# Using the Basic Preference Tools

The basic preference tools enable you to customize your desktop background. You can use the basic preference tools to configure your keyboard settings and your mouse settings. You can use the basic preference tools to configure shortcut keys, to set your sound preferences, and to configure your network proxy. You can also use the basic preference tools to choose a theme and fonts for your desktop, and to customize your application menubars and toolbars. You can also customize window focus behavior.

This chapter describes how to use the basic preference tools to customize your desktop.

## Opening a Basic Preference Tool

You can open one of the basic preference tools in either of the following ways:

- From the Desktop Preferences menu

  Choose Applications Desktop Preferences. Choose the preference tool that you require from the submenu. The dialog for the tool is displayed.

- From the Start Here location

  Open a Nautilus window, then choose Go Start Here. Alternatively, double-click on the Start Here object on the desktop background. The Start Here location is displayed. Double-click on the Desktop Preferences object in the Nautilus window to display your preference tools.

  Double-click on the tool that you require. The dialog for the tool is displayed.

## Customizing the Desktop Background

The desktop background is the part of the desktop where there are no interface graphical items, such as panels and windows. The desktop background is always beneath the other interface items.

You can customize the desktop background in the following ways:

- Select an image to display on the desktop background. The image is superimposed on the desktop background color. The desktop background color is visible if you select a transparent image, or if the image does not cover the entire desktop background.

- Select a color for the desktop background. You can select a solid color, or create a gradient effect with two colors. A gradient effect is a visual effect where one color blends gradually into another color.

You can also change the appearance of your desktop background from within the Nautilus file manager.

lists the background settings that you can configure.

### Settings for Desktop Background

Element | Function
--- | ---
Select picture | Choose an image to display on the desktop background. To choose an image, click on the Select picture button. An image selector dialog is displayed. Use the dialog to choose an image. When you choose an image, click OK.

Picture Options

To specify how to display the image, select one of the following options:

- Wallpaper: Repeats the image to cover the desktop background.

- Centered: Displays the image in the middle of the desktop background.

- Scaled: Enlarges the image until the image meets the screen edges, and maintains the relative dimensions of the image.

- Stretched: Enlarges the image to cover the desktop background, and does not maintain the relative dimensions of the image.

- No Picture: Displays no image.

Background Style

To specify a color scheme, use the options in the Background Style drop-down list, and the color selector buttons.

You can specify a color scheme in one of the following ways:

- Choose Solid color from the Background Style drop-down list to specify a single color for the desktop background.

  To choose the color that you require, click on the Color button. The Pick a Color dialog is displayed. Choose a color, then click OK.

- Choose Horizontal gradient from the Background Style drop-down list. This option creates a gradient effect from the left screen edge to the right screen edge.

  Click on the Left Color button to display the Pick a Color dialog. Choose the color that you want to appear at the left edge.

  Click on the Right Color button. Choose the color that you want to appear at the right edge.

- Choose Vertical gradient from the Background Style drop-down list. This creates a gradient effect from the top screen edge to the bottom screen edge.

  Click on the Top Color button to display the Pick a Color dialog. Choose the color that you want to appear at the top edge.

  Click on the Bottom Color button. Choose the color that you want to appear at the bottom edge.

## Choosing Default Fonts

Use the Font preference tool to select the fonts to use in your applications, windows, terminals, and desktop background.

lists the font settings that you can configure.

### Settings for Fonts

Option | Function
--- | ---
Application font | Click on the font selector button to select a font to use in your applications.
Desktop font | Click on the font selector button to select a font to use on your desktop background only.
Window title font | Click on the font selector button to select a font to use in the titlebars of your windows.
Terminal font | Click on the font selector button to select a font to use in the Terminal application

Font Rendering

To specify how to render fonts on your screen, select one of the following options:

- Monochrome: Renders fonts in black and white only. The edges of characters might appear jagged in some cases because the characters are not antialiased. Antialiasing is an effect that is applied to the edges of characters to make the characters look smoother.

- Best shapes: Antialiases fonts where possible. Use this option for standard Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitors.

- Best contrast: Adjusts fonts to give the sharpest possible contrast, and also antialiases fonts, so that characters have smooth edges. This option might enhance the accessibility of the desktop to users with visual impairments.

- Subpixel smoothing (LCDs): Uses techniques that exploit the shape of individual Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) pixels to render fonts smoothy. Use this option for LCD or flat-screen displays.

