Part IV) Spiff up your Ubuntu Desktop
These suggestions are all optional. No person I know can resist all the little bells and whistles.
A great overall guide is the Unofficial Ubuntu guide (wiki) at
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Dapper
These are other guides:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UserDocumentation
http://help.ubuntu.com
http://www.debianadmin.com
Let's talk about how to enter commands. Linux is essentially text based, and anything can be done from the command line in a terminal window. (We already used this method with the server to obtain the desktop using the command line command "apt-get install ubuntu-desktop.") If you can believe it, many Linux aficionados only use the command line.
Also, most servers (including Ubuntu server) are administered, by default, through commands typed at the command line prompt. They just run faster that way. Remember that we installed the GUI desktop on top of the server, though, so that we wouldn't always be forced to do this. I don't notice much of a speed difference using the graphical desktop to run the server, but all my computers are moderately fast (> 2 Mhz) and my web sites aren't heavy traffic sites.
For beginners, using only the command line is not very fun, and for Windows users it can be downright daunting.
Unfortunately, most Linux guides (including my favorite Ubuntu guide listed above) are oriented toward long-time Linux users who are used to the "command line" way of doing things. Since the command line is the least common denominator for all Linux systems, (and the GUI can vary from one Linux system to the next), Linux guides are most usable to the most number of Linux users when they explain the command line commands (rather than the GUI menu options).
Nevertheless, our goal is to do things with the Ubuntu menu options as often as possible. The default GUI (or desktop) in Ubuntu is named "Gnome". This desktop GUI is also the default in Debian and many other Linux systems. However, KDE is a very popular alternative desktop GUI, and is the default in Kubuntu, for example.
Note: This section has changes frequently with each new version of Ubuntu. In Dapper Drake I had a lot of tweaks. In Feisty Fawn I have only a few. (This section used to be much longer.)
1) Add the Command Line Terminal to the Menu Bar/ Launcher Panel
In spite of the goal of using GUI menu options as much as possible, we will be often be forced to do something as root user, frequently at the command line.
To do this, we must start up the "command line terminal."
Applications --> Accessories --> Terminal.
Since we'll have to do this frequently, let's add the command line terminal to the menu bar/panel (the one with the Ubuntu symbol and the "Applications" menu item showing at its left edge).
In the Applications --> Accessories menu, right click on Terminal.
Select the "Add this launcher to panel." It should now show up on the menu bar/panel. Now we can simply click on the symbol to start the command line terminal.
You could select any favorite program to add to the menu bar in this way. Let's add another.
2) Add the Nautilus File Browser to the Menu Bar / Launcher Panel
Now, in some versions of Ubuntu, File Browser is already enabled on the menu. In Dapper, it wasn't, so I had to enable it manually using Alacarte Menu Editor, before I could add it to the panel.
System --> Preferences--> Main Menu
[Applications --> Accessories --> Alacarte Menu Editor in Dapper Drake]
Click on "Accessories" to show all the programs on the Accessories menu.
Check the box next to File Browser so that the entry goes from italics (not enabled) to normal typeface (enabled).
Close
Now, to add it to the menu bar/launcher panel:
Applications --> Accessories, right click on File Browser.
"Add this launcher to panel."
Ok, now we have two very important programs both on the menu and on the menu bar/panel.
3) Add the Gnome Search Tool (File Finder) to the Accessories Menu
[This step is for Dapper Drake only. In recent versions of Ubuntu, the search tool is at Places --> Search for Files].
Out next task is to add an extremely important tool to the Accessories menu itself. This tool is equivalent to the Find File tool on other operating systems and is called the Gnome Search Tool.
To add a menu item,
Applications --> Accessories --> Alacarte Menu Editor
Click on "Accessories" to show all the items in the Accessories submenu.
Now pulldown the "File --> New entry" menu option.
A box will pop up. Fill in the values:
----------------------------------------------------
Name: Gnome Search Tool
Comment: Find Files
Command: /usr/bin/gnome-search-tool
Then click on the icon box and click on the picture of the folder with the label gnome-folder.png.
Close
-------------------------------------------------------
Now the Gnome Search Tool will show up as a menu item in your Applications --> Accessories menu.
