Chapter 10 Using the Advanced Preference Tools

The Advanced preference tools enable you to customize the behavior and appearance of your applications, panels, and other user interface items. You can use the Advanced preference tools to configure file types, your default applications, and your panels. You can also use the Advanced tools to customize your sessions and startup programs. This chapter describes how to use the Advanced tools to customize your desktop environment.

• Opening an Advanced Preference Tool

• Configuring a CD Database

• Configuring File Types and Programs

• Customizing Your Panels

• Choosing Your Preferred Applications

• Configuring Sessions

Opening an Advanced Preference Tool

You can open an Advanced preference tool in either of the following ways:

• From the Desktop Preferences menu

  Choose Applications -> Desktop Preferences -> Advanced. Choose the tool that you require from the submenu. The dialog for the tool is displayed.

• From the Start Here location

  Open a Nautilus window, then choose Go -> Start Here. Alternatively, double-click on the Start Here object on the desktop. The Start Here location is displayed. Double-click on the Desktop Preferences object in the Nautilus window, then double-click on the Advanced folder. The Advanced preference tools are displayed.

  

  Double-click on the tool that you require. The dialog for the tool is displayed.

Configuring a CD Database

The CD Database preference tool enables you to configure a CD database that your system can query. A CD database 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 about the CD, then display the information.

Figure 10–1 CD Database Preference Tool

Table 10–1 describes the elements on the CD Database preference tool.

Table 10–1 Settings for CD Database

Element	Description
Send no info	Select this option if you do not want to send any information to the CD database server.
Send real info	Select this option to send your name and hostname information to the CD database server.
Send other info	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. 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.

Configuring File Types and Programs

Use the File Types and Programs preference tool to specify how files of various types are created, displayed, and edited. For example, you can specify that if a file is a plain text file, the file is launched in a text editor.

Nautilus and other GNOME 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 file extension.

Figure 10–2 File Types and Programs Preference Tool

Table 10–2 describes the elements on the File Types and Programs preference tool.

Table 10–2 Elements on File Types and Programs 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 remove a file type or a service, select the item that you want to remove, then click Remove.

To Add a File Type

To add a file type, perform the following steps:

1. Choose Applications -> Desktop Preferences -> Advanced -> File Types and Programs to start the File Types and Programs preference tool.

2. Click on the Add file type button. The Add file type dialog is displayed.

3. Enter the properties of the file type in the dialog. The following table describes the dialog elements on the Add file type dialog:

   Option	Function
   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 the File Types and Programs preference tool. Click on the Choose to choose a category from the Choose a file category dialog.
   Filename Extensions	Enter the filename extensions to associate with the file type. Enter a filename extension in the field on the left side, then press Return. To delete a filename extension, select the filename extension in the field on the right side, then click on the Remove button.
   Viewer Component	Information to be supplied in a future release.
   Default action	Information to be supplied in a future release.
   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.

4. Click OK.

To Add a Service

To add a service, perform the following steps:

1. Choose Applications -> Desktop Preferences -> Advanced -> File Types and Programs to start the File Types and Programs preference tool.

2. Click on the Add service button. The Add service dialog is displayed.

3. Enter the properties of the service in the dialog. The following table describes the dialog elements on the Add service dialog:

   Option	Function
   Description	Type a description of the service.
   Protocol	Enter the protocol for the service.
   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.

4. Click OK.

Customizing Your Panels

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.

Figure 10–3 Panel Preference Tool

Table 10–3 Settings for Panels

Setting	Function
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.
Animation	Select this option if you want your panels to show and to hide in an animated style.
Animation speed	Select the speed of the panel animation from the drop-down list.

Choosing Your Preferred Applications

Use the Preferred Applications preference tool to specify the applications that you want the desktop environment to use when the desktop environment starts an application for you. For example, you can specify Xterm as your preferred terminal application. When you open the Desktop menu then choose New Terminal, Xterm starts.

You can customize the settings for the Preferred Applications preference tool in the following functional areas.

• Web Browser

• Text Editor

• Terminal

Web Browser Settings

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.

Figure 10–4 Web Browser Tabbed Section in the Preferred Applications Preference Tool

Table 10–4 lists the preferred web browser settings that you can configure.

Table 10–4 Settings for Preferred Web Browser

Option	Function
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.

Text Editor Settings

Use the Text Editor tabbed section to configure your preferred text editor.

Figure 10–5 Text Editor Tabbed Section in the Preferred Applications Preference Tool

Table 10–5 lists the preferred text editor settings that you can configure.

