Starting a Session for the First Time

You start a Java Desktop System session from the login screen. 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 sample startup screen:

Figure 3–1 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 in 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.

• StarOffice 7

  Launches the StarOffice application.

• Bottom edge panel

  The following panel objects appear in your bottom edge panel by default:

  • Main Menu Launch icon: Contains menu items for applications and configuration tools on the Java Desktop System.

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

  • Minimize Windows: Displays a button that you can click to minimize all open windows.

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

  • Input Method Switcher: Displays a button that launches an Internet-Intranet-Input Method (IIIM) configuration tool. The Input Method Switcher supports the following functions:

    • Shows the status of input methods

    • Enables users to switch input languages

  • 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.

• Desktop

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