Multi Gnome Terminal User's Guide: Multi Gnome Terminal 1.6.2
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# 3. User Interface Overview

`Multi Gnome Terminal` provides a number of GUI controls for manipulating various aspects of `Multi Gnome Terminal`'s behavior. The GUI controls may be hidden, and most are relocatable.

## 3.1. Tabs

Each terminal Window has a "Tab" associated with it. By default, these are located immediately above the terminal Window, though can be re-positioned (see the Tabs Tab Section.). The active Tab is "raised", or otherwise emphasized (depending on theme). The Tab identifies that particular terminal and shell (or terminal/shell combinations if the Window is split).

The Tab also allows easy navigation by just left clicking with the mouse. Clicking with the RightMouse button on any Tab will pop-up a small menu of all opened Tabs for that Window. Navigation is also possible with keyboard shortcuts. To move sequentially: the shortcut is SHIFT plus the right or left arrow key. Or directly: CTRL plus the ordinal number of the desired Tab, example: `CTRL-2`. Both methods are configurable with the Key Bindings dialog.

Each Tab has a label that can be customized by middle clicking the Tab, and entering a name in the dialog-box. This can also be done from the Toolbar or the Buttonbar. (The Titled Tabs feature should be disabled for manually renaming labels to work consistently. See the Preferences Configuration Section.)

Inactive terminals (whether split screen or not) notify that their buffer is in the process of changing, or has changed, via colors of the Tab labels. By default, `red` means the buffer content is in the process of changing; and `blue` means a change has taken place, and the buffer is paused. Tab label colors are definable from the Colors Tab of Win Preferences Configuration. The exception is if the terminal is in "View" mode, or is "bonded" with other terminals, but is not visible, then the label will not change color (see the File Menu Section. for more on bonded and view terminals).

New terminals can be initiated with selections from the New Term menu. This menu is also available from the Buttonbar, Menubar, or the application control pop-up menu that is activated by CTRL-LeftMouse (see the Pop-up Menu Section.).

The New Term menu has six selections that are enabled by default: Shell, a regular bash shell is started; Root, a root shell is started with `su`; mc, or `Midnight Commander`, a console file manager application; Split, the current terminal is split using another open terminal; View, a new terminal is created in "view" mode; New tab with..., a new Tab is created using a split terminal from the current Window, or another Tab or split terminal from another `Multi Gnome Terminal` Window. You may add your own customizations to this menu through the Edit Command menu selection of the Settings menu.

Selecting any item from the New Term menu will open a small sub-menu with various options on how and where to open the new terminal. It may be opened as a new Tab in the existing Window, or opened within the existing Window, but with the Window split either horizontally or vertically, or can be opened in a new `Multi Gnome Terminal` Window. See the New Term Section for details.

Saving a preferred Tab configuration can be done several ways. Perhaps the easiest way is when logging out of a gnome-session, and then if the current configuration is set to be saved automatically, or if the checkbox to save is checked, then all `Multi Gnome Terminal` Tabs for all opened `Multi Gnome Terminal` Windows will be restored on the next session start-up.

Also, see the Tabs Tab Section for autosaving the Tab configuration. And then also, the Edit Commands Section for defining custom start-up Tabs on a per "Class" basis.

## 3.2. Scrollbar

`Multi Gnome Terminal` provides a Scrollbar so that the user can scroll back and see previous commands and output in the terminal buffer history with the mouse. This is especially convenient when a command output does not fit in the viewable screen area. By default, the scrollbar is placed on the right side of the terminal Window. You can change its location or remove the scrollbar altogether using the Preferences Configuration dialog. You can also use the keyboard for scrolling: SHIFT-PageUp scrolls up, and SHIFT-PageDown scrolls down.

## 3.3. Toolbar

The Toolbar is used to manipulate and initialize Tabs. Like most other GUI components, it may be hidden, or re-located. To move, just grab the "handle" on the left edge. To hide, see the File menu on the Menubar, or the Pop-up control menu. Also, see the Preferences Configuration Section..

The Toolbar provides the following functions:

- Use the arrow buttons, to re-position the current Tab to the right or to the left.

- Open new Tabs with the three built-in "Commands" of "New Shell", "Root Shell", and "mc". (See the section called Menubar - New Term.)

