desktop
        Preferences</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. Choose the item
        that you want to configure from the submenus.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
    </variablelist>
    <para>The components of the GNOME Desktop are interoperable. Usually, you
    can perform the same action in several different ways. For example, you can
    start applications from panels, from menus, or from the desktop.</para>
    <para>Your system administrator can make configuration changes to suit your
    needs, so that the GNOME Desktop that you use might not be exactly the same
    as described in this chapter. Nevertheless, this chapter provides a useful
    quick guide to how to work with the GNOME Desktop.</para>
  </sect1>
  <sect1 id="gosoverview-502">
    <title>Panels</title>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>panels</primary>
      <secondary>overview</secondary>
    </indexterm>
    <para>You can add or delete panels at any time. When you start a session for
the first time, the GNOME Desktop contains at least one panel. </para>
    <para>You can perform the following actions with panels:</para>
    <itemizedlist>
      <listitem>
        <para>Create panels.</para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para>Delete panels.</para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para>Hide panels.</para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para>Add objects to panels.</para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para>Manipulate panel objects.</para>
      </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
    <sect2 id="gosoverview-26">
      <title>To Create Panels</title>
      <para>To add a panel, right-click on a vacant space on any panel, then choose <guimenuitem>New Panel</guimenuitem>. The new panel is added to the GNOME Desktop. The
new panel contains no objects. You can customize the new panel to suit your
preferences. You can add objects to the panel to fit your own requirements.
You can also change the background of the panel. You can create as many panels
as you want.</para>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="gosoverview-508">
      <title>To Delete Panels</title>
      <para>To delete a panel, right-click on the panel then choose <guimenuitem>Delete This Panel</guimenuitem>.</para>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="gosoverview-24">
      <title>To Hide Panels</title>
      <para>Panels can have hide buttons at each end of the panel. You click on
the hide buttons to hide or show the panel.</para>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="gosoverview-4">
      <title>To Add Objects to Panels</title>
      <para>A panel can hold several types of objects. The panel in <xref linkend="gosoverview-FIG-28"/>
contains each type of panel object. </para>
      <figure id="gosoverview-FIG-28">
        <title>A Panel With Various Panel Objects</title>
        <screenshot>
          <mediaobject>
            <imageobject>
              <imagedata fileref="figures/sample_anno_panel.png" format="PNG"/>
            </imageobject>
            <textobject>
              <phrase>A panel with various panel objects. Callouts: Calculator launcher, Menu, CD Player applet, Drawer, Lock button.</phrase>
            </textobject>
          </mediaobject>
        </screenshot>
      </figure>
      <para>You can add any of the following objects to all types of panels:</para>
      <variablelist>
        <varlistentry>
          <indexterm>
            <primary>applets</primary>
            <secondary>overview</secondary>
          </indexterm>
          <term>Applets</term>
          <listitem>
            <para><firstterm>Applets</firstterm> are small, interactive
            applications that reside within a panel, for example <application>CD
            Player</application> in <xref linkend="gosoverview-FIG-28"/>.
            Each applet has a simple user interface that you can operate with
            the mouse or keyboard. The following applets appear in your panels
            by default:</para>

            <itemizedlist>
              <listitem><para><application>Menu Bar</application>: Provides
              access to the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu and the
              <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu. You can use the menus
              to access your applications, preference tools, and other
              tasks.</para></listitem>

              <listitem><para><application>Clock</application>: Displays the time.
              You can also configure <application>Clock</application> to display
              the date.</para></listitem>

              <listitem><para><application>Window Selector</application>: Lists
              all your open windows. To give focus to a window, click on the
              window selector icon at the extreme right of the top edge panel,
              then choose the window.</para></listitem>

              <listitem><para><application>Window List</application>: Displays
              a button for each window that is open. You can click on a window
              list button to minimize and restore windows. By default,
              <application>Window List</application> appears in the edge panel
              at the bottom of the screen.</para></listitem>

