3.1 Desktop environment

The system is a graphical operating system with aesthetic interface and easy-to-use operation. In order to facilitate users to fulfill applications on the system, e.g. office, surfing the Internet, etc., the system adopts the Windows-like interface, mouse, and shortcuts operation, configuration tools, recycle bin and other operation functions.

3.1.1 Get to know the desktop

The following figure shows a typical desktop interface in the system.


The central part of the screen is called the desktop. Many application icons can be placed on the desktop, such as "Computer", "Home Directory", and “Recycle Bin". The desktop is the main working area for users.

The bar at the bottom of the screen is called the taskbar, and its role is similar to the taskbar in the Windows system, where you can start the programs or switch the started programs. Users can also manually add other programs to the "Quick Start ".

3.1.2 Desktop components

3.1.2.1 Mouse

Mouse is the most common input device for operation systems. Usually the used buttons of the mouse from left to right in turn are the left button, the middle button, and the right button. Here are the three main ways to use the mouse.

Click:Press and release a button

Double click: Quickly click a button twice

Drag: Specify a target; press and hold the left mouse button and move it to the target place, and then release it.

3.1.2.2 Desktop

The desktop is the primary use area for users, showing the files and applications that users need to access. Use the mouse to double-click the icon or file to run the appropriate program or open the file.

The default desktop components and functions are shown in the following table.

Icon

Name

Brief Description

13

Computer

Display CD drive, system partition, external storage device, drive that can connect to a network, file system

13

Home directory

Open the file manager

13

Recycle bin

Store the temporary deleted data by users.

3.1.2.3 Taskbar

The taskbar is located at the bottom of the desktop, which includes the menu, quick launch programs, desktop applets, and the current running application tasks of the system, as shown below.


14

The mouse over a certain icon will pop up a prompt box whose contents are the description of the role of the icon:

  1. 1) Menu button 15:Similar to the start button in the Windows system. After the click, it will display the main menu of the system.

  2. 2) Basic Web Browser : Click this button to launch the basic web browser.

  3. 3) File Manager : Click this button to start file manager

  4. 4) The application task bar that runs by the current system : Displays the current running application tasks in the system.

  5. 5) Notification : Display system notifications.

  6. 6) Network connection : Display the current network connection status. Click this button to start the network

  7. 7) Sound : Click this button to activate the sound settings.

  8. 8) Input method settings : Click this button to start the input method settings.

  9. 9) Current System Time : Click this button to start the date and time settings.

  10. 10) Workspace thumbnails : List windows of the currently running application program and thumbnails of the workspaces.

  11. 11) Show desktop: Click this button to show desktop.

3.1.3 Workspace

Workspace can also be called a virtual desktop. It can expand its work to multiple desktops without squeezing applications on one desktop and it also can customize the different desktops.

You can switch between the left and right workspaces to select the different desktop through the default shortcut keys "Ctrl + Alt + Right" and "Ctrl + Alt + Left". These shortcut keys can display the thumbnails of the windows and workspace of the currently running application program.

3.1.4 Usage menu

The basic version of desktop OS provides a variety of menus, including the following types.

3.1.4.1 System menu

Click the "Menu" button on the panel to bring up the outlining main menu of system, as shown below.



The submenu’s functions are shown in the following table.

Name

Brief description

All applications

Display all of the classified applications provided in the system

Office

Display office application program

Accessories

Display the using tools

Internet

Display internet application program

Graphics

Display image view and processing program

Administration

Display system and application management program

Sound & Video

Display the multimedia play application program

WinuxGEAR

Display Windows program

3.1.4.2 Shortcut menu

Right-click on the system desktop blank to callout the shortcut menu, as shown below.


The shortcut menu is used to control the basic style of the current desktop, simple resource management operations and desktop settings.

3.1.5 Shortcut key

In the desktop environment, the common shortcut keys are shown below.

Classification Shortcut key Brief Description

System

F1

Display system help or help the corresponding applications

System

F3

Display the file search

F11

The current window entry/Exit full screen mode

System

Ctrl+Alt+Delete

logout

System

Ctrl+Alt+End

Shutdown

System

Ctrl+Alt+L

Lock the screen

System

Ctrl+Alt+F1

Enter the system text mode

System

Ctrl+Alt+F7

Enter the system graphics mode

System

Ctrl+B

Open the bookmark in the file manager

System

Ctrl+R

Refresh

Launcher

Ctrl+Alt+t

Start the terminal

Desktop environment

Ctrl+Alt+Up

Switch thumbnail mode and normal mode

Desktop environment

Alt+Tab

Switch between the started applications

Desktop environment

Alt+F2

Pop-up the command window

Window

Alt+F5

Cancel the maximize window

Window

Alt+F4

Close the current working window

Window

Win+D

Display the desktop

Window

Alt+space

Activate the menu window

Window

Alt+F10

Switch the maximum state

Window

Alt+F8

Switch the window size

Window

Alt+F7

Move the window

Workspace management

Ctrl+Alt+Left

Switch to the left workspace

Workspace management

Ctrl+Alt+Right

Switch to the right workspace

Workspace management

Ctrl+Shift+Alt+Left

Start the window to the left workspace

Workspace management

Ctrl+Shift+Alt+Right

Start the window to the right workspace