(You could also add it to the menu bar/panel if you like, using the method outlined above.)
This tool is invaluable for finding files on your hard drive or network. It is worthwhile learning to use.
4) Adjust your Screen Resolution
If you want to adjust your screen resolution larger or smaller, you can do it in
System --> Preferences --> Screen Resolution.
5) Add your pictures to the Gnome Screensaver, part A.
A very fun option is the screensaver. I like putting my own pictures as the screensaver. You can do this in two ways. The first is to create a "Pictures" folder in your "Home" folder and place whatever pictures you want displayed in the screensaver there. Then go to
System --> Preferences --> Screensaver
Scroll down and select the "Pictures folder" screensaver.
Set the desired idle time (I like 5 minutes). Check the "Activate screensaver when session is idle" box. Uncheck the "lock screen when screensaver is active" box.
Close.
[Note: The screensaver locking mechanism is HIPAA compliant. When it is time to make this computer HIPAA compliant, you will check the "lock screen when screensaver is active." It is also a good idea to enable screen locking whenever the computer is located in a public place where anyone could have access to it. In the latter situation there are a lot of additional security steps we will to take, as well.]
A complaint is that the MyPictures screensaver does not allow subfolders in the /Pictures folder. All of your photo files must be in that folder only. (This may be changed in newer versions by now).
In contrast, the GLSlideshow screensaver will display photos nested in subfolders, as long as all those subfolders are located in
/usr/share/backgrounds
However, this folder is restricted to the root user in Ubuntu by default, and to change the folder or add files or folders to it requires root user (aka "superuser") privileges to do so.
So let's learn ways to do things as the root user (superuser).
6) Enable root user logins
/usr/share/backgrounds is a folder that belongs to the root user and can only be changed by the root user. How do I know this?
Well, using the Nautilus File Browser, I find the /usr/share/backgrounds folder
and right click on it, then choose the Properties option.
A box pops up, and I look in the "Permissions" tab. The file owner is root, and the file group is root. I see that the owner (root) can read, write, or execute. The group (in this case also root) can only read and execute, and everyone else (others) can also only read and execute.
So the only one who can write to the /usr/share/backgrounds folder is the root user.
To manipulate this folder, we have to become the root user somehow.
One method to become the root user is to open the command line terminal, and enter
sudo -s
at the command line prompt, followed by the root password when prompted. We would stay root user until we were to type "exit" or were to close the command line terminal.
We could then use the command "cp" to copy all of our stored pictures to /usr/share/backgrounds (after reading the manual on using the cp command, of course.)
Another method is to become the root user by logging in as "root" using the Gnome desktop login screen, the same one we are greeted with at startup. Once logged in as the root user, we could then use the Nautilus File Browser to copy and paste files, just like you're used to doing in any other login.
How can we login as root user using Gnome? We can logout and then log back in (as "root"), or we can "switch" [between] users. This is done from the System --> Quit menu.
But before we are allowed to login as root, there's one minor step we have to do first.
Ubuntu by default is configured to not allow the root user to log in the standard way.
They discourage it because the root user could accidentally cause a lot of damage to system files while logged in, and because much of the security of Linux is circumvented while you are logged in as the root user.
"But Uncle Ubuntu, we'll be careful!"
Once logged in as the root user, we will stay logged in only as long as necessary to accomplish that specific task that can only be done as root. Then we will log back out and resume work by logging (or switching) back to our usual user id.
So let's enable the root user to login:
System --> Administration --> Login window
Click on the "Security" tab.
Check the box that says "Allow local system administrator login."
Close.
Now you can login as root user. If you ever want to disallow root user logins, simply uncheck the box. Eventually this will be a good idea.
5) Add your pictures to the Gnome Screensaver as the root user.
System --> Quit --> "Switch User" (or "Logout")
Now you will be asked to login again. This time use "root" as your id and your root password (e.g. "fountain2468").
Now you will have unrestricted access to everything on the system.
So, again open the Nautilus File Browser from the
Applications --> Accessories menu --> File Browser
Now it should be easy to copy your pictures from wherever you have them stored into the
/usr/share/backgrounds folder.
