Translations by Dražen Matešić

The vertical bar of icons on the left side of the desktop is called the Launcher. The Launcher provides easy access to applications, mounted devices, and the \menu{Trash}. All running applications on your system will place an icon in the Launcher while the application is running. \marginscreenshot{02-Launcher.png}{ss:Launcher}{The Ubuntu Launcher on the left with a sample of applications on it.} To change the Launcher icon size, go to \menu{Session Indicator \then System Settings \then Appearance}, tab \tab{Look}.

The first icon at the top of the Launcher is the Dash, a component of \application{Unity}. We will explore the Dash in a later section of this chapter. By default, other applications appear in the Launcher, including the \application{Files} file manager, \application{LibreOffice}, \application{Firefox}, any mounted devices, and the \lens{Trash}, which contains deleted folders and files, at the bottom of the Launcher.

Holding the Super key, also known as the Windows key (Win key), located between the left \keystroke{Ctrl} key and \keystroke{Alt} key, will cause Ubuntu to superimpose a number onto the first ten applications in the Launcher and also display a screen full of useful shortcuts. You can launch an application with a number \textit{n} on it by typing \keystroke{Super+\textit{n}}.

If you open more applications than can be shown in the Launcher, the Launcher will ``fold'' the application icons at the bottom of the Launcher. Simply move your mouse to the bottom of the Launcher, and you'll see the Launcher icons ``slide'' and the folded application icons unfold for easy access.

To run an application from the Launcher (or cause an already-running application to appear), just click on the application's icon.

Applications that are currently running will have one or more triangles on the left side of the icon indicating the number of application windows open for this application. Running applications also have a back-lit icon on the Launcher. \marginnote{Some also refer to an application in the foreground as being \emph{in focus}.}\marginscreenshot{02-Launcher-triangles.png}{ss:Launcher-items}{The triangles on each side of the Firefox icon indicate Firefox is in the foreground and only one window is associated with Firefox at this time.} The application in the foreground (\ie, the application that is on top of all other open application windows) is indicated by a single white triangle on the right side of its icon.

You can also run an application through the Dash which will be explored in the upcoming \seclink{sec:dash} section.

Open the Dash, find the application you wish to add to the Launcher, and drag its icon to the Launcher.

Run the application you want to add to the Launcher, right-click on the application's icon on the Launcher, and select \menu{Lock to Launcher}.

\marginnote{For more information about the Dash and its lenses, see: \url{https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Unity}.} The Dash helps you quickly find applications and files on your computer. If you've used Windows in the past, you'll find the Dash to be similar to the Windows Start menu or the Start Screen in Windows 8. Apple \acronym{OS X} users will find the Dash similar to Launchpad in the dock. If you've used a previous version of Ubuntu or another \acronym{GNOME} Linux distribution, the Dash serves as a replacement for the various \acronym{GNOME}~2 menus. The Dash allows you to search for information, both locally (installed applications, recent files, bookmarks, etc.) as well as remotely (Twitter, Google Docs, etc.).

To explore the Dash, click on the top-most icon on the Launcher; the icon contains the Ubuntu logo on it. After clicking the Dash icon, the desktop will be overlaid by a translucent window with a search bar on top as well as a grouping of recently accessed applications, files, and downloads. Ubuntu also includes results from popular web services. The search bar provides dynamic results as you enter your search terms.

Lenses

Searching is accomplished by utilizing one or more lenses, also known as scopes; each lens is responsible for providing a category of search results for the Dash. The seven lenses installed by default at the bottom are links to your \lens{Home} lens (\lensicon{home}), \lens{Applications} lens (\lensicon{app}), \lens{Files and Folders} lens (\lensicon{file}), \lens{Music} lens (\lensicon{music}), \lens{Photo} lens (\lensicon{photo}), \lens{Videos} lens (\lensicon{video}), and \lens{Social network messages} lens (\lensicon{gwibber}).