              <listitem><para><application>Workspace Switcher</application>:
              Displays a visual representation of your workspaces. You can use
              <application>Workspace Switcher</application> to switch between
              workspaces. By default, <application>Workspace
              Switcher</application> appears in the edge panel
              at the bottom of the screen.</para></listitem>
            </itemizedlist>

            <para>To add an applet to a panel, right-click on a vacant space
            on the panel, then choose <guimenuitem>Add to Panel</guimenuitem>.
            Choose the applet from the <application>Add to the panel</application>
            dialog.</para>
          </listitem>
        </varlistentry>
        <varlistentry>
          <term>Launchers</term>
          <listitem>
            <para>A <firstterm>launcher</firstterm> starts a particular
            application, executes a command, or opens a file. The calculator
            icon in <xref linkend="gosoverview-FIG-28"/> is a launcher for
            the <application>Calculator</application> application.  A launcher
            can reside in a panel or in a menu. Click on the launcher to perform
            the action that is associated with the launcher.</para>

            <para>You can create your own launchers for applications.  For
            example, you can create a launcher for a word processor application
            that you use frequently, and place the launcher in a panel for
            convenient access. To add a new launcher to a panel, right-click
            on a vacant space on the panel, then choose <menuchoice>
            <guimenu>Add to Panel</guimenu><guimenuitem>Launcher</guimenuitem>
            </menuchoice>.</para>

            <para>Alternatively, to add a launcher from a menu, right-click
            on a vacant space on the panel, then choose <guimenuitem>Add
            to Panel</guimenuitem>.  Select <guilabel>Application
            Launcher</guilabel> in the <application>Add to the
            panel</application> dialog and click <guibutton>Forward</guibutton>.
            On the following screen, select the application launcher to add
            and click <guibutton>Add</guibutton>.</para></listitem>
        </varlistentry>
        <varlistentry>
          <term>Action buttons</term>
          <listitem>
            <para>You can add buttons to your panels to provide quick access
            to common actions.  You can add the following buttons to your
            panels:</para>
            <itemizedlist>
              <listitem><para><guibutton>Force Quit</guibutton>: Use this
              button to terminate applications that do not respond to your
              commands.</para></listitem>

              <listitem><para><guibutton>Lock</guibutton>: Click on this button
              to lock your screen.  The lock icon in <xref
              linkend="gosoverview-FIG-28"/> is the <guibutton>Lock</guibutton>
              button.</para></listitem>

              <listitem><para><guibutton>Log Out</guibutton>: Click on this
              button to end your session</para></listitem>

              <listitem><para><guibutton>Run</guibutton>: Click on this button
              to open the <guilabel>Run Application</guilabel> dialog, from
              which you can run commands.</para></listitem>

              <listitem><para><guibutton>Screenshot</guibutton>: Click on this
              button to take a screenshot of the screen.</para></listitem>

              <listitem><para><guibutton>Search</guibutton>: Click on this
              button to start the <application>Search Tool</application>
              application, from which you can search for files.</para></listitem>

              <listitem><para><guibutton>Show Desktop</guibutton>: Click
              on this button to minimize all windows and show the
              desktop.</para></listitem>
            </itemizedlist>
          </listitem>
        </varlistentry>
        <varlistentry>
          <term>Menus</term>
          <listitem>
            <para>You can access all GNOME Desktop functions through menus.
            To open a menu from a panel, click on the icon that represents
            the menu. To open a menu from the <application>Menu
            Bar</application>, click on the text that represents
            the menu.</para>

            <para>Menus that you add to your panels are represented by an
            icon with an arrow. The arrow indicates that the icon represents
            a menu. For example, see the menu icon in <xref
            linkend="gosoverview-FIG-28"/>.</para>

            <para>You can add the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> to any of your
            panels. To add the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> to a panel,
            right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose
            <guimenuitem>Add to Panel</guimenuitem>.  In the
            <application>Add to the panel</application> dialog,
            select <guilabel>Main Menu</guilabel> and click
            <guibutton>Add</guibutton>.</para>

