Starting a Session for the First Time

You need to enter a username and password to access the Java Desktop System. When you start a session for the first time, you should see a startup screen, with a panel at the bottom of the screen and various icons, similar to the following:

Figure 1–1 A Sample Startup Screen

Default Java Desktop System Configuration

This section describes what you see when you start a session for the first time. Your system administrator might have set your default bottom edge panel according to your local requirements, so you might see a slightly different bottom edge panel.

The Java Desktop System startup screen consists of the following:

• This Computer

  Enables you to access media and configuration details about your system.

• Documents

  Enables direct access to files stored on your default directory.

• Network Places

  Provides access to networked computers from a single directory.

• Trash

  Provides a temporary holding area for files, folders or desktop objects that you can later retrieve or permanently delete.

• Learn About The Java™ Desktop System

  Launches a help browser from where you can access help about the Java Desktop System and the GNOME Desktop.

• Bottom edge panel

  The following appear in your bottom edge panel by default:

  • Main Menu Launch Icon : Contains all applications and configuration tools for the Java Desktop System.

  • Clock Applet : Displays the time and date in a panel.

  • Window List : Displays a button for each window that is open. You can click on a window list button to minimize and restore windows.

  • Network Monitor : Displays the status of a network device.

  • Workspace Switcher : Displays a visual representation of your workspaces. You can use Workspace Switcher to switch between workspaces.

• File Manager

  The File Manager provides an integrated access point to your files and applications. You can display the contents of your files within a File Manager window, or open the files in the appropriate application from File Manager. You can use the file manager to manage your files and folders.

• Desktop

  The desktop lies behind all of the other components on the GNOME Desktop. The desktop is an active component of the user interface. You can place objects on the desktop to quickly access your files and directories, or to start applications that you use often. You can also right-click on the desktop to open a menu.

Tips for Working with Panels

Panels are areas from which you can access all of your applications and menus. You can perform the following actions with panels:

• Create top edge panels

• Delete panels

• Hide panels

• Add objects to panels

• Manipulate panel objects

To Create a Top Edge Panel

Right-click on a vacant space on any panel, then choose New Panel.

To Delete Panels

To delete a panel, right-click on the panel then choose Delete This Panel.

To Add Hide Buttons to Panels

Right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Properties to display the Panel Properties dialog. Click on Show hide buttons.

To Add Objects to Panels

You can add any of the following objects to all types of panels:

• Applets

  To add an applet to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel. Choose the applet that you require from one of the following submenus:

  • Accessories

  • Actions

  • Amusements

  • Internet

  • Multimedia

  • Utility

• Launchers

  To add a new launcher to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel -> Launcher.

• Main Menu

  You can add the Main Menu Launch icon to your panel. The Main Menu contains all applications and configuration tools. To add the Main Menu to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel -> Main Menu.

• Menu Bar

  You can add an Applications and Actions menu to your panels to provide quick access to a standard set of application launchers and common actions. To add the Menu Bar to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel -> Menu Bar.

• Drawers

  To add a drawer to a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel -> Drawer.

  To open a drawer, click on the drawer. To close a drawer, click on the drawer again.

To Manipulate Panel Objects

You can manipulate panel objects in the following ways:

• Move objects within a panel, or to another panel.

  Use the mouse button to drag the panel object to a new location on the panel, or to another panel.

• Copy menu items to a panel.

  Drag the item from the menu to the panel. Alternatively, if the menu item is a launcher, right-click on the menu item, then choose Add this launcher to panel.

Tips for Working with Menus

You can access most Desktop applications and system functions through menus. The panel at the bottom of your screen contains the Main Menu.

To open the Main Menu, click on the Launch icon on the panel at the bottom of your screen. The Main Menu contains the following items:

• Email and Calendar

• StarOffice 7

• Web Browser

• Applications menu

• Extras menu

• Run Application

• Open Recent menu

• Find Files

• Preferences menu

• Help

• Lock Screen

• Log Out

Windows

You can display many windows at the same time on your desktop. Each window frame contains active control elements that you can use to work with the window.

To Manipulate Windows

You use the frame of an application window or dialog window to perform various actions with the window. Most of the control elements are located on the top edge of the window frame.

Workspaces

Workspaces are displayed in the Workspace Switcher applet on your bottom edge panel.

To Switch Between Workspaces

In Workspace Switcher, click on the thumbnail image of the workspace where you want to work.

To Add Workspaces

To add an additional workspace, right-click on theWorkspace Switcher applet, then choose Preferences. Use the Number of workspaces spin box to specify the number of workspaces that you require.

File Manager

To open a File Manager window, double-click on the Documents desktop object.

To Open a File Using the File Manager

Double-click on the file icon in the File Manager window.

To Move Files Between Folders

You can drag files between folders in two or more File Manager windows.

To Print a File

To print a file, open the file with the appropriate application and choose Print from the File menu.

Tips for Desktop and Desktop Objects

You can use the desktop to perform the following actions:

• Start your applications, and open your files and folders.

  You can add desktop objects for convenient access to the files, folders, and applications that you use frequently.

• Open the Desktop menu.

  Right-click on the desktop to open the Desktop menu. You can use the Desktop menu to perform actions on the desktop.

To Open Desktop Objects

To open an object from the desktop, double-click on the object. You can set your preferences in the file manager so that you click once on an object to execute the default action.

To Add Objects to the Desktop

The fastest way to add objects to your desktop is to drag an object from a file manager window to the desktop.

Customizing Your Settings

To access tools to customize your settings, choose Main Menu -> Preferences.

You can use these preference tools to configure almost every feature of your Java Desktop System.

To Change Your Fonts

To change your fonts, choose Main Menu -> Preferences -> Display -> Font. Use the Font dialog to change to the style and size of the fonts that you require.

To Change Your Theme

To change your theme, choose Main Menu -> Preferences -> Display -> Theme. Use the Theme dialog to change from the default theme to a theme of your choice.

To Change Your Screensaver Properties

To change your screensaver properties choose Main Menu -> Preferences -> Display -> Screensaver. Use the Screensaver dialog to change from the default screensaver to a screensaver of your choice.

To Customize Your Desktop Background

To customize your desktop background, choose Main Menu -> Preferences -> Display -> Background. Use the Background dialog to change your desktop background.

To Change Your Login Password

To change your login password, choose Main Menu -> Preferences -> Password. Use the Password dialog to change your old password to a new password.

To Configure Your Internet Settings

To change your Internet settings, choose Main Menu -> Preferences -> Internet . Use the Internet dialog to change your proxy configuration.

To Change How Files are Managed

To change how to manage your files, choose Main Menu -> Preferences -> Folders. Use the Folder Options dialog to modify your preferences for files and folders.

To Take a Screenshot

To take a screenshot of the entire screen, first add a screenshot applet to your panel. Right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Add to Panel -> Actions -> Screenshot.

To take a screenshot of the entire screen, click on the Screenshot icon on the panel. To save the screenshot, choose a save option from the Save Screenshot dialog, then click on Save.