Lenses act as specialized search categories in the Dash. From the user's perspective, lenses are simply icons. To the Ubuntu purist, the pictures that appear horizontally at the bottom of the Dash are \emph{lenses}; to the rest, these are \emph{icons}.

Many sites exist on the Internet dedicated to creating and releasing lenses for the Ubuntu \application{Unity} desktop. Some sites even teach you how to make your own lenses in order to maximize the operational efficiencies of the Ubuntu \application{Unity} interface.

Find files/folders

The Dash can help you find names of files or folders. Simply type a portion of the file or folder name. As you type, results will appear in the Dash. The \lens{Files and Folders} lens will also assist in finding files or folders \dash showing you the most recently accessed files as well as the most recent downloads. You can use the \emph{filter results} button in the top-right corner of the Dash to filter results by attributes such as file or folder modification times, file type (.odt, .pdf, .doc, .txt, etc.), or size.

A standard Ubuntu installation comes with many applications. Users can also download thousands more applications from the \application{Ubuntu Software Center}. \marginnote{Ubuntu Software Center and software management will be discussed in detail at \chaplink{ch:software-management}.} As you collect an arsenal of awesome applications (and get a bonus point for alliteration!), it may become difficult to remember the name of a particular application; the \lens{Applications} lens on the Dash can assist with this search. This lens will automatically categorize installed applications under ``Recently Used,'' ``Installed,'' or ``More Suggestions.'' \marginnote{If you are new to the world of Ubuntu, be sure to read the \chaplink{ch:default-applications}. It will provide you assistance in choosing application(s) to suit your needs.} You can also enter the name of an application (or a part of it) into the search bar in the Dash, and the names of applications matching your search criteria will appear. Even if you don't remember the name of the application at all, type a keyword that is relevant to that application, and the Dash will find it. For example, type \userinput{music}, and the Dash will show you the default music player and any music player you've used.

The online search results within the Dash are turned on by default during installation. If you do not want external search results, go to \menu{System Settings \then Privacy \then Search Results} and set the ``Include online search results'' switch to the \button{Off} position. As an added layer of privacy, you can also prevent any search activity from being recorded.

The workspaces feature is not activated by default in Ubuntu. To activate workspaces, click on \menu{Session Indicator \then System Settings\ldots \then Appearance} then click on the \menu{Behavior} tab and click on the \menu{Enable workspaces} box. When this box is checked, you'll notice another icon is added to the bottom of the Launcher that looks like a window pane. This is the \application{workspaces switcher}.

When opening a program in Ubuntu (such as a web browser or a text editor\dash see \chaplink{ch:default-applications} for more information on using applications)\dash a \emph{window} will appear on your desktop. The windows seen in Ubuntu are very similar to those in Microsoft Windows or Apple \acronym{OS X}. Simply stated, a window is the box that appears on your screen when you start a program. In Ubuntu, the top part of a window (the \emph{title bar}) will have the name of the application to the left (most often, the title will be the same as the application's name). A window will also have three buttons in the top-left corner. From left to right, these buttons represent \emph{close} window, \emph{minimize} window, and \emph{maximize} window. Other window management options are available by right-clicking anywhere on the title bar.

To close a window, click on the close button (\closebutton{}) in the upper-left corner of the window\dash the first button on the left-hand side.

The button immediately to the right of the close button is the \gls{minimize} button (\minimizebutton{}) which removes the window from the visible screen and places it in the Launcher. \marginscreenshot{02-window-buttons.png}{ss:window-buttons}{This is the top bar of a window, named \emph{title bar}. The close, minimize, and maximize buttons are in the top-left corner of the window.} This button doesn't close the application; it just hides the application from view. When an application is minimized to the Launcher, the left-side of the icon in the Launcher will display a triangle showing you the application is still running. Clicking the icon of the minimized application will restore the window to its original position.