            <para>You can also add the <application>Menu Bar</application>
            to any of your panels. To add the <application>Menu Bar</application>
            to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose
            <guimenuitem>Add to Panel</guimenuitem>.  In the
            <application>Add to the panel</application> dialog,
            select <guilabel>Menu Bar</guilabel> and click
            <guibutton>Add</guibutton>.</para>
          </listitem>
        </varlistentry>
        <varlistentry>
          <term>Drawers</term>
          <listitem>
            <para><firstterm>Drawers</firstterm> are sliding extensions to
            a panel that you can open or close from a drawer icon, as shown
            in <xref linkend="gosoverview-FIG-28"/>.  Drawers can help you to
            organize your work when you run a lot of applications
            simultaneously.  You can place all the same functional elements
            in a drawer that you can put in any other type of panel.</para>

            <para>To add a drawer to a panel, right-click on a vacant space
            on the panel, then choose <guimenuitem>Add to Panel</guimenuitem>.
            In the <application>Add to the panel</application> dialog,
            select <guilabel>Drawer</guilabel> and click
            <guibutton>Add</guibutton>.</para>

            <para>To open a drawer click on the drawer. To close a drawer
            click on the drawer again.</para>
          </listitem>
        </varlistentry>
      </variablelist>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="gosoverview-21">
      <title>To Manipulate Panel Objects</title>
      <para>You can manipulate panel objects in the following ways:</para>
      <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>Move objects within a panel, or to another panel.</para>
          <para>You can move any object to another location in the panel. You can also
move an object from one panel to another panel. Use the middle mouse button
to drag the panel object to the new location.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Copy menu items to a panel.</para>
          <para>Drag the item from the menu to the panel. Alternatively, if the menu
item is a launcher right-click on the menu item, then choose <guimenuitem>Add this launcher to panel</guimenuitem>.</para>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
    </sect2>
  </sect1>
  <sect1 id="gosoverview-42">
    <title>Menus</title>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>menus</primary>
      <secondary>overview</secondary>
    </indexterm>
    <para>You can access all GNOME Desktop functions through menus. You can
    access your menus from the following GNOME Desktop components:</para>
    <variablelist>
      <varlistentry>
        <term><application>Main Menu</application></term>
        <listitem>
          <para>The <application>Main Menu</application> contains the
          <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu, and various other functions.
          You can use the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu to access
          almost all of the standard applications, commands, and configuration
          options.</para>
          <para>To add the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> to a panel, right-click
          on a vacant space on the panel, then choose <guimenuitem>Add to
          Panel</guimenuitem>.  In the <application>Add to the
          panel</application> dialog, select <guilabel>Main Menu</guilabel>
          and click <guibutton>Add</guibutton>.</para>
        </listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term><application>Menu Bar</application></term>
        <listitem>
          <para>The <application>Menu Bar</application> contains
          <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> and <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menus.
          You can use the <guimenu>Applications</guimenu> menu and the
          <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu to access almost all of the standard
          applications, commands, and configuration options.</para>
          <para>To add the <guimenu>Main Menu</guimenu> to a panel, right-click
          on a vacant space on the panel, then choose <guimenuitem>Add to
          Panel</guimenuitem>.  In the <application>Add to the
          panel</application> dialog, select <guilabel>Menu Bar</guilabel>
          and click <guibutton>Add</guibutton>.</para>
        </listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Panels</term>
        <listitem>
          <para>You can add as many additional menus as you want to any of your
          panels.  To open a menu that you add to a panel, click on the menu
          icon on the panel.  You can perform other actions on your menus,
          such as copy menu items to panels.</para>
        </listitem>
      </varlistentry>
    </variablelist>
  </sect1>

