The Common Desktop Environment (CDE) presents a visual desktop that you can use to interact with the operating system. This chapter introduces the basic skills you need to perform tasks in the desktop environment. It then describes how to start, pause, and exit from a desktop session.
This chapter contains the following information:
2.1 Navigating in the CDE Desktop
To navigate within the CDE desktop, you can use the mouse or keyboard. Both provide you with a method of accessing and interacting with the desktop and applications. The following sections describe the mouse and keyboard controls.
This section contains the following information:
The mouse is a three-button control connected to your workstation. Moving the mouse on a smooth surface directs the movement of the pointer that appears on your desktop. The pointer is shaped like an arrow by default, but it changes shape depending on the action that is being performed. When you perform tasks using the mouse pointer, you specify what to act on by positioning the pointer over that object.
The three mouse buttons determine the type of action that is performed. By default, mouse button 1 is the left button, mouse button 2 is the center button, and mouse button 3 is the right button. By pressing and releasing the mouse buttons, actions occur.
Mouse button 1 is used typically to do the following:
Start applications
Select and manage objects in the desktop or in applications
Cut and paste text
Move objects on the desktop
Change the size of objects on the desktop
Mouse button 2 can be used for copy and paste operations or to move objects. You can also use mouse button 2 to display the CDE Window List, as described in Section 3.2.2.2.
Mouse button 3 is used to display and manipulate pop-up menus as described in Section 2.2.2.2.
When you use the mouse to interact with the desktop and applications, you often are instructed to perform click, double click, or drag and drop operations.
To click on an object with the mouse, point to the object, then press and release the specified mouse button.
To double click on an object with the mouse, point to the object, and click the specified mouse button twice in quick succession.
To drag and drop an object with the mouse, position the pointer on the object, then press and hold the specified mouse button while moving the pointer (and object) to a new position. Release the mouse button to drop the object in the new location.
See the
Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide
for more information on using the
mouse.
2.1.2 Using the Keyboard
You can use the keyboard instead of the mouse to interact with the desktop. To use the keyboard as a navigator, you combine keys to complete actions. The following list highlights actions you can perform with the keyboard:
Start applications
Select objects on the desktop
Size objects on the desktop
Move objects on the desktop
Manipulate the scroll bars in applications
Display and select objects
Most of the tasks documented in this chapter can be performed using the mouse or keyboard, however only examples of using the mouse are provided. For instructions on using the keyboard to complete tasks, see the Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide.
Note
Some of the instructions in this document direct you to use a specific key or key combination, such as the [Delete] key or [Alt/F11]. If your keyboard does not include a specified key, refer to your keyboard's hardware documentation or see Chapter 8 for information about customizing your keyboard settings.
When you start most applications, the application is displayed on your desktop in a framed rectangular window. An application may have more than one window.
The window itself is your work area or a place to interact with the application. The window frame has controls that you can use to manage the window. Window controls consist of a title bar, resize borders, buttons, and scroll bars. Some windows also have a Menu Bar.
A Menu Bar offers a choice of menus and menu items that you can use to further manipulate a window or application. Some of the menu items open dialog boxes. A dialog box is similar to a window and provides you with a means of interacting with the system or an application.
The following sections discuss window controls and provide information on managing windows, menus, and dialog boxes. To complete the actions, you must be familiar with mouse or keyboard techniques. The remaining sections in this chapter highlight the use of the mouse only.
This section contains the following information:
2.2.1 Managing Window Controls
Usually, a window frame consists of a title bar, resize borders, buttons, and scroll bars. Table 2-1 highlights these features.
| Window Control | Description |
| Title bar | Displays the name of the application and contains a Window menu button, Minimize button, and Maximize button. |
| Click the Window menu button to display the window menu, then click on menu items to change the characteristics of the window. Double clicking on the Window menu button closes (or exits) the application. | |
| Click the Minimize button to turn a window into an icon. An icon is a graphical representation of an object. To restore an icon, double click on the icon. | |
| Click the Maximize button to display the window in its largest size. To restore the window to its original size, click on the Maximize button again. | |
| Resize border and corners | Makes a window larger or smaller. Drag either the border or corner to size the window. |
| Scroll bars | Enable you to view information such as text or graphics that is not displayed in the current work area. You optionally can have horizontal or vertical scroll bars, or both. Slide the scroll bars by clicking on the scroll arrows or by positioning the pointer over the box in the scroll bar and dragging it to the location you want. |
2.2.2 Managing Multiple Windows, Menus, and Dialog Boxes
When you run an application, a window is opened. Most often, you run several applications concurrently, thus you have more than one window opened on your desktop at the same time. Likewise, most application windows have menu bars, and certain applications open two windows or provide dialog boxes.
The following sections provide an overview of managing windows, menus,
and dialog boxes.
2.2.2.1 Handling Multiple Windows
Using the window controls is one of the available methods for managing windows. You also can manage multiple windows using the mouse and keyboard. The following lists some actions you can perform using the mouse:
Make a window active by pointing to any part of a window, then click mouse button 1. You can make a window active by pointing to the resize borders or title bar, then click mouse button 2. The title bar of the window changes to indicate that this window is ready for input.
Move a window or window icon by pointing to the window's title bar or icon, then drag the window or icon to a new location.
Move a partially hidden window or window icon to the foreground of your desktop by clicking on any portion of the window or icon.
Copy text from a window and paste it in another window as follows:
Move the pointer to the start of the text you want to copy.
Drag the pointer to the end of the text and release the mouse button which highlights the text you want to move.
Point to the location where you want to insert text.
Click mouse button 2 to paste the text.
If you decide you do not want to paste the selected text, keep the pointer in the window that has the selected text, point to an empty space, then release the mouse button.
See the
Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide
for more information.
