Solaris Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide

Tour of the Front Panel

This section introduces the contents of the Main Panel and the subpanels:

Your Front Panel may be customized with different or additional controls.

Main Panel

The Main Panel is the horizontal window at the bottom of the display

Table 4-1 describes the Main Panel controls.

Table 4-1 Main Panel Controls


Name	Click Behavior	Drop Behavior	Indicator Behavior
Clock	None	None	Current time of day
Calendar	Starts the desktop Calendar application	Dropping an appointment file adds the appointment to the calendar	Current date
Folders (File Manager)	Opens a File Manager view of your home folder	Dropping a folder opens a File Manager view of that folder	None
Personal Applications (Text Editor)	Starts the desktop Text Editor application	Opens the file in a new Text Editor window	None
Mailer	Starts the desktop Mailer application	Opens the contents of the file in Mailer's New Message window	Changes appearance when new mail arrives
Lock	Locks the display and keyboard. You must type your password to unlock the system.	None	None
Workspace switch	Changes workspaces	None	Indicates current workspace
Busy light	None	None	Blinks when the system is running an action
Personal Printers (Default)	Displays the status of the default printer	Prints the file on the printer	None
Exit	Begins logout from the current session	None	None
Style Manager	Opens the desktop Style Manager application	None	None
Applications (Application Manager)	Opens an Application Manager window	None	None
Help	Opens a Help Viewer window displaying the top level of help information	Dropping a master volume file (`*.sdl`) opens a Help Viewer window with that help volume	None
Trash Can	Opens the Trash Can window	Moves the file to the Trash Can	Different appearance when empty and non-empty

Use the File Manager subpanel to access your home folder or to open a floppy diskette or CD-ROM that you have inserted into a disk drive.

The following table describes the File Manager subpanel controls:

Table 4-2 Folders Subpanel Controls


Name	Click Behavior	Drop Behavior	Indicator Behavior
Install Icon	None	Installs an icon dragged from File Manger or Application Manager into the subpanel	None
Home Folder	Opens your home folder displaying the top level file and folder information	Opens a File Manager view of the dropped folder	None
Personal Bookmarks	Opens your Personal Bookmarks folder displaying bookmarks	Dropping text onto the control creates a file with a .`url` extension in the Personal Bookmarks folder	None
Open Floppy	Opens one File Manager window for each readable floppy diskette you insert	None	Not Applicable
Open CD-ROM	Opens a File Manager window for each CD-ROM you insert	None	Not Applicable

Use the Personal Applications subpanel for applications you use frequently. The default applications are Text Editor, Terminal, and Icon Editor.

The following table describes the Personal Applications subpanel controls.

Table 4-3 Personal Applications Subpanel Controls


Name	Click Behavior	Drop Behavior	Indicator Behavior
Install Icon	None	Installs an icon dragged from File Manger or Application Manager into the subpanel	None
Text Editor (duplicate of control in Main Panel)	Starts the desktop Text Editor application	Opens the file in a new Text Editor window	None
Terminal	Starts the desktop Terminal Emulator	None	None
Web Browser	Starts the HotJava web browser if PATH contains the `hotjava` command	None	None

Use the Personal Printers subpanel for printers you use frequently.

The following table describes the Personal Printers subpanel controls.

Table 4-4 Personal Printers Subpanel Controls


Name	Click Behavior	Drop Behavior	Indicator Behavior
Install Icon	None	Installs an icon dragged from File Manger or Application Manager into the subpanel	None
Default printer (duplicate of Main Panel control)	Display the status of print jobs on the default printer	Prints the file on the default printer or another printer of your choice	None
Print Manager	Starts the desktop Print Manager	Prints the file on the default printer	None

Use the Applications subpanel for system applications and tools you use frequently.

The following table describes the Applications subpanel controls.

Table 4-5 Applications Subpanel Controls


Name	Click Behavior	Drop Behavior	Indicator Behavior
Install Icon	None	Installs an icon dragged from File Manger or Application Manager into the subpanel	None
Applications	Opens an Application Manager window	None	None
Desktop_Apps	Opens the Desktop_Apps folder	None	None
Desktop_Controls	Opens the Desktop_Controls folder	None	None
Information	Opens the Information folder	None	None

The Help subpanel enables you to access the Help Manager, Desktop Introduction, and Front Panel help volumes, and On Item help and AnswerBook2.

The following table describes the Help subpanel controls.

Table 4-6 Help Subpanel Controls


Name	Click Behavior	Drop Behavior	Indicator Behavior
Install Icon	None	Installs an icon dragged from File Manager or Application Manager into the subpanel	None
Help Manager (duplicate of Main Panel control)	Opens a Help Viewer window displaying the top level of help information	Dropping a master volume file (`*.sdl`) opens that help volume	None
Desktop Introduction	Displays the help volume "Introducing the Desktop"	None	None
Front Panel Help	Displays the Front Panel help volume	None	None
On Item Help	Provides on-item help for the Front Panel. Click this control, then click the control on which you want help.	None	None
AnswerBook2	Displays AnswerBook2 viewer if you have AnswerBook2 installed.	None	None