This chapter describes how to start and use the preference tools to customize the Java Desktop System.
You can start the preference tools in the following ways:
Click Launch, then choose Preferences. Choose the tool that you require from the submenus.
Double-click on the This Computer object on the desktop background. A file browser window opens at the This Computer location. Double-click on the Preferences object in the browser window to display your preference tools. Double-click on the tool that you require.
To access the Desktop Background preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Display -> Desktop Background.
You can customize the desktop background in the following ways:
Select an image for the desktop background. The image is superimposed on the desktop background color. The desktop background color is visible if you select a transparent image, or if the image does not cover the entire desktop background.
Select a color for the desktop background. You can select a solid color, or create a gradient effect with two colors. A gradient effect is a visual effect where one color blends gradually into another color.
You can also change the appearance of your desktop background from within the file manager.
Table 8–1 lists the background preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–1 Desktop Background Preferences
To access the CD Database Server preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> CD Database Server.
The CD Database Server
preference tool enables
you to configure a CD database server that your system can query. A CD database
server contains information about CDs, such as the name of the artist, the
title, and the track list. When an application plays a CD, the application
can query the CD database server about the CD, then display the information.
Table 8–2 describes the
preferences in the CD Database Server
preference
tool.
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Send no information |
Select this option if you do not want to send any information to the CD database server. |
Send real information |
Select this option to send your name and hostname information to the CD database server. |
Send other information |
Select this option to send another name and hostname to the CD database server. Enter the name in the Name field. Enter the hostname in the Hostname field. |
FreeDB round robin server |
FreeDB is a CD database. The FreeDB round robin server is a load-sharing configuration of FreeDB servers. Select this option to access the FreeDB CD database from this server. |
Other FreeDB server |
Select this option to access the FreeDB CD database from another server. Select the server that you require from the server table. |
Update Server List |
Click on this button to update the list of available FreeDB servers in the server table. |
Other server |
Select this option to use another CD database server. Enter the name of the server on which the database resides in the Hostname field. Enter the port number on which you can access the database in the Port field. |
To access the File Associations preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> File Associations.
Use the File Associations
preference tool
to configure the following:
You can specify how files of various types are displayed and edited. For example, you can specify an icon to represent a particular type of file. For another example, you can specify that if a file is a plain text file, the file is launched in a text editor.
The file manager and other desktop applications check the contents of a file to determine the type of a file. If the first lines do not determine the type of the file, then the application checks the filename.
A Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) is a string that identifies a particular location in a file system or on the Web. For example, the web address of a web page is a URI. A service is a protocol or task that a URI requests. For example, the http://www.gnome.org URI requests the http service.
You can associate an application with a service, so that the application performs the task required by the service. For example, you can associate your preferred web browser with the http service.
Table 8–3 describes the elements
on the File Associations
preference tool.
Element |
Description |
---|---|
Table |
To view the contents of a category of file types, click on the right arrow next to the category name. The category expands, and displays a description of each file type, and the file extension that is associated with the file type. To select a file type that you want to work with, click on the file type. |
Add File Type |
Click on this button to add a file type. For more information, see To Add a File Type. |
Add Service |
Click on this button to add a service. For more information, see To Add a Service. |
Edit |
To edit a file type, a service, or a file type category, select the item that you want to edit, then click Edit. |
Remove |
To delete a file type or a service, select the item that you want to delete, then click Remove. |
To add a file type, perform the following steps:
Start the File Associations
preference
tool.
Click on the Add File Type button.
Enter the properties of the file type in the Add File Type dialog. The following table describes the dialog elements of the Add File Type dialog:
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
No Icon |
Choose an icon to represent the file type. To choose an icon, click on the No Icon button. An icon selector dialog is displayed. Choose an icon from the dialog. Alternatively, to choose an icon from another directory, click Browse. When you choose an icon, click OK. |
Description |
Type a description of the file type. |
MIME type |
Enter the MIME type for this type of file. |
Category |
Enter the category to which you want the file type to belong in this preference tool. Click on the Choose to choose a category from the Choose a file category dialog. |
Filename extensions |
Enter the file extensions to associate with the file type. Enter a file extension in the field on the left side, then press Return. To delete a file extension, select the file extension in the field on the right side, then click on the Remove button. |
Viewer component |
Select the viewer component to use to display files of this type in the file manager. |
Default action |
Select the default application to use to open files of this type. |
Program to run |
Specify a program to associate with the file type. Enter the command to start the program in this field. Alternatively, to choose a command that you entered previously, click the down arrow button, then choose the command to run. You can also use the Browse button to choose a command to run. |
Run in Terminal |
Select this option to run the program in a terminal window. Choose this option for a program that does not create a window in which to run. |
Click OK.
To add a service, perform the following steps:
Start the File Associations
preference
tool.
Click on the Add Service button.
Enter the properties of the service in the Add Service dialog. The following table describes the dialog elements on the Add Service dialog:
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Description |
Type a description of the service. |
Protocol |
Enter the protocol for the service. |
Program to Run |
Information to be supplied in a future release. |
Program |
Specify the program to associate with the service. Enter the command to start the program in this field. Alternatively, to choose a command that you entered previously, click the down arrow button, then choose the command to run. You can also use the Browse button to choose a command to run. |
Run in Terminal |
Select this option to run the program in a terminal window. Choose this option for a program that does not create a window in which to run. |
Click OK.
