mc/doc-gnome/C/gmc.sgml

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<article id="index">
  <artheader>

    <authorgroup>
      <author>
	<firstname>Dave</firstname>
	<surname>Mason</surname>
	<affiliation>
	  <address>
            <email>dcm@redhat.com</email>
          </address>
	</affiliation>
      </author>
    </authorgroup>
    <copyright>
      <year>1998,1999, 2000</year>
      <holder>Red Hat Software</holder>
    </copyright>
    <legalnotice>
      <para>
	Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
	under the terms of the <citetitle>GNU Free Documentation
	License</citetitle>, Version 1.1 or any later version published by the
	Free Software Foundation with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover
	Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts. You may obtain a copy of the
	<citetitle>GNU Free Documentation License</citetitle> from the Free
	Software Foundation by visiting <ulink type="http"
	url="http://www.fsf.org">their Web site</ulink> or by writing to
	<address>
	  Free Software Foundation, Inc.
	  <street>59 Temple Place</street> - Suite 330
	  <city>Boston</city>, <state>MA</state> <postcode>02111-1307</postcode>
	  <country>USA</country>
	</address>
      </para>
      <para>
	Many of the names used by companies to distinguish their products and
	services are claimed as trademarks. Where those names appear in any
	GNOME documentation, and those trademarks are made aware to the members
	of the GNOME Documentation Project, the names have been printed in caps
	or initial caps.
      </para>
    </legalnotice>
    <title>Gnome Midnight Commander Documentation</title>
  </artheader>
    <sect1>
      <title>The Gnome File Manager</title>
      <para>
        GNOME includes a file manager that allows you to manipulate the files on
        your system in a comfortable, powerful, graphical environment. This File
        Manager is known as GMC for GNU Midnight Commander.  GMC is based on the
        Midnight Commander file manager which can be run in a terminal.
      </para>
      <para>
        Midnight Commander has long been known for its power and ease of
        use. GMC has taken the power and ease of use from MC and added the GNOME
        graphical frontend.
      </para>
      <para> 
        As mentioned in the previous chapter, the GNOME File Manager
        provides the desktop functionality for GNOME.  The GNOME File Manager
        also provides a place to manipulate files on your system by using the
        GNOME File Manager window.
        <figure>
          <title>GNU Midnight Commander - The GNOME File Manager</title>
          <screenshot>
            <screeninfo>GMC</screeninfo>
            <Graphic Format="png" Fileref="./figs/gmc1" srccredit="dcm">
            </graphic>
          </screenshot>
        </figure>
      </para>
      <para>
        There are two main windows within the GNOME File Manager. On the left is
        the tree view, which represents all of the directories on your system by
        their hierarchical position. On the right is the directory window, which
        will show you the contents of the directory which you have selected in
        the tree view.
      </para>
      <para>
        To select a directory in the tree view simply use a single mouse
        click. This will change the main directory view, showing the files in
        the directory you have chosen. If there is a plus sign to the left of a
        directory name in the tree window, you may click on it to show
        subdirectories.  At this point the plus sign will have changed to a
        minus sign. If you click on the minus sign, the subdirectory once again
        becomes hidden in the tree view and the plus sign reappears.
      </para>
      <para>
        <indexterm>
          <primary>
            Viewing Files
          </primary>
        </indexterm> 
        The directry window has a few viewing options you may wish
        to take advantage of: the icon view and three list views: brief,
        detailed and custom.
      </para>
      <para>
        The Icon view is the default view and will display large icons for each
        file.  The Brief view shows the files and directories in a list. The
        Detailed view expands this list to include information about the
        files. The Custom view is a list view that allows you to select the
        information you want to view about files.
      </para>
      <para>
        In the Brief, Detailed, and Custom views if you click on one of the
        information titles on the top of the window it will sort the files
        according to that information. For example, if you want to find the
        largest files in the directory you can click on the Size title and the
        files will be sorted by size from largest to smallest. One more click on
        the Size title will change the sorting from smallest to largest.
      </para>
    </sect1>
    <sect1 id="gmcnav" >
      <title>Moving Around the GNOME File Manager</title>
      <para>
        <indexterm>
          <primary>
            Moving around 
          </primary>
        </indexterm>
        Above the tree and main file windows in the GNOME File Manager there is
        a Location text box.
      </para>
      <para>
        Within this text box you can type the path location of the file which
        you would like to view in the main window.
      </para>
      <para>
        <indexterm id="idx-a38">
          <primary>
            FTP
          </primary>
        </indexterm> 
        The GNOME File Manager is also equipped to view FTP
        sites. To view an FTP site you will need to be connected to the Internet
        either through a dial up account or a network. Type the FTP address in
        the Location text box and the GNOME File Manager will attempt to connect
        to the site.
      </para>
      <para>
        Make sure you type in FTP addresses in the following manner:
        <programlisting>ftp://[site address]</programlisting>
      </para>
      <para>
        Above the Location text box are navigation buttons you might wish to
        use. The buttons with the arrow icons allow you to move within the
        directories adjacent to the one you are in. The left button will take
        you to the previous directory you were in, the middle button will take
        you up one level in the directory hierarchy, and the right button will
        take you to the next directory if you have just moved backwards.
