The Front Panel is the horizontal display located at the bottom of your workspace. It displays the controls (or tools) that you use to start applications, manage tasks in a desktop session, or change workspaces. Each control is represented by an icon that indicates its purpose.
This chapter provides descriptions of the controls available by default on the Front Panel and discusses how to use subpanels and workspaces.
This chapter contains the following information:
By default, the Front Panel provides several controls that you can use to manage your desktop sessions. Some controls, such as the Clock, are indicators only. Indicators do not perform actions. Others, such as the Mail control, perform actions. That is, you can use mail to send and receive messages.
Figure 3-1
shows the default CDE Front Panel.
Figure 3-1: CDE Front Panel
The available Front Panel controls are described in Table 3-1. For detailed information on the use of each tool, see the Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide.
Table 3-1: Front Panel Controls
| Application | Use of Application |
| Clock | Displays the time of day in analog format. Clicking on this control does not perform an action. |
| Calendar | Displays the current month and day. Use this application to schedule appointments and To Do Items, set reminders, browse other calendars, and schedule group appointments. Dropping an appointment file on the Calendar control adds the appointment to your calendar database. |
| File Manager | Provides a view of directories (folders) and files. Dropping a directory on the File Manager control opens a view of that directory. |
| Text Editor | Opens a Text Editor window where you can create letters or notes. Dropping a file on the Text Editor icon opens that file in a Text Editor window. |
| Mailer | Starts the Mailer application. Use this application to send, receive, save, and forward mail messages. Dropping a file on this control displays a new message window, with the file dropped in as an attachment. |
| Lock | Pauses a session indefinitely. Pausing a session locks the workstation display, but applications continue to run. To resume a session, enter your password. |
| Workspace Switches | Changes workspaces. Use this switch to move to different work areas. There are four workspaces by default. |
| Busy Light | Indicates that an action is being performed. For example, when you start an application, the light blinks. Once the call to the application is complete, the busy light stops blinking. Clicking on this icon does not produce an action. |
| Exit | Starts the logout process for a session. |
| Printer | Displays the status of the default printer. Dropping a file on the Printer icon prints that file on the default printer. |
| Style Manager | Opens the Style Manager application. Use this application to change the characteristics of your environment. |
| Application Manager | Starts the Application Manager, which is a container for applications and other tools available on your system. |
| SysMan Station | Starts the SysMan Station, a graphical
system map that lets you visually select system components and run SysMan
applications that apply to those components.
Available only if you are logged
in as
root.
Figure 3-2
shows
a portion of the CDE Front Panel that includes the SysMan Station Control. |
| Help Manager | Displays the top level of available online
help information.
Dropping a master help volume file (*.sdl)
onto the Help Manager opens a help viewer window and displays the contents
of that volume.
|
| Trash Can | Opens the Trash Can application. Use this application to delete files. Dropping a file on the Trash Can control moves the file to a discard directory. |
Figure 3-2
shows the SysMan Station control on the
CDE Front Panel.
This is available only if you are logged in as
root.
Figure 3-2: SysMan Station Control on CDE Front Panel
3.2 Using Front Panel Menus and Workspaces
Some Front Panel controls have arrows above them, indicating that a subpanel is available. A subpanel is a menu that provides access to other controls, which you can use to manage your desktop session. Section 3.2.1 provides more information and describes the default subpanel menus.
All controls on the Front Panel have a pop-up menu that you access by pointing to the control and clicking mouse button 3. Usually, pop-up menus contain a control that you can use to add or remove a subpanel, and a control to view an online help volume. Controls, that perform actions, such as the Text Editor, also provide a control on the pop-up menu that you can use to start that action from the menu. Refer to Table 2-2 for general information on using menus.
You can use the Workspace Menu to manage workspaces. The workspace menu is a pop-up menu used to manage windows, the Front Panel, and more. Section 3.2.2.1 tells you more about the Workspace menu.
The CDE Window List lets you quickly locate an application window among many open windows in multiple workspaces. Section 3.2.2.2 explains how to use the CDE Window List.
This section contains the following information:
Subpanel menus provide you further access to other tools and controls for the Front Panel. Each subpanel on the Front Panel also provides an Install Icon control to add other tools to the subpanel.
By default, there are three subpanels available from the Front Panel.
They are the Personal Applications, Personal Printer, and Help Manager subpanels.
To open a subpanel, point to a control icon that has an arrow above it, then
click on mouse button 1.
If you are logged in as
root,
you also may have access to the SysMan Applications Subpanel located
above the SysMan Station control on the Front Panel.
The following sections discuss the default subpanels.
For more information
on using and customizing the subpanels, see the
Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide.
3.2.1.1 Personal Applications Subpanel
The Personal Applications subpanel
contains applications that you use frequently.
It is located above the Text
Editor control on the Front Panel.
Figure 3-3
shows the Personal Applications subpanel.
Figure 3-3: CDE Personal Applications Subpanel
The menu items available on this subpanel include:
Install Icon
Use this control to add items to the Personal Applications subpanel. To add an item, drag an item from the File Manager or Application Manager onto the Install Icon control, then release. The item is then added to the subpanel.
Text Editor
Use this control to create text files such as notes and messages. This control is a duplicate of the Text Editor control available on the Front Panel.
Terminal
Use this control to start the
dtterm
terminal emulator,
which emulates the portion of a VT220 terminal that is consistent with ANSI
and ISO standards.
You can use the terminal emulator to enter UNIX commands,
copy and paste text, or communicate with remote systems.
Note
In certain locales, the DECwindows Motif terminal emulator
dxtermis available on this subpanel instead ofdtterm. Refer to Chapter 9 for more information.
Icon Editor
Use this control to create or modify icons and backdrop images in bitmap or pixmap format.