You can customize your file management to suit your requirements and preferences. This section describes how to customize your file management r preferences.
To access the File Management preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> File Management.
Alternatively, you can use the File Management Preferences dialog to set preferences for the file manager. To display the File Management Preferences dialog, choose Edit -> Preferences from any file browser window.
You can set preferences in the following categories:
The default settings for views.
The behavior of files and folders, executable text files, and Trash.
The information that is displayed in icon captions.
Preview options to improve the performance of the file manager.
You can specify a default view, and select sort options and display options. You can also specify default settings for icon views and list views. To specify your default view settings, choose Edit -> Preferences. Click on the Views tab to display the Views tabbed section.
Table 8–4 lists the views preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–4 Views Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
View new folders using |
Select the default view for folders. When you open a folder, the folder is displayed in the view that you select. |
Arrange items |
Select the characteristic by which you want to sort the items in folders that are displayed in this view. |
Sort folders before files |
Select this option to list folders before files when you sort a folder. |
Show hidden and backup files |
Select this option to display hidden files and backup files in the view pane. The first character in a hidden filename is a period (.). The last character in a backup filename is a tilde (~). You can hide files from the view pane by adding .hidden extension to the filename. |
Default zoom level |
Icon view and list view. Select the default zoom level for folders that are displayed in this view. The zoom level specifies the size of items in a view. |
Use compact layout |
Select this option to arrange the items in icon view so that the items in the folder are closer to each other. |
Text beside icons |
Select this option to place the icon captions for items beside the icon rather than under the icon. |
Show only folders |
Select this option to display only folders in the Tree in the side pane. |
To set your preferences for files and folders, choose Edit -> Preferences. Click on the Behavior tab to display the Behavior tabbed section.
Table 8–5 lists the preferences that you can modify for files and folders.
Table 8–5 File and Folder Behavior Preferences
An icon caption displays the name of a file or folder in an icon view. The icon caption also includes three additional items of information on the file or folder. The additional information is displayed after the file name. Normally only one item of information is visible, but when you zoom in on an icon, more of the information is displayed. You can modify what additional information is displayed in icon captions.
To set your preferences for icon captions, choose Edit -> Preferences. Click on the Icon Caption tab to display the Icon Caption tabbed section.
Select the items of information that you want to display in the icon caption from the three drop-down lists. Select the first item from the first drop-down list, select the second item from the second drop-down list, and so on. The following table describes the items of information that you can select:
You can specify what information is displayed in list view in file manager windows. You can specify which columns are displayed in list view, and the order in which the columns are displayed.
To set your preferences for list columns, choose Edit -> Preferences. Click on the List Columns tab to display the List Columns tabbed section.
To specify a column to display in list view, select the option that corresponds to the column, then click on the Show button. To remove a column from the list view, select the option that corresponds to the column, then click on the Hide button.
Use the Move Up and Move Down buttons to specify the position of columns in list view.
To use the default columns and column positions, click on the Use Default button.
The following table describes the columns that you can display:
The file manager include some file preview features. The preview features can affect the speed with which the file manager responds to your requests. You can modify the behavior of some of these features to improve the speed of the file manager. For each preview preference, you can select one of the options described in the following table:
Option |
Description |
---|---|
Always |
Performs the action for both local files, and files on other file systems. |
Local Files Only |
Performs the action for local files only. |
Never |
Never performs the action. |
To set your preview preferences, choose Edit -> Preferences. Click on the Preview tab dialog to display the Preview tabbed section.
Table 8–6 lists the preview preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–6 Preview Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Show text in icons |
Select an option to specify when to preview the content of text files in the icon that represents the file. |
Show thumbnails |
Select an option to specify when to show thumbnails of image files. The file manager stores the thumbnail files for each folder in a .thumbnails directory that is one level below the folder. |
Only for files smaller than |
Specify the maximum file size for files for which the file manager creates a thumbnail. |
Preview sound files |
Select an option to specify when to preview sound files. |
Count number of items |
Select an option to specify when to show the number of items in folders. If you have set your view to icon view, you might need to increase your default zoom level in the Views tabbed section to see the number of items in each folder. |
The file manager includes backgrounds that you can use to change the look-and-feel of the following screen components:
Desktop
Side pane and view pane of file browser windows
Panels
To change the background of a screen component perform the following steps:
Choose Edit -> Backgrounds and Emblems.
To display a list of patterns that you can use on the background, click on the Patterns button in the Backgrounds and Emblems dialog. To display a list of the colors that you can use on the background, click on the Colors button.
To change the background to a pattern, drag the pattern to the screen component. To change the background to a color, drag the color to the screen component.
Click Close.
To reset the background of the view pane or side pane to the default background, right-click on the background of the pane, then choose Use Default Background.
When you change the background of the side pane or the view pane of a particular folder, the file manager remembers the background that you chose. The next time that you display the folder, the background that you selected is displayed. In other words, when you change the background of a folder, you customize the folder to display the background.
