4 Managing the Desktop and Applications

The CDE desktop provides a File Manager, Style Manager, and Application Manager. Each provides you with a method of managing and customizing your desktop environment.

The icon-based File Manager is used to manage directories (folders) and files on your system. That is, you can create new directories and files, locate directories and files, and remove directories and files. Because it is integrated with the desktop, you can drag objects from the File Manager to use in other applications.

The Application Manager is used to access other tools that are available on your system. From the Application Manager, you can start applications, or even move applications from the Application Manager to the Front Panel.

The Style Manager is used to customize the appearance of your desktop. You can change colors, background patterns, window attributes, mouse and keyboard attributes, and select how your session begins and ends.

The following sections discuss in more detail how to use the File Manager, Application Manager, and Style Manager.

4.1 Managing Files and Folders

The File Manager is an application that you can use to manage directories (folders) and files on your system. A directory can contain subdirectories, files, and applications, and each is represented by an icon in the File Manager. The structure of directories under the File Manager is the same as the structure in a nongraphical environment. In fact, you can display files by name only.

When the File Manager is started, a window is opened that displays the current directory path, menus, a viewing area, and the directory contents, represented by icons in the viewing area. A status line specifies the number of objects in the directory you are viewing.

By using the File Manager menus, you can change, move and rename directories and files. You can also perform actions on certain files or specify how they are viewed. The following sections discuss the options available in the File Manager menus. For more information on other methods of managing files, see the Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide.

4.1.1 Using the File Manager File Menu

Use the File menu to rename directories or files and to move directories and files within the File Manager.

Table 4-1: File Manager File Menu

Menu Item	Purpose
New Folder...	Opens a dialog box that you can use to create new directories. If you do not specify a pathname, the directory is created in the current directory.
New File...	Opens a dialog box that you can use to create new files. If you do not specify a path, the file is created in the current directory.
Go Home	Changes to your home directory. The viewing area displays all files and directories in your home directory.
Go Up	Changes to the Parent Folder. That is, the view changes to the directory above your current display.
Go To...	Opens a dialog box where you can specify the directory you want to view.
Find...	Opens a dialog box where you can specify a directory or file that you want to locate. Wildcards are permitted in directory and file specifications. If you do not know the name of the file, you can specify a search by file content. Files that are located are listed by name. You have the option of placing the file on the workspace or viewing the contents of the file in the File Manager.
Open Trash	Starts the Trash application. You can use this application to delete directories or files from the File Manager.
Open Terminal	Opens a terminal emulator window. You can use this window to create new files or perform other tasks related to file management.
Close	Exits from the File Manager.

4.1.2 Using the File Manager Selected Menu

Use the Selected menu to perform actions on specified directories or files. You must first select a directory or file before initiating an action. To select a directory or file, click on your selection in the File Manager window.

Table 4-2: File Manager Selected Menu

Menu Item	Purpose
Move To...	Opens a dialog box that you can use to move a directory or file to a new destination.
Copy To...	Opens a dialog box that you can use to copy a directory or file to a new destination.
Copy as Link...	Opens a dialog box that you can use to copy a directory or file to a new destination, which is to be used as a link.
Put in Workspace	Places the selected directory or file in the workspace.
Put in Trash	Marks the selected directory or file for delete.
Rename...	Opens a dialog box that you can use to specify a new name for the directory or file.
Change Permissions...	Opens a dialog box that you can use to change the permissions on the selected directory or file.
Select All	Marks all directories and files in the current directory for an action that you specify.
Deselect All	Causes all directories and files marked for an action to be unmarked.
Open in Place	Displays the contents of the directory or file in the current File Manager window.
Open New View	Displays the contents of the directory or file in a new File Manager window.
Print	Submits to the print queue the selected directory or file.

4.1.3 Using the File Manager View Menu

Use the View menu to manipulate how directories and files are displayed.

Table 4-3: File Manager View Menu

Menu Item	Purpose
Open New View	Opens a new File Manager window.
Set View Options...	Opens a dialog box that you can use to specify the format of headers, placement of files, and how they are viewed.
Save as Default Options...	Opens a dialog box that you can use to save the current settings for the File Manager.
Show Hidden Objects	Displays all hidden directories and files in the current directory.
Set Filter Options...	Displays the Set Filters Options dialog box, which you use to specify files you want hidden based on data type or name.
Clean Up	Sorts and arranges objects in the current directory into columns and rows.
Update	Refreshes the File Manager display adding any new directories or files that have been created since the application was started.