      </para>
      <tip>
        <title>TIP</title>
        <para>
          You can open a secondary window by using your middle mouse button on
          any directory.  Press the middle mouse button (or both left and right
          mouse buttons if you have emulation) on a directory in the main window
          and a new window will open showing the contents of the directory you
          clicked on.
        </para>
      </tip>
    </sect1>
    <sect1 id="gmcselect" >
      <title>Selecting Files</title>
      <para>
        <indexterm>
          <primary>
            Selecting Files
          </primary>
        </indexterm>
        Selecting files is done with your mouse by clicking on the file or files
        in the GNOME File Manager.  The file that is selected will then
        highlight to show you that it has been selected.  
      </para>
      <para>
        <indexterm id="idx-a40">
          <primary>
            Selecting multiple files 
          </primary>
        </indexterm>
        There are a couple of ways to select more than one file. One way is to
        use the "rubber band" select by clicking and dragging the mouse cursor
        around several files. This action will produce a small dotted line, the
        "rubber band", to show you the area in which files will be selected.
      </para>
      <figure>
        <title>"Rubber Band Select"</title>
        <screenshot>
          <screeninfo>Rubber Band Select</screeninfo>
          <Graphic format="png" Fileref="./figs/rubberband" srccredit="dcm">
          </graphic>
        </screenshot>
      </figure>
      <para>
        If you wish to be more selective about the files you are choosing, or
        the files you need do not reside next to one another, you may use the
        <keycap>CTRL</keycap> key to keep the files you have selected while you
        are selecting more. This works by selecting a file, pressing and holding
        the <keycap>CTRL</keycap> key and selecting another file. While the
        <keycap>CTRL</keycap> key is pressed you will be able to add to the
        "list" of files that are selected. Once you have selected multiple files
        by either method you may copy or move the files.
    </para>
    <para> You may also use the <keycap>SHIFT</keycap> button to select a range
      of files. For example, if you are in list mode and you press the
      <keycap>SHIFT</keycap> key while selecting the file at the top of the
      list, and then select a file ten rows down with the <keycap>SHIFT</keycap>
      key still pressed, you will select the ten files in that range.
    </para>
      <para>
        You may also select all files in a directory by selecting the
        <guimenuitem>Select All</guimenuitem> menu item from the
        <guimenu>Edit</guimenu> menu.
      </para>
      <para>
        <indexterm>
          <primary>
            Filtering
          </primary>
        </indexterm>
        You may also filter your selection by using the <guimenuitem>Select
        Files</guimenuitem> menu item in the <guimenu>Edit</guimenu> menu. Using
        <guimenuitem>Select Files</guimenuitem> will display a simple dialog
        which will allow you to type in criteria for your selection. In this
        field, the symbol <keycap>*</keycap> is interpreted as a wildcard, E.g.,
        it matches any string.  For example, if you would like to select all
        files in the directory that start with the letter <keycap>D</keycap>,
        you can type <keycap>D*</keycap> (note that filenames in Unix are
        case-sensitive).
      </para>
    </sect1>
    <sect1 id="gmccopy" >
      <title>Copying and Moving Files</title>
      <para>
        <indexterm>
          <primary>
            Copying files
          </primary>
        </indexterm>
        <indexterm>
          <primary>
            Moving files
          </primary>
        </indexterm>
        The default action for dragging and dropping files between the GNOME
        File Manager and the desktop is to move them. But you can also use drag
        and drop to copy a file by pressing the <keycap>SHIFT</keycap> key while
        dragging the file(s). You can also drag a file within the file manager
        to another directory. Select the file in the main window and drag it to
        the desired directory in the tree window. Note, however, that when
        dragging to the tree window the default action is to copy the file. As
        you drag the file to the tree window, you will see a plus sign appear to
        remind you that theh file will be copied. You can also use drag and drop
        to copy directories the same way as you did for files.  Again note the
        plus sign signifying that the directory will be copied, not moved.
      </para>
      <para>
        <indexterm>
          <primary>
            Linking files
          </primary>
        </indexterm>
        You may also bring up a menu which lets you decide what action to
        perform with a drag by using the middle mouse button to drag a file or
        pressing the <keycap>ALT</keycap> key while dragging a file. Once you
        release the drag you will get a pop-up menu which contains the options
        Copy, Move, Link, and Cancel Drag.
      </para>
      <!-- E makes this useless!!! That is broken!
    <para>
      Another way to copy or move files is to take advantage of the right mouse
      click <guimenu>pop-up</guimenu> menu. Right mouse click on the file you
      want to copy or move and select <guimenuitem>Move/rename</guimenuitem> or
      <guimenuitem>Copy</guimenuitem> from the <guimenu>pop-up</guimenu> menu.