Details

Click on this button to specify further details of how to render fonts on your screen.

- Resolution (dots per inch): Use the spin box to specify the resolution to use when your screen renders fonts.

- Smoothing: Select one of the options to specify how to antialias fonts.

- Hinting: Hinting is a font-rendering technique that improves the quality of fonts at small sizes and an at low screen resolutions. Select one of the options to specify how to apply hinting your fonts.

- Subpixel order: Select one of the options to specify the subpixel color order for your fonts. Use this option for LCD or flat-screen displays.

## Configuring Keyboard Settings

Use the Keyboard preference tool to select the autorepeat settings for your keyboard, and to configure the sound events that are associated with the keyboard.

You can customize the settings for the Keyboard preference tool in the following functional areas:

- Keyboard

- Sound

### Keyboard Settings

Use the Keyboard tabbed section to set general keyboard preferences. To start the Keyboard accessibility preference tool, that is, AccessX, click on the Accessibility button.

lists the keyboard settings that you can configure.

#### Settings for Keyboard

Option | Function
--- | ---
Keyboard repeats when key is held down | Select this option to enable keyboard repeat. If keyboard repeat is enabled, when you press-and-hold a key, the action associated with the key is performed repeatedly. For example, if you press-and-hold a character key, the character is typed repeatedly.
Delay | Select the delay from the time you press a key to the time that the action repeats.
Speed | Select the speed at which the action is repeated.
Blinks in text boxes and fields | Select this option to enable the cursor to blink in fields and text boxes.
Speed | Use the slider to specify the speed at which the cursor blinks in fields and text boxes.

### Sound Settings

Use the Sound tabbed section to set your preferences for keyboard sound.

Some applications play a bell sound to indicate a keyboard input error. Use the options in the Sound tabbed section to configure the bell sound. lists the keyboard sound settings that you can configure.

#### Settings for Keyboard Sound

Option | Function
--- | ---
Off | Select this option to disable the keyboard bell.
Beep | Select this option to enable the keyboard bell.

## Customizing Keyboard Shortcuts

A keyboard shortcut is a key or combination of keys that provides an alternative to standard ways of performing an action.

Use the Keyboard Shortcuts preference tool to display the default keyboard shortcuts. You can customize the default keyboard shortcuts to your requirements.

lists the keyboard shortcut settings that you can customize.

### Default Settings for Keyboard Shortcuts

Option | Function
--- | ---

Text editing shortcuts

Select one of the following settings:

- Default: Use this setting for standard shortcut keys.

- Emacs: Use this setting for Emacs shortcut keys.

Desktop shortcuts

This table lists actions and the shortcut keys that are associated with each action.

To change the shortcut keys for an action, click on the action to select the action, then click on the shortcut for the action. Press the keys that you want to associate with the action.

To disable the shortcut keys for an action, double-click on the action, then click on the shortcut for the action. Press Back Space.

## Customizing Menus and Toolbars in Applications

You can use the Menus & Toolbars preference tool to customize the appearance of menus, menubars, and toolbars for GNOME-compliant applications.

lists the menu and toolbar settings that you can customize for GNOME-compliant applications.

### Settings for Customizing Applications

Option | Function
--- | ---

Button Labels

Choose one of the following options to specify what to display on the toolbars in your GNOME-compliant applications:

- Text Below Icons: Select this option to display toolbars with text as well as an icon on each button.

- Text Beside Icons: Select this option to display toolbars with an icon only on each button, and with text on the most important buttons.

- Icons Only: Select this option to display toolbars with an icon only on each button.

- Text Only: Select this option to display toolbars with text only on each button.

Toolbars can be detached and moved around | Select this option if you want to move toolbars from application windows to any location on the desktop. If you select this option, handles are displayed on the left side of the toolbars in your applications. To move a toolbar, click-and-hold on the handle, then drag the toolbar to the new location.
Show icons in menus | Select this option to display an icon beside each item in a menu. Some menu items do not have an icon.

## Configuring Mouse Settings

Use the Mouse preference tool to configure your mouse for right-hand use or for left-hand use. You can also specify the speed and sensitivity of mouse movement.

You can customize the settings for the Mouse preference tool in the following functional areas:

- Buttons

- Cursors

- Motion

### Buttons Settings

Use the Buttons tabbed section to specify whether the mouse buttons are configured for left-hand use. You can also specify the delay between clicks for a double-click.

lists the mouse button settings that you can configure.