To add a pattern to the patterns that you can use on your screen components, choose Edit -> Backgrounds and Emblems. Click on the Patterns button, then click on the Add a New Pattern button. A dialog is displayed. Use the dialog to find the new pattern. Click OK to add the new pattern to the Backgrounds and Emblems dialog.
To add a color to the colors that you can use on your screen components, choose Edit -> Backgrounds and Emblems. Click on the Colors button, then click on the Add a New Color button. A color selector dialog is displayed. Use the color wheel or the sliders to choose the color. Click OK to add the new color to the Backgrounds and Emblems dialog.
To access the Fonts preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Display -> Fonts.
Use the Fonts
preference tool to select the
fonts to use in your applications, windows, terminals, and desktop background.
Table 8–7 lists the font preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–7 Font Preferences
To access the Input Method preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Input Methods.
Input Methods
are software components that
enables you to enter text in ways other than typing on a keyboard. Input Methods
are commonly used to enter text for languages
using thousands of different characters in keyboards with far fewer keys. Input Methods
are mostly associated with languages such as Japanese,
Chinese, and Korean.
Use the Input Methods
preference tool to
configure integral and multilingual input method capabilities.
Table 8–8 describes the elements on the Input Methods
preference tool.
Element |
Description |
---|---|
Enable Input Methods |
Select this option to enable input method features. When you select this option, all options in the Input Preference dialog become available for selection. Changes to this option immediately takes effect in your current session. |
Enable Language Status Bar |
Select this option to make the input method status bar visible. |
Placement |
Select from the drop-down list where to place the language status bar. You can choose from the following: On the desktop panel Attached to application frames |
Enable Lookup Choice Window |
Select this option to use a candidate choice window. When you select this option, input methods displays a pop-up window that list characters that you can choose to commit to the application window. |
To access the Internet preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Internet.
The Internet
preference tool enables you
to configure how your system connects to the Internet. You can configure the
Java Desktop System to connect to a proxy server, and
specify the details of the proxy server. A proxy server is a server that intercepts
requests to another server, and fulfills the request itself, if it can. You
can enter the Domain Name Service (DNS) name or the Internet Protocol (IP)
address of the proxy server. A DNS name is a unique
alphabetic identifier for a computer on a network. An IP address is a unique numeric identifier for a computer on a network.
Table 8–9 lists the proxy configuration preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–9 Internet Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Direct internet connection |
Select this option if you want to connect directly to the Internet, without a proxy server. |
Manual proxy configuration |
Select this option if you want to connect to the Internet through a proxy server, and you want to configure the proxy server manually. |
HTTP proxy |
Enter the DNS name, or the IP address of the proxy server to use when you request a HTTP service. Enter the port number of the HTTP service on the proxy server in the Port spin box. |
Secure HTTP proxy |
Enter the DNS name, or the IP address of the proxy server to use when you request a Secure HTTP service. Enter the port number of the Secure HTTP service on the proxy server in the Port spin box. |
FTP proxy |
Enter the DNS name, or the IP address of the proxy server to use when you request a FTP service. Enter the port number of the FTP service on the proxy server in the Port spin box. |
Socks host |
Enter the DNS name, or the IP address of the Socks host to use. Enter the port number for the Socks protocol on the proxy server in the Port spin box. |
Automatic proxy configuration |
Select this option if you want to connect to the Internet through a proxy server, and you want to configure the proxy server automatically. |
Autoconfiguration URL |
Enter the URL that contains the information required to configure the proxy server automatically. |
To access the Keyboard accessibility preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Accessibility -> Keyboard.
Use the Keyboard
accessibility preference
tool to set the keyboard accessibility preferences. The Keyboard
accessibility preference tool is also known as AccessX
.
You can customize the preferences for the keyboard accessibility in the following functional areas:
Basic
Filters
Mouse
Table 8–10 lists the basic keyboard accessibility preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–10 Keyboard Accessibility Preferences
For more information on configuring basic keyboard accessibility preferences, see the Java Desktop System Release 2 Accessibility Guide.
Table 8–11 lists the filter preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–11 Filter Preferences
For more information on configuring filter accessibility preferences, see the Java Desktop System Release 2 Accessibility Guide.
Table 8–12 lists the mouse preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–12 Mouse Preferences
For more information on configuring the mouse accessibility preferences, see the Java Desktop System Release 2 Accessibility Guide.
To access the Keyboard preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Keyboard -> Behavior.
Use the Keyboard Behavior
preference tool
to modify the autorepeat preferences for your keyboard, and to configure typing
break settings.
You can set the preferences for the Keyboard Behavior
preference tool in the following functional areas:
Keyboard
Typing Break
Layouts
Layout Options
Use the Keyboard tabbed section to set general
keyboard preferences. To start the Keyboard
accessibility preference tool, that is, AccessX
,
click on the Accessibility button.
