Click Computer on the far left of the bottom panel to
open the main menu. Commonly used applications appear in the main menu,
along with recently used applications. You can also click
Documents to display your recent documents, or click
Places to display your favorite places (such as your
home directory or the Desktop). Click More
Applications to access additional applications, listed in
categories. Use the options on the right to access Help, install
additional software, open the GNOME Control Center, lock your screen, log
out of the desktop, or check the status of your hard drive and network
connections.
Figure 1-5 Main Menu
The main menu contains several elements:
1.4.1 Search Bar
The search bar helps you find applications and files on your system.
Enter your search terms in the Search field, then
press Enter. The results are displayed in the
Desktop Search dialog box.
You can use the results list to open a file, forward it via e-mail, or
display it in the file manager. Simply right-click an item in the
results list and select the option you want. The options available for
an item depend on the type of file it is. Clicking a file in the list
displays a preview of the file and information such as the title, path,
and date the file was last modified or accessed.
Use the Search menu to limit your search to files in
a specific location, such as your address book or Web pages, or to
display only a specific type of file in your results list. The
View menu lets you sort the items in your results
list according to name, relevance, or the date the file was last
modified.
For more information about using the GNOME desktop’s search function,
see Searching with Beagle.
1.4.2 Main Menu Tabs
You can determine which icons appear in the main menu by clicking the
Applications, Documents, or
Places tabs.
Favorite Applications
By default, Favorite Applications shows icons for several commonly used
applications. Use this view to show the applications you use most
often.
To add an item to your Favorite Applications:
Click Computer > More
Applications.
Right-click the application you want to add.
Select Add to Favorites.
The selected application is added to your Favorite Applications.
To remove an item from your Favorite Applications:
Click Computer.
Make sure that your Favorite Applications appear in the main menu.
If Favorite Applications does not appear on the
main menu, click Applications.
Right-click the item you want to remove.
Select Remove from Favorites.
The removed application no longer appears in your Favorite
Applications view.
Recent Applications
Recent Applications shows the last two applications you have started.
Use this view to quickly find applications you have used recently.
Recent Documents
Click the Documents tab to display the last several
documents you have opened. Use this view to quickly locate the
documents you worked on most recently. Click More
Documents to open the File Browser.
Recent Places
Click the Places tab to display the last several
places you have opened. Use this view to quickly locate the places you
worked on most recently. Click More Places to open
the File Browser.
1.4.3 System
System provides shortcuts to several system applications.
Table 1-3 System Shortcuts
Application
Description
Help
Opens the Help Center, which provides online documentation for your
system.
Opens the Software Installer, which guides you through the process
of installing new software.
Lock Screen
Locks your system so that nobody can access it while you are away.
Enter your password to unlock the system.
Log Out
Opens the Log Out dialog, where you can log out or switch users.
Shutdown
Opens the Shutdown dialog, where you can shut down or restart your
system, or suspend the computer.
1.4.4 Status
Status displays information about your hard drive and network
connection, including the amount of available space on your hard disk
and the type of network connection you are using.