- Close and remove the current Tab.

- Change the current Tab's title.

### Screenshot Showing GUI Features

From top to bottom: Menubar, Toolbar, Tabs, terminal window, Buttonbar. The Scrollbar is on the left in this shot.

## 3.4. Buttonbar

The Buttonbar is also used to manipulate and initialize Tabs. Like other GUI components, it may be hidden (but not moved). To hide, see the File menu on the Menubar, or the Pop-up control menu. Also, see the Tabs Tab Section..

The Buttonbar provides the following functions:

- Open new Tabs with the special "Commands" as listed in the New Term menu. This menu includes the default built-in "Commands", as well as any user-defined commands. See the New Term Section. for more explanation.

- Use the Tab Left and Tab Right buttons, to re-position the current Tab to the right or to the left.

- The Remove button removes (closes) the current Tab.

- Change the current Tab's Title.

## 3.5. Menus

There are three main menus available: the Menubar located at the top of the terminal Window, a Pop-up control menu available by pressing the RightMouse button while holding the CTRL key while on the terminal Window, and the New Term menu which can be accessed with the LeftMouse button while holding the CTRL key (this is a shortcut to the Menubar menu of the same name).

The Menubar is detachable by grabbing the "handle" (on left edge) with the mouse, and dragging to the bottom of the Window, or can be left free-floating on the Desktop.

### 3.5.1. Menubar - File menu

New Window

  Create a new `Multi Gnome Terminal` Window, complete with start-up Tabs and any saved terminals. This is an efficient way to create new `Multi Gnome Terminal` Windows, as this uses less system resources than starting a separate copy of `Multi Gnome Terminal`. (For advanced users: the new terminal Window created in this way is owned by the same process, with the same PID as the original terminal. Each terminal starts its own sub-shell processes, however.)

Remove Term

  Deletes the current active terminal and associated shell. A prompt is given first to verify the intent. If this terminal is the only opened terminal in that Window, then the Window exits too.

Change Title

  Opens a dialog-box for changing the current Tab label.

Save Terminals

  Save the current Tab arrangement. This will be used on the next start up of `Multi Gnome Terminal`, if the Reopen tabs option is enabled in the Tabs section of the Preferences dialog-box. See the Tabs Tab Section.

All bonded

  This will "bond" all terminals. This means that whatever commands are run in one bonded terminal, are replicated in all the others that are bonded. Note: this is not appropriate for all commands, such as editing a file, or compiling, for instance, since you will have multiple edit and compile sessions running concurrently. Use with discretion! There may also be security implications here ... for instance, typing a password with appear on all bonded terminals. Use with caution!

All unbonded

  Remove bonding (see above).

Show menubar

  Hides the main Menubar on the terminal if unchecked, creating a neater, smaller terminal. The Menubar can be restored using the pop-up menu.

Show toolbar

  Hides the Toolbar if unchecked. The Toolbar can be retrieved using the pop-up menu or the main Menubar.

Show buttonbar

  Hides the Buttonbar if unchecked. The Buttonbar can be retrieved using the pop-up menu or the main Menubar.

Close Window

  Closes the Window ;-) If there are multiple Windows of the same process (i.e. opened with New Window), only the current Window is closed.

### 3.5.2. Menubar - New Term menu

Actually, this same menu is accessible also by clicking with CTRL-LeftMouse on the terminal Window, and from the Buttonbar. This is a "tear off" menu, and can be positioned on the desktop, independently of the main Window (except the CTRL-LeftMouse Pop-up menu).

This menu is used to manually start the shells and custom Commands of `Multi Gnome Terminal`, thus initializing "new Tabs" and terminals. Most entries when selected will open a sub-menu with four entries to determine how and where the new terminal will be opened (see below).

There are six built-in selections that are enabled by default:

Shell

  Opens a new terminal with a normal, interactive bash shell.

Root

  Opens a new terminal with a root shell via `su`.

mc

  Opens a new terminal with `Midnight Commander` (a console file manager).

Split

  Split the current terminal by moving a terminal from another, already opened `Multi Gnome Terminal` Window, or from another Tab in the same Window.