Table 8–13 lists the keyboard preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–13 Keyboard Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Key presses repeat when key is held down |
Select this option to enable keyboard repeat. If keyboard repeat is enabled, when you press-and-hold a key, the action associated with the key is performed repeatedly. For example, if you press-and-hold a character key, the character is typed repeatedly. |
Delay |
Select the delay from the time you press a key to the time that the action repeats. |
Speed |
Select the speed at which the action is repeated. |
Cursor blinks in text boxes and fields |
Select this option to enable the cursor to blink in fields and text boxes. |
Speed |
Use the slider to specify the speed at which the cursor blinks in fields and text boxes. |
Type to test settings |
The test area is an interactive interface so you can see how the keyboard settings affect the display as you type. Type text in the test area to test the effect of your settings. |
Use the Typing Break tabbed section to set typing
break preferences. To start the Keyboard
accessibility preference tool, that is, AccessX
,
click on the Accessibility button.
Table 8–14 lists the typing break preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–14 Typing Break Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Lock screen to enforce typing break |
Select this option to lock the screen when you are due a typing break. |
Work interval lasts |
Use the spin box to specify how long you can work before a typing break occurs. |
Break interval lasts |
Use the spin box to specify the length of your typing breaks. |
Allow postponing of breaks |
Select this option if you want to be able to postpone typing breaks. |
Use the Layouts tabbed section to set your keyboard layout. Select your keyboard model from the drop-down list. Use the navigational buttons to add or remove a selected layout from the list of available layouts.
You can choose different layouts to suit different locales.
To start the Keyboard
accessibility preference tool, that is, AccessX
,
click on the Accessibility button.
Use the Layout Options tabbed section to set your keyboard layout options. Select an option from the list of available layout options and click Add to select an option. Use Remove to remove a selected option.
To start the Keyboard
accessibility preference tool, that is, AccessX
,
click on the Accessibility button.
To access the Menus & Toolbars preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Display -> Menus & Toolbars.
You can use the Menus & Toolbars
preference
tool to customize the appearance of menus, menubars, and toolbars for GNOME-compliant
applications.
Table 8–15 lists the menu and toolbar preferences that you can modify for GNOME-compliant applications.
Table 8–15 Menu and Toolbar Preferences
To access the Mouse preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Mouse.
Use the Mouse
preference tool to configure
your mouse for right-hand use or for left-hand use. You can also specify the
speed and sensitivity of mouse movement.
You can customize the settings for the Mouse
preference tool in the following functional areas:
Buttons
Cursors
Motion
Use the Buttons tabbed section to specify whether the mouse buttons are configured for left-hand use. You can also specify the delay between clicks for a double-click.
Table 8–16 lists the mouse button preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–16 Mouse Button Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Left-handed mouse |
Select this option to configure your mouse for left-hand use. When you configure your mouse for left-hand use, the functions of the left mouse button and the right mouse button are swapped. |
Timeout |
Use the slider to specify the amount of time that can pass between clicks when you double-click. If the interval between the first and second clicks exceeds the time that is specified here, the action is not interpreted as a double-click. |
Use the Cursors tabbed section to set your mouse pointer preferences.
Table 8–17 lists the mouse pointer preferences that you can modify:
Table 8–17 Mouse Pointer Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Small |
Select this option to display a small mouse pointer. |
Medium |
Select this option to display a medium mouse pointer. |
Large |
Select this option to display a large mouse pointer. |
Highlight the pointer when you press Ctrl |
Select this option to enable a mouse pointer animation when you press and release Ctrl. This feature can assist you to locate the mouse pointer. |
Use the Motion tabbed section to set your preferences for mouse movement.
Table 8–18 lists the mouse motion preferences that you can modify:
Table 8–18 Mouse Motion Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Acceleration |
Use the slider to specify the speed at which your mouse pointer moves on your screen when you move your mouse. |
Sensitivity |
Use the slider to specify how sensitive your mouse pointer is to movements of your mouse. |
Threshold |
Use the slider to specify the distance that you must move an item before the move action is interpreted as a drag-and-drop action. |
To access the Panel preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Panel.
The Panel
preference tool enables you to
configure the behavior of panels. Any changes that you make with the Panel
preference tool affect all of your panels.
Table 8–19 lists the panel preferences that you can modify:
Table 8–19 Panel Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Close drawer when launcher is clicked |
Select this option if you want a drawer on a panel to close when you choose a launcher in the drawer. |
Drawer and panel animation |
Select this option if you want your panels and drawers to show and to hide in an animated style. |
Animation speed |
Select the speed of the panel animation from the drop-down list. |
To access the PDA Devices preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> PDA Devices.
A personal digital assistant (PDA) is a hand-held
computer that you can use as a personal organizer. You can store appointments,
tasks, contacts, and other information on your PDA. You can also transfer
this information between your PDA and applications in the Java Desktop System.
For example, you can copy your calendar appointments from your PDA to Ximian Evolution
, and from Evolution
to your PDA.
When you transfer data between your PDA and your computer, you perform a HotSync operation. The actions that occur during a HotSync operation are controlled by conduits. A conduit is an application that manages the transfer of data between your computer and your PDA.
One of the actions that you can specify for a conduit is to merge data
between your PDA and your computer. This is called a synchronize action. For example, you might add contact information to your
PDA, then add different contact information in Evolution
.