      This will bring up a dialog in which to perform thes tasks.  </para> -->
      <para>
        <figure>
          <title>The Move Dialog</title>
          <screenshot>
            <screeninfo>Move Dialog</screeninfo>
            <Graphic Format="png" Fileref="./figs/gmc_move" srccredit="dcm">
            </graphic>
          </screenshot>
        </figure>
        <indexterm>
          <primary>
            Moving files
          </primary>
        </indexterm>
        To use the move dialog you simply type in the path where you wish to
        move the file. If you want to rename the file you may type the new name
        of the file in the path string. The Copy dialog looks and works exactly
        the same way as the Move/rename dialog.
      </para>
      <para>
        If the file you are moving is a symbolic link &mdash; that is, a virtual
        link to where the file actually resides (called a shortcut in some other
        operating systems) &mdash; you may select the <guilabel>Advanced
        Options</guilabel> tab and select <guilabel>Preserve
        symlinks</guilabel>.  Selecting this will make sure the link is
        preserved despite the move.
      </para>
      <para>
        It is recommended that you use this method of moving a symbolic link.
      </para>
    </sect1>
    <sect1 id="gmcrename" >
      <title>Renaming Files</title>
      <para>
        <indexterm>
          <primary>
            Renaming files
          </primary>
        </indexterm>
        Renaming files in the GNOME File Manager window or on the desktop can be
        achieved in two ways.
      </para>
      <para>
        One method of renaming a file is to right mouse click on the file and
        choose the <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> menu item from the
        <guimenu>pop-up</guimenu> menu. In the Filename text box you may type in
        the new name as you wish it to appear.
      </para>
      <figure>
        <title>File Properties</title>
        <screenshot>
          <screeninfo>File Properties</screeninfo>
          <Graphic format="png" Fileref="./figs/fileprops" srccredit="dcm">
          </graphic>
        </screenshot>
      </figure>
      <para>
        A shortcut method to rename a file is to slowly double click on the
        filename in the icon view or on the desktop.  Make sure the double-click
        is slow so you do not launch the file but you simply highlight and then
        click again.  At this point the name of the file will enter into the
        editing mode, your mouse cursor will change to an editing line, and you
        can type in the new name. Once the name is as you would like it to be
        you may press the <keycap>Enter</keycap> key to end the editing process.
      </para>
    </sect1>
    <sect1 id="gmclaunch" >
      <title>Launching Applications From the GNOME File Manager</title>
      <para>
        <indexterm>
          <primary>
            Launching applications from
          </primary>
        </indexterm>
        The GNOME File Manager allows you to launch applications from the main
        window by simply double clicking your mouse on a file which has an
        application associated with it. You can change the way file types are
        handled by reading the Mime Capplet Chapter in the GNOME User's
        Guide. Some files that are actually archives will allow you to "look
        inside" them. For example, .tar files, .gz files, and .rpm files can all
        be double clicked and the files archived inside them will appear in the
        File Manager.
      </para>
      <para>
        <indexterm>
          <primary>
            Open with
          </primary>
        </indexterm>
        If the file does not have an associated application you can right mouse
        click on the file and select <guimenuitem>Open with</guimenuitem> from
        the <guimenuitem>pop-up</guimenuitem> menu. This will bring up a dialog
        that allows you to define the application which will launch the
        file. The dialog reproduces your Main Menu items so that you can browse
        through your applications to find the one you would like to open the
        file with. If you do not find the application in the tree you may
        specify the path and application name in the <guilabel>Program to
        run</guilabel> text box.
      </para>
      <figure>
        <title>The Open With Dialog</title>
        <screenshot>
          <screeninfo>Open With Dialog</screeninfo>
          <graphic Format="png" Fileref="./figs/open_with" srccredit="dcm">
          </graphic>
        </screenshot>
      </figure>
    </sect1>
    <sect1 id="gmcfileprops"
      <title>File Properties and Actions</title>
      <para>
        <indexterm id="idx-a48">
          <primary>
            File properties
          </primary>
        </indexterm>
        For any file in the main file display you may right mouse click on it
        and choose a variety of properties and actions for it from the
        <guimenu>pop-up</guimenu> menu:
      </para>
      <ITEMIZEDLIST mark="bullet">
        <listitem>
          <para>
            <guimenuitem>Open</guimenuitem> - This will open the file with the
            default application associated with it. You may read more about
            editing these associations in Mime Capplet Chapter in the GNOME
            User's Guide. Some files that are actually archives will allow you
            to "look inside" them. For example, .tar files, .gz files, and .rpm
            files can all be double clicked and the files archived inside them
            will appear in the File Manager.
          </para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>
            <guimenuitem>Open With</guimenuitem> - You may open a file with any
            application using this menu item. You may read more about this in
            <xref linkend="gmclaunch">.
          </para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>
            <guimenuitem>View</guimenuitem> - This will view the file with a
            basic text viewer.
          </para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>
            <guimenuitem>Edit</guimenuitem> - This will launch an editor to edit
            the file. The editor launched is determined by the application
            associated with that file type. You may read more about editing this
            association in Mime Capplet Chapter in the GNOME User's Guide..
          </para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>
            <guimenuitem>Copy</guimenuitem> - This will copy the file to the
            clipboard so that it can be pasted elsewhere.
          </para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>
            <guimenuitem>Delete</guimenuitem> - This will delete the file.