4.2 Managing Applications

The Application Manager is a container for applications and other tools on your system. Applications are placed under the Application Manager when your system is installed, the system administrator adds them, or you can add them to this area.

4.2.1 Accessing Built-in Application Groups

When you start the Application Manager, a set of application groups is displayed in the main window. Each application group is a directory that can contain one or more controls or subdirectories.

The default application groups are as follows:

Desktop_Apps
Contains the desktop applications such as the File Manager, Style Manager, and Calendar applications.
Desktop_Tools
Contains the commonly used tools for desktop administration such as the vi text editor, Check Spelling, and Reload Application.
Information
Contains icons that represent frequently used help volumes.
System_Admin
Contains the tools used by a system administrator to manage the system.

4.2.2 Using the Application Manager Menus

The Application Manager is actually a File Manager view of a special directory on the system. Unlike the File Manager, the directories and controls in this view group applications in related groups, and all files contained in these groups are data files, read me files, templates, and actions. The menus for both the Application Manager and File Manager are closely related. For information on using the Application Manager menus, see the descriptions of the File Manager menus in Section 4.1.

4.2.3 Running an Application from the Application Manager

To run an application from the Application Manager, double click on the application group's icon to display the contents, then double click on the application that you want to start.

4.3 Customizing Your Environment

The Style Manager is an application that you can use to customize your environment. When the Style Manager is started, a window is opened that displays several controls. Each control is represented by an icon, and collectively these are used to customize screen appearance, system characteristics, and startup and logout behavior. Each control opens a dialog box that offers a variety of options.

The Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide provides detailed instructions on using the Style Manager. The following sections discuss these options.

4.3.1 Changing Screen Appearance

The Style Manager provides three controls that you can use to change the appearance of your workspace. These include the Color, Font, and Backdrop controls.

Use the Color control to set the colors displayed by windows and applications. A default list of color palettes is provided, and each can be previewed before being applied to the desktop. By using the color control, you can do the following:

Select a palette
Modify an existing palette
Choose a color from the workspace
Create a custom palette
Delete a palette
Change the number of colors used on the desktop

Use the Font control to change the size of fonts used by your applications and windows. The fonts available to you are determined by your display type. By using this control, you can preview all selected fonts before applying them to the desktop.

Use the Backdrop control to change the background pattern of your workspace. This control provides a list of several patterns that you can choose from and each can be previewed in a viewing area before you apply them to the desktop. If you prefer to view the root window, select the No Backdrop option.

4.3.2 Setting System Characteristics

The Style Manager provides five controls that you can use to set system characteristics. These include the Keyboard, Mouse, Beep, Screen, and Window controls.

Note
Not all keyboards support changing the keyclick volume or beep.

Use the Keyboard control to set the key click volume and character repeat capability. The key click volume determines how loud key clicks are as you type. If you prefer not to hear key clicks, the volume can be turned off. The character repeat capability determines whether or not a key repeats its action for as long as it is pressed.

The Mouse control is used to select the following:

Order of button settings
Sets the behavior of mouse buttons 1 and 3. By default, the mouse is set up for persons who use their right hand. The actions of mouse buttons 1 and 3 can be reversed for persons who are left handed.
Double click speed
Sets the maximum interval that can pass between the first and second click of the mouse to signal a double click action.
Pointer acceleration
Sets the speed with which the pointer moves across the display.
Pointer threshold
Sets the distance in pixels that the pointer moves at a slow speed before accelerating.

The Beep control is used to set how audible a beep is, the pitch of the beep, and the duration. The volume can be turned off, which cancels the beep.

The Screen control specifies whether or not a screen saver is placed on the screen after a certain time interval. You can choose to have a blank screen or you can select from the list of screen savers available. By using the Screen control, you can also specify whether the screen is locked in these time intervals.

The Window control alters characteristics such as how the window acquires focus, if a window raises when it receives focus, and whether or not to use icon boxes.

4.3.3 Specifying Startup and Logout Behavior

The Style Manager provides a Startup control that you can use to:

Specify whether you want to resume your current session or start a home session
Specify whether or not a logout confirmation is displayed

The session you are working in is referred to as your current session. By default, the desktop saves your current session when you log out. This session is resumed when you log into your next session. By using the Startup control, you have a choice of returning to the current session or starting a home session. A home session displays the same settings each time you log into the system. That is, a home session remains the same regardless of what you do in the current session.

A logout confirmation queries you before ending a session. You can optionally specify whether or not you want a confirmation message to appear. If you set the logout confirmation to Off, you are not given the option of canceling the logout process. By default, you are prompted to end a session.