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Oracle Solaris 11.1 Desktop User's Guide     Oracle Solaris 11.1 Information Library
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Document Information

Preface

1.  Getting Started With the Desktop

2.  Using the Desktop Windows

3.  Using the Desktop Workspaces

4.  Using the Desktop Panels

Panel Overview

Top Edge Panel

Bottom Edge Panel

Managing Panels

Moving a Panel

Hiding a Panel

Adding a New Panel

Deleting a Panel

Setting Panel Properties

About the General Properties Tab

About the Background Properties Tab

Managing Panel Objects

Interacting With Panel Objects

Selecting an Applet

Adding an Object to a Panel

How to Add an Object to a Panel

Modifying the Properties of an Object

How to Modify the Properties of an Object

Moving a Panel Object

How to Move a Panel Object

Locking a Panel Object

Removing a Panel Object

Applets

Launchers

Adding a Launcher to a Panel

How to Add a Launcher to a Panel From the Panel Pop-up Menu

How to Add a Launcher to a Panel From a Menu

How to Add a Launcher to a Panel From the File Manager

Modifying a Launcher

How to Modify the Launcher Properties

Launcher Properties

Launcher Commands and Locations

Buttons

Force Quit

Lock Screen

Log Out

Run

Search for Files

Show Desktop

Menus

How to Add a Menubar or Main Menu to a Panel

How to Add a Submenu to a Panel

Drawers

How to Add a Menu as a Drawer to a Panel

How to Add an Object to a Drawer

How to Modify Drawer Properties

Panel Objects

Menubar

Window Selector Applet

Notification Area Applet

Window List

Usage

Preferences

Command Assistant Applet

5.  Using the Desktop Applications

6.  Using the Main Menubar

7.  Using Time Slider

8.  Using the File Manager

9.  Using the Desktop Tools and Utilities

10.  Configuring the Desktop

A.  Using the Mouse

B.  Using the Keyboard

Launchers

A launcher is an object that performs a specific action when you open it.

You can find launchers in panels, in the panel menubar, and on the desktop. A launcher is represented by an icon in all of these locations. You might use a launcher to perform any of the following actions:

You can modify the properties of a launcher. For example, the properties of a launcher include the name of the launcher, the icon that represents the launcher, and how the launcher runs. For more information about modifying a launcher, see Modifying a Launcher.

Adding a Launcher to a Panel

You can add a launcher to a panel from any one of the following options:

How to Add a Launcher to a Panel From the Panel Pop-up Menu

  1. Right-click any vacant space on the panel, then choose add to panel.

    The add to panel dialog is displayed.

  2. Add a new launcher or an existing launcher
    • To add a new launcher:
      1. Select custom application launcher from the list.

        The create launcher dialog is displayed.

      2. Provide the information about the launcher and click ok.
    • To add an existing launcher:
      1. Select application launcher from the list.
      2. Choose the launcher from the list of menu items.

How to Add a Launcher to a Panel From a Menu

  1. Open a menu that contains the launcher and drag the launcher to the panel.
  2. Right-click the title of the launcher and choose Add this launcher to panel.

    Note - This method will work only if the launcher is on a submenu of the menu that is opened.


How to Add a Launcher to a Panel From the File Manager

  1. Browse the file manager and select the .desktop file for the launcher in your file system.
  2. Drag the .desktop file to the panel.

Modifying a Launcher

The desktop enables you to modify the launcher properties.

How to Modify the Launcher Properties

  1. Right-click the launcher to open the panel object pop-up menu.
  2. Choose Properties.

    Use the Launcher Properties dialog to modify the properties as required. For more information, see Launcher Properties.

  3. Click Close to close the dialog.

Launcher Properties

The following table describes the properties that you can set when you create or edit a launcher.

Property
Description
Type
Use the drop-down list to specify whether the launcher starts an application or opens a location:
  • Application – The launcher starts an application.

  • Application in Terminal – The launcher starts an application through a terminal window.

  • Location – The launcher opens a file, web page, or other location.

If you are editing a location launcher, this drop-down list will not be displayed. If you are editing an application launcher, the Location option will not be available.

Name
The name is displayed if you add the launcher to a menu or to the desktop.
Command
For an application launcher, specify a command to execute when you click the launcher. For sample commands, see Launcher Commands and Locations.
Location
For a location launcher, specify the location that you want to open. Click Browse to select a location on the computer, or type a web address to launch a web page. For sample locations, see Launcher Commands and Locations.
Comment
Displayed as a tooltip when pointed to the launcher icon on the panel.

Launcher Commands and Locations

If you choose Application or Application in Terminal from the Type drop-down list in the Launcher Properties dialog, the Command text box displays the related launch command. The following table shows some sample commands and their actions.

Sample Application Command
Action
gedit
Starts the Gedit text editor application.
gedit /home/user/loremipsum.txt
Opens the file /home/user/loremipsum.txt in the Gedit text editor application.
nautilus /home/user/Projects
Opens the folder /home/user/Projects in a file browser window.

If you choose Location from the Type drop-down list in the Launcher Properties dialog, the Location text box displays the related location for the launcher. The following table shows some sample locations and their actions.

Sample Location
Action
file:///home/user/loremipsum.txt
Opens the file /home/user/loremipsum.txt in the default viewer for its file type.
file:///home/user/Projects
Opens the folder /home/user/Projects in a File Browser window.
http://www.oracle.com
Opens the Oracle web site in the default browser.
ftp://ftp.oracle.com
Opens the Oracle FTP site in the default browser.