You want to add the contact information on your PDA to Evolution
, and you want to add the contact information in Evolution
to your PDA. To do this, you must synchronize the
data between your PDA and Evolution
.
The PDA Devices
preference tool enables you
to configure a PDA to work with the Java Desktop System, and to modify PDAs
that you have already configured. You can perform the following tasks with
the PDA Devices
preference tool:
Configure a PDA.
Modify the configuration of a PDA.
Configure how PDAs can connect to your computer.
Modify how PDAs can connect to your computer.
Configure how conduits transfer data between your PDA and applications in the Java Desktop System.
A background application waits for a PDA to attempt to synchronize with your computer. This background application is called the PDA daemon. When a PDA attempts to synchronize with the computer, the PDA daemon synchronizes the data on the PDA with data on the computer.
gnome-pilot
displays the activity of
the PDA daemon. To add gnome-pilot
to a panel,
right-click on the panel, then choose Add to Panel -> Utility -> PDA Monitor. For more information about gnome-pilot
, see the gnome-pilot Applet Manual.
You can configure a PDA in one of the following ways:
Use the Gnome Pilot Settings
assistant.
If you have not configured a PDA on your computer previously, the Gnome Pilot Settings
assistant is displayed when you start the PDA Devices
preference tool. The Gnome Pilot Settings
assistant guides you through the configuration process for
a PDA.
Use the PDA Devices
preference
tool. If you have configured a PDA on your computer previously, the Pilot Settings dialog is displayed when you start the PDA Devices
preference tool. Use the Pilot Settings dialog to enter details for the PDA.
To configure a PDA, perform the following steps:
Connect your PDA to your computer. If your PDA has a cradle, place the PDA in the cradle.
Click Launch, then choose Preferences -> PDA Devices to start the PDA Devices
preference
tool. A Gnome Pilot Settings
assistant is displayed.
Click on the Forward button to begin the configuration
process.
Enter information about how the PDA connects to your computer in the Cradle Settings page. The following table describes the settings in the Cradle Settings page:
When you complete the connection information, click on the Forward button.
Enter identity information for the PDA in the Pilot Identification page. The following table describes the elements in the Pilot Identification page:
Element |
Description |
---|---|
Yes, I've used sync software with this pilot before |
Select this option if you have set the username and identifier on this PDA previously. If you configure a PDA with a computer, the username and ID are set on the PDA. |
No, I've never used sync software with this pilot before |
Select this option if you have not set the username and identifier on this PDA previously. |
User Name |
If you have not set the username and identifier on this PDA previously, type the username in this text box. |
ID |
If you have not set the username and identifier on this PDA previously, type the identifier in this text box. This identifier must be unique between different PDAs that you use. |
When you complete the identity information, click on the Forward button. An Initial Sync page is displayed.
Press the HotSync button on your PDA.
Depending on the option you selected on the Pilot Identification page, the Gnome Pilot Settings
assistant
does one of the following:
If you selected the Yes, I've used sync software
with this pilot before option, the Gnome Pilot Settings
assistant gets the username and identifier that is currently
registered on the PDA from the PDA.
If you selected the No, I've never used sync software
with this pilot before option, the Gnome Pilot Settings
assistant sets the username and identifier on the PDA to the
values in the User Name text box and ID
text box.
When the initial synchronization is complete, click on the Forward button. A Pilot Attributes page is displayed.
Enter name and directory information for the PDA in the Pilot Attributes page. The following table describes the settings in the Pilot Attributes page:
Element |
Description |
---|---|
Pilot Name |
Type a name for the PDA. This name is used to identify the PDA to you in the user interface. |
Local basedir |
Enter the directory where you want to store your PDA data. |
When you complete the name and directory information, click on the Forward button.
Click on the Apply button on the Success page to close the Gnome Pilot Settings
assistant.
Alternatively, click on the Cancel button to cancel configuration of the PDA.
Perform the following steps:
Click Launch, then choose Preferences -> PDA Devices to start the PDA Devices
preference
tool.
In the Pilots tabbed section on the Pilot Settings dialog, click on the Add button. A Pilot Settings dialog is displayed.
To receive the username and identifier from the PDA, click on the Get from pilot button. To assign a username and identifier to the PDA, type the username and identifier in the text boxes, then click on the Send to pilot button.
Enter name and directory information for the PDA in the Pilot Name and Local basedir fields. For more information on the fields, see To Use an Assistant to Configure a PDA.
Perform the following steps:
Click Launch, then choose Preferences -> PDA Devices to start the PDA Devices
preference
tool.
In the Pilots tabbed section on the Pilot Settings dialog, select the PDA that you want to modify, then click on the Edit button. A Pilot Settings dialog is displayed.
To receive the username and identifier from the PDA, click on the Get from pilot button. To assign a username and identifier to the PDA, type the username and identifier in the text boxes, then click on the Send to pilot button.
Enter name and directory information for the PDA in the Pilot Name and Local basedir fields. For more information on the fields, see To Use an Assistant to Configure a PDA.
Click OK on the Pilot Settings dialog.
