Chapter 10. Using GNOME

Table of Contents
10.1. Getting Help
10.2. GNOME's File Manager: Nautilus
10.3. Setting up your Panel
10.4. GNOME Menu

This chapter is dedicated to GNOME, another favorite graphical user interface. Although its features resemble a lot those of KDE, the user interface is a bit different to what you might be accustomed to. On the other hand, you will rapidly notice that it is much sexier than anything you previously used!

10.1. Getting Help

GNOME comes with a built-in

Help browser which is very useful for new users. The intermediate (maybe experienced) user may also find this tool of use since it holds a good index of GNOME applets and programs. You will find it on your panel (the task bar at the bottom of your screen): it is easily recognizable since it is represented by an interrogation mark (?).

The Help section works like a browser. Therefore, surfing through it is very easy through hyperlinks. As an example, you will find definitions for the clock, CD player and CPU applets in the GNOME Documents section. This is an excellent starting point and it will give you a good idea of what GNOME can do for you, as well as why and how you should/can utilize it. Feel free to frequently surf its pages: you will surely become a better user once you master this user-friendly browser-based tool.

Figure 10-1. Help Center under GNOME

Now that you are a bit more comfortable with your new environment, we will briefly describe the Help browser's three main sections.

GNOME User's Guide

Pretty self-explanatory, no? This section contains the complete GNOME User Guide. It is an essential tool for all GNOME users. Its ease of use and explicit definitions will surely help you better understand this GUI (Graphical User Interface).

Man Pages

Now, something a bit more complex... The Man Pages will answer almost every question you may have about programs, functions and administration utilities. They are targeted to intermediate and experienced users who master the evil command line. As an example, if you have a problem copying a file, simply type man cp ("cp" stands for copy) in a command line and it will return all the available options for that command. The GNOME Man Pages held in the Help browser are an exact replica of what you get when you type man followed by a precise command ("cp" in our example).

Info Pages

The more you explore the Help browser, the better a user you will become. The Info Pages holds a set of tutorials about GNU-based software and utilities. If you wish to master Emacs, a powerful editor, fear not! The Info Pages will help you learn more on this amazing software application.

GNOME Documents

This section holds a series of fascinating user guides and tutorials. You did not find a free software equivalent to your usual spreadsheet? Browse the GNOME Documents and look for the gnumeric hyperlink. Those documents are the best way to quickly learn and feel comfortable with a GNU/Linux desktop.


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