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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

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

About Preference Tools

Assistive Technologies

Keyboard Shortcuts

How to Add a Custom Shortcut

How to Edit a Keyboard Shortcut

Preferred Applications

Setting Look and Feel Preferences

Appearance

Theme Preferences

Desktop Background Preferences

Font Preferences

Font Rendering

Visual Effects

Show Icons in Menus

Editable Menu Shortcut Keys

Toolbar Button Labels

Windows

Screensaver

Setting Screensaver Preferences

Setting Default Screensaver Preferences for All Users

Restoring Default Screensaver Settings for a User

Modifying Screensaver Preferences

Modifying Look and Feel of Your Screensaver

Disabling a Screensaver Display

Setting Internet and Network Preferences

Network

Network Proxy

Desktop Sharing

Setting Keyboard Preferences

Keyboard

General

Layouts

Keyboard Layout Options

Accessibility

Audio Feedback

Mouse Keys

Typing Break

Input Method Selector

How to Activate or Deactivate IM

Setting Hardware Preferences

Monitor Preference Tool

Sound Preference Tool

Playback Preferences

Recording Preferences

Sound Theme Preferences

Application Sound Preferences

Setting Session Preferences

Configuring Startup Applications

A.  Using the Mouse

B.  Using the Keyboard

Setting Hardware Preferences

This section describes the monitor and sound configurations that you can set.

Monitor Preference Tool

Use the Monitor preference tool to configure the monitors that your computer uses.


Note - On most laptop keyboards, you can use the key combination Fn+F7 to cycle between several typical monitor configurations without starting Monitor Preferences.


Choose System → Preferences → Monitor to display the Monitor preference tool.

Drag the graphical representations of the monitors in the upper left part of the window to set how your monitors are arranged. Monitor Preferences displays small labels in the top left corner of each monitor to help you identify which rectangle corresponds to which monitor.

Changes you make in Monitor Preferences don't take effect until you click the Apply button. Settings will revert to their previous settings unless you confirm the changes. This is to prevent bad display settings from rendering your computer unusable.

The following table below describes the monitor preferences

Table 10-12 Monitor Preferences

Dialog Elements
Description
Same image in all monitors
When this option is selected, your entire desktop will fit on a single monitor, and every monitor will show the same copy of your desktop. When it is not selected, your desktop spans multiple monitors, and each monitor shows only a part of your entire desktop.
Detect monitors
Finds monitors that have been recently added or plugged in.
Show monitors in panel
Adds an icon to your panel that enables you to quickly change certain settings without opening the Monitor preference tool.

The following list explains the options you can set for each monitor. The currently selected monitor is the one whose graphical representation has a bold black outline. It is also indicated by the background color of the section label.

Sound Preference Tool

The Sound preference tool enables you to control devices and volume for sound input and output. You can also specify which sounds to play when particular events occur.

Choose System → Preferences → Sound to display the Sound preference tool.

You can customize settings in the following functional areas:

Most computers have only one audio device that controls both sound recording and playback. If your computer has more than one audio device, you can switch between them using the Device drop-down list at the top of the window.

Playback Preferences

Use the Playback tab to set your preferences for sound output. The following table lists the recording preferences that you can modify.

Table 10-13 Playback Preferences

Dialog Element
Description
Volume
Controls the overall output volume.
Link sliders button
Sets all sliders to the same value, and moves them together when any one slider is moved.
Mute button
Temporarily suppresses all sounds without disturbing the current volume level.

Note - You can also control the output volume with the speaker icon, which is shown in the notification area of the panel.


Depending on your computer's sound card and the devices that are attached to it, you might also see other sliders, check boxes, or lists on the Playback tab that enable you to control sound output. You can choose which controls appear on the tab by clicking the Preferences button.

Recording Preferences

Use the Recording tab to set your preferences for sound input. The following table lists the recording preferences that you can modify.

Table 10-14 Recording Preferences

Dialog Element
Description
Record
Controls the sound input level.
Gain
Controls the amount of amplification applied to the recording input.
Link sliders button
Sets all sliders to the same value, and moves them together when any one slider is moved.
Mute button
Temporarily suppresses all input without disturbing the current input level.

Depending on your computer's sound card and the devices that are attached to it, you might see other sliders, check boxes, or lists on the Recording tab that enable you to control sound input. You can choose which controls appear on the tab by clicking the Preferences button.

Sound Theme Preferences

A sound theme is collection of sound effects that are associated to various events, such as opening a dialog, clicking a button, or selecting an item in a menu. One of the most prominent event sounds is the system alert sound that is often played to indicate a keyboard input error. Use the Sound Theme tab of the Sound Preference tool to choose a sound theme and modify the bell sound.

The following table lists the sound effects preferences that you can modify.

Table 10-15 Sound Effects Preferences

Dialog Element
Description
Sound Theme
Determines the sound theme.

Choose No sounds to turn off all event sounds.

Choose an alert sound list
Determines the sound for the System Bell.

Selecting a list element plays the sound.

Enable window and button sounds
Deselect this option if you do not want to hear sounds for window-related events (such as a dialog or a menu appearing) and button clicks.

Application Sound Preferences

Use the Applications tab to control the volume of sound played by individual applications. Each application that is currently playing sound is identified by its name and icon.