Once you've done your task, logout using System --> Quit --> Logout
If you intially only "switched" sessions, you will only be asked to re-enter the password for the user session you left open. If you logged out before logging in as root, you will now log back in by entering your username (e.g. "fido") as well as fido's password.
Now go back to System --> Preferences --> Screensaver and this time choose the
GLSlideshow option.
Set the desired idle time (I like 5 minutes). Check the "Activate screensaver when session is idle" box. Uncheck the "lock screen when screensaver is active" box.
Close.
6) Add packages to your system using Synaptic Package Manager
To install programs or modules ("packages") in Ubuntu, you can use one of three methods. One is to use:
apt-get install module-name
after becoming the root user (with sudo -s) in the command line terminal.
[There are a series of similar apt commands for reinstalling, updating, and removing packages.]
The second is to run "aptitude" from the command line terminal, also as root user. This gives you the apt choices in a menu driven format. You don't have to memorize commands. But I still don't find it very easy to use.
The best method, then, is the Synaptic Package Manager, which is available in the Gnome desktop.
System --> Administration --> Synaptic Package Manager.
You will be asked to enter the root password to use it (since it changes your system).
6b) Install the package XMMS Music Player
Now let's use Synaptic Package Manager to install one of my favorite music players, XMMS (similar to WinAmp in Windows).
Startup Synaptic Package Manager.
Click on the Search button, and enter xmms in the box.
When all the choices appear, scroll down to find xmms. Click on the box and then select "Mark for installation."
The nice thing about Debian and Ubuntu is that both aptitude and Synaptic Package Manager keep track of the associated supplementary modules needed to run a program. They will install them automatically by default, unless you disable that feature. So when it lists a bunch of other modules to install, simply agree and then hit Apply.
In a few seconds or minutes your program will be installed and ready to use.
Some programs will automatically install their icon to the Menu system during installation. Other programs will need to be added to the menu manually.
Look in the Applications --> Sound & Video menu. If you don't see XMMS, then let's add it manually now.
Applications --> Accessories --> Alacarte Menu Editor
Click on the Sound & Video submenu, then File --> New entry
----------------------------------------------
Name: XMMS Music Player
Command: xmms %U
Find the xmms.xpm icon in the selections found by clicking the icon button.
Close.
------------------------------------------------
7) Learn about repositories
Now, one last word about obtaining packages. What has been transparent up until now is where the Synaptic Package Manager (or apt or aptitude) has been obtaining these packages.
Multiple servers around the Internet have been set up to provide the packages for download by Ubuntu users. These servers hosting the files are called "repositories." Ubuntu is installed with a default list of repository locations on the internet, and different depositories carry different files. Some repositories offer only completely free, open source files used in the long term support version. Some repositories will offer packages in experimental or "cutting edge" versions of Ubuntu. Some repositories will offer commercial, proprietary, or otherwise restricted modules.
Ubuntu uses a unique method of characterizing these repositories. They are labeled as offering packages that are "officially supported", "commercially supported", "restricted copyright","community maintained (Universe)", and "Non-free (multiverse)".
Over time I have used nearly all the repositories for obtaining some package or other, so eventually have selected nearly all categories. I even use some Debian repositories to obtain packages that are not yet included in the Ubuntu repositories (since a Ubuntu repository is generally compliant with the Debian repository structure.)
In the Synpatic Package Manager, there is a Settings --> Repositories menu item.
Open it and look at the "Installation Media" list. This is not the actual repository list, which is hidden in Ubuntu. It is a list of categories of repositories. This gives the Ubuntu administrators a little more control on which repositories most users will be directed to.
Note that you have the option of choosing "repositories" that are stored on a distribution CD. Yes, you can get all the packages for Ubuntu on CD (usually about 15 or 20 CDs.)
You can also specify specific "non-standard" repositories from which you want to obtain packages under the "Custom" button. You will have to know the exact syntax if you are going to do this. For instructions on how to do this, I will refer you to
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories/Ubuntu#head-a86dddc6826cec4a3847d8441b24051d07b8dc64
For now, highlight:
Ubuntu 6.06 LTS Updates (Binary)
and click the "Add" button.