Perform the following steps:
Click Launch, then choose Preferences -> PDA Devices to start the PDA Devices
preference
tool.
In the Devices tabbed section on the Pilot Settings dialog, click on the Add button.
Enter connection information for the PDA in the Device Settings dialog. For more information about the elements in the Device Settings dialog, see To Use an Assistant to Configure a PDA.
Perform the following steps:
Click Launch, then choose Preferences -> PDA Devices to start the PDA Devices
preference
tool.
In the Devices tabbed section on the Pilot Settings dialog, select the hardware settings that you want to modify, then click on the Edit button.
Enter hardware settings for the PDA in the Device Settings dialog. For more information about the elements in the Device Settings dialog, see To Use an Assistant to Configure a PDA.
Perform the following steps:
Click Launch, then choose Preferences -> PDA Devices to start the PDA Devices
preference
tool.
Ensure that the PDA daemon is active and functions properly.
To do this, add the gnome-pilot
applet to a panel.
If the gnome-pilot
applet icon appears in black
and white, the PDA daemon is active.
In the Conduits tabbed section on the Pilot Settings dialog, select the PDA whose conduits you want to configure from the Pilot Name drop-down list.
To enable a conduit, select the conduit from the table, then click on the Enable button.
To disable a conduit, select the conduit from the table, then click on the Disable button.
To configure a conduit, select the conduit from the table, then click on the Settings button. Enter configuration details for the conduit in the Conduit Settings dialog. The elements in the Conduit Settings dialog are described in the following table:
Click OK to close the Conduit Settings dialog.
You might want to back up the data on your PDA to your computer, to avoid data loss if you have a problem with your PDA. To back up PDA data to your computer, perform the following steps:
Click Launch, then choose Preferences -> PDA Devices to start the PDA Devices
preference
tool.
Ensure that the PDA daemon is active and functions properly.
To do this, add the gnome-pilot
applet to a panel.
If the gnome-pilot
applet icon appears in black
and white, the PDA daemon is active.
In the Conduits tabbed section on the Pilot Settings dialog, select the PDA whose data you want to backup from the Pilot Name drop-down list.
Select the Backup conduit from the table, then click on the Enable button.
Enter configuration details for the Backup conduit in the Conduit Settings dialog. For more information about the elements in the Conduit Settings dialog, seeTo Specify How to Transfer Data Between a PDA and Applications.
Press the HotSync button on your PDA.
For information about how to restore backup data, see the gnome-pilot Applet Manual.
To access the Preferred Applications preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Preferred Applications.
Use the Preferred Applications
preference
tool to specify the applications that you want the Java Desktop System to
use when the preferred application starts. For example, you can specify Xterm
as your preferred terminal application. When you click Launch, then choose Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal, Xterm
starts.
You can customize the preferences for the Preferred Applications
preference tool in the following functional areas.
Web Browser
Mail Reader
Text Editor
Terminal
Use the Web Browser
tabbed section to configure your preferred web browser. The preferred web
browser opens when you click on a URL. For example, the preferred web browser
opens when you select a URL in an application, or when you select a URL launcher
on the desktop background.
Table 8–20 lists the preferred web browser preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–20 Preferred Web Browser Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Select a Web Browser |
Select this option if you want to use a standard web browser. Use the drop-down combination box to select your preferred web browser. |
Custom Web Browser |
Select this option if you want to use a custom web browser. |
Command |
Enter the command to execute to start the custom web browser. To enable the browser to display a URL that you click on, include “%s” after the command. |
Start in Terminal |
Select this option to run the command in a terminal window. Select this option for a browser that does not create a window in which to run. |
Use the Mail Reader
tabbed section to configure your preferred email client.
Table 8–21 lists the preferred email client preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–21 Preferred Email Client Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Select a Mail Reader |
Select this option if you want to use a standard email client. Use the drop-down combination box to select your preferred email client. |
Custom Mail Reader |
Select this option if you want to use a custom email client. |
Command |
Enter the command to execute to start the custom email client. |
Start in Terminal |
Select this option to run the command in a terminal window. Select this option for an email client that does not create a window in which to run. |
Use the Text Editor
tabbed section to configure your preferred text editor.
Table 8–22 lists the preferred text editor preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–22 Preferred Text Editor Preferences
Use the Terminal
tabbed section
to configure your preferred terminal.
Table 8–23 lists the preferred terminal preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–23 Preferred Terminal Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Select a Terminal |
Select this option if you want to use a standard terminal. Use the drop-down combination box to specify your preferred terminal. |
Custom Terminal |
Select this option if you want to use a custom terminal. |
Command |
Enter the command to execute to start the custom terminal. |
Exec Flag |
Enter the exec option to use with the command. |
To access the Screensaver preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Display -> Screensaver.
A screensaver is an application that you can use to replace the image on your screen when the screen is not in use. You can use screensavers in the following ways:
Activate after a specified period of idle time.
Activate when you lock your screen.
Manage power used by your monitor when your system is idle.
You can customize the settings for the Screensaver
preference tool in the following functional areas:
Display Modes
Advanced
Use the Display Modes tabbed section to set display mode preferences.