  <sect1 id="gosoverview-18">
    <title>Windows</title>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>windows</primary>
      <secondary>overview</secondary>
    </indexterm>
    <para>You can display many windows at the same time in the GNOME Desktop.
    Each window has a frame. The window frame contains active control elements
    that you can use to work with the window.</para>

    <sect2 id="gosoverview-16">
      <title>Types of Windows</title>
      <para>The GNOME Desktop features the following types of window:</para>
      <variablelist>
        <varlistentry>
          <term>Application windows</term>
          <listitem>
            <para>When you run an application, a frame usually borders the
            window.  The top edge of the application window contains a titlebar.
            The titlebar contains buttons that you can use to work with the
            window.  The buttons in an application window frame enable you to
            perform actions such as open the <guimenu>Window Menu</guimenu>,
            or close the window. The <guimenu>Window Menu</guimenu> provides
            commands that you can perform on the window.</para>
          </listitem>
        </varlistentry>
        <varlistentry>
          <term>Dialog windows</term>
          <listitem>
            <para>Dialog windows are associated with interactive processes.
            A dialog window consists of the window frame, and a single
            interactive pane that provides information and controls for the
            user. This manual refers to the interactive part of a dialog
            window as a dialog. The frame of a dialog window contains buttons
            that enable you to open the <guimenu>Window Menu</guimenu>, or to
            close the dialog window.</para>
          </listitem>
        </varlistentry>
      </variablelist>
    </sect2>

