Introduction to the Desktop

The desktop lies behind all of the other components in your desktop environment. The desktop is an active component of the user interface. You can perform the following tasks from your desktop:

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

  You can add desktop objects for convenient access to files, folders, and applications that you use frequently. For example, you can add an application launcher to the desktop. You can create a symbolic link to a file that you use often, then add this link to your desktop. You can also store files and folders on the desktop.

• 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.

• Work with Trash.

  You can move objects to Trash and empty your Trash.

• Customize your desktop background.

  You can customize the pattern or color of the desktop background.

By default, your desktop contains three objects.

Figure 8–1 Desktop with Default Objects

Table 8–1 describes the functions of the default objects on the desktop.

Object	Component	Function
	Home	Opens a Nautilus window, and displays your home location in the view pane.
	Start Here	Provides an access point to some of the key features of the GNOME Desktop.
	GNOME Overview	Opens a help browser window, and displays overview information about the GNOME Desktop.
	Trash	Opens a Nautilus window, and displays your Trash in the view pane.