          </para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>
            <guimenuitem>Move</guimenuitem> - This will bring up the
            <guilabel>Move</guilabel> dialog, which will allow you to move the
            file. You can read more about this dialog and moving files in <xref
            linkend="gmccopy">.
          </para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>
            <guimenuitem>Symlink</guimenuitem> - Symlink allows you to create a
            symbolic link to the file you have selected i another
            directory. When you select Symlink you will see a dialog which
            allows you to type in the directory and filename that you wish to be
            the symbolic link to the file. This link will be a "shortcut" to the
            selected file. If you do no understand symlinks you might want to
            refer to the <!-- newbies appendix  reference -->
          </para>
        </listitem>
        <listitem>
          <para>
            <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> - The Properties menu item
            will launch the Properties dialog. The Properties dialog allows you
            to edit and view the properties for the selected file.
          </para>
          <para> 
            The Properties dialog consists of three tabs, Statistics,
            Options, and Permissions.
          </para>
          <figure>
            <title>File Properties</title>
            <screenshot>
              <screeninfo>File Properties</screeninfo>
              <Graphic format="png" Fileref="./figs/fileprops" srccredit="dcm">
              </graphic>
            </screenshot>
          </figure>
          <ITEMIZEDLIST mark="bullet">
            <listitem>
              <para>
                <guilabel>Statistics</guilabel> - This tab will show you the
                file information including the name, type, size, and
                history. You may change the name of the file in the
                <guilabel>File Name</guilabel> text box. Sizes for directories
                will <emphasis>not</emphasis> show you the size of the directory
                with all the files within it.
              </para>
            </listitem>
            <listitem>
              <para>
                <guilabel>Options</guilabel> - This tab will allow you to change
                the action options for the file. You can define how to open,
                view, and edit the file. If you need to open it in a terminal
                window you may select the <guilabel>Needs terminal to
                run</guilabel> checkbox.
              </para>
              <note>
                <title>NOTE</title>
                <para>
                  If you bring up the Properties dialog from an icon on the
                  desktop you will be able to change the icon for that file in
                  the <guilabel>Options</guilabel> tab.
                </para>
              </note>
            </listitem>
            <listitem>
              <para>
                <guilabel>Permissions</guilabel> - This tab allows you to change
                the permissions and ownership of a file if you have access to do
                so. You may select Read, Write, and Exec permissions for the
                User, Group, and Others. You may also set the UID, GID and
                Sticky as well as define who owns the file.
              </para>
	  </listitem>
          </itemizedlist>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
    <note>
      <title>NOTE</title>
      <para>
	Changing properties on symlinks is meaningless in the File
	Manager. If you need to change the properties on such a file you
	need to change them on the actual file, not the link to it.
      </para>
    </note>
    </sect1>
    <sect1 id="gmcprefs">
      <title>Changing Your Preferences in The File Manager</title>
      <para>
        <indexterm>
          <primary>
            Preferences
          </primary>
        </indexterm>
        There are many settings you can configure for the GNOME File Manager.
      </para>
      <para>
        These settings may be accessed from the <guilabel>GMC
        Preferences</guilabel> dialog.  You may launch this dialog by selecting
        the <guimenuitem>Preferences</guimenuitem> menu item from the
        <guimenu>Edit</guimenu> menu.
      </para>
      <para>
        The <guilabel>GMC Preferences</guilabel> dialog is divided into Five major
        sections:  <guilabel>File Display</guilabel>,
        <guilabel>Confirmation</guilabel>, <guilabel>VFS</guilabel>,
        <guilabel>Caching</guilabel>, <guilabel>Desktop</guilabel>, and
        <guilabel>Custom View</guilabel>.
      </para>
      <sect2 id="gmcprefs-file">
        <title>File Display</title>
        <figure>
          <title>File Display Preferences</title>
          <screenshot>
            <screeninfo>File Display Preferences</screeninfo>
            <graphic Format="png" Fileref="./figs/gmcprops1" srccredit="dcm">
            </graphic>
          </screenshot>
        </figure>
        <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
          <listitem>
            <para>
              <indexterm>
                <primary>
                  Display
                </primary>
              </indexterm>
              The <guilabel>File Display</guilabel> tab allows you to change the way 
              files are displayed in GMC.
            </para>
            <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
              <listitem>
                <para>
                  <guilabel>Show backup files</guilabel> - This will show any backup
                  file that might be on your system.
                </para>
              </listitem>
              <listitem>
                <para>
                  <indexterm>
                    <primary>
                      Hidden Files
                    </primary>
                  </indexterm>
                  <indexterm>
                    <primary>
                      Show hidden files
                    </primary>
                  </indexterm>
                  <guilabel>Show hidden files</guilabel> - This will show all
                  "dot files" or files that begin with a dot. These files
                  typically include configuration files and directories.
                </para>
              </listitem>
              <listitem>
                <para>
                  <guilabel>Mix files and directories</guilabel> - This option will 
                  display files and directories in the order you sort them instead of 
                  always having directories shown above files.
