Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Chapter 3 Using the Graphical User Interface

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Objectives Use the Start menu and Applications menu Tailor the desktop Access data on your computer 2

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the Start Menu and Applications Menu Using the Windows 7 Start Menu and Taskbar –Use Taskbar to: Access useful programs and documents Switch rapidly between open programs –Start Menu views Default Start menu appears when you start Windows 7 for the first time Getting Started option displays list of useful links 3

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the Start Menu and Applications Menu (continued) Figure 3-1 Default Start menu Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning 4

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the Start Menu and Applications Menu (continued) Customizing the Start Menu –Start menu in Windows 7 has more customization –Division of programs on the left of the Start menu: Pinned items list: appears above the separator line Most frequently used programs list: appears below separator line –Right side of the Start menu: Reserved for important places on your computer –To modify the Start menu: Right-click the Start menu icon and click Properties 5

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the Start Menu and Applications Menu (continued) Figure 3-4 Taskbar and Start Menu Properties dialog box Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning 6

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the Start Menu and Applications Menu (continued) Using the Taskbar –Taskbar: narrow box across the bottom of the screen –Functions: Start menu Open programs and windows Open your favorite programs System tray (notification area) Show Desktop button Auto-hiding the Taskbar –Right-click blank spot on the taskbar, click Properties, then check the “Auto-hide the taskbar” 7

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the Start Menu and Applications Menu (continued) Moving and resizing the Taskbar –To increase its size: position the mouse pointer over the taskbar’s outer edge and drag the pointer –To move the taskbar: click an empty area in it and drag it to the desired location Using Toolbars on the Taskbar: possible shortcuts –Three or four programs that you use the most –Documents you use each day –Folders that you frequently access for files 8

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the Start Menu and Applications Menu (continued) Table 3-1 Toolbars you can add to the taskbar 9

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the Start Menu and Applications Menu (continued) Grouping programs on the Taskbar –Taskbar can become crowded with buttons –Grouping feature helps you manage multiple open documents –Task button behavior: Always combine Hide labels Combine when the taskbar is full Never combine 10

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Customizing Fedora 13 Panels Comparing the panel to the Windows 7 Taskbar: –Similarities: Start menus, Internet icons, applications –Difference: appearance of the program icons Applications menu: –Provides access to applications on the system Places menu: –Provides a list of locations that open in File Browser windows when selected Right side of panel includes: –Date and time, and the name of current user 11

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux12 Figure 3-10 Fedora 13 desktop showing panels Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Customizing Fedora 13 Panels (continued) Bottom desktop panel: –Contains three items by default, but you can configure it as you wish Click the icon on the far left side of the panel to: –Hide or show all windows on the desktop For each application running on the desktop: –A button appears on the currently selected Workspace Trash: –Drag and drop items you no longer need 13

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Customizing Fedora 13 Panels (continued) Adding and removing panels –Right-click existing panel and click New Panel –Right-click existing panel and click Delete This Panel Customizing the panel –Right-click empty area, use the submenu that appears Customizing menu items –To customize a menu item, right-click it 14

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Customizing Fedora 13 Panels (continued) 15 Table 3-2 Menu item options

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Customizing Fedora 13 Panels (continued) Adding to the panel –Right-click the top panel, and then click Add to Panel –To add an application, use: Custom Application Launcher or Application Launcher –To add an applet: Locate the applet from the Add to Panel dialog box –To add a panel drawer that contains launcher icons: Select the Drawer option in the Add to Panel dialog box –To remove an item from a panel: Right-click it then click Remove from Panel 16

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Tailoring the Desktop The desktop is like a physical desk: –Stores your electronic work equipment –Gives you easy access to current projects Desktop: –Main screen in Windows 7 and Fedora 13 –Allows you to put program icons on both screens 17

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the New Windows 7 Desktop Features Jump list: –Allows you to go directly to documents, pictures, songs, and Web sites used daily –To open, right-click program icon on the Start menu –Can provide quick access to commands Snap: –Resizes open windows –Makes it easy to read, organize, and compare windows 18

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the New Windows 7 Desktop Features (continued) Peek: –Gives you the power of X-ray vision Shake: –Lets you cut through a cluttered desktop and quickly focus on a single window Flip 3D: –Displays open windows in a stack Shake, Peek, and Flip 3D: –Included in the Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, and Enterprise editions of Windows 7 19

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Tailoring the Windows 7 Desktop Increasing the size of Windows text fonts –Consider changing fonts if screen text not readable – Click: Start Control Panel Appearance and Personalization link, “Make text and other items larger or smaller” Desired size –To change font size, log off and log on again 20

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Tailoring the Windows 7 Desktop (continued) Choosing the appearance of desktop icons –Options available to keep desktop neat Icon size: Large, Medium, or Small Visibility: hide icons during presentations Align to grid: all icons jump to the invisible grid Consolidate: sort and group icons to the invisible grid Sort: sort by criteria such as name and date 21

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux22 Figure 3-12 Appearance tab of Display Properties dialog box Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Tailoring the Windows 7 Desktop (continued) Changing screen resolution –To change amount of information on the screen: Change the screen resolution –To view more information: Increase the screen resolution 23