Check the boxes for:
Community-maintained (universe)
Non-free (multiverse)
and click the "Add" button again.
Repeat this step for
Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (Binary)
Ubuntu 6.06 LTS Backports (Binary)
Ubuntu 6.06 LTS Security Updates (Binary)
Make sure all the Ubuntu repository categories ending in (Binary) are checked.
Some users also have recommend adding these two repositories:
http://medibuntu.sos-sts.com/repo dapper
http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu dapper-commercial.
See the nicely detailed instructions in the above reference to learn how to do this.
8) Install Windows fonts (msttcorefonts)
Remember we said some packages were proprietary? I never knew that some of the most commonly used fonts are proprietary to Microsoft. If you wonder why your Linux system looks a little different to your Windows system, it's largely because the same fonts are not installed. A purist would say, "So? Linux has similar fonts that are just as good." This is true, but we want to have all our documents be interchangeable between Windows and Ubuntu Linux. To do this, we will need to have the fonts we have been using for years installed.
Now, the msttcorefonts package, which contains the Microsoft Core Fonts installer, is supposed to be available through Synaptic Package Manager if you have enabled the correct repository, but when I tried to obtain it this way, it would not download properly.
I also tried using one of the other two methods we outlined earlier for obtaining packages:
Start the command line terminal. At the command line prompt, enter
-----------------------------------
sudo -s
apt-get install msttcorefonts
exit
-------------------------------------
but this did not reliably work either.
Finally I went to http://packages.debian.org/testing/x11/msttcorefonts and downloaded the package by clicking on "all" in the "Download msttcorefonts --> Architecture" box. This saved the Debian automatic installation package for msttcorefonts to my computer. I then located and clicked on the downloaded package I had downloaded, ending in .deb (i.e. msttcorefonts_1.8_all.deb) using the File Browser. It asked whether I wanted to install the package, and I confirmed it. A minute or two later all the fonts were automatically installed. [This works because Ubuntu is a variant of Debian, anyway, so most Debian packages can be installed in Ubuntu.]
This installed the fonts without a problem.
9) Try Firefox Browser
Firefox is the one of the better Internet browsers for Linux, and the default one for Ubuntu. You should play around with it to get it to work how you like.
I only have a few recommendations:
Edit --> Preferences --> General tab
Choose your home page. I happen to like http://www.google.com
Edit --> Preferences --> Privacy tab
Go though all the tabs and think carefully about the options. I don't like to have passwords remembered or forms saved.
In the other tabs, I don't save my history, delete all cookies, and remove the downloads in the Download Manager each time I close Firefox. I do this for security reasons, but you can choose your own level of paranoia. Remember, 60 - 75% of all computers have some sort of spyware or virus, and many are transmitted through cookies and automatic downloads.
Edit --> Preferences --> Content
Look at the Java and Javascript buttons carefully. Yes, Java and Javascript can transmit viruses and Spyware. I usually keep these boxes unchecked. But nowadays probably 30 - 50% of websites use Java or Javascript. My approach is to check these boxes only when I am visiting a web page I know and trust, and uncheck them when doing general surfing. Fortunately, almost 75% of web ads use Javascript, so I don't see a lot of ads when it is turned off.
Later, we will discuss a method to filter all Java and Javascript from most sites, while permitting certain web sites to run them, using the NoScript extension (no box checking and unchecking is involved).
Edit --> Preferences --> Downloads
I check the box to "Ask me where to save every file". Downloading everything to the desktop isn't a bad idea, though, either.
Firefox has a peculiarity of not showing you the download progress by default. Only if you check the "Show download manager when download begins" box will you ever be able to see the progress of a download. I also check the "close Download Manager when all downloads are complete" box.
Edit --> Preferences -- Advanced
In the Updates tab, I uncheck the automatic updates box, especially for the search engines and extensions. Yahoo and Google have a nasty way of installing lots of things through updates that I really don't want. In fact, I have automatic updating turned off on my entire computer except for security updates. I have been burned too many times by "new features," automatically installed through updates, that almost completely disable my system.