  This selection opens a short sub-menu with selection options of Horizontally with... and Vertically with... to determine which type of split will be used in the current terminal. Choose one. Then change to another Tab for this same Window, click the terminal Window itself, and the terminal is moved. Or to move between Windows, click on the terminal in the other Window that you want to use to make the split in the current Window.

  Moving between Windows requires that both Windows be opened with either New Window menu selection or with the `Gnome Terminal` factory server command line option.

View

  "View" the output of a terminal running in another Window or another Tab, in this terminal. This selection also opens a short sub-menu with selection options of Horizontally with... and Vertically with... to determine which type of split will be used in the current terminal to view the target terminal's output.

  Choose the appropriate option, and then click on the already opened terminal running on another Tab, or in another Window. The output of that terminal will now also be displayed in the new split terminal. A "[V]" will show on the Tab label to denote that it is in "View" mode. Note that the "View" terminal will accept no input. Use the GUI controls to close it.

  This also requires that the Windows be opened with either New Window menu selection or with the `Gnome Terminal` factory server command line option if using terminals from two Windows.

New Tab with...

  Similar to the above two selections, this selection will open a completely new Tab, but it will be created by moving an opened split terminal from the same Window to its own Tab (i.e. it is not split any more), or by moving an already opened terminal running in another `Multi Gnome Terminal` Window to the current Window. After clicking the menu selection, then left click on the selected terminal, and it will be moved to its own, new Tab in the current Window.

  Again, this requires that the Windows be opened with either New Window menu selection or with the `Gnome Terminal` factory server command line option if moving Tabs from one Window to another.

These are enabled by default and will appear at the top of the menu, and may be disabled. See the New Term Tab Section under Edit Commands for how to enable and disable these.

Below this point on the menu, any user defined Commands would be shown.

The six built-in selections (see above), and any user defined commands will open a sub-menu with four selections:

> New Tab

>   Open the new terminal with its own Tab and full terminal screen (i.e. not split).

> HSplit

>   Split the current terminal in half horizontally, and then open a new shell (or run a "command"). The split can be resized manually by moving the divider with the mouse. Both terminals are associated with the same Tab.

> VSplit

>   Split the current terminal in half vertically, and then open a new shell (or run a "command"). The split can be resized manually by moving the divider with the mouse. Both terminals are associated with the same Tab.

> New Window

>   Open the new Tab in a new `Multi Gnome Terminal` Window.

The above sub-menu entries can not be disabled or changed.

| New entries can be added to the New Term menu from Edit Commands selection of the Settings Menu.

### 3.5.3. Menubar - Edit menu

Search

  Opens a dialog-box for searching the terminal buffer contents. Checkboxes are provided for matching upper/lower case, wrapping, and backward searching.

Search Again

  Repeats the last search of the terminal buffer.

Paste

  Pastes the current selection (from the X clipboard) into the terminal at the current cursor position. This can also be achieved by clicking with the MiddleMouse button.

### 3.5.4. Menubar - Settings menu

`Multi Gnome Terminal` configuration is accessed through the Settings menu. Which is available from the main Menubar and the Buttonbar. Tip: It is also available by clicking CTRL-RightMouse on the terminal background.

Tab Preferences

  Opens a dialog-box where configuration options for Tab Classes (tclass) can be set. For more, see the Tab Preferences Configuration Section.

Win Preferences

  Opens a dialog-box where configuration options for Windows Classes (wclass) can be set. For more, see the Win Preferences Configuration Section.

Tab Class (NEW v1.6.0)

  Allows changing the current "Tab Class" from a sub-menu of all defined "Classes". In this case, only the Class for the current Tab is changed. (This effects all split terminals within that Tab too.) See the Terminal Configuration Classes Section.

Win Class

  Allows changing the current "Win Class" from a sub-menu of all defined "Classes". In this case, the selected Class will be applied to the current Window and its various GUI components. See the Terminal Configuration Classes Section.

Edit Commands

  This will open a Window where custom "Commands" can be defined or modified. These "commands" are used to open new terminals. See the Edit Commands Section.

Keybindings

  This will open a Window where custom keyboard shortcuts for various `Multi Gnome Terminal` functions and other uses can be defined or modified. See the Keybindings Section.

