About This Manual

This manual provides an introduction to the Common Desktop Environment (CDE), a graphical user interface (GUI) that provides an easy method of interacting with the Compaq Tru64^TM UNIX^® (formerly DIGITAL UNIX) operating system.

The CDE Companion is divided into two parts:

Part 1 provides an introduction to the Common Desktop Environment (CDE) for those users who are not familiar with desktop interfaces.

Part 2 provides information on migrating from DECwindows Motif to CDE.

Note

In this manual all references to DECwindows refer to the DECwindows Motif software.

Audience

This manual is divided into two parts and has distinct and separate audiences as follows:

The user who is unfamiliar with desktop environments

The user who wants to migrate from DECwindows Motif to the CDE environment

For users new to desktop environments, this book provides quick-start information on logging into the system, navigating in the new environment, managing the desktop, and using integrated applications.

For users migrating from DECwindows to CDE, this book introduces the new environment and provides information about how to use CDE to perform tasks formerly done with DECwindows Motif.

This book should be used along with the Common Desktop Environment: User's Guide.

New and Changed Features

The following list describes the major changes made to this book:

This version of the operating system provides many new features and enhancements to its System Management Applications, including a setup utility. For more information, see the Installation Guide, System Administration, Technical Overview, the sysman_intro(8) reference page, and the online help for the applications.

New figures show commonly used CDE features and integrated applications.

Adobe has retired their Display PostScript (DPS) product, which includes the client libraries, X Server extension, and various applications and examples. Therefore, Compaq has also retired the Adobe DPS product from Tru64 UNIX. No replacements will be available. Customers who have used the Adobe DPS libraries to develop their own applications will not have a migration path. The following Adobe applications have been retired and will no longer be included with the operating system.
- dpsclock
- dpsexec
- draw
- fontview
- makepsres
- pswrap
- scratchpad
- texteroids
- wonderland
- xepsf
- All Adobe fonts under /usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1Adobe
Support for Adobe Display PostScript (DPS) utilities that depend upon DPS, such as dxbook, dxmail, dxnotepad, and showps, are no longer available.
You can use the ghostscript and ghostview utilities instead, which are available on the freeware distribution media.
The following applications, which use Adobe DPS, have been retired and will no longer be included with the operating system:
- dxvdoc
- dxbook
- dxnotepad (I18N version in WorldWide Language Support software in the APCD)

You can now access the Netscape Navigator application from the Personal Applications subpanel on the CDE Front Panel, and startup instructions are in Section 1.3.2.

Section 3.1 shows the root user's SysMan Station Front Panel control.

Section 3.2.1.4, describes the SysMan Applications Subpanel.

Section 3.2.2.2 introduces the CDE Window List. This tool, new for this release, can help you locate application windows across multiple workspaces.

Chapter 5 accurately describes current integrated applications. It also introduces the SysMan Menu and SysMan Station applications, and the DECterm application.

Section 8.1 covers information about display-specific sessions.

Organization

This book is organized into ten chapters divided into two parts, and an appendix:

Part 1 introduces CDE to those users who are not familiar with a graphical desktop environment.

Part 2 provides information on migrating from DECwindows Motif to CDE.

Appendix A discusses differences in mail handlers.


Part 1	Introduces the Common Desktop Environment (CDE) and provides information on getting started in this environment.
Chapter 1	Describes the main components of CDE and describes how to access the documentation set, online help, and reference pages.
Chapter 2	Provides information on navigating in the CDE desktop using the mouse and keyboard, and describes how to start and end a desktop session.
Chapter 3	Provides a tour of the Front Panel and explains how to access applications, use subpanels, and use workspaces.
Chapter 4	Describes how to use the desktop to manipulate files, access applications, and customize the environment.
Chapter 5	Provides an overview of the desktop and system management utilities that are integrated into CDE, and introduces the SysMan Menu and SysMan Station.
Part 2	Discusses migrating from the DECwindows Motif environment to CDE.
Chapter 6	Provides an overview of the common components and differences between DECwindows Motif and CDE.
Chapter 7	Describes differences between DECwindows Motif and CDE when starting and ending a session and accessing applications.
Chapter 8	Describes the CDE methods used to customize your desktop environment instead of using DECwindows Motif.
Chapter 9	Discusses internationalization migration issues in CDE for those who used these features in DECwindows Motif.
Chapter 10	Describes how to convert DECwindows mail folders and calendar databases to a format that is understood by the CDE mail and calendar applications.
Appendix A	Describes differences between MH/DXmail and the CDE mail application.

Related Documents

Icons on Tru64 UNIX Printed Books

The printed version of the Tru64 UNIX documentation uses letter icons on the spines of the books to help specific audiences quickly find the books that meet their needs. (You can order the printed documentation from Compaq.) The following list describes this convention:

G	Books for general users
S	Books for system and network administrators
P	Books for programmers
D	Books for device driver writers
R	Books for reference page users

Some books in the documentation help meet the needs of several audiences. For example, the information in some system books is also used by programmers. Keep this in mind when searching for information on specific topics.

The Documentation Overview provides information on all of the books in the Tru64 UNIX documentation set.

Reader's Comments

Compaq welcomes any comments and suggestions you have on this and other Tru64 UNIX manuals.

You can send your comments in the following ways:

Fax: 603-884-0120 Attn: UBPG Publications, ZKO3-3/Y32

Internet electronic mail: readers_comment@zk3.dec.com
A Reader's Comment form is located on your system in the following location:
```
/usr/doc/readers_comment.txt
```

Mail:
Compaq Computer Corporation
UBPG Publications Manager
ZKO3-3/Y32
110 Spit Brook Road
Nashua, NH 03062-2698

A Reader's Comment form is located in the back of each printed manual. The form is postage paid if you mail it in the United States.

Please include the following information along with your comments:

The full title of the book and the order number. (The order number is printed on the title page of this book and on its back cover.)

The section numbers and page numbers of the information on which you are commenting.

The version of Tru64 UNIX that you are using.

If known, the type of processor that is running the Tru64 UNIX software.

The Tru64 UNIX Publications group cannot respond to system problems or technical support inquiries. Please address technical questions to your local system vendor or to the appropriate Compaq technical support office. Information provided with the software media explains how to send problem reports to Compaq.

Conventions

The following conventions are used in this manual:

% $: A percent sign represents the C shell system prompt. A dollar sign represents the system prompt for the Bourne, Korn, and POSIX shells.
#: A number sign represents the superuser prompt.
% cat: Boldface type in interactive examples indicates typed user input.
file: Italic (slanted) type indicates variable values, placeholders, and function argument names.
[ | ] { | }: In syntax definitions, brackets indicate items that are optional and braces indicate items that are required. Vertical bars separating items inside brackets or braces indicate that you choose one item from among those listed.
colored text: In syntax definitions, literal elements are colored green. Variable values, placeholders, and function argument names are colored red. No special colored text is used outside of syntax descriptions.
cat(1): A cross-reference to a reference page includes the appropriate section number in parentheses. For example, cat(1) indicates that you can find information on the cat command in Section 1 of the reference pages.