File Abstraction Layer

The gnome-vfs file abstraction layer provides a simplified and generalized way for applications to interact with files. The file abstraction layer also provides Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) locations that map to particular menu configuration files.

To add a menu or a menu item for all users, you must add the menu or menu item to one of the URI locations. Table 2–1 lists the menus to which you can add items, and the URI locations that correspond to the menus.

Table 2–1 Menus and URI Locations for System Administrators

Menu	URI Locations
Applications menu for all users	applications-all-users:///
Preferences menu for all users	preferences-all-users:///

If a user wants to add a menu or a menu item to their system only, the user must add the menu or menu item to other URI locations. Table 2–2 lists the menus to which users can add items, and the URI locations that correspond to the menus.

Table 2–2 Menus and URI Locations for Users

Menu	URI Locations
Applications menu	applications:///
Preferences menu	preferences:///

For more information about how users can customize menus, see the Java Desktop System Release 3 User Guide.