1    Introducing the Common Desktop Environment

The Common Desktop Environment (CDE) provides an easy method of interacting with the Digital UNIX® operating system. It is a jointly developed graphical user interface based on industry standards which include the X Consortium's X Window System and the Open Software Foundation's Motif user interface. By using the CDE interface, you can use the mouse or keyboard to navigate and interact with applications.

CDE presents a visual desktop that you can customize. From the desktop, it is easy to access and manage applications. The desktop itself offers a Front Panel, a graphical display at the bottom of the screen area that provides access to applications, printers, and frequently used objects including online help. It also offers you the option of working in different workspaces. A workspace is the screen itself, which includes the Front Panel. By using a control on the Front Panel, you can switch between different workspaces.

This chapter provides a quick overview of the following:

• Logging in and accessing applications

• Managing the desktop and applications

• Accessing online help

• Locating other sources of information

1.1    Logging in and Accessing Applications

The login screen, displayed by the Login Manager, provides you access to the desktop. Not only can you enter your login name and password, it also provides an Options menu where you can select the type of session you want to begin, and the language to use in your session.

You have the option of starting one of the following sessions:

• The regular desktop starts the CDE Session Manager after the Login Manager has verified your login and password. This is the default desktop for Digital UNIX. Upon exiting a session, the Session Manager remembers the state of your last session and restores it when you log in next.

• A dxsession session starts the DECwindows Session Manager. This was the default Session Manager on previous Digital UNIX systems. For information on using a DECwindows session, see the DECwindows User's Guide.

• A failsafe session starts a single terminal window and the Window Manager. This is useful when you need access to a single terminal window if there are problems preventing a successful login to a session.

• A command-line session suspends the desktop and provides a way for you to work in the base operating system environment, an environment without windows. Because the Login Manager is not active and the X server is not running, a login screen is not displayed.

The default language is set by your system administrator; however, you can also access other languages that are installed on your system. Choosing a language from the Options menu sets the environment variable LANG for the duration of your session. The default language is restored when you end your session. See Chapter 9 for information on using internationalization features.

1.1.1    Front Panel

The Front Panel window is located at the bottom of the desktop. It provides controls (represented by icons) that start applications, and subpanels that you can use in your daily work. The Front Panel also provides a workspace switch, which you can use to move between different work areas. Chapter 3 describes the default applications available from the Front Panel and discusses how to use subpanels and workspaces.

You can customize the Front Panel by adding and removing controls from the Front Panel and subpanels, adding and removing workspaces, and renaming workspaces. If you are familiar with using desktops, you can also create a Front Panel customized configuration file. See the Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide for details on customizing the Front Panel. For information on creating configuration files, see the Common Desktop Environment: Advanced User's and System Administrator's Guide.

1.1.2    Workspaces

A workspace is the screen display area. Using CDE, you can move between different workspaces by using the workspace switch, which is numbered one through four on the Front Panel. By switching from one workspace to the next, you can set up multiple work areas. For example, one workspace can be used for managing mail, another for project management, and so on. The Front Panel is available in each workspace.

By default, there are four workspaces, but you can add, delete, or rename workspaces. See Chapter 3 for more information.

1.2    Managing the Desktop and Applications

The desktop has a File Manager, Style Manager, and Application Manager. Each of these provides you with a specific control in the desktop environment. The following list introduces these controls:

• File Manager

  The File Manager provides a view of desktop objects, which includes files, directories, and applications. All objects are represented by an icon. Using the drag and drop features of the File Manager, you can easily manipulate files and directories, and interact with other applications.

• Style Manager

  You can use the Style Manager to customize the appearance of your desktop. Using the Style Manager, you can control the workspace colors and palettes, fonts, backdrop patterns, keyboard click and character repeat, mouse button settings, audio, screen blank and screen lock, window focus, icon placement, and how your session begins and ends.

• Application Manager

  The Application Manager is a special directory (folder) for applications and other tools available on your system. Most of the tools available are installed by the System Administrator or built into the desktop, but you can also customize the Application Manager by adding other applications.

See Chapter 4 for additional information on these controls.

1.3    Obtaining More Information

The CDE documentation set is available on line and in hardcopy. You can also obtain information about CDE from the CDE Video Tour, online help volumes, and reference pages.