That doesn't mean I don't update my system; it just means I do updates manually and selectively. Over the years, McAfee, Symantec, Microsoft, Intuit, AOL, Yahoo, Google, and Apple (Itunes) are all some of the companies that cost me lots of money to repair my computer after an automatic "update" crippled it. Hey, I'm a Linux user now for a reason.
Also play around with customizing your menu bars so Firefox looks like you want it.
Lastly, consider strongly installing AdBlock. This is a Firefox extension that filters a large number of ads. (WebWasher for Linux worked better, but it seemed to disappear when a new company bought it.)
AdBlock is pretty good, but it doesn't filter out Javascript Ads (such as Macromedia Flashplayer ads) automatically. You have to filter them one by one, which is not very useful. There is another extension called Flashblock, which is extremely useful, but you can't use AdBlock and Flashblock together. You have to choose one or the other (Warning: Trying to use both at the same time will disable Firefox and require reinstallation of Firefox using the Synaptic Package Manager).
Now, NoScript is an additional extension that blocks Java and Javascript for all sites except the ones you allow. It works great, and it is compatible with AdBlock. For it to be usable, you leave the Java and Javascript boxes enabled in the Edit --> Preferences --> Content tab. NoScript will filter all Java and Javascript by default, but by right clicking on any web page, you can choose to temporarily or permanently allow Java and Javascript for the website of that web page. It works very well.
Anyway, to obtain and install AdBlock, from Firefox:
Tools --> Extensions --> Get more extensions
When you are redirected to the Firefox extensions web page, look in the Recommended Add-ons section. Scroll down until you see AdBlock Plus. "Install Now" and it will be added to your Firefox automatically.
Now look in Tools and you should see AdBlock Plus...
Tools --> AdBlock Plus
Filters --> Add filter subscription
Click on the down arrow in the Subscription title box and select "EasyList (USA)"
Now a whole list of sites to be filtered will be added to your list. You can choose to update the list automatically or not.
This will filter out a large majority of ads you encounter. However, if you do come across an ad while surfing with Firefox, you can add it to the filter list by clicking on the AdBlock icon in Firefox, or by right clicking on the offensive ad and then selecting "AdBlock image..." from the menu.
For flashplayer ads, there will be a small "Adblock" tab on the ad itself. Click on it and that particular ad will disappear forever. However, (and this is my dislike of AdBlock), usually a new Flashplayer ad will just appear in its place. This doesn't happen with Flashblock and WebWasher (sigh).
So now go get the NoScript extension (found in the "Privacy and Security" section of the "more extensions" web page) and install it. Now your Flashplayer Ad problem will be solved, and you will not be exposed to so many security risks.
10) Install mp3 capabilities.
Yes, .mp3 is a proprietary format. Use .ogg if you want to use an open source digital music format. (There are programs to convert all your mp3 files to ogg.) However, a lot of Internet radio stations (like Shoutcast) stream in mp3, not ogg. So your system has to be able to play them.
Remember how we enabled all those extra repositories? It was to be able to download packages for the proprietary fonts and music formats.
Follow the instructions at:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats
to learn how to install mp3 and other restricted formats. Follow the instructions exactly. In short, start up the command line terminal and login as root (sudo -s) then enter:
apt-get install gstreamer0.10-pitfdll gstreamer0.10-ffmpeg gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad gstreamer0.10-plugins-bad-multiverse gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly gstreamer0.10-plugins-ugly-multiverse gxine libxine-main1 libxine-extracodecs ogle ogle-gui
Then wait a while for it to finish. When it's done, optionally enter
wget -c http://www.debian-multimedia.org/pool/main/w/w32codecs/w32codecs_20061022-0.0_i386.deb
dpkg -i w32codecs_20061022-0.0_i386.deb
This will install the video codecs so you can play all those proprietary windows video formats on your video/movie player, too. See
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedFormats/WindowsCodecs
Ok, now your computer is more media savvy. Let's have some fun.
11) Listen to Shoutcast Internet Radio using XMMS
Shoutcast is one of the first (and one of the last) free internet radio streamers. It streams music in mp3 format. Some media company critics object that this allows the music to be "captured" by special software programs like RipCast. Of course, you could record music off your radio, too, with a simple tape deck. In any event, even though the war over media distribution channels has whittled down Shoutcast over the years, it still provides a very large selection of radio channels to suit every taste. There are comedy channels, spoken word channels, and music channels in every genre from countries around the world.