Finally, the right-most button is the \gls{maximize} button (\maximizebutton{}) which causes the application to completely fill the unused displayable space on the desktop. Clicking the \gls{maximize} button again will return the window to its original size. If a window is maximized, its top-left buttons and menu are automatically hidden from view. To make them appear, just move your mouse to the \emph{menu bar}.

To move a window around the workspace, place the mouse pointer over the window's title bar, then click and drag the window while continuing to hold down the left mouse button. You can also move a window by holding the \keystroke{Alt} key and then clicking and holding the left mouse button while pointing anywhere in the window and dragging the window to a new location. To resize a window, place the pointer on an edge or corner of the window so that the pointer turns into a larger, two-sided arrow (known as the resize icon). You can then click and drag to resize the window.

In Ubuntu, there are many ways to switch between open windows.

Press \keystroke{Ctrl+Super+D} to hide all windows and display the desktop; the same works to restore all windows.

Note that the options available when moving windows to different workspaces depends on which workspace contains the window you are moving. If the window exists in the lower-right workspace, you will not see a \menu{Move to Workspace Down} because there is no workspace available below the lower-right quadrant of a four quadrant workspace.

There are two ways to locate files on your computer \dash search for them or access them directly from their folder. You can search for a file using the Dash or the \application{Files} file manager. You can also use the Dash or \application{Files} file manager to access commonly used folders (such as \menu{Documents}, \menu{Music}, \menu{Downloads}) as well as the most recently accessed files.

Just as Microsoft Windows has \application{Windows Explorer} and Apple \acronym{OS X} has \application{Finder} to browse files and folders, Ubuntu uses the \application{Files} file manager by default.

\marginnote{\emph{Folders} are also called \emph{directories}.} When you select the \menu{Files} shortcut in the Launcher, click on a folder in the Dash, or double-click a folder on the desktop, Ubuntu should open the \application{Files} file manager. The default window contains the following features:

The menu bar is located at the top of the screen. The \application{Files} menu allows you to modify the layout of the browser, show, browse and remove bookmarks, open a Help document, open a new window, connect to a server, or quit. Choosing \menu{Enter Location} will open the Locations text field where you can enter any location directly.

[toolbar] On the right side of the toolbar, there are five buttons: \button{Search} (represented by a magnifying glass), \button{View items as a grid}, \button{View items as a list}, \button{View options} (represented by a down arrow), and \button{Location options} (represented by a cog); clicking on the \button{Search} icon opens a field so you can search for a file or folder by name. Clicking on the options buttons \button{Location options} or \button{View options} opens a menu with options. On the left side of the toolbar, you will see a representation of your current browsing. This is similar to the history function in most web browsers; it keeps track of where you are and allows you to backtrack if necessary. You can click on any of the locations to navigate back through the file browser. The buttons \button{Previous location} and \button{Next location} allow you to navigate through previously visited locations.

[left pane] The left pane of the file browser \dash titled \emph{Places} \dash has shortcuts to commonly used folders. You can also bookmark a folder through the toolbar by choosing \menu{Location options (gear) \then Bookmark this Location}. Once you have bookmarked the folder, it should appear in the left pane. Regardless of the folder you are currently browsing, the left pane will always contain the same folders.

right pane

The largest pane shows the files and folders within the folder you are currently browsing.

To navigate to a folder in \application{Files}, double-click on its icon; this may be in the right pane, the left pane, or the toolbar.

A file, in its simplest form, is data. Data can represent a text document, database information, or other media such as music or videos. To open a file, you can double-click on its icon. Ubuntu will try to find an appropriate application with which to open the selected file. In some cases, you may wish to open the file with a different application than the one Ubuntu selected. To select an application, right-click the icon and select one of the \button{Open With} options.

To create a new folder from within the \application{Files} file manager, right-click in the blank area of the right pane and select \button{New Folder} from the popup menu (this action will also work on the desktop). Replace the default ``Untitled Folder'' title with your desired label (\eg, ``Personal Finances''). You can also create a new folder by pressing \keystroke{Ctrl+Shift+N}.