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Java Desktop System Release 3 User Guide

Chapter 3 Working With Menus

This chapter describes how to use menus in the Java Desktop System.

Introduction to Menus

You can access all Java Desktop System functions through menus. You can add menus to panels and you can use a combination of menus and panels to perform your tasks. You can perform various actions on your menus, such as copy menu items to panels.

You can access the following menus in the Java Desktop System:

You can also right-click on the desktop to open the Desktop menu. The Desktop menu enables you to perform desktop-related tasks.

All of these menus provide you with multiple ways to perform your tasks, and enable you to work in the way that you prefer.

Menu Features

Menus can contain the following items:

An arrow to the right of an item in a menu indicates that the item is a submenu. When you point to the submenu, the submenu opens. You can choose items from the submenu.

When you choose a launcher, the launcher starts an application or runs a command. You can also right-click on a launcher to open a popup menu. The popup menu enables you to add the item to a panel, and perform other tasks. For more information on the popup menu, see the next section.

You can change the theme for your session to change how all your menus look. To change the theme, use the Theme preference tool.

Menu Item Popup Menu

Items in menus have an associated popup menu that enables you to perform tasks related to the item. When you right-click on an item in a menu, the popup menu for the item opens. The popup menu also contains a submenu that enables you to perform menu-related tasks.

You can use the menu item popup menu to perform the following tasks:

Figure 3–1 shows the popup menu.

Figure 3–1 Menu Item Popup Menu

Menu item popup menu. The context describes the graphic.

Table 3–1 describes menu item popup menus.

Table 3–1 Menu Item Popup Menus

Item 

Description 

Add this launcher to panel

Adds the launcher to the panel from which you open the menu. 

Remove this item

Removes the launcher from the menu. 

Put into run dialog

Displays the Run Application dialog with the command from the Command field of the launcher in the command field on the Run Application dialog.

Help on application-name

Opens the online help for the application. 

Properties

Displays a dialog that enables you to edit the properties of the launcher. 

Entire menu -> Add this as drawer to panel

Adds the submenu as a drawer to the panel from which you open the menu. 

Entire menu -> Add this as menu to panel

Adds the submenu as a menu object to the panel from which you open the menu. 

Entire menu -> Add new item to this menu

Enables you to add an item to the submenu. 

Entire menu -> Properties

Displays a dialog that enables you to edit the properties of the submenu. 

Applications Menu

The Applications menu contains a hierarchy of submenus, from which you can start the standard Java Desktop System applications and preference tools.

You can access the Applications menu from the following places:

Actions Menu

The Actions menu contains commands that enable you to perform various tasks in the Java Desktop System. Table 3–2 describes the commands in the Actions menu.

Table 3–2 Actions Menu Commands

Menu Item 

Function 

Run Application

Opens the Run Application dialog. Use the Run Application dialog to run commands. For more information, see Using the Run Application Dialog.

Open Recent

Displays a submenu of the last ten files which you saved. 

Take Screenshot

Takes a screenshot of the screen, and opens the Save Screenshot dialog. Use the Save Screenshot dialog to save the screenshot.

Find Files

Starts the Search Tool application.

Lock Screen

Locks your screen. 

Log Out

Logs you out of the current session.  

You can access the Actions menu items from the following places:

Using the Run Application Dialog

The Run Application dialog gives you access to the command line. When you run a command in the Run Application dialog, you cannot receive output from the command.

To run a command from the command line, perform the following steps:

  1. Display the Run Application dialog. You can display the Run Application dialog in any of the following ways:

    • From any panel

      Add the Run button to a panel. Right-click on the panel, then choose Add to Panel -> Actions -> Run. Click on the Run button.

    • From the Launch button

      Click Launch, then choose Run Application.

    • From the Menu Bar

      Choose Actions -> Run Application.

    • Use shortcut keys

      The default shortcut keys to display the Run Application dialog are Super + R. You can change the shortcut keys that display the Run Application dialog in the Keyboard Shortcuts preference tool.

    • From a menu item popup menu

      Right-click on an item in a menu, then choose Put into run dialog from the popup menu. The Run Application dialog opens with the command from the menu in the command field.

  2. Enter the command that you want to run in the blank field. Alternatively, to choose a command that you ran previously, click the down arrow button beside the command field, then choose the command to run.