    <sect2 id="gosoverview-32">
      <title>To Manipulate Windows</title>
      <para>You use the frame of an application window or dialog window to perform
various actions with the window. Most of the control elements are located
on the top edge of the window frame. <xref linkend="gosoverview-FIG-33"/> shows
the top edge of a frame for a typical application window.</para>
      <figure id="gosoverview-FIG-33">
        <title>Top Edge of Frame for a Typical Application Window</title>
        <screenshot>
          <mediaobject>
            <imageobject>
              <imagedata fileref="figures/titlebar_anno_window.png" format="PNG"/>
            </imageobject>
            <textobject>
              <phrase>Top edge of application window frame. Callouts: Window Menu button, Titlebar, Minimize, Maximize, Close Window buttons.</phrase>
            </textobject>
          </mediaobject>
        </screenshot>
      </figure>
      <para>The active control elements of the window frame are as follows: </para>
      <informaltable frame="topbot">
        <tgroup cols="2" colsep="0" rowsep="0">
          <colspec colname="colspec0" colwidth="41.65*"/>
          <colspec colname="colspec1" colwidth="58.35*"/>
          <thead>
            <row rowsep="1">
              <entry valign="top">
                <para>Control Element</para>
              </entry>
              <entry valign="top">
                <para>Description </para>
              </entry>
            </row>
          </thead>
          <tbody>
            <row>
              <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
                <para><guibutton>Window Menu</guibutton>
button</para>
              </entry>
              <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
                <para>Click on
the <guibutton>Window Menu</guibutton> button to open the <guimenu>Window
Menu</guimenu>. </para>
              </entry>
            </row>
            <row>
              <entry valign="top">
                <para>Titlebar</para>
              </entry>
              <entry valign="top">
                <para>You can use the titlebar to move and shade the window. </para>
              </entry>
            </row>
            <row>
              <entry valign="top">
                <para><guibutton>Minimize</guibutton> button</para>
              </entry>
              <entry valign="top">
                <para>Click on the <guibutton>Minimize</guibutton> button
to minimize the window. </para>
              </entry>
            </row>
            <row>
              <entry valign="top">
                <para><guibutton>Maximize</guibutton> button</para>
              </entry>
              <entry valign="top">
                <para>You can use the <guibutton>Maximize</guibutton>
button to maximize and restore the window.</para>
                <para>To maximize a window
click on the <guibutton>Maximize</guibutton> button. To restore the window
click on the <guibutton>Maximize</guibutton> button again. </para>
              </entry>
            </row>
            <row>
              <entry valign="top">
                <para><guibutton>Close Window</guibutton> button</para>
              </entry>
              <entry valign="top">
                <para>Click on the <guibutton>Close Window</guibutton> button to close the window. </para>
              </entry>
            </row>
            <row>
              <entry colname="colspec0">
                <para>Border</para>
              </entry>
              <entry colname="colspec1">
                <para>Right-click on the border to open the <guimenu>Window Menu</guimenu>.</para>
              </entry>
            </row>
          </tbody>
        </tgroup>
      </informaltable>
      <para>To change the size of windows grab the border of the window, but not
the titlebar. Drag the border until the window is the size that you require.</para>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="gosoverview-20">
      <title>To Give Focus to a Window</title>
      <para>A window that has focus can receive input from the mouse and the keyboard.
Only one window can have focus at a time. The window that has focus has a
different appearance than other windows. </para>
      <para>You can use the following elements to give focus to a window:</para>
      <informaltable frame="topbot">
        <tgroup cols="2" colsep="0" rowsep="0">
          <colspec colname="colspec0" colwidth="33.62*"/>
          <colspec colname="colspec1" colwidth="66.38*"/>
          <thead>
            <row rowsep="1">
              <entry valign="top">
                <para>Element</para>
              </entry>
              <entry valign="top">
                <para>Action</para>
              </entry>
            </row>
          </thead>
          <tbody>
            <row>
              <entry valign="top">
                <para>Mouse</para>
              </entry>
              <entry valign="top">
                <para>Click on the window, if the window is visible. </para>
              </entry>
            </row>
            <row>
              <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
                <para>Shortcut keys</para>
              </entry>
              <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
                <para>Use shortcut keys to switch between
the windows that are open. To give focus to a window, release the keys. The
default shortcut keys to switch between windows are <keycombo><keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>Tab</keycap></keycombo>. </para>
              </entry>
            </row>
            <row>
              <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
                <para>
                  <application>Window List</application>
                </para>
              </entry>
              <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
                <para>Click on the button that represents the window in <application>Window List</application>. </para>
              </entry>
            </row>
            <row>
              <entry colname="colspec0">
                <para>
                  <application>Window Selector</application>
                </para>
              </entry>
              <entry colname="colspec1">
                <para>Click on the Window Selector icon, then select
the window that you want to give focus to from the list.</para>
              </entry>
            </row>
            <row>
              <entry colname="colspec0" valign="top">
                <para>
                  <application>Workspace Switcher</application>
                </para>
              </entry>
              <entry colname="colspec1" valign="top">
                <para>Click on the window that you want to give focus to in the <application>Workspace
Switcher</application> display.</para>
              </entry>
            </row>
          </tbody>
        </tgroup>
      </informaltable>
    </sect2>
  </sect1>
  <sect1 id="gosoverview-39">
    <title>Workspaces</title>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>workspaces</primary>
      <secondary>overview</secondary>
    </indexterm>
    <para>You can display many windows at the same time in your GNOME Desktop.
Your windows are displayed in subdivisions of the GNOME Desktop that are called
workspaces. A workspace is a discrete area in which you can work. </para>
    <para>Every workspace contains the same desktop, the same panels, and the
same menus. However, you can run different applications, and open different
windows in each workspace. You can display only one workspace at a time in
the GNOME Desktop but you can have windows open in other workspaces.  </para>
    <para>Workspaces enable you to organize the GNOME Desktop when you run many
applications at the same time. When your current workspace becomes crowded
with windows, you can move your work to another workspace. You can also switch
to another workspace then start more applications.</para>
    <para>Workspaces are displayed in the <application>Workspace Switcher</application>
applet. In <xref linkend="gosoverview-FIG-42"/>, <application>Workspace Switcher</application> contains four workspaces. The first three workspaces contain
open windows. The last workspace does not contain currently active windows.</para>
    <figure id="gosoverview-FIG-42">
      <title>Workspaces Displayed in Workspace Switcher</title>
      <screenshot>
        <mediaobject>
          <imageobject>
            <imagedata fileref="figures/workspace_switcher_applet.png" format="PNG"/>
          </imageobject>
          <textobject>
            <phrase>Workspace Switcher. The context describes the graphic.</phrase>
          </textobject>
        </mediaobject>
      </screenshot>
    </figure>
    <sect2 id="gosoverview-41">
      <title>To Switch Between Workspaces</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>workspaces</primary>
        <secondary>switching between</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>You can switch between workspaces in the following ways:</para>
      <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>In <application>Workspace Switcher</application>, click on
the workspace where you want to work.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Press <keycombo><keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>right arrow</keycap></keycombo> to switch to the workspace on the right of the current
workspace.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Press <keycombo><keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>left arrow</keycap></keycombo> to switch to the workspace on the left of the current
workspace.</para>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="gosoverview-40">
      <title>To Add Workspaces</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>workspaces</primary>
        <secondary>specifying number of</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>To add workspaces to the GNOME Desktop, right-click on the <application>Workspace Switcher</application> applet, then choose <guimenuitem>Preferences</guimenuitem>. The <guilabel>Workspace Switcher Preferences</guilabel> dialog
is displayed. Use the <guilabel>Number of workspaces</guilabel> spin box to
specify the number of workspaces that you require.</para>
    </sect2>
  </sect1>
  <sect1 id="gosoverview-56">
    <title>File Manager</title>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>Nautilus file manager</primary>
      <see>file manager</see>
    </indexterm>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>file manager</primary>
      <secondary>overview</secondary>
    </indexterm>
    <para>The <application>Nautilus</application> file manager provides an
    integrated access point to your files, applications, FTP sites, and
    URIs.</para>
    <para>The file manager enables you to do the following:</para>
    <variablelist>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>View files and folders</term>
        <listitem><para>You can view your files and folders as icons or as
        a list.  You can use the file manager to launch applications to
        view or edit your files.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Manage your files and folders</term>
        <listitem><para>You can use the file manager to create, move, copy,
        rename, and remove files and folders.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Run scripts</term>
        <listitem><para>You can run scripts from the file manager,
        and you can select files and folders on which to run your
        scripts.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Customize your files and folders</term>
        <listitem>
          <para>You can add emblems to your files and folders to
          indicate particular states. For example, you can add an
          <guilabel>Important</guilabel> emblem to a file to indicate
          that the file is important. You can also customize folders
          in the following ways:</para>

