Introduction to the Desktop Background

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

• 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 background. You can create a symbolic link to a file that you use often, then add this link to your desktop background. You can also store files and folders on the desktop background.

• Open the Desktop Background menu.

  Right-click on the desktop background to open the Desktop menu. You can use the Desktop menu to perform actions on the desktop background.

• 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 background contains five objects. Table 6–1 describes the functions of the default objects on the desktop:

Table 6–1 Functions of Default Desktop Background Objects

Object	Function
This Computer	Provides an access point to some of the key features of the Java Desktop System. You can access your applications and configuration tools from the This Computer location. You can also access programs that enable you to configure your system as a server, and to modify other system configuration details.
Documents	Enables direct access to files stored in your default directory.
Trash	Provides a temporary holding area for files, folders or desktop objects that you can later retrieve or permanently delete.
Learn About The Java Desktop System	Launches a help browser from where you can access Help about the Java Desktop System.
Star Office 7	Launches the StarOffice application.