1.3.1    CDE Video Tour

The CDE Video Tour provides an introduction to the CDE interface and its components. Before using the CDE Video Tour on your system, you must install the subsets for Multi Media Services. The Installation Guide provides instructions on installing subsets.

To start the CDE Video Tour, use the following steps:

1. Start the Application Manager.

2. Double click on Information.

3. Double click on CDE Video Tour.

For more information, see the online help volume for the CDE Video Tour.

1.3.2    CDE Documentation Set

The CDE documentation set has three audiences: general user, programmer, and ToolTalk programmer. Table 1-1 through Table 1-3 groups these manuals by audience and describes each set.

Table 1-1: CDE User Documentation

Table 1-2: CDE Programmer's Documentation

Table 1-3: CDE ToolTalk Documentation

1.3.2.1    Using the Netscape Viewer

To view the CDE documentation on line, use the Netscape Viewer as follows:

1. Mount the Digital UNIX documentation CD-ROM under /usr/share/doclib/online.

   You must have root privileges to mount the documentation CD-ROM.

2. Start the Netscape Navigator by using one of the following methods:

   From the CDE desktop:

   1. Click on the Application Manager.

   2. Double click on Desktop_Apps.

   3. Double click on the Netscape icon.

   From a terminal emulator window, enter:

   $  /usr/bin/X11/netscape &
   

3. Load the Digital UNIX home page from the Navigator window by entering:

   file:/usr/doc/netscape/Digital_UNIX.html
   

4. Select the Digital UNIX Documentation bookshelf from the list of options.

5. Click on the Bookmarks menu, then click on the Add Bookmark option to save this bookshelf for future use.

1.3.2.2    Obtaining Hardcopy Documentation

To obtain the CDE documentation set in hardcopy, use the ordering instructions at the back of this manual. You have the option of ordering manuals electronically.

1.3.3    Online Help

Online help provides detailed information on the CDE interface and applications. From the Front Panel, click on the Help Manager to access a collection of help volumes. To access the help from within an application, click on the Help menu.

1.3.3.1    Using the Help Manager

The Help Manager is located on the Front Panel. It is a special help volume that lists all the online help registered on your system. To browse through registered online help, click on the Help Manager icon. To navigate within the Help Manager online help volume, click on any underlined topic and use the help menus and buttons.

The Help Manager icon has an arrow above it, which indicates that a subpanel is available. To view specific help topics about the desktop and Front Panel, click on the arrow. The subpanel also includes On Item help for the Front Panel. On Item help is interactive. Clicking on this option turns the pointer into a question mark (?). By positioning the pointer over an item in the Front Panel, then releasing, you receive help on that item.

1.3.3.2    Using an Application's Help Menu

To access help from within a help volume, click on the Help menu. A typical online help volume is divided into several sections. Table 1-4 describes the contents of an online help volume.

Table 1-4: Contents of an Online Help Volume

1.3.4    Reference Pages

Reference pages, often referred to as manpages, provide a synopsis and description of each command or application on the system. If the reference page subset is installed on your system, you can access reference pages using the Man Page Viewer or you can type the man command in a terminal emulator window.

1.3.4.1    Using the Man Page Viewer

To use the Man Page Viewer to view reference pages:

1. Click on the Application Manager.

2. Double click on Desktop_Apps.

3. View a reference page using one of the following methods:

   • Double click on the Man Page Viewer icon and enter the name of the reference page you want to view.

   • Drag and drop an icon or object from the desktop onto the Man Page Viewer.

See Section 1.3.4.3 for information on obtaining command and applications names by using a keyword.

1.3.4.2    Using the man Command

To view a reference page in a terminal emulator window, enter the man command followed by the name of the command or application you want to view. For example, to view the reference page for the CDE Session Manager, enter the following:

$  man dtsession

See Section 1.3.4.3 for information on obtaining command and applications names using a keyword.

1.3.4.3    Locating Command and Application Names

If you are unsure of a command or application name, use the apropos command with a keyword to locate the reference page you are seeking. For example, to find the dtsession reference page, enter the following:

$  apropos session

Any reference page that contains the word session in the name line or title of the reference page is displayed on your system including the dtsession reference page.