Table 8–24 lists the display mode preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–24 Screensaver Display Mode Preferences
Use the Advanced tabbed section to set advanced screensaver preferences.
Table 8–25 lists the advanced screensaver preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–25 Advanced Screensaver Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Grab Desktop Images |
Some screensavers can take a screenshot of your screen, then manipulate the screenshot to create your screensaver display. Select this option to enable screensavers to take a screenshot of your screen. |
Grab Video Frames |
Some screensavers can capture a frame of video, then manipulate the captured image to create your screensaver display. If your system has a video capture card, select this option to enable screensavers to capture a frame of video. |
Choose Random Image |
Select this option to enable screensavers to use images from a directory that you select. Type the path for the directory in the field. Alternatively, click Browse to display a dialog from which you can select a directory. |
Verbose Diagnostics |
Select this option if you want to display screensaver diagnostic information. |
Display Subprocess Errors |
Select this option if you want to display errors related to screensaver subprocesses on screen. |
Display Splash Screen at Startup |
Select this option if you want |
Power Management Enabled |
Select this option to enable power management of your monitor. Power management can reduce energy consumption by your monitor when you are not using the monitor. |
Standby After |
Specify how long to wait to put the monitor in standby mode. When the monitor is in standby mode, the screen is black. |
Suspend After |
Specify how long to wait to put the monitor in power-saving mode. |
Off After |
Specify how long to wait to switch off monitor. |
Install Colormap |
Select this option to install a private colormap when the screensaver is active. Use of a private colormap might improve the quality of the color in particular screensaver displays. |
Fade to Black When Blanking |
Select this option if you want your display to fade to black when the screensaver activates. |
Fade from Black When Unblanking |
Select this option if you want your display to fade from black to the screen contents when the screensaver stops. |
Fade Duration |
Specify how long to take to fade to black when the screensaver activates. |
To access the Sessions preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Sessions .
The Sessions
preference tool enables you
to manage your sessions. You can set session preferences, and specify which
applications to start when you start a session. You can configure sessions
to save the state of applications in the Java Desktop System, and to restore
the state when you start another session. You can also use this preference
tool to manage multiple Java Desktop System sessions.
You can customize the settings for sessions and startup applications in the following functional areas:
Session Options
Current Session
Startup Programs
Use the Session Options tabbed section to manage multiple sessions, and to set preferences for the current session.
Table 8–26 lists the session options that you can modify.
Table 8–26 Session Options
Use the Current Session tabbed section to specify startup order values, and to choose restart styles for the session-managed applications in your current session.
Table 8–27 lists the session properties that you can configure.
Table 8–27 Session Properties
Use the Startup Programs
tabbed section of the Sessions
preference tool
to specify non-session-managed startup applications.
Startup applications are applications that start automatically when you start
a session. You specify the commands that run the non-session-managed applications
in the Startup Programs tabbed section. The commands
execute automatically when you log in.
You can also start session-managed applications automatically. For more information, see Setting Session Preferences.
Table 8–28 lists the startup applications preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–28 Startup Programs Preferences
To access the Shortcuts preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts.
A keyboard shortcut is a key or combination of keys that provides an alternative to standard ways of performing an action.
Use the Shortcuts
preference tool to display
the default keyboard shortcuts. You can customize the default keyboard shortcuts
to your requirements. In addition, you can also set shortcut key preferences
for multimedia functions.
You can also create hot keys on Solaris systems. Hot keys are keyboard shortcuts that start applications.
Table 8–29 lists the keyboard shortcut settings that you can customize on Linux.
Table 8–29 Keyboard Shortcuts Preferences on Linux
Table 8–30 lists the keyboard shortcut settings that you can customize on Solaris.
Table 8–30 Keyboard Shortcuts Preferences on Solaris
Use the Multimedia Keys
preference
tool to assign shortcut keys to an action.
Table 8–31 lists the shortcut key preferences that you can set for multimedia functions.
Table 8–31 Multimedia Keys Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Multimedia keys table |
To add the shortcut keys for an action, click on the action to select the action, then press the keys that you want to associate with the action. To disable the shortcut keys for an action, click on the action to select the action, then press Back Space. |
Use PCM volume instead of Master volume |
Select this option if you want to use Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) volume instead of Master volume. |
To access the Sound preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Sound.
The Sound
preference tool enables you to
control when the Java Desktop System sound server starts. You can also specify
which sounds to play when particular events occur.
You can customize the settings for the Sound
preference tool in the following functional areas:
General
Sound Events
System Bell
Use the General tabbed section of the Sound
preference tool to specify when to launch the Java Desktop
System sound server. You can also enable sound event functions.
Table 8–32 lists the general sound preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–32 General Sound Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Enable sound server startup |
Select this option to start the sound server when you start a session. When the sound server is active, the Java Desktop System can play sounds. |
Sounds for events |
Select this option to play sounds when particular events occur in the Java Desktop System. You can select this option only if the Enable sound server startup option is selected. |
Use the Sound Events tabbed section of the Sound
preference tool to associate particular sounds with particular
events.
You must select the Enable sound server startup option, and the Sounds for events option before you can access the Sound Events tabbed section.