Adjust size

  After adding or removing GUI components (e.g. the Toolbar), there may be a slight discrepancy between the character based terminal window, and the pixel based X window, leaving a small amount of "wasted" space. This setting will adjust the Window appropriately.

Reset Terminal

  Resets the terminal parameters. This will not clear the screen or move the cursor, but any subsequent terminal output will be reset to the default font and attributes. This is probably only useful if a problem occurs, and the terminal is misbehaving.

Reset and Clear

  Resets the terminal parameters as above, and also clears the screen. All character fonts and attributes are reset.

Color selector ...

  Can be used to drag-and-drop colors into the terminal to change the background color. See the Colors Tab Section for details.

### 3.5.5. Menubar - Help menu

Terminal Help

  Get to this document from within `Multi Gnome Terminal`.

About ...

  A few kudos for some of the people behind `Multi Gnome Terminal`. See the Authors and Credits Section.

### 3.5.6. Pop-up menu

The Pop-up control menu can always be invoked by clicking with CTRL-RightMouse anywhere within the terminal Window. (It may not always be necessary to hold down the CTRL key to get the pop-up menu, but do not assume this is always so, particularly if a "selection" is in progress.) It is provided as a simple short-cut to many of the important selections from the main menus. This is especially useful when the Menubar is hidden. Or you are too lazy to move the mouse that far ;-) The following items are available:

New Window

  Opens a new `Multi Gnome Terminal` Window. See the section called New Window.

New Shell

  Opens a new Tab with a normal, interactive bash shell in a new terminal.

Root Shell

  Opens a new Tab with a root shell via `su`, running in a new terminal.

mc

  Opens a new Tab with `Midnight Commander` (a console file manager) in a new terminal.

Remove Term

  Remove the current terminal, and close the associated shell. If this is the only terminal for this Window, then the Window closes too.

Change Title

  Change the Tab title string.

Settings

  Opens a sub-menu with four options:

  - Tab Preferences

  - Win Preferences

  - Edit Commands

  - Keybindings

  - Adjust size

Tab Class (NEW v1.6.0)

  Allows changing the current "Class" from a sub-menu of all defined "Classes". In this case, only the Class for the current Tab is changed. (This effects all split terminals within that Tab too.) See the Terminal Configuration Classes Section.

Win Class

  Allows changing the current "Class" from a sub-menu of all defined "Classes". In this case, the Class will be applied to all Tabs of the current Window (this is the old behavior). See the Terminal Configuration Classes Section.

Bonded Terminal

  Mark this terminal as a "bonded" terminal in this Window. All "bonded" terminals share the same input (output is not shared). Note: Use with caution and discretion! This is not appropriate for all commands and situations! There may be security implications to using this (think passwords showing in all bonded terminals), and some commands may not work, or produce unexpected results since the same command is essentially being run concurrently in all bonded terminals.

Show menubar

  Hides the main Menubar on the terminal if unchecked, creating a neater, smaller terminal. The Menubar can be restored using the pop-up menu.

Show toolbar

  Hides the Toolbar if unchecked. The Toolbar can be retrieved using the pop-up menu or the main Menubar.

Show buttonbar

  Hides the Buttonbar if unchecked. The Buttonbar can be retrieved using the pop-up menu or the main Menubar.

Secure keyboard

  This option forces all the keyboard input to be sent directly to the terminal, and bypass anything else. This is useful in the (rare) situation when the same X server is used by many users, and the X server is not using proper authentication methods, thus making it possible for other users to snoop on what you are typing. In such a situation, it is advised that you switch to "secure keyboard" mode before entering any confidential information, such as passwords.

Reset Terminal

  Resets the terminal parameters. This will not clear the screen or move the cursor, but any subsequent terminal output will be reset to the default font and attributes. This is probably only useful if a problem occurs, and the terminal is misbehaving.

Reset and Clear

  Resets the terminal parameters as above, and also clears the screen. All character fonts and attributes are reset.

Open in browser

  Depending on the URL type, this menu selection might also say Send Mail, Open in Browser or Open in File Browser.

  If the mouse pointer is over a URL (for example, an Internet address) when the Pop-up menu is invoked, then this option becomes available to launch a browser (or other appropriate application) to view the URL, send email, etc. See the Launching URLs Section.

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