Translations by marcin mikołajczak

A few tips on using the Ubuntu Desktop Guide.

This guide gives you a tour of Ubuntu desktop features, answers your computer-related questions, and provides tips on using your computer effectively.

The guide is divided into small, task-oriented topics - not chapters. This means that you don't need to skim through an entire manual to find answers to your questions.

Related items are linked together. "See Also" links at the bottom of some pages direct you to related topics.

The text input box at the top of this guide acts as a <em>search bar</em>, and relevant results will appear beneath it as soon as you start typing. Left-click on any result to open its page.

The guide is constantly being improved. Although we attempt to provide you with a comprehensive collection of helpful information, we know we won't answer all of your questions here. We will keep adding more information to make things more helpful, though.

-- The Ubuntu Documentation team

Greg Beam

Synaptic is a powerful but complicated software management alternative to <app>Ubuntu Software</app>.

<app>Synaptic Package Manager</app> is more powerful and can do some software management tasks which <app>Ubuntu Software</app> can't. Synaptic's interface is more complicated and doesn't support newer <app>Ubuntu Software</app> features like ratings and reviews and therefore isn't recommended for use by those new to Ubuntu.

Synaptic isn't installed by default, but you can <link href="apt:synaptic">install</link> it from the Ubuntu package archive.

Select any other applications that you would like to install.

For more information about using <app>Synaptic</app>, consult the <link href="https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SynapticHowto">Synaptic How To</link>.

When <app>Ubuntu Software</app> launches, search for an application, or select a category and find an application from the list.

Third-party software repositories are not checked for security or reliability by Ubuntu members, and may contain software which is harmful to your computer.

On the PPA's overview page, look for the heading <gui>Adding this PPA to your system</gui>. Make a note of the PPA's location, which should look similar to: <code>ppa:mozillateam/firefox-next</code>.

When <app>Ubuntu Software</app> launches, click <gui>Software &amp; Updates</gui>

Close the <app>Software &amp; Updates</app> window. <app>Ubuntu Software</app> will then check your software sources for new software.

When <app>Ubuntu Software</app> opens, click the <gui>Installed</gui> button at the top.

Find the application that you want to remove by using the search box or by looking through the list of installed applications.

Some applications depend on other applications to work properly. If you try to remove an application that is needed by another application, both will be removed. You will be asked to confirm whether you want this to happen before the applications are removed.

Click <gui>Add Source</gui> then close the <app>Software &amp; Updates</app> window. <app>Ubuntu Software</app> will then check your software sources for new updates.

Click <gui>Add Source</gui> then close the <app>Software &amp; Updates</app> window. Wait a moment for <app>Ubuntu Software</app> to download the repository information.

Add/remove software

With the <app>Cheese</app> application and your webcam, you can take photos and videos, apply fun special effects and share the fun with others.

For help with using Cheese, read the <link href="help:cheese">Cheese user guide</link>.

2013

Participate to improve this guide

This help system is created by a volunteer community. You are welcome to participate. If you notice a problem with these help pages (like typos, incorrect instructions or topics that should be covered but aren't), you can file a <em>bug report</em>.

To file a bug, press <keyseq><key>Alt</key><key>F2</key></keyseq> and type <input>ubuntu-bug ubuntu-docs</input>. Press <gui>Enter</gui> to begin the bug collection process.

See the <link xref="report-ubuntu-bug">Ubuntu bug reporting instructions</link> for more information about how to file your bug.

Thanks for helping make the Ubuntu Help better!

Ubuntu Desktop Guide

Ubuntu Desktop Guide

Juanjo Marín

Keyboards come in hundreds of different layouts for different languages. Even for a single language, there are often multiple keyboard layouts, such as the Dvorak layout for English. You can make your keyboard behave like a keyboard with a different layout, regardless of the letters and symbols printed on the keys. This is useful if you often switch between multiple languages.

<link xref="about-this-guide">Tips on using this guide</link>, <link xref="get-involved">help improve this guide</link>…

Chat &amp; Social Networking

With <app>Empathy</app> you can chat, call and video call with friends and colleagues on a variety of networks

Instant messaging on Ubuntu

With the <app>Empathy</app> application, you can chat with people online and with friends and colleagues who use Google Talk, AIM, Windows Live and many other chat programs. With a microphone or a webcam you can also have audio or video calls.

<app>Skype</app> is proprietary software and must be installed manually on Ubuntu

How can I use Skype on Ubuntu?

<app>Skype</app> is proprietary software that allows you to make calls over the Internet using your computer.

Skype uses decentralized peer-to-peer technologies, so your calls do not go through a central server, but through distributed servers and other users.

The Skype software is free to use, but it is not free software; the source code is proprietary and not available for modification.

You can make video calls from Ubuntu without installing any additional software using <app>Empathy</app> - via the <em>Google Talk</em>, <em>MSN </em>, <em>Jabber </em>, and <em>SIP</em> networks. See <link href="help:empathy/audio-video">the Empathy manual</link> for help on making video calls with <app>Empathy</app>.

Other applications which support video calls include

<app><link href="apt:skype">Skype</link></app>

<app><link href="apt:ekiga">Ekiga</link></app>