I never listen to anything else. My house is wired to pipe Shoutcast over the whole house audio. Every computer can play Shoutcast.
XMMS works best for playing streaming Internet radio, but first we have to make it the default player for .mp3 files. From the Unofficial Ubuntu Guide:
http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu_dapper
Open the command line terminal and become root user (sudo -s).
cp /usr/share/applications/defaults.list /usr/share/applications/defaults.list_backup
cp /usr/share/applications/defaults.list /tmp/defaults.list_tmp
sed -e 's/audio\/mpeg=.*/audio\/mpeg=XMMS.desktop/g' /tmp/defaults.list_tmp > /tmp/defaults.mp3
sed -e 's/audio\/x-mpegurl=.*/audio\/x-mpegurl=XMMS.desktop/g' /tmp/defaults.mp3 > /tmp/defaults.m3u
sed -e 's/audio\/x-wav=.*/audio\/x-wav=XMMS.desktop/g' /tmp/defaults.m3u > /tmp/defaults.list
mv /tmp/defaults.list /usr/share/applications/defaults.list
rm -f /tmp/defaults.*
exit.
Alternatively, you could find any file ending in .mp3 and right click on it. Click on "Properties" then go to the "Open with" tab. Hit the "Add" button, and scroll down until you see XMMS. Now all mp3 files will be associated with XMMS by default every time.
This works, by the way, for associating files of any type with a particular program, so it is useful to know.
Ok, so now fire up Firefox, go to http://www.shoutcast.com and tune in to your favorite radio station!
(I'm partial to Radio Paradise, near me, which has a very eclectic mix of music.)
12) Try OpenOffice
Open Office does everything Microsoft Office does, and then some. Now, to me that's not necessarily an advantage. I liked Microsoft Office 97, which worked better and more simply than the newer incarnations. Open Office tries to have as many features as the newest Microsoft Office, and that drives me nuts. All the programs become "nanny programs" and it takes me forever to turn off unwanted and irritating features.
But you'll be impressed that there is nothing you can't do with OpenOffice. Oh yes, it will translate and use all your Microsoft files, such as Word and PowerPoint files, and even save them in those formats if you choose.
13) Install Evince PDF reader.
Ubuntu Dapper has a default PDF reader installed. It didn't work for me. Since I am very very reliant on PDF, I need a good PDF viewer. I like Evince, and I believe the newer Ubuntu versions install Evince by default.
System --> Administration --> Synaptic Package Manager
Search: evince
"Mark for installation" and Apply.
The program is now on your system. Let's add it to the Office menu.
Applications --> Accessories --> Alacarte Menu Editor
Click on Office
File --> New Entry
---------------------------------
Name: Evince PDF Reader
Comment: PDF Reader
Command: /usr/bin/evince
Click on the icon, click the down arrow, go to the /usr/share/pixmaps folder, and choose an icon you like. (I happen to like the one titled gnome-ccdesktop.png.)
Close
---------------------------------
Now associate Evince with a .pdf file just like you did above for the .mp3 file, by right-clicking on it, and choosing "Evince" in the Properties --> Open With section.
Ok, now play around with your system for awhile. Then let's tackle networking in the next section.
| Home page
| Introduction
| Chapter I: Installing Windows on a dual-boot computer
| Chapter II: Installing Ubuntu Linux Server on a dual-boot computer
| Chapter III: Adding the Ubuntu Desktop on a dual-boot computer
| Chapter IV: Spiffing up Ubuntu Linux
| Chapter V: Ubuntu/Windows shared networks
| Chapter VI: Setting up a Web Site on Ubuntu
| Chapter VII: Ubuntu/Apache Virtual Hosts (Multiple web sites, single server)
| Chapter VIII: Installing Drupal Content Managment System
| Chapter IX: Installing Vista Office EHR
| Chapter X: Installing an Office Surveillance Security System with Ubuntu
| Chapter XI: Installing an open source Groupware Server
| Chapter XII: Installing a non-linear video editor for presentations
|