Table 10–5 Settings for Preferred Text Editor

Option	Function
Select an Editor	Select this option if you want to use a standard text editor. Use the drop-down combination box to specify your preferred text editor.
Custom Editor	Select this option if you want to use a custom text editor. A Custom Editor Properties dialog is displayed. Name: Type the name of the custom text editor. Command: Enter the command to execute to start the custom text editor. This application can open multiple files: Select this option if the default text editor can open multiple files. This application needs to be run in a shell: Select this option to run the command in a terminal window. Select this option for an editor that does not create a window in which to run. After you specify a custom text editor, you can click on the Properties button to display the Custom Editor Properties dialog. You can use the dialog to modify the properties of the custom text editor.
Use this editor to open text files in the file manager	Select this option if you want the file manager to start the custom text editor to display text files.

Terminal Settings

Use the Terminal tabbed section to configure your preferred terminal.

Figure 10–6 Terminal Tabbed Section in the Preferred Applications Preference Tool

Table 10–6 lists the preferred terminal settings that you can configure.

Table 10–6 Settings for Preferred Terminal

Option	Function
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.

Configuring 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 your desktop environment, and to restore the state when you start another session. You can also use this preference tool to manage multiple GNOME sessions.

You can customize the settings for sessions and startup applications in the following functional areas:

• Session Options

• Current Session

• Startup Programs

Setting Session Options

Use the Session Options tabbed section to manage multiple sessions, and to set preferences for the current session.

Figure 10–7 Session Options Tabbed Section in the Sessions Preference Tool

Table 10–7 lists the session options settings that you can configure.

Table 10–7 Settings for Session Options

Option	Function
Show splash screen on login	Select this option to display a splash screen when you start a session.
Prompt on logout	Select this option to display a confirmation dialog when you end a session.
Automatically save changes to session	Select this option if you want the session manager to save the current state of your session. The session manager saves the session-managed applications that are open, and the settings associated with the session-managed applications. The next time that you start a session, the applications start automatically, with the saved settings.  If you do not select this option, when you end you session the Logout Confirmation dialog displays a Save current setup option.
Sessions	Use this area of the dialog to manage multiple sessions in the desktop environment, as follows:  To create a new session, click on the Add button. The Add a new session dialog is displayed. Use this dialog to specify a name for your session. To change the name of a session, select the session in the Choose Current Session table. Click on the Edit button. The Edit session name dialog is displayed. Type a new name for your session. To delete a session, select the session in the Choose Current Session table. Click on the Delete button.

Setting Session Properties

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.

Figure 10–8 Current Session Tabbed Section in the Sessions Preference Tool

Table 10–8 lists the session properties that you can configure.

Table 10–8 Session Properties

Option	Function
Order	The Order setting specifies the order in which the session manager starts session-managed startup applications. The session manager starts applications with lower order values first. The default value is 50. To specify the startup order of an application, select the application in the table. Use the Order spin box to specify the startup order value.
Style	The Style setting determines the restart style of an application. To select a restart style for an application, select the application in the table, then choose one of the following styles: Normal Starts automatically when you start a GNOME session. Use the kill command to terminate applications with this restart style during a session. Restart Restarts automatically whenever you close or terminate the application. Choose this style for an application if the application must run continuously during your session. To terminate an application with this restart style, select the application in the table, then click on the Remove button. Trash Does not start when you start a GNOME session. Settings Starts automatically when you start a session. Applications with this style usually have a low startup order, and store your configuration settings for GNOME and session-managed applications.
Remove	Click on the Remove button to delete the selected application from the list. The application is removed from the session manager, and closed. Application that you delete are not started the next time that you start a session.
Apply	Click on the Apply button to apply changes to the startup order and the restart style.

Configuring Startup Applications

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 Options.

Figure 10–9 Startup Programs Tabbed Section in the Sessions Preference Tool

Table 10–9 lists the startup applications settings that you can configure.

Table 10–9 Settings for Startup Programs

Option

Function

Additional startup programs

Use this table to manage non-session-managed startup applications as follows:  To add a startup application, click on the Add button. The Add Startup Program dialog is displayed. Enter the command to start the application in the Startup Command field. If you specify more than one startup application, use the Priority spin box to specify the startup order of the each application. The startup order is the order in which you want the startup applications to start. To edit a startup application, select the startup application, then click on the Edit button. The Edit Startup Program dialog is displayed. Use the dialog to modify the command and the startup order for the startup application. To delete a startup application, select the startup application, then click on the Delete button.