                </para>
              </listitem>
              <listitem>
                <para>
                  <guilabel>Use shell patterns instead of regular 
                    expressions</guilabel> - This option is for advanced users only. If 
                  you are unfamiliar with Regular Expressions you should not use this 
                  option. If you are familiar with how to create regular expressions 
                  you may select this option to use them in your sorts and filters.
                </para>
              </listitem>
            </itemizedlist>
          </listitem>
        </itemizedlist>
      </sect2>
      <sect2 id="gmcprefs-confirm">
        <title>Confirmation</title>
        <figure>
          <title>Confirmation Preferences</title>
          <screenshot>
            <screeninfo>Confirmation Preferences</screeninfo>
            <graphic Format="png" Fileref="./figs/gmcprops2" srccredit="dcm">
            </graphic>
          </screenshot>
        </figure>
        <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
          <listitem>
            <para>
              <indexterm>
                <primary>
                  Confirmations
                </primary>
              </indexterm>
              This tab allows you to change which functions ask for your confirmation  
              before continuing.
            </para>
            <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
              <listitem>
                <para>
                  <guilabel>Confirm when deleting file</guilabel> - This will bring up 
                  a confirmation screen before deleting a file.
                </para>
              </listitem>
              <listitem>
                <para>
                  <guilabel>Confirm when overwriting files</guilabel> - This will bring 
                  up a confirmation screen before overwriting a file.
                </para>
              </listitem>
              <listitem>
                <para>
                  <guilabel>Confirm when executing files</guilabel> - This will bring 
                  up a confirmation screen before executing a file.
                </para>
              </listitem>
              <listitem>
                <para>
                  <guilabel>Show progress while operations are being 
                    performed</guilabel> - This will bring up a progress bar while 
                  certain operations are being performed such as copying, moving, 
                  deleting, etc.
                </para>
              </listitem>
            </itemizedlist>
          </listitem>
        </itemizedlist>
      </sect2>
      <sect2 id="gmcprefs-VFS"
        <title>VFS</title>
        <figure>
         <title>VFS Preferences</title>
          <screenshot>
            <screeninfo>VFS Preferences</screeninfo>
            <graphic Format="png" Fileref="./figs/gmcprops3" srccredit="dcm">
            </graphic>
          </screenshot>
        </figure>
        <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
          <listitem>
            <para>
              <indexterm>
                <primary>
                  VFS
                </primary>
              </indexterm>
              <indexterm>
                <primary>
                  Virtual File System
                </primary><see>"VFS"</see>
              </indexterm>
              This tab allows you to configure the options for your Virtual File 
              System.
            </para>
            <para> 
              The Virtual File System allows you to manipulate files that are not 
              located on your local file system. There are different version of the 
              VFS including ftpfs and tarfs. The ftpfs allows you to work on FTP 
              sites while the tarfs gives you access inside .tar files. 
            </para>
            <note>
              <title>NOTE</title>
              <para>
                The .tar file is the standard UNIX archive format
              </para>
            </note>
            <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
              <listitem>
                <para>   
                  <guilabel>VFS Timeout</guilabel> - This will determine how long 
                  you will be connected to any VFS without activity. The timeout is 
                  measured in seconds.
                </para>
              </listitem>
              <listitem>
                <para>
                  <guilabel>Anonymous FTP password</guilabel> - This allows you to set 
                  a password for logging into anonymous FTP sites. Usually you will 
                  want to make this your email address.
                </para>
              </listitem>
              <listitem>
                <para>
                  <guilabel>Always use FTP proxy</guilabel> - If you need to use a 
                  proxy to connect to FTP sites you will want to enable this.
                </para>
              </listitem>
            </itemizedlist> 
          </listitem>
        </itemizedlist>
      </sect2>
      <sect2 id="gmcprefs-cache">
       <title>Caching</title>
        <figure>
         <title>Caching Preferences</title>
         <screenshot>
          <screeninfo>Caching Preferences</screeninfo>
          <graphic Format="png" Fileref="./figs/gmcprops4" srccredit="dcm">
          </graphic>
         </screenshot>
        </figure>
      <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
       <listitem>
        <para>
         This tab allows you to configure items that will enhance the speed of
	 GMC by using caching.
        </para>
        <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
         <listitem>
          <para> 
           <guilabel>Fast directory reload</guilabel> - This option will store 
	   directory information in cache so that it can load faster.
          </para>
          <important>
           <title>IMPORTANT</title>
           <para>
            If you enable the <guilabel>Fast directory reload</guilabel> you may
	    experience problems with not seeing new files that have been added 
	    to directories.
           </para>
          </important>
         </listitem>
         <listitem>
          <para>
           <guilabel>Compute totals before copying files</guilabel> - This will 
	   make GMC determine the number of files  you are copying before it 
	   performs the task so that it can give you information about the 
	   process as it's happening.
          </para>
         </listitem>
         <listitem>
          <para>
           <guilabel>FTP directory cache timeout</guilabel> - This option will
	   keep recently visited FTP site information in cache for the amount of
	   time you specify. The time is measured in seconds.
