# A Tour of the GNOME Desktop

This section introduces the core GNOME components. This section also provides information that helps you to start working with the desktop. The desktop is very configurable, therefore this section covers the main functional possibilities of the desktop features. If you want to find out how to implement the various configuration possibilities that are mentioned in this section, see Customizing Your GNOME Desktop. The chapters in this section are as follows:

- Basic Skills

  Read this chapter to find out about mouse usage, shortcut keys, basic window skills, and basic dialog skills.

- Overview of the Desktop

  Read this chapter for an introduction to the major components and functions of the desktop. If you do not read anything else in this manual, read this chapter.

- Desktop Sessions

  Read this chapter for information about how to start, manage, and end desktop sessions.

- Working With Panels

  Read this chapter to find out more about using panels. Panels are a key component of the desktop. This chapter tells you how to use the different parts of your panels, and how to invoke the available functions of the desktop using panels.

- Working With Menus

  Read this chapter to find out more about using menus.

- Working With Windows

  Read this chapter to find out more about using windows. This chapter describes basic windows functions such as moving and resizing. This chapter also describes the controls that you use with windows.

- Nautilus File Manager

  Read this chapter to find out more about the Nautilus file manager. This chapter describes how to use Nautilus to work with your file system. This chapter also describes how to customize Nautilus.

- Using the Desktop Background

  Read this chapter to find out more about using the desktop background. This chapter describes how to use the desktop background to start applications, and open your files and folders. The chapter also describes how to use Trash from the desktop, how to use the Desktop Background menu, and how to customize the desktop background.

&gosbasic; &gosoverview; &gosstartsession; &gospanel; &goseditmainmenu; &gosmetacity; &gosnautilus; &gosdeskback;