Glossary

desktop

Your visible Java Desktop System, including all panels, icons, applications, and the desktop background.

desktop background

The desktop background lies behind all of the other components on the Java Desktop System.

desktop background object

An icon on your desktop background that you can use to open your files, folders, and applications.

DNS name

A unique alphabetic identifier for a computer on a network.

drawer

A drawer is a sliding extension to a panel that you can open or close from a drawer icon.

format

To prepare storage media for use with a particular file system. When you format media, you overwrite any existing information on the media.

GNOME-compliant application

An application that uses the standard GNOME programming libraries. For example, gedit text editor is a GNOME-compliant application.

hot key

Hot keys are keyboard shortcuts that start applications.

IP address

A unique numeric identifier for a computer on a network.

keyboard shortcut

A keyboard shortcut is a key or combination of keys that provides an alternative to standard ways of performing an action.

launcher

A launcher starts a particular application, executes a command, or opens a file. A launcher can reside on a panel or in a menu.

menubar

A menubar is a bar at the top of an application window that contains the menus for the application.

MIME type

A Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (MIME) type identifies the format of a file. The MIME type enables applications to read the file. For example, an email application can use the image/png MIME type to detect that a Portable Networks Graphic (PNG) file is attached to an email.

mount

To make a file system available for access. When you mount a file system, the file system is attached as a subdirectory to your file system.

pane

A pane is a subdivision of a window. For example, the file browser window contains a side pane and a view pane.

panel application

A panel application is a small, interactive application that resides within a panel, for example the CD Player.

PDA

Personal Digital Assistant. A hand-held computer that you can use as a personal organizer.

PDA daemon

A background application which waits for a PDA to attempt to synchronize with your computer. When a PDA attempts to synchronize with the computer, the PDA daemon synchronizes the data on the PDA with data on the computer.

preference tool

A dedicated software tool that controls a particular part of the behavior of the Java Desktop System.

shortcut keys

Shortcut keys are keystrokes that provide a quick way to perform an action.

slice

A partition of a disk. You can create slices on your Zip and Jaz media. An object for each slice appears on the desktop.

stacking order

The stacking order is the order in which windows are stacked on top of each other on your screen.

statusbar

A statusbar is a bar at the bottom of a window that provides information about the current state of what you are viewing in the window.

symbolic link

A special type of file that points to another file or folder. When you perform an action on a symbolic link, the action is performed on the file or folder to which the symbolic link points.

toolbar

A toolbar is a bar that contains buttons for the most commonly-used commands in an application. Typically, a toolbar appears under a menubar.

Uniform Resource Identifier

A Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) is a string that identifies a particular location in a file system or on the Web. For example, the address of a web page is a URI.

Uniform Resource Locator

A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is the address of a particular location on the Web.

view

A file manager component that enables you to display a folder in a particular way. For example, the file manager contains an icon view which enables you to display the contents of a folder as icons. The file manager also contains a list view which enables you to display the contents of a folder as a list.

viewer component

A file browser window component that enables you to display a particular type of file in the view pane. A viewer component might add menu items that are relevant to the file type to the file manager menus. A viewer component might also enable you to use the file browser window zoom buttons to change the size of the item in the view pane.

workspace

A workspace is a discrete area in the desktop in which you can work.