Running Applications

CDE provides the following methods of running applications:

• The Front Panel and the Workspace menu provide access to collections of commonly used applications.

• Where an application is not available from the Front Panel or the Workspace menu, you will probably find it in Application Manager.

• You can run certain applications by dropping files or data on their drop zones in the Front Panel.

• Terminal emulator windows and the File Manager application also enable you to run applications, but this requires a little more understanding of commands, files, and folders.

You can also add applications to the Front Panel, Worskpace menu, and Application Manager.

Running Applications from the Front Panel

The Front Panel contains a number of controls, or program icons. Some are on the main panel, which is displayed by default, and others are on subpanels, which can be displayed by clicking a tab marked by a triangle.

You run an application by clicking mouse button 1 on its control.

For instructions on running applications from the Front Panel or for adding and manipulating controls on the Front Panel, see "Front Panel Applications" and "Customizing the Front Panel".

Running Applications from the Workspace Menu

The Workspace menu is displayed when you press mouse button 3 on any unused part of the workspace backdrop. You can run an application by dragging to its menu item and releasing the mouse button.

Running Applications from Application Manager

You can open Application Manager by clicking its control on the Applications subpanel on the Front Panel. Application Manager contains several application groups, such as desktop tools, and OpenWindows applications. These groups can be opened by clicking their icons in the Application Manager main window.

Figure 1-3 Front Panel and Application Manager

To run an application in an Application Manager window, you double-click its program icon.

Running Applications from Drop Zones on the Front Panel

Certain controls on the Front Panel--such as the Printer, Mailer and Web Browser controls--act as drop zones (see "Front Panel Drop Zones") that activate the relevant application when you drag and drop appropriate text or files on them. For example, if you drop a file on the Mailer control, Mailer displays a New Message window with the file attached to the new message.

For instructions on drop zones, see "Front Panel Drop Zones" and "Tour of the Front Panel".

Running Applications from File Manager

You can run an application by clicking its application icon in a File Manager window. For example, you can run Image Viewer by clicking the file SDTimage in the folder /var/dt/appconfig/appmanager/user-hostname-0/Desktop_Apps/ where user-hostname-0 is a folder specific to your user ID.

If an application uses data files, it may be configured so that the application can be started from File Manager by clicking one of its data files. For example, double-clicking a bitmap file (a file whose name ends with .bm) runs Icon Editor.

For instructions on running applications from File Manager see "Executing an Action for a File or Folder".

Running Applications from a Terminal Emulator Window

A terminal emulator is an application whose window provides a command-line interface to your system--for example, operating system commands, script names, or commands that run applications.

All applications have a command that you can type to start them. The application's documentation usually describes how to use the command.

The desktop provides a terminal emulator called dtterm. Your system may include other terminal emulators. To open a terminal emulator window, click the This Host control in the Hosts subpanel.

For more information on using dtterm, see Chapter 12, Using Terminal .