Working with Your Desktop

Contents

2.1. Using the Main Menu
2.2. Managing Folders and Files with Nautilus
2.3. Accessing Floppy Disks, CDs, or DVDs
2.4. Searching for Files
2.5. Moving Text Between Applications
2.6. Managing Internet Connections
2.7. Exploring the Internet
2.8. E-mail and Scheduling
2.9. Opening or Creating Documents with OpenOffice.org
2.10. Controlling Your Desktop’s Power Management
2.11. Creating, Displaying, and Decompressing Archives
2.12. Taking Screen Shots
2.13. Viewing PDF Files
2.14. Controlling Sound
2.15. Using the Fingerprint Reader
2.16. Obtaining Software Updates
2.17. For More Information

Now you can start to work with your desktop. In this chapter you will learn how to start applications, manage and search files and burn CDs. You will get familiar with the power management concept of GNOME and find out how to perform regular tasks with your desktop.

Using the Main Menu

Click Computer on very the left of the bottom panel to open the main menu showing a list of your favorite applications together with the most recently used ones. You can also click Documents to display your recent documents, or click Places to display your favorite places (such as your home directory or the Desktop). Click More Applications to access additional applications listed in categories. Use the options on the right to access Help, install additional software, open the GNOME Control Center, lock your screen, log out of the desktop or check the status of your hard drive and network connections.

Figure 2.1. Main Menu

Main Menu

The main menu contains several elements:

Search Bar

The search bar helps you find applications and files on your system. Enter your search phrase in the Search field, then press Enter. The results are displayed in the Desktop Search dialog box.

For more information about using Beagle, GNOME desktop’s search function, see Chapter 6, Searching with Beagle.

Main Menu Tabs

You can determine what type of items appear in the main menu by clicking the Applications, Documents or Places tabs.

Favorite Applications

By default, Favorite Applications shows icons for four commonly used applications. Customize this view to show the applications you use most often.

To add an item to your Favorite Applications:

  1. Click Computer+More Applications.

  2. Right-click the application you want to add.

  3. Select Add to Favorites.

    The selected application is added to your Favorite Applications.

To remove an item from your Favorite Applications:

  1. Click Computer.

  2. Make sure that your Favorite Applications appear in the main menu. If Favorite Applications does not appear on the main menu, click Applications.

  3. Right-click the item you want to remove.

  4. Select Remove from Favorites.

Recent Applications

Recent Applications shows the last two to four applications you have started, provided they do not already appear under Favorite Applications.

Recent Documents

Click the Documents tab to display Favorite and Recent Documents. Use this view to quickly locate the documents you worked on most often or most recently. Click More Documents to open the File Browser. You may move a document from the Recent to the Favorite Documents section by right clicking it and choosing Add to Favorites.

Recent Places

Click the Places tab to display the last several places you have opened. Use this view to quickly locate the places you worked on most recently. Click More Places to open the File Browser.

System

The System pane of the main menu provides shortcuts to several system applications.

Table 2.1. System Shortcuts

Application

Description

Help

Opens the Help Center, which provides online documentation for your system.

Control Center

Allows you to customize and configure your desktop. For more information, see Chapter 3, Customizing Your Settings.

YaST

Allows you to customize and configure your system.

Install Software

Opens the Software Installer, which guides you through the process of installing new software.

Lock Screen

Locks your system so that nobody can access it while you are away. Enter your password to unlock the system.

Log Out

Opens the Log Out dialog, where you can log out or switch users.

Shutdown

Opens the Shutdown dialog, where you can shut down or restart your system. You can also suspend you computer from this shortcut.


Status

The Status section of the main menu displays information about your hard drive and network connection, including the amount of available space on your hard disk and the type of network connection you are using.