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Tailoring the Fedora 13 Desktop To customize the Fedora 13 panel: –Right-click an empty area, then use the submenu that appears Desktop launchers: –Application –Application in Terminal –Location To create a Folders and Documents entry: –Right-click and select from the resulting desktop context menu 24

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Tailoring the Fedora 13 Desktop (continued) Setting appearance preferences –Appearance Preferences dialog box: Contains options for customizing desktop’s display theme, background, and fonts –To change the desktop background: Right-click the desktop Click Change Desktop Background 25

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Tailoring the Fedora 13 Desktop (continued) Changing display settings –Display Settings window contains options for customizing your display Example: screen resolution, color depth, and monitor type –To open the Display Settings window: Click System Point to Administration Click Display 26

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Tailoring the Fedora 13 Desktop (continued) 27 Figure 3-15 Display Settings window Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Accessing Data on Your Computer Using Windows Explorer –Enables you to locate and open files and folders –Breadcrumbs: navigation aids used in an address bar to keep track of your locations –Five controls in Windows Explorer: Organize: consolidates many of the menu commands System properties: provides basic information Open Control Panel: adjusts computer settings Change view: allows you to switch the view Share with: supports sharing a folder with other users 28

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux29 Figure 3-16 Windows Explorer Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Accessing Data on Your Computer (continued) 30 Figure 3-17 Contents list to Pictures folder Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Accessing Data on Your Computer (continued) Using Windows Explorer (continued) –Organize menu: Allows you to hide or show additional information –Information that appears in the details pane: Music file: lists album, recording format, artist, etc. Disk icon: lists statistics about total size, free space, and formatting option WordPad document: lists date created, date modified, file type, and size 31

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Accessing Data on Your Computer (continued) Using Windows Explorer (continued) –Preview pane: Shown on the right side of the Explorer window –Navigation pane: Appears on the left side of the Explorer window 32

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Accessing Data on Your Computer (continued) 33 Figure 3-18 Layout menu Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Accessing Data on Your Computer (continued) Using the libraries –Windows 7 introduces concept of libraries –Libraries: display contents of folders –Default libraries: Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos –To use libraries: click the name in the navigation pane –To add a new library: right-click Libraries in the navigation pane, point to New, then click Library –To name the library: right-click New Library, click Rename, then type the library name 34

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux35 Figure 3-20 Pictures library Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Accessing Data on Your Computer (continued) Using the Recycle Bin – You can retrieve deleted files or folders –To access: click it’s icon on the desktop –Emptying the Recycle Bin permanently deletes files –Some files may be too large to delete –By default: Recycle Bin can only hold 10 percent of the hard drive’s capacity 36

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Accessing Data on Your Computer (continued) Searching from the Start Menu –Use it when: You are looking for common file types You remember all or part of a filename You know when you last changed a file You know a word or phrase in the file –Type search information in the “Search programs and files” text box –Result is limited to 15 entries –Results menu lists every file, folder, program, picture, movie, music file, and Web bookmark 37

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux38 Figure 3-23 Sample search results Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Accessing Data on Your Computer (continued) Searching from the Explorer Window –Search box: located at right of address bar –Search is limited to displayed Explorer window –Difference between Explorer and the Start menu Search is not limited to 15 entries Search Builder: used to filter search results –Search filters: depend on the folder contents or library being viewed –Results are displayed very quickly 39

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the Fedora 13 File Browser File Browser: –Locates and opens files and folders –To open: click Applications, System Tools, and File Browser –Window includes: Basic menus Toolbars Navigation pane Tabbed preview pane 40

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux41 Figure 3-24 File Browser in Fedora 13 Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux42 Figure 3-25 Location bar and side pane options in File Browser Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the Fedora 13 File Browser (continued) File Browser (continued) –Menu bar: includes File, Edit, View, and Tabs menu –Browse button: Browse local and remote disks and folders –Location bar: equals address bar in Windows 7 –Location bar: Contains options that let you change the view size –Left side of the File Browser window: Contains a side pane Shows information about the current file or folder 43

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the Fedora 13 File Browser (continued) Options in the side pane: –Places: displays places of particular interest –Information: displays information about current folder –Tree: Displays a hierarchical representation of your file system –History: Contains list of recently visited files and folders –Notes: add notes to your files and folders –Emblems: contains emblems that you can add to a file or folder 44

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the Fedora 13 File Browser (continued) Using the Trash –Trash gives you a second chance to retrieve deleted files or folders –To access, click the Trash icon –As the Trash fills with deleted material: Older items are removed automatically –Empty trash: If running low on hard drive space 45

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the Fedora 13 File Browser (continued) 46 Figure 3-26 Trash in Fedora 13 Courtesy Course Technology/Cengage Learning

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Using the Fedora 13 File Browser (continued) Searching from the File Browser –Use search feature to search by file and folder names and their contents –To begin search: click Search button on main toolbar –Search bar replaces location bar –Search results appear in view pane 47

Guide to Parallel Operating Systems with Windows 7 and Linux Summary Graphical user interface (GUI): –Has many menus that you use to work with applications Use the Start menu to: –Begin applications in the Windows GUI environment GUI desktop : –Can be tailored in Windows 7 and Fedora Core 13 You have many options for: –Accessing locally stored data in Windows 7 and Fedora Core 13 48