          <itemizedlist>
            <listitem><para>Add a note to a folder.</para></listitem>
            <listitem><para>Specify a custom background or pattern for a
            folder.</para></listitem>
            <listitem><para>Specify a zoom setting for a folder.</para></listitem>
          </itemizedlist>
        </listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Open special <firstterm>Uniform Resource Identifiers</firstterm>
        (URIs)</term
        <listitem><para>The GNOME Desktop contains special URIs that enable
        you to access particular functions from the file manager. For example,
        to access the preference tools, you can access the
        <systemitem role="protocol">preferences:///</systemitem>
        URI in the file manager.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
      <varlistentry>
        <term>Write CDs</term>
        <listitem><para>The file manager provides a special location where
        you can copy files and folders that you want to write to a CD. You
        can write the contents of the location to a CD easily.</para></listitem>
      </varlistentry>
    </variablelist>
    <para>The file manager also creates the desktop.</para>

    <sect2 id="gosoverview-58">
      <title>To Open Files from the File Manager</title>
      <para>To navigate to the file that you want to open, double-click on the <guilabel>Home</guilabel> object on the desktop. A file object window opens.  To navigate
to the folder where the file that you want to open resides, double-click on
the folder icons in the file object window. When the file that you want to
open is displayed, double-click on the file icon to open the file in an application.</para>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="gosoverview-57">
      <title>To Move Files Between Folders</title>
      <para>You can move files between folders by opening two or more file
      manager windows.  Drag the files from one window to the other. </para>
    </sect2>
  </sect1>