    Alternatively, select the Show list of known applications option to display a list of available applications.

    You can also use the Run with file button to choose a file to append to the command line. For example, you can enter emacs as the command, then choose a file to edit.

    Select the Run in terminal option to run the application or command in a terminal window. Choose this option for an application or command that does not create a window in which to run.

  3. Click on the Run button on the Run Application dialog.

To Take a Screenshot

You can take a screenshot in any of the following ways:

Launch Button

Launch Button

The Launch button provides access to the Applications menu and many of the items in the Actions menu. You can access almost all of the standard applications, commands, and configuration options from the Launch button.

You can add Launch buttons to your panels.

To Access the Launch Button

You can access the Launch button in the following ways:

To Add a Launch Button to a Panel

You can add as many Launch buttons as you want to your panels. To add a Launch button to a panel, right-click on any vacant space on the panel. Choose Add to Panel -> Main Menu.

Menu Bar

Menu Bar panel application. Menus: Applications, Actions.

The Menu Bar provides access to the Applications and Actions menus. You can access almost all of the standard applications, commands, and configuration options from the Menu Bar.

To Add a Menu Bar to a Panel

You can add as many Menu Bar panel applications as you want to your panels. To add a Menu Bar to a panel, right-click on any vacant space on the panel. Choose Add to Panel -> Menu Bar.

Customizing Your Menus

You can modify the contents of the following menus:

You use the following Java Desktop System components to customize menus:

When you use panels to customize your menus, you use the menu item popup menu. For more information, see Menu Item Popup Menu.

When you use the file manager to customize your menus, you must access the Applications menu or the Preferences menu from within the file manager. To access the Applications menu or the Preferences menu, open a file manager window.

To access menus in the file manager, enter one of the following URIs in the field on the location bar:

Menu 

Enter this URI 

Applications menu

applications:///

Preferences menu

preferences:///

To Add a Menu

To add a menu, perform the following steps:

  1. In a file manager window, access the location where you want to add the menu. For example, if you want to add a menu to the Applications menu, enter applications:/// in the field on the location bar.

  2. Choose File -> Create Folder. An untitled folder is added to the view pane. The name of the folder is selected.

  3. Type a name for the folder, then press Return.

The next time that you log out then log in again, the menu is in the assigned location.

To Add a Launcher to a Menu

To add a launcher to a menu, perform the following steps:

  1. Right-click on any item in the menu to which you want to add the launcher.

  2. Choose Entire menu -> Add new item to this menu.

  3. Enter the properties of the launcher in the Create Launcher dialog.

  4. Click OK.

To Add a Launcher to an Empty Menu

To add a launcher to an empty menu, perform the following steps:

  1. In a file manager window, access the menu where you want to add the launcher.

  2. Choose File -> Create Launcher.

  3. Enter the properties of the launcher in the Create Launcher dialog.

  4. Click OK.

To Copy a Launcher to a Menu

To copy an existing launcher to a menu, perform the following steps:

  1. In a file manager window, access the location from which you want to copy the launcher. For example, if you want to copy a launcher from the Applications menu, enter applications:/// in the field on the location bar.

  2. Select the launcher that you want to copy, then choose Edit -> Copy File.

  3. In a file manager window, access the location to which you want to copy the launcher.

  4. Choose Edit -> Paste Files. The launcher is added to the new location.

Alternatively, you can drag the launcher from one location to another.

The next time that you log out then log in again, the launcher is in the new menu location.

To Edit the Properties of a Menu

To edit the properties of a menu, perform the following steps:

  1. Right-click on any item in the menu that you want to edit.

  2. Choose Entire menu -> Properties.

  3. Modify the properties of the menu in the Launcher Properties dialog.

  4. Click OK.

To Edit a Menu Item

To edit a menu item, perform the following steps:

  1. Right-click on the item that you want to edit.

  2. Choose Properties.

  3. Modify the properties of the launcher in the Launcher Properties dialog.

  4. Click OK.

To Delete an Item from a Menu

To delete an item from a menu, use the menu item popup menu. To delete an item from a menu, perform the following steps:

  1. Right-click on the item that you want to delete.

  2. Choose Remove this item.