          </para>
         </listitem>
         <listitem>
          <para>
           <guilabel>Allow customization of icons in icon view</guilabel> - This 
	   will allow you to change the icons in the icon view by right mouse 
	   clicking on them and selecting the 
	   <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> menu item. You can always 
	   change the icons of items that are on your desktop but you can only 
	   change the icons in the icon view with this option turned on.
          </para>
          <important>
           <title>IMPORTANT</title>
           <para>
            Turning on the <guilabel>Allow customization of icons in icon 
	    view</guilabel> function may result in a slower system.
           </para>
          </important>
         </listitem>
        </itemizedlist>
       </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
      </sect2>
      <sect2 id="gmcprefs-desk">
	<title>Desktop</title>
	<para>
	<indexterm>
         <primary>
          Desktop
         </primary>
	</indexterm>
         As you learned before, the GNOME desktop is controlled by the GNOME File
         Manager. The Desktop Dialog allows you to change the settings of the
         desktop.
	</para>
         <figure>
          <title>The Desktop Dialog</title>
           <screenshot>
	    <screeninfo>The Desktop Dialog</screeninfo>
	    <Graphic Format="png" Fileref="./figs/gmcprops5" srccredit="dcm">
             </graphic>
	    </screenshot>
	    </figure>
         <para>
          <guilabel>Icon placement</guilabel> - This small window allows you to
          determine where your desktop icons will be placed by default. To change
          the location of the icons simply click your mouse button in the window
          near the edge you would like the icons to appear. The small sample icons
          will move with your mouse clicks to show you where the default placement
          will be.
         </para>
         <para> 
          <guilabel>Use shaped icons</guilabel> - This option is turned on by
          default. If for some reason you have and older display, a strange X server
          setup, or any other graphic display problem, you may select this to make
          the desktop icons non-transparent.
         </para>
         <para>
          <guilabel>Use shaped text</guilabel> - This option is turned on by
          default. Like the shaped icons above you may choose to have
          non-transparent text labels with your icons.
         </para>
         <para>
          <guilabel>Auto icon placement</guilabel> - This will automatically arrange
          icons on your desktop for you. If you would rather place the icons
          manually you should turn this off.
         </para>
         <para>
          <guilabel>Snap icons to grid</guilabel> - This will keep all of your icons
          in line when you move them to keep a clean desktop. It creates a grid that
          the icons will automatically move to when you release it after dragging.
         </para>
       </sect2>
   <sect2 id="gmcprefs-custom">
    <title>Custom View</title>
    <para>
    <indexterm>
     <primary>
      Custom View
     </primary>
     </indexterm>
     The Custom View dialog allows you to set the way you would like the Custom 
     View to look in the GNOME File Manager. 
    </para>
     <figure>
      <title>The Custom View Dialog</title>
      <screenshot>
       <screeninfo>The Custom View Dialog</screeninfo>
       <Graphic Format="png" Fileref="./figs/gmcprops6.png" srccredit="dcm">
       </graphic>
      </screenshot>
     </figure>
    <para>
     There are two main columns in the <guilabel>Custom View</guilabel>, the 
     <guilabel>Possible Columns</guilabel> and the <guilabel>Displayed 
     Columns</guilabel>.
    </para>
    <para>
     The <guilabel>Possible Columns</guilabel> list includes all of the
     information types that can be displayed. If you would like to include one,
     you may press the <guibutton>Add</guibutton> button and it will be added to
     the <guilabel>Displayed Columns</guilabel> list.
    </para>
    <para>
     The <guilabel>Displayed Columns</guilabel> list shows you the current 
     information types that will be included in your Custom View. If you wish to 
     remove any you may press the <guibutton>Remove</guibutton> button.
    </para>
    <para>
     If you would like to re-arrange the items in the <guilabel>Displayed 
     Columns</guilabel> list you may drag them to the desired location with your 
     mouse.
    </para>
   </sect2>
  </sect1>
  <sect1 id="gmcmenus" >
   <title>Menu Guide to the GNOME File Manager</title>
   <para>
   <indexterm>
    <primary>
     Menus
    </primary>
    </indexterm>
    In this section each menu item in the GNOME  File Manager will be described. 
   </para>
   <tip>
    <title>Tip</title>
    <para>
     All menus in the GNOME File Manager are enabled with the tear-away 
     feature. If you would like any menu to "float" on the desktop in its own 
     window simply select the perforation line at the top of the menu.
    </para>
   </tip>
   <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
    <listitem>
     <para>
      <guimenu>File</guimenu> - The File Menu contains items associated with 
      files and higher level activity.
     </para>
      <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Create New Window</guimenuitem> - This will open a new File 
	 Manager Window.
        </para>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>New | Terminal</guimenuitem> - This launches a new GNOME
         Terminal window that will automatically navigate to the directory
         displayed in the main window view.
        </para>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>New | Directory</guimenuitem> - This creates a new
         directory in the directory displayed in the main window view.
        </para>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>New | [application]</guimenuitem> - Some applications may
         put items for you in the <guimenu>New</guimenu> menu. For example, the
         Gnumeric spreadsheet will put a <guimenuitem>New Gnumeric
         Spreadsheet</guimenuitem> menu item in the <guimenu>New</guimenu> menu
         so you can a new spreadsheet in the directory displayed in the main
         window view.