  <sect1 id="gosgetstarted-11">
    <title>Desktop and Desktop Objects</title>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>Nautilus desktop</primary>
      <see>desktop</see>
    </indexterm>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>desktop</primary>
      <secondary>overview</secondary>
    </indexterm>
    <para>The desktop is an active component of the user interface. You can use
the desktop to perform the following actions:</para>
    <itemizedlist>
      <listitem>
        <para>Start your applications, and open your files and folders. </para>
        <para>You can add <firstterm>desktop objects</firstterm> for convenient access
to the files, folders, and applications that you use frequently. For example,
you add a launcher for an application that you use often.</para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para>Open the <guimenu>Desktop</guimenu> menu.</para>
        <para>Right-click on the desktop to open the <guimenu>Desktop</guimenu> menu.
You can use the <guimenu>Desktop</guimenu> menu to perform actions on the
desktop.</para>
      </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
    <para>The file manager manages the desktop.</para>
    <sect2 id="gosoverview-29">
      <title>To Open Desktop Objects</title>
      <para>To open an object from the desktop, double-click on the object. You
can set your preferences in a <application>Nautilus</application> window so
that you click once on an object to execute the default action.</para>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="gosoverview-19">
      <title>To Add Objects to the Desktop</title>
      <para>You can add desktop objects for convenient access to files, folders,
and applications that you use frequently. You can add objects to your desktop
in the following ways:</para>
      <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>Use the <guimenu>Desktop</guimenu> menu to add a launcher
to the desktop.</para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Drag an object from a file manager window to the desktop.
For example, you can create a symbolic link to a file that you use often,
then drag the link to your desktop. The icon for the link is moved to the
desktop. To open the file, double-click on the icon. You can also drag files
and folders to the desktop. </para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>Drag an application launcher from a menu to the desktop. For
example, you can open a menu that contains a launcher for an application that
you use often, then drag the launcher to your desktop. </para>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
    </sect2>
  </sect1>

  <sect1 id="gosoverview-55">
    <title>GNOME Desktop Preferences</title>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>preference tools</primary>
      <secondary>overview</secondary>
    </indexterm>
    <para>You can use preference tools to configure almost every feature
of the GNOME Desktop. Each tool controls a particular part of the behavior
of the GNOME Desktop. For example, you can use a preference tool to select
a theme for the GNOME Desktop. A <firstterm>theme</firstterm> is a group of
coordinated settings that specify the visual appearance of a part of your
interface. </para>
    <para>You can start your preference tools in either of the following ways:</para>
    <itemizedlist>
      <listitem>
        <para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guimenuitem>Desktop Preferences</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. Choose the item
that you require from the submenus. </para>
      </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
  </sect1>

