Translations by JerzyV

In between the top and bottom panels is an image that covers the entire desktop. This is the desktop background (often referred to as your ``wallpaper''), and the one you see in front of you belongs to the default Ubuntu 10.04 theme known as \emph{Ambiance.} To learn more about customizing your desktop including changing your background, see the section on \seclink{sec:customizing-desktop} below.

When you open a program in Ubuntu (such as a web browser or a text editor\dash see \chaplink{ch:default-applications} for more information on using programs), a \emph{window} will appear on your desktop. If you have used another operating system before, such as Microsoft Windows or Mac \acronym{OS~X}, you are probably familiar with the concept of a ``window''\dash the box that appears on your screen when you start a program. In Ubuntu, the top part of a window (the \emph{titlebar}) will have the title of the window in the center, and three buttons in the top left corner. From left to right, these buttons \emph{close}, \emph{minimize}, and \emph{maximize} the window. Additionally, you can right-click anywhere on the titlebar for a list of other window management options.

To \emph{close} a window, click on the ``$\times$'' in the upper left corner of the window\dash this will be the first button. Immediately to the right of this is a downward-pointing arrow that is used to \emph{minimize} the window to the bottom panel of your desktop. Once minimized the window will no longer be visible, however, its corresponding button in the bottom panel will remain, indicating the program is still running in the background. Clicking this button will \emph{restore} the window to its original position. Finally, the button to the far right of the titlebar will \gls{maximize} the window, making it fill the entire screen. Clicking this button again will return the window to its original size.

Browsing files on your computer

Using multiple tabs and multiple Nautilus windows

An alternative way of hiding the panel is to do so manually. Clicking on \button{Show hide buttons} will add a button to each side of the panel that can be used to hide it from view. By default these buttons will display directional arrows, however, you can select the \button{Arrows on hide buttons} option to remove the arrows and just have plain buttons. Clicking one of these \emph{hide buttons} on the panel will slide it across the screen and out of view, leaving just the opposite hide button in sight which you can click to bring it back. \marginnote{By default, Ubuntu requires that you maintain at least one panel on the desktop. If you prefer a Microsoft Windows feel, a panel at the bottom of the desktop can be set to start programs as well as select between open windows. Alternatively, if you prefer a Mac \acronym{OS~X} look you can keep a panel at the top and add an applications dock such as \application{Docky}, \application{Avant Window Navigator} (\acronym{AWN}), or \application{Cairo-Dock}. These are all available in the \application{Ubuntu Software Center}, which is discussed further in \chaplink{ch:software-management}.} The \button{Background} tab in the Panel Properties window allows you to change the appearance of the panel. By default, this is set to \button{None (use system theme)}, meaning that your desktop theme will dictate the appearance of the panel (we will look at how to change your desktop theme below). If you prefer, you can choose your own panel color by selecting the \button{Solid color} button, then opening the color select window. You can also set the panel transparency using the slider. Alternatively, you can click the \button{Background image} button if you have an image or pattern stored on your computer that you would like to use as your panel background. Use the file selector to locate the background image in your computer, then click \button{Open} to apply the change.

Managing your computer

Working with Ubuntu

Connecting to a wireless network for the first time

Most core Firefox help content here is adapted from Firefox help documentation, licensed under the CC-BY-SA 3.0 license.

Once you have connected to the Internet, you should be able to browse the web with Ubuntu. \application{Mozilla Firefox} is the default application for browsing the web in Ubuntu.

Viewing your homepage

Searching within a page

You may want to look for specific text within a web page you are viewing. To find text within the page you are currently viewing in Firefox:

Press \keystroke{Ctrl+F} or choose \menu{Edit \then Find} to open the \button{Find Toolbar} at the bottom of Firefox.

Enter the text you want to find into the \button{Find} field in the Find Toolbar. The search automatically begins as soon as you type something into the field.

Once some text has been matched on the web page, you can:

Click \button{Next} to find text in the page that is below the current cursor position.

Click \button{Previous} to find text that is above the current cursor position.

Click on the \button{Highlight all} button to highlight occurrences of your search words in the current page.

Select the \checkbox{Match case} option to limit the search to text that has the same capitalization as your search words.

To find the same word or phrase again, press \keystroke{F3} or choose \menu{Edit \then Find Again} from the menubar.

Copying and saving pages

With Firefox, you can copy part of a page so that you can paste it elsewhere, or save the page or part of a page as a file on your computer.

Copying part of a page

To copy text from a page:

Highlight the text with your mouse.

Choose \menu{Edit \then Copy} from the menubar.

You can paste the text into other programs.

To copy a link (\acronym{URL}) or an image link from a page:

Position the pointer over the link or image.

Right-click on the link or image to open a popup menu.

Choose \menu{Copy Link Location} or \menu{Copy Image Location}. If an image is also a link, you can choose either menu item.

You can paste the link into other programs or into Firefox's Location Bar.

Saving all or part of a page

To save an entire page in Firefox:

Choose \menu{File \then Save Page As} from the menubar. Firefox should open the \window{Save As} window.

Choose a location for the saved page.

Type a file name for the page, and click \button{Save}.

To save an image from a page:

Position the mouse pointer over the image.

Right-click on the image to display a popup menu.

Choose \menu{Save Image As}. Firefox should open the \window{Save Image} window.

Choose a location for the saved image.

Enter a file name for the image and click \button{Save}.

Changing your homepage

By default, Firefox will show the \textbf{Ubuntu Start Page} when you start Firefox. If you prefer to display another page when you start Firefox, you will need to change your homepage preference.

To change your homepage:

Navigate to the page that you would like to become your new homepage.