Java Desktop System Release 3 User Guide

Chapter 1 Getting Started

This chapter provides the information you need to start, manage, and end a Java Desktop System session.

Logging In to Your Desktop

A session occurs between the time that you log in to the Java Desktop System and the time that you log out. The login screen is your gateway to the Java Desktop System. The login screen provides fields for you to enter your username and password. The login screen enables you to select login options, for example you can select the language of your session.

You start a session when you log in. The session manager starts after your username and password are authenticated. The session manager enables you to manage the session. For example, you can save the state of your most recent session and return to that session the next time that you log in. The session manager saves and restores the following:

The appearance and behavior settings, for example fonts, colors, and mouse settings.
The applications that you were running, for example file manager and text editor windows. You cannot save and restore applications that the session manager does not manage. For example, if you start the vi editor from the command line in a terminal window, session manager cannot restore your editing session.

To Log In to the Desktop on Linux

To log in to the desktop, perform the following steps:

On the login screen, click on the Session icon. Choose the Java Desktop System from the list of available desktop environments.
Enter your username in the Username field on the login screen, then press Return.
Enter your password in the Password field on the login screen, then press Return.

When you log in successfully, the session manager starts a session. If this is the first time you log in, then the session manager starts a new session. If you have logged in before, then the session manager restores your previous session, if you saved the settings for the previous session when you logged out.

If you want to shut down or restart the system before you log in, click on the Actions icon on the login screen. A dialog is displayed. Select the option that you require, then click OK.

To Log In to a Different Language on Linux

To log in to the desktop in a different language, perform the following actions:

On the login screen, click on the Language icon. Choose the language you require from the list of available languages.
Enter your username in the Username field on the login screen, then press Return.
Enter your password in the Password field on the login screen, then press Return.

Note –

When you log in to a session in a different language, you choose the language for the user interface. You do not specify a keyboard layout for the session. To specify a keyboard layout, use the Keyboard Layout Switcher panel application.

Panel applications are small, interactive applications that reside within a panel, for example CD Player. Each panel application has a simple user interface that you can operate with the mouse or keyboard.

To Log In to the Desktop on the Solaris Operating System

To log in to the desktop, perform the following steps:

Choose Options -> Session. Choose the Java Desktop System from the list of available desktop environments.
Enter your login name in the field on the Login Manager dialog, then click OK.
Enter your password in the field on the Login Manager dialog, then click OK.

To Log In to a Different Language on the Solaris Operating System

To log in to the desktop in a different language, perform the following actions:

On the login dialog, choose Options -> Session. Choose the Java Desktop System from the list of available desktop environments.
On the login dialog, choose Options -> Language.
Choose the language group that includes the language that you want.
Choose a language.
Log in.

Your system administrator sets the default language for your system. The Options menu on the Login Manager dialog enables you to access other languages. When you choose a language in the Options menu, your system sets the LANG variable for your session. The system restores the default language at the end of the session.

When You Log In for the First Time

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 on the desktop background.

Initial Desktop 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 typically 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.
StarOffice 7

Launches the StarOffice application.
Learn About The Java™ Desktop System

Launches a help browser from where you can access overview information about the Java Desktop System.
Bottom edge panel

The following panel objects appear in your bottom edge panel by default:
- Launch button: Provides menus for applications and configuration tools on the Java Desktop System.
- Clock: Displays the time and date in a panel.
- Show Desktop: 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.
- Notification Area: Displays icons from various applications to indicate activity in the application. For example, when you use the CD Player application to play a CD, a CD icon is displayed in the Notification Area.
- Workspace Switcher: Displays a visual representation of your workspaces. You can use Workspace Switcher to switch between workspaces.
- Volume Control: Displays a button that enables you to control and set the sound level for your system.
- Network Monitor: Displays a dialog that enables you to monitor the activities of your network.
Desktop Background

The desktop background lies behind all of the other components on the Java Desktop System. The desktop background is an active component of the user interface. You can place objects on the desktop background to quickly access your files and directories, or to start applications that you use often. You can also right-click on the desktop background to open a menu.

To Lock Your Screen

To lock the screen, perform one of the following actions:

Click Launch, then choose Lock Screen.
If the Lock button is present on a panel, click on the Lock button.

To add the Lock button to a panel, right-click on the panel. Choose Add to Panel -> Actions -> Lock.

When you lock your screen, the screensaver starts. To unlock the screen, move your mouse to display the locked screen dialog. Enter your username and password in the locked screen dialog, then press Return.

Note –

To lock your screen correctly, you must have a screensaver enabled.

Managing Your Desktop Session

To configure your desktop session, use the Sessions preference tool. The Sessions preference tool recognizes the following types of application:

Applications that are session-managed. When you save the settings for your session, the session manager saves all of the session-managed applications. If you log out, then log in again, the session manager automatically starts the session-managed applications.
Applications that are not session-managed. When you save the settings for your session, the session manager does not save any applications that are not session-managed. If you log out, then log in again, the session manager does not start non-session-managed applications. You must start the application manually. Alternatively, you can use the Sessions preference tool to specify non-session-managed applications that you want to automatically start.

To Define Log In and Log Out Behavior

To set how a session behaves when you log in and log out, use Sessions preference tool. Make the changes you require in the Session Options tabbed section. For example, you can select to display a splash screen when you log in.

To Use Startup Applications

You can configure your sessions to start with applications that are not session-managed. To configure non-session-managed startup applications, use the Sessions preference tool. Use the Startup Programs tabbed section to add, edit, and delete applications. If you save your settings and log out, the next time that you log in, the startup applications start automatically.

To Browse Applications

To browse the applications in the current session, use the Sessions preference tool. The Current Session tabbed section lists the following:

All Java Desktop System applications that are currently running, that can connect to the session manager, and that can save the state of the application.
All preference tools that can connect to the session manager, and that can save the state of the tool.

You can use the Current Session tabbed section to perform a limited number of actions on the session properties of an application or preference tool. For example, you can edit the startup order, and restart style of any Java Desktop System application or preference tool that is in the list.

To Save Your Settings

To save your session settings, perform the following steps:

Configure your session to automatically save settings when you end the session. To configure your session, use the Sessions preference tool. The Sessions preference tool starts. Select the Automatically save changes to session option on the Session Options tabbed section.
End your session.

If you do not select the Automatically save changes to session option, when you log out, a dialog asks if you want to save your current settings. To save your settings, select the option, then continue to log out.

Logging Out

To end your session, close all your currently active processes, then perform one of the following actions:

Click Launch, then choose Log Out name.
If the Log Out button is present on a panel, click on the Log Out button.

To add the Log Out button to a panel, right-click on the panel. Choose Add to Panel -> Actions -> Log Out.

Before you end a session, you might want to save your current settings so that you can restore the session later. During the logout process, a dialog asks if you want to save your current settings. In the Sessions preference tool, you can select an option to automatically save your current settings.