Netscape
Use this control to launch the Netscape Navigator application.
3.2.1.2 Personal Printers Subpanel
The Personal Printers subpanel lists default printers.
It is
located above the Printer control on the Front Panel.
Figure 3-4
shows the Personal Printers subpanel.
Figure 3-4: CDE Personal Printers Subpanel
The menu items include:
Install Icon
Use this control to add items to the Personal Printers subpanel. To add an item, drag an item from the File Manager or Application Manager onto the Install Icon control, then release. The item is then added to the subpanel.
Use this control to display the status of print jobs on the default printer. If you drag and drop a file on this menu item, the job is printed on the default printer or a printer of your choice. This control is the same as the Default Printer control on the Front Panel.
Print Manager
Use this control to obtain a view of available printers on the system.
The
Help Manager subpanel lists other available help volumes.
It is located above
the Help Manager control on the Front Panel.
Figure 3-5
shows the Help Manager subpanel.
Figure 3-5: CDE Help Manager Subpanel
The menu items include:
Install Icon
Use this control to add items to the Help Manager subpanel. To add an item, drag an item from the File Manager or Application Manager onto the Install Icon control, then release. The item is then added to the subpanel.
Help Manager
Use this control to display the top level of help information. This control is the same as the Help Manager control on the Front Panel.
Desktop Introduction
Use this control to display the introductory help volume for the desktop.
Front Panel Help
Use this control to display help for the Front Panel.
On Item Help
Use this control to obtain on-item help for controls in the Front Panel. To obtain on-item help, click on the On Item Help control. The pointer turns into a question mark (?). Position this question mark over an object on the Front Panel, then release. Help is then displayed for that object.
3.2.1.4 SysMan Applications Subpanel
The SysMan Applications subpanel lists System
Management Applications.
It is located above the SysMan Station control
on the Front Panel.
Both the SysMan Applications subpanel and the SysMan Station
control on the Front Panel are available only if you are logged in as
root.
Figure 3-6
shows the SysMan Applications
subpanel.
Figure 3-6: SysMan Applications Subpanel
Install Icon
Use this control to add items to the SysMan Applications subpanel. To add an item, drag an item from the File Manager or Application Manager onto the Install Icon control, then release. The item is then added to the subpanel.
Use this control to start the SysMan Station, a graphical system
map that lets you visually select system components and run SysMan
applications that apply to those components.
This is available only if you
are logged in as
root.
Daily Administration
Use this control to access applications used for frequently performed system administration tasks.
Configuration
Use this control to access applications used to configure a system after installation. Ordinarily, you will not need to use these applications once your system is set up.
Monitoring/Tuning
Use this control to access applications used to monitor and tune your system after it is up and running.
Software Management
Use this control to access applications used to install and manage additional software on your system.
Storage Management
Use this control to access applications used to monitor and manage file sytems.
Tools
Use this control to access applications used to display a variety of system statistics with the Display Window application. You can repeatedly display the same statistics to monitor progress or trends.
Use this control to access the SysMan Menu, a hierarchical menu of system management tasks that can be used in several different user environments.
Workspaces offer you a method of organizing your work into categories.
Use the workspace switch on the Front Panel to move between workspaces.
By
default, the workspace switch
has four buttons, labeled One, Two, Three, and Four.
To move between workspaces,
click on one of the workspace buttons.
Figure 3-7
shows the workspace switch.
Figure 3-7: CDE Front Panel Workspace Switch
Each workspace offers you a view of the Front Panel. Thus, you can easily locate applications and tailor each workspace to suit your needs. Often it is useful to rename a workspace. To rename a workspace:
Click on the workspace button that you want to change. The workspace selected is displayed.
Click on the workspace button again. This changes the button to an input text field.
Enter the new name in the text field and then press the [Return] key.
You also can use the workspace button pop-up menu to rename, add, or remove workspaces. To use the workspace button pop-up menu:
Point to the workspace button that you want to change and press mouse button 3.
Choose the option you want from the pop-up menu.
If you add a workspace, it is labeled New. You can rename the workspace using either of the previous methods.
If you remove a workspace that contains windows, the windows are moved
to the next workspace.
If it is the last workspace and it has windows, removing
the workspace causes all windows to be moved to the first workspace (labeled
one by default).
3.2.2.1 Using the Workspace Menu
CDE provides a Workspace menu.
The Workspace menu is a pop-up
menu that contains items for managing each of your workspaces.
To open the
Workspace menu, point to any blank area on your screen and click and hold
mouse button 3.
Figure 3-8
shows the CDE Workspace Menu.
Figure 3-8: CDE Workspace Menu
Use the Workspace menu to:
Raise or lower windows relative to each other
Refresh the display
Minimize or restore the Front Panel
Consolidate scattered icons in the Workspace
Restart the Window Manager (especially if you have customized configuration files)
Log out of the session
You can customize the Workspace menu by adding or removing
items as you choose.
See the
Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide
for more information.
3.2.2.2 Using the CDE Window List
CDE provides a Window List to help locate application windows in your Workspaces. Use either of these methods to open the CDE Window List:
Point to any blank area on your workspace backdrop and click mouse button 2.
Press the [Alt/F11] key combination.
Figure 3-9
shows the CDE Window List.
Figure 3-9: CDE Window List
The CDE Window List lets you quickly locate an application window among many open windows in multiple workspaces. Use the CDE Window List to:
Find an application window
Show the icon image, location, and state of an application window
Go directly to an application window from the CDE Window List
Sort the list of application windows by title, class, workspace, or time created (most recently used at the bottom of the list)
Search for application windows by title, class, or workspace
See the online help volume for detailed information on using the CDE Window List. To access the online help volume, start the CDE Window List and click on the Help button.