Table 8–33 lists the sound events preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–33 Sound Event Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Sounds table |
Use the Sounds table to associate particular sounds with particular events. The Event column displays a hierarchical list of events that can occur. To expand a category of events, click on the right arrow beside a category of events. The Sound File column lists the sound file that plays when the event occurs. |
Play |
Click on this button to play the sound file that is associated with the selected event. |
Sound file drop-down combination box, Browse |
To associate a sound with an event, select the event in the Sounds table. Enter the name of the sound file that you want to associate with the selected event in the drop-down combination box. Alternatively, click Browse to display a Select Sound File dialog. Use the dialog to specify the sound file that you want to associate with the selected event. Note – You can only associate sound files in .wav format with events. |
Use the System Bell tabbed section to set your preferences for the system bell.
Some applications play a bell sound to indicate a keyboard input error. Use the preferences in the System Bell tabbed section to configure the bell sound. Table 8–34 lists the system bell preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–34 System Bell Preferences
Dialog Element |
Description |
---|---|
Sound an audible bell |
Select this option to enable the system bell. |
Visual feedback |
Select this option to enable visual feedback to indicate input errors. |
Flash window titlebar |
Select this option if you want window titlebars to flash to indicate an input error. |
Flash entire screen |
Select this option if you want the entire screen to flash to indicate an input error. |
To access the Theme preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Display -> Theme.
A theme is a group of coordinated settings that specifies the visual
appearance of a part of the Java Desktop System. You can choose themes to
change the appearance of the Java Desktop System. Use the Theme
preference tool to select a theme. You can choose from a list
of available themes. The list of available themes includes several themes
for users with accessibility requirements.
A theme contains settings that affect different parts of the Java Desktop System, as follows:
The controls setting for a theme determines
the visual appearance of windows, panels, and panel applications. The controls
setting also determines the visual appearance of the GNOME-compliant interface
items that appear on windows, panels, and panel applications, such as menus,
icons, and buttons. Some of the controls setting options that are available
are designed for special accessibility needs. You can choose an option for
the controls setting from the Controls tabbed section
in the Theme
preference tool.
The window frame setting for
a theme determines the appearance of the frames around windows only. You can
choose an option for the window frame setting from the Window Border tabbed section in the Theme
preference
tool.
The icon setting for a theme determines the appearance of
the icons on panels and the desktop background. You can choose an option for
the icon setting from the Icons tabbed section in the Theme
preference tool.
The themes that are listed in the Theme
preferences
tool are different combinations of controls options, window frame options,
and icon options. You can create a custom theme that uses different combinations
of controls options, window frame options, and icon options.
To create a custom theme, perform the following steps:
Start the Theme
preference tool.
Select a theme in the list of themes.
Click on the Theme Details button. A Theme Details dialog is displayed.
Select the controls option that you want to use in the custom theme from the list in the Controls tabbed section. The list of available controls options includes several options for users with accessibility requirements.
Click on the Window Border tab to display the Window Border tabbed section. Select the window frame option that you want to use in the custom theme from the list of available options. The list of available window frame options includes several options for users with accessibility requirements.
Click on the Icons tab to display the Icons tabbed section. Select the icons option that you want to use in the custom theme from the list of available options. The list of available icons options includes several options for users with accessibility requirements.
Click Close to close the Theme Details dialog.
On the Theme
preferences tool,
click on the Save Theme button.
Type a name and a short description for the custom theme in the Save Theme to Disk dialog, then click Save. The custom theme now appears in your list of available themes.
You can add a theme to the list of available themes. The new theme must be an archive file that is tarred and zipped. That is, the new theme must be a .tar.gz file.
To install a new theme, perform the following steps:
Start the Theme
preference tool.
Click on the Install Theme button.
Enter the location of the theme archive file in the drop-down combination box of the Install a Theme dialog. Alternatively, to browse for the file, click on the Browse button. When you have selected the file, click OK.
Click on the Install button to install the new theme.
You can install new controls options, window frame options, or icons options. You can find many controls options on the Internet.
To install a new controls option, window frame option, or icons option, perform the following steps:
Start the Theme
preference tool.
Click on the Theme Details button.
Click on a tab in the Theme Details dialog for the type of theme that you want to install. For example, to install an icons option, click on the Icons tab.
Click on the Install Theme button.
Enter the location of the option archive file in the drop-down combination box of the Install a Theme dialog. Alternatively, to browse for the file, click on the Browse button. When you have selected the file, click OK.
Click on the Install button to install the new option.
You can delete controls options, window frame options, or icons options.
To delete a controls option, window frame option, or icons option, perform the following steps:
Start the Theme
preference tool.
Click on the Theme Details button.
Click on a tab in the Theme Details dialog for the type of option that you want to delete.
Click on the Go to Theme Folder button. A file manager window opens on the default option folder.
Use the file manager window to delete the option.
To access the Window Behavior preference tool, click Launch, then choose Preferences -> Desktop Preferences -> Display ->Window Behavior.
Use the Window Behavior
preference tool to
customize window behavior for the Java Desktop System.
Table 8–35 lists the windows preferences that you can modify.
Table 8–35 Windows Preferences