2.2.2.2 Handling Menus
Menus present you with a list of items that you can use to interact with windows, applications, and the desktop. Often, a menu item specifies an action that is to be performed on an object you select. Sometimes a menu item is dimmed. This indicates that the item is currently unavailable, and is available only under certain conditions.
Table 2-2
lists the three types of menus.
Table 2-2: Menu Types
| Menu Type | Description |
| Pull-down | Located on an application's menu bar, just below the title bar. A menu bar may contain one or more pull-down menus. |
| To pull down a menu, click on the menu's name. | |
| To select a menu item, click on the menu's name, then click on the menu item. | |
| Pop-up | Present in some applications, desktop objects, and on the workspace itself. In applications, these menus often duplicate the items in the pull-down menu. Providing them in a pop-up menu offers further flexibility when you are working in applications. |
| To pop up a menu, click mouse button 3 in an application window, on a desktop object, or on the desktop. | |
| Option | Appear in dialog boxes. Option menus appear as buttons, and while they can contain more than one item, only the active option is displayed. |
| To view all menu items, click on the Option menu (button). | |
| To select a menu item from the Option menu, click on the Option menu (button), then click on the item. |
When you select a menu item followed by an arrow, it opens a submenu. Select an item in a submenu by clicking on the menu item. When you select a menu item that is followed by an ellipsis ( ... ), it opens a dialog box for additional information to qualify your selection.
See the
Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide
for more information.
2.2.2.3 Handling Dialog Boxes
Some applications have dialog boxes. Dialog boxes typically require that you input additional information before an action is performed. There are several types of controls that appear in dialog boxes. While some dialog boxes may use several controls, others may use only one.
Table 2-3
lists controls you may see in dialog boxes.
Table 2-3: Dialog Box Controls
| Control | Purpose |
| Text entry box | Provides fields for entering requested information. An insertion cursor shows where to enter text. If the cursor is blinking in a field, the text entry box is ready for input. If it is not blinking, click on the text entry box to activate the box. You can delete characters in these fields by using the [Delete] key. |
| Radio button | Provides a list of available options. Click on a Radio button to view options. |
| Check button | Controls on and off settings. Click on a Check button to turn settings on or off. |
| Sliders and scales | Selects numeric values. Drag the slider or scale to select a value. |
| List box | Provides a menu of options. If a list box has numerous options, a scroll bar appears. You can select an option by clicking on it. |
| Push button | Used to respond to queries, to indicate how an application is to handle information you have input, or to offer a set of options. To perform a push-button operation, click on a push button. |
For more information on dialog boxes,
refer to the
Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide.
2.3 Starting a Session
The Login Manager displays a login screen. The login screen has fields where you must enter your user name and password. Push buttons at the bottom of the screen are used to manage your login session:
This section contains the following information:
| Button | Description |
| OK | Indicates that the information you entered is correct. |
| Start Over | Resets the login screen if you enter incorrect information or lose your place. |
| Options | Displays the Options menu. The Options menu is used to select the type of session you want to start and to specify a language. |
| Help | Provides details on using the login screen. |
Type your user name and press the [Return] key or click OK.
Select the options you want, if any, from the Options menu.
Type your password and press the [Return] key or click OK.
The default language for your system is set by your system administrator; however, you can access other languages that are installed on your system by using the Options menu as follows:
Click on the Options menu.
Click on the Language menu item and select a language group.
Select a language.
Choosing a language from the Options menu sets the environment
variable LANG.
The default language is restored at the end of the session.
2.3.2 Selecting a Session
Selecting a session determines how your work environment is set up during your login session. You have the option of starting a Regular Desktop Session, Failsafe Session, or Command Line Session.
Select a session from the Options menu as follows:
Click on the Options menu.
Click on the Session menu item.
Select the type of session you want to start.
A Regular Desktop Session starts the CDE Session Manager. When you start a CDE desktop session, a console window and a Front Panel are displayed. The console displays all system messages received during a session. The Front Panel provides you access to applications and workspaces. See Chapter 3 for information on the Front Panel.
A Failsafe Session opens a terminal window and starts the Window Manager. Logging into a Failsafe Session is useful when you want to execute commands before starting a desktop session. For example, you may have a problem that you want to fix before beginning a session.
The Command-line Login 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.
2.3.3 Resetting the Login Screen Option
If you decide that the options you selected
are not the ones you want, you can reset the login screen.
Resetting the login
screen returns all options selected back to their default values.
2.4 Pausing a Session
If you plan to be away from your current session for a time, you can pause your session indefinitely. Pausing your session locks your workstation, but applications that were started continue to run. Each environment that you work in offers a different method of pausing a session:
To pause a Regular Desktop Session, click on the Lock control on the Front Panel.
To pause a Failsafe Session, type the
dxpause
command at the command line prompt.
When you pause your session, a blank screen is placed over
the workstation screen and a dialog box is displayed stating that the display
is locked.
You have the option of displaying other screen savers by using
the Style Manager.
Enter your password in the text entry box to resume your
session.
2.5 Ending a Session
Each environment that you work in offers a different method of ending a session:
To end a Regular Desktop Session, click on the Exit button on the Front Panel. A dialog box appears that asks you to confirm the end of session. You can choose to continue with the log out process, cancel the logout process, or select help.
All settings from this session are saved and restored during your next session, including all applications that support save and restore. That is, all applications that are opened when you exit a session, which support save and restore, are opened when you log in again. For some applications, all the work is restored, while for others, only the main screen of the application is restored.
If you changed your startup options using the Style Manager Startup control specifying other options, the state of your next session depends on your selection.
To end a Failsafe Session, type the
exit
command at the command line prompt in a terminal emulator window.
To end a Command Line Login Session, type the
exit
command at the command line prompt.