  <sect1 id="gosoverview-54">
    <title>Applications</title>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>applications</primary>
      <secondary>overview</secondary>
    </indexterm>
    <para>The applications that are provided with the GNOME Desktop
share several characteristics. For example, the applications have a consistent
look-and-feel. The applications share characteristics because the applications
use the same programming libraries. An application that uses the standard
GNOME programming libraries is called a <firstterm>GNOME-compliant application</firstterm>. For example, <application>Nautilus</application> and the <application>gedit</application> text editor are GNOME-compliant applications.</para>
    <para>GNOME provides libraries in addition to the libraries provided by your
operating system. The libraries enable GNOME to run your existing applications
as well as GNOME-compliant applications. For example, if your operating system
is UNIX-based, you can run your current X11 applications and Motif applications
from the GNOME Desktop.</para>
    <para>Some of the features of GNOME-compliant applications are as follows:</para>
    <itemizedlist>
      <listitem>
        <para>Consistent look-and-feel</para>
        <para>GNOME-compliant applications have a consistent look-and-feel. GNOME-compliant
applications use the look-and-feel settings that you specify in the preference
tools. You can use the following tools to change the look-and-feel of your
GNOME-compliant applications:<itemizedlist><listitem><para><application>Menus &amp; Toolbars</application> preference
tool</para></listitem><listitem><para><application>Theme</application> preference tool</para></listitem></itemizedlist></para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para>Menubars, toolbars, and statusbars</para>
        <para>Most GNOME-compliant applications have a menubar, a toolbar, and a statusbar.
The menubar always contains a <guimenu>File</guimenu> menu and a <guimenu>Help</guimenu> menu. The <guimenu>File</guimenu> menu always contains an <guimenuitem>Quit</guimenuitem> menu item, and the <guimenu>Help</guimenu> menu always
contains an <guimenuitem>About</guimenuitem> menu item.</para>
        <para>A <firstterm>toolbar</firstterm> is a bar that appears under the menubar.
A toolbar contains buttons for the most commonly-used commands. A <firstterm>statusbar</firstterm> is a bar at the bottom of a window that provides information
about the current state of what you are viewing in the window. GNOME-compliant
applications might also contains other bars. For example, <application>Nautilus</application> contains a location bar.</para>
        <para>Some of the bars in GNOME-compliant applications are detachable. That
is, the bar has a handle that you can grab then drag the bar to another location.
You can drag the bar to snap to another side of the window, or to another
part of the screen. For example, you can detach the menubar, toolbar, and
location bar in the file manager. </para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para>Default shortcut keys</para>
        <para>GNOME-compliant applications use the same shortcut keys to perform the
same actions. For example, to quit a GNOME-compliant application, press <keycombo><keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>Q</keycap></keycombo>. To undo an action in a GNOME-compliant
application, press <keycombo><keycap>Ctrl</keycap><keycap>Z</keycap></keycombo>. </para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para>Drag-and-drop</para>
        <para>GNOME-compliant applications use the same protocol to implement drag-and-drop
operations. Therefore, GNOME-compliant applications provide consistent feedback
when you drag-and-drop items.</para>
        <para>The use of the same protocol also enables GNOME-compliant applications
to interoperate in a sophisticated manner. For example, GNOME-compliant applications
recognize the format of the items that you drag. When you drag a HTML file
from a <application>Nautilus</application> window to a web browser, the file
is displayed in HTML format in the browser. However, when you drag the HTML
file to a text editor, the file is displayed in plain text format in the text
editor. </para>
      </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
  </sect1>
  <sect1 id="gosoverview-12">
    <title>To Find Out More</title>
    <indexterm>
      <primary>help</primary>
      <secondary>how to find</secondary>
    </indexterm>
    <para>The GNOME Desktop provides help if you want to find out more about the
following areas: </para>
    <itemizedlist>
      <listitem>
        <para>GNOME Desktop topics</para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para>Applets</para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para>Applications</para>
      </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
    <sect2 id="gosoverview-31">
      <title>To Find Out More About GNOME Desktop Topics</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>help</primary>
        <secondary>starting help system</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>help</primary>
        <secondary>GNOME Desktop topics</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>You can find out more about particular GNOME
Desktop topics in the integrated help system. To start
the help system, choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Applications</guimenu><guimenuitem>Help</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. </para>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="gosgetstarted-33">
      <title>To Find Out More About Applets</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>applets</primary>
        <secondary>getting help</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>help</primary>
        <secondary>applets</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>To find out more about a specific applet, right-click on the applet,
then choose <guimenuitem>Help</guimenuitem>. </para>
    </sect2>
    <sect2 id="gosgetstarted-35">
      <title>To Find Out More About Applications</title>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>applications</primary>
        <secondary>help</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <indexterm>
        <primary>help</primary>
        <secondary>applications</secondary>
      </indexterm>
      <para>To find out more about a specific application, start the application,
then choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Help</guimenu><guimenuitem>Contents</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. Alternatively, start the application then press <keycap>F1</keycap>.</para>
    </sect2>
  </sect1>
</chapter>