2. Getting Started

Menu, title bar, task bar, desktop and other GUI components have the same meaning in GNU/Linux as they do in other operating systems. Applications can be started either through menus, using the `Run Program dialog' or by using the terminal emulator. I will outline each of the methods in the following sections.

2.1 Using Menus

2.2 Using the Run Program Dialog Box

2.3 Using the Terminal Emulator

2.4 Notes on Terminal Emulators

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2.1 Using Menus

Using menus to launch an application is the most common way users launch applications.

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2.1.1 Using Menus in GNOME

The long bar at the bottom is a GNOME Panel, which contains a collection of menus, useful panel applets, and application launchers. The button containing the stylized foot is the Main Menu button (the most common kind of menu); just click on the Main Menu button and you'll see a menu of preloaded applications and options, including a log out command.

You have to know where the application you want to use is located in the main menu. For example, in my computer GnomeCard, an address book manager, is located in
`Programs >Applications >Address Book.'

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2.1.2 Using Menus in KDE

The task bar in KDE is known as Kicker or KDE Panel. Kicker usually resides on the bottom of the desktop, but it can also be moved to any other border. On the KDE panel you will find the K Menu icon on the extreme left. As you might guess, it opens the main KDE Menu.

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2.2 Using the Run Program Dialog Box

The Run Program dialog is very convenient when you need to enter just one command quickly.

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2.2.1 Run Program Dialog Box in GNOME

In the main GNOME menu you will see a menu item labeled (most helpfully) `Run...'.Clicking on it will open the Run Program dialog box. Just go ahead and try it!

It has three buttons labeled `Run, Cancel' and `Help'. In the text box type gless and click `Run'. You will behold a simple file viewer. If you get an error message, it means you do not have it installed on your system. Do not worry, you will have more chances to experiment with the "Run Program" dialog box as you read through this howto.

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2.2.2 Run Program Dialog Box in KDE

In the main K menu you will see a menu item labeled `Run Command...'. Clicking on it will open the "Run Program" dialog box. It also has a button labeled `Options' which will give you access to a host of options. You can safely ignore the `Options' button till you get more comfortable with your new system.

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2.3 Using the Terminal Emulator

A terminal emulator provides access to the UNIX shell in a GUI environment. In human language, you have the power of command line tools available to you coupled with the ease and safety of a GUI. There are some tools which you can access only from a terminal, so you should try to get at ease while using it.

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2.3.1 Terminal Emulator in GNOME

The terminal emulator in GNOME is known as gnome-terminal. Usually, the gnome-terminal is on the GNOME Panel (the long bar at the bottom your desktop). Click on it to see the gnome-terminal. However, if you do not find it there, you can start one from the "Run Program" dialog.

Start the "Run Program" dialog box. In the text box type gnome-terminal and click `Run'. You will get the gnome-terminal. You will see a blinking cursor where you can type commands. You can close the terminal as you would close any other GUI application (Usually this is done by clicking the X button on the window border). You can also close the terminal by typing exit at the command prompt. If you want to access it from the main menu,you can find it at
`Programs >System >GNOME Terminal'.

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2.3.2 Terminal Emulator in KDE

The default terminal emulator in KDE is known as konsole. Usually, the konsole is on the task bar. However, if you do not find it there, you can start one from the "Run Program" dialog.

Start the "Run Program" dialog box. In the text box type konsole and click `Run'. You will get the konsole. You can exit by typing exit at the command prompt or by clicking the X at the top of the window border.

*Advice*
In Konsole, you will see the `Help' menu at the top of the window. It has a menu item labeled `Contents'. Clicking on it will open the "The Konsole Handbook". At this point if you read through the first two chapters of the book you will be quite comfortable with konsole.

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2.4 Notes on Terminal Emulators

Even though both GNOME and KDE come with their own terminal emulators, it does not mean that you cannot use gnome-terminal in KDE or konsole in GNOME. It is perfectly safe to use gnome-terminal in KDE desktop environment without causing any adverse side effects to other applications running in KDE ( the Blue Screen of Death of Windows(TM) will be noticed by its absence).

As a newbie you may find yourself using konsole and then slowly shifting to gnome-terminal as you gain more confidence. However, eventually in your end days as a newbie you may want to try out another terminal emulator known as rxvt. This is a very lightweight terminal emulator. To try it out,in the "Run Program" dialog box type rxvt and click `Run'.

However, in the start you may want to stick to gnome-terminal and konsole. After you are comfortable with them, you can move to rxvt.

In a similar vein, there is terminal emulator known as nxterm. In the GNOME main menu you can find it at
`Programs >System >Regular XTerm'. To run it from another terminal emulator or "Run Program", type nxterm and press Enter. There is another known as xterm. You can start xterm by typing xterm at a terminal emulator or "Run Program" dialog box.

*Advice*
Start a gnome-terminal. At command prompt type konsole and press enter. You will see a lot of messages and a konsole will come before you. In the konsole command prompt type rxvt and press enter. A rxvt terminal will start. Leave them running for two minutes and observe for yourself any adverse effects on your computer if you move your mouse about. You will be pleased to find that there are none. After this close the rxvt terminal, then the konsole window and finally the gnome-terminal window. As you can see this operating system is about choice :-). You may want to repeat this exercise while using konsole initially.

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