Section 10.6. Desktop Operation


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10.6. Desktop Operation

The exact use and behavior of functions performed on windows and icons on the desktop vary, depending on the specific window manager being used, but nearly all window managers adhere to a certain set of behaviors.


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10.6.1. Bringing up the Root Menu

The root menu contains the basic functions needed to control your X session. The default list includes starting a terminal window, moving focus to another window, and exiting the window manager. The root menu is customizable and is often heavily customized to add often-used X applications to make them easy to start. It is possible to have a different menu brought up for each mouse button. Clicking and holding the rightmost mouse button while the cursor is over an empty spot on the desktop generally brings up a default menu.

10.6.2. Opening and Closing a Window

The act of opening and closing a window is generally tied to starting and stopping the application that creates the window. Thus, how a window is opened depends greatly on how the application is started. Closing the window, however, is common to all X applications. In addition to any application-specific exit or end process, an X window also has a box or tab in the upper right-hand corner of the window with an X in it. Clicking this box will terminate the program and close the window.


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10.6.3. Minimizing a Window

When you want to work in another window but you don't yet wish to terminate a program, you can minimize the window to get it off your desktop. When a window is minimized, the window manager puts an icon on the desktop or in the task bar (depending on the window manager) representing the running process. You can minimize a window by clicking on the close tab in the window border (usually a box in the upper right title bar with an underscore).

10.6.4. Maximizing a Window

To reopen a window that has been minimized, double click the icon representing the closed window on the desktop or single click the tab in the status bar representing the window.

10.6.5. Moving a Window

Move a window by selecting the window border and holding down the left or middle mouse button and then dragging the window to the new location. A window border pulldown menu also usually has a "Move" selection.

10.6.6. Resizing a Window

Resize a window by selecting the resize border area of any corner or border of the window with the left mouse button and dragging the edge to the new size. When you drag a corner, both the X and Y sizes are modified. When you select a top, bottom, or side border and drag it, the window size is modified in only one direction.

10.6.7. Raising or Lowering a Window

A window can be raised to the top (over other windows) simply by selecting its border. This also sets focus on this window. Most window managers now allow you to click anywhere in the window to raise it to the top, but be careful you don't click on an action button in the window by mistake.

10.6.8. Bringing up a Window Menu

The window manager can supply a menu for each window. These menus generally provide one or more functions listed above but can also be customized. To bring up the window menu, you can either click on the menu button in the upper left corner of the window or hold down the right mouse button anywhere in the window border or title bar.




Linux for Programmers and Users
Linux for Programmers and Users
ISBN: 0131857487
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2007
Pages: 339

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