        </para>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Open</guimenuitem> - This will open the file you have 
	 selected with your mouse cursor.
        </para>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Copy</guimenuitem> - This will launch the Copy dialog to  
	 enable you to copy the selected file to a destination you choose.
        </para>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
        <guimenuitem>Delete</guimenuitem> - This will delete the file you have 
	selected.
        </para>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Move</guimenuitem> - This will launch the Move/rename
	 dialog to enable you to rename the selected file or move it to a
	 destination you choose.
        </para>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Show directory sizes</guimenuitem> - This option will
         determine the size of your directories and display it in the Detail or
         Custom views. Depending on the size of your directories, this could
         take a while to display and may tax your system when viewing large
         directories.
        </para>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
        <guimenuitem>Close this Window</guimenuitem> - This will close the GNOME
        File Manager window you are currently running.
        </para>
       </listitem>
     </itemizedlist>
    </listitem>
   </itemizedlist>
   <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
    <listitem>
     <para>
      <guimenu>Edit</guimenu> - The Edit menu contains items that are associated 
      with editing and selecting files.
     </para>
     <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
      <listitem>
       <para>
        <guimenuitem>Select All</guimenuitem> - This will select all of the
	files in the main window.
       </para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
       <para>
        <guimenuitem>Select Files</guimenuitem> - This will launch a simple
	dialog box which will allow you to specify a selection pattern. For
	Example, if you wish to select all files beginning with the letter D you
	can simply type D* and press OK.
       </para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
       <para>
        <guimenuitem>Invert Selection</guimenuitem> - This will invert the  
	current selection. For example, if you have 7 files selected in a 
	directory with 10 files, selecting Invert Selection will select the 
	three remaining files and unselect the 7 files that were previously 
	selected.
       </para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
       <para>
        <guimenuitem>Search</guimenuitem> - This toggles on the "completion"
        search for the File Manager. Once it is turned on the status bar at the
        bottom of the window displays the word "Search:" and allows you to start
        typing. If you are searching for a file named "GNU" in the directory
        displayed in the main window view typing "G" will move the selection to
        the first file or directory beginning with "G". Typing "GN" move the
        selection to the first file beginning with "GN", and so on. You may also
        toggle this feature on by pressing
        <keycombo><keycap>CTRL</keycap><keycap>S</keycap></keycombo>.To end the
        search you may select the file or directory or simply navigate away from
        the file with the arrow keys or your mouse.
       </para>
      </listitem>
      <listitem>
       <para>
        <guimenuitem>Rescan Directory</guimenuitem> - This will rescan the 
	current directory in case the files in the directory have changed.
       </para>
      </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
     </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
   <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
      <listitem>
       <para>
        <guimenu>Settings</guimenu> - This contains the Preferences menu item.
       </para>
      <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
       <listitem>
        <para>
        <guimenuitem>Preferences</guimenuitem> - This will launch the
        Preferences dialog so that you can customize the GNOME File Manager.
       </para>
      </listitem>
     </itemizedlist>
    </listitem>
   </itemizedlist>
   <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
    <listitem>
     <para>
      <guimenu>Layout</guimenu> - This menu contains items that are associated 
      with the layout in GNOME File Manager.
     </para>
      <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Sort By</guimenuitem> - This will launch a dialog box 
	 which will allow you to select how you wish the files to be sorted in
	 the current directory. You may sort by one of the following:
        </para>
         <ITEMIZEDLIST mark="none">
          <listitem>
           <para>Name</para>
          </listitem>
          <listitem>       
           <para>File Type</para>
          </listitem>
          <listitem>
           <para>Size</para>
          </listitem>
          <listitem>   
           <para>Time Last Accessed</para>
          </listitem>
          <listitem>
           <para>Time Last Modified</para>
          </listitem>
          <listitem>
           <para>Time Last Changed</para>
          </listitem>
         </itemizedlist>
        </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Filter View</guimenuitem> - This will bring up a simple
	 dialog which allows you to view only files with names matching a
	 pattern. For example, if you wish to view only files in the directory
	 that start with the letter D you can type D* into the dialog and press
	 OK. If you wish to see all files again you will need to launch the
	 Filter View dialog again and clear the dialog or type in a *.
        </para>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Icon View</guimenuitem> - Selecting this will display the 
	 files in the main window as large icons.
        </para>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Partial View</guimenuitem> - Selecting this will display
	 the files in the main window as a list with only file names.
        </para>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Full View</guimenuitem> - Selecting this will display the
	 files in the main window as a list with all file information.
        </para>
       </listitem>
      <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Custom View</guimenuitem> - The <guimenuitem>Custom
	 View</guimenuitem> menu item switches the main window to the Custom
	 View which is a list view displaying the information about your files
	 that you specify. To customize the Custom view you will need to use
	 the <guilabel>Custom View Editor</guilabel> in the
	 <guilabel>Preferences</guilabel> dialog. You may read more about the
	 <guilabel>Preferences</guilabel> dialog in <xref linkend="gmcprefs">.
        </para>
       </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>
     </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
   <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
     <listitem>
      <para>
       <guimenu>Commands</guimenu> - The Command menu contains items that are 
       commands to run on files in the GNOME File Manager.
      </para>
      <ITEMIZEDLIST MARK="bullet">
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Find File</guimenuitem> - Find File brings up a dialog
	 which allows you to search for particular files on your system.
        </para>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Edit mime types</guimenuitem> - This option will launch
	 the GNOME Control Center Capplet that allows you to edit Mime Types for
	 GNOME. Mime types determine, among other things, what application will
	 handle particular file types. You can read more about mime types in
	 Mime Capplet Chapter in the GNOME User's Guide.
        </para>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Run Command</guimenuitem> - This menu item allows you to 
	 run a command from GMC.
        </para>
       </listitem>
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Run Command in panel</guimenuitem> - This menu item lets 
	 you run preloaded commands or commands you specify within the directory 
	 that you are currently in. Such commands might be to find SUID or SGID 
	 programs, etc.
        </para>
       </listitem>
      <!-- <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Active VFS list</guimenuitem> - The Virtual File
         System allows you to manipulate files that are not located on
         your local file system.
        </para>
        <para> There are different  version of the VFS including ftpfs
         and tarfs.  The ftpfs allows you  to work on  FTP sites while
         the tarfs gives you access  inside .tar files. These can both
         be very  useful in your  work environment and the  Active VFS
         list allows you to see  which VFS's are currently open.  When
         you  select  the  <guimenuitem>Active VFS</guimenuitem>  menu
         item you get a list of the current VFSs you have opened.
        </para>
        <para> There is also an option to change to a different VFS by
         pressing the <guibutton>Change To</guibutton> button.
        </para>
       </listitem> -->
       <listitem>
        <para>
         <guimenuitem>Exit</guimenuitem> - This will allow you to exit the GNOME
	 File Manager. 
        </para>
        <important>
         <title>IMPORTANT</title>
         <para>
          This will exit all GNOME File Manager processes which include the
	  GNOME Desktop. If you exit you will lose all functionality on your
	  desktop. This action is not recommended. If you wish to close the
	  current window, use the <guimenuitem>File/Close</guimenuitem> button.
         </para>
        </important>
       </listitem>         
      </itemizedlist>
     </listitem>
    </itemizedlist>
  </sect1>
  <sect1 id="dragtour">
   <title>A Drag and Drop Tour of GNOME</title>
    <para>
    <indexterm>
     <primary>
      Drag and Drop
     </primary>
    </indexterm>
     There are many tips and tricks  to the Desktop in GNOME. The Drag and Drop 
     functionality extends to many areas of GNOME making it easy to interconnect
     GNOME in many interesting ways. Below is a series of tips and tricks to 
     using GNOME Drag and Drop. This is a good tour of GNOME and will show you 
     how to utilize GNOME to its fullest extent.
    </para>
   <ITEMIZEDLIST  MARK="bullet">
    <listitem>
     <para>
      Drag a Color onto the Panel - Whenever you have a color selector displayed 
      you may drag a color from the selected color bar to the Panel and it will 
      change the Panel to that color.
     </para>
    </listitem>
    <listitem>
     <para>
      Drag a Pixmap to the Background Selector - If you would like to change the 
      background to an image, you can drag that image from your GNOME File 
      Manager to the Monitor Image in the Background Capplet of the Control 
      Center and it will change to that image.
     </para>
    </listitem>
    <listitem>
     <para>
      Drag to an Application - Many GNOME compliant applications will accept 
      drag and drop. If you would like to open a file in Gnumeric, a GNOME 
      compliant spreadsheet application, you may simply drag the  file from the
      GNOME File Manager onto Gnumeric and it will open the file.  The same is
      true for applications built using Motif. You may drag a saved URL onto 
      Netscape 4x and it will open the URL. This can be very useful if you are
      working within the GNOME File Manager and wish to quickly open a file.
     </para>
    </listitem>
    <listitem>
     <para>
      Adding an Application Launcher to the Panel - If you would like to add an
      application launcher to the Panel you may drag and drop any executable 
      file from the GNOME File Manager, or the Desktop, onto the Panel. This 
      will display the Create Launcher applet dialog box which will allow you to
      select a name and an icon for that launcher.
     </para>
    </listitem>
    <listitem>
     <para>
      Dragging Files - There are many ways to use drag and drop to help you
      manage your system. You can open two GNOME File Manager windows selecting
      two different directories then drag files between the two windows to copy, 
      move, or link files. You can drag files from the File Manager to the 
      desktop to make it more accessible. Use the middle mouse button or the 
      right and left mouse buttons together and Drag a directory folder to the
      desktop. Choose the link option from the pop-up menu to make a link to the
      desktop. This will give you a quick way to launch the File Manager to that 
      directory.
     </para>
    </listitem>
    <listitem>
     <para>
      You may drag any sub menu from the Main Menu to the panel and a new menu 
      launcher is added to the panel. This allows easier access to that sub-set
      of menus.
     </para>
    </listitem>
   </itemizedlist>
  </sect1>
&INDEX;
</article>