#### Settings for Mouse Buttons

Option | Function
--- | ---
Left-handed mouse | Select this option to configure your mouse for left-hand use. When you configure your mouse for left-hand use, the functions of the left mouse button and the right mouse button are swapped.
Delay | Use the slider to specify the amount of time that can pass between clicks when you double-click. If the interval between the first and second clicks exceeds the time that is specified here, the action is not interpreted as a double-click.

### Pointer Settings

Use the Cursors tabbed section to set your mouse pointer preferences.

lists the mouse pointer settings that you can configure:

#### Settings for Mouse Pointers

Option | Function
--- | ---
Cursor Theme | Select the mouse pointer theme that you require from the list box.
Show position of cursor when the Control key is pressed | Select this option to enable a mouse pointer animation when you press and release Ctrl. This feature can assist you to locate the mouse pointer.

### Motion Settings

Use the Motion tabbed section to set your preferences for mouse movement.

lists the mouse motion settings that you can configure:

#### Settings for Mouse Motion

Setting | Function
--- | ---
Acceleration | Use the slider to specify the speed at which your mouse pointer moves on your screen when you move your mouse.
Sensitivity | Use the slider to specify how sensitive your mouse pointer is to movements of your mouse.
Threshold | Use the slider to specify the distance that you must move an item before the move action is interpreted as a drag-and-drop action.

## Configuring Network Proxy Settings

The Network Proxy preference tool enables you to configure how your system connects to networks. You can configure the desktop to connect to a proxy server, and specify the details of the proxy server. A proxy server is a server that intercepts requests to another server, and fulfills the request itself, if it can. You can enter the Domain Name Service (DNS) name or the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the proxy server. A DNS name is a unique alphabetic identifier for a computer on a network. An IP address is a unique numeric identifier for a computer on a network.

lists the network proxy settings that you can configure.

### Network Proxy Settings

Option | Function
--- | ---
Direct internet connection | Select this option if you want to connect directly to the Internet, without a proxy server.
Manual proxy configuration | Select this option if you want to connect to the Internet through a proxy server, and you want to configure the proxy server manually.
HTTP proxy | Enter the DNS name, or the IP address of the proxy server to use when you request a HTTP service. Enter the port number of the HTTP service on the proxy server in the Port spin box.
Secure HTTP proxy | Enter the DNS name, or the IP address of the proxy server to use when you request a Secure HTTP service. Enter the port number of the Secure HTTP service on the proxy server in the Port spin box.
FTP proxy | Enter the DNS name, or the IP address of the proxy server to use when you request a FTP service. Enter the port number of the FTP service on the proxy server in the Port spin box.
Socks host | Enter the DNS name, or the IP address of the Socks host to use. Enter the port number for the Socks protocol on the proxy server in the Port spin box.
Automatic proxy configuration | Select this option if you want to connect to the Internet through a proxy server, and you want to configure the proxy server automatically.
Autoconfiguration URL | Enter the URL that contains the information required to configure the proxy server automatically.

## Setting Sound Preferences

The Sound preference tool enables you to control when the GNOME sound server starts. You can also specify which sounds to play when particular events occur.

You can customize the settings for the Sound preference tool in the following functional areas:

- General

- Sound Events

### General Settings

Use the General tabbed section of the Sound preference tool to specify when to launch the GNOME sound server. You can also enable sound event functions.

lists the general sound settings that you can configure.

#### Settings for Sound

Option | Function
--- | ---
Enable sound server startup | Select this option to start the GNOME sound server when you start a GNOME session. When the sound server is active, the desktop can play sounds.
Sounds for events | Select this option to play sounds when particular events occur in your desktop. You can select this option only if the Enable sound server startup option is selected.

### Sound Event Settings

Use the Sound Events tabbed section of the Sound preference tool to associate particular sounds with particular events.

You must select the Enable sound server startup option, and the Sounds for events option before you can access the Sound Events tabbed section.

lists the sound events settings that you can configure.

#### Settings for Sound Events

Option | Function
--- | ---
Sounds table | Use the Sounds table to associate particular sounds with particular events. The Event column displays a hierarchical list of events that can occur. To expand a category of events, click on the right arrow beside a category of events. The File to play column lists the sound file that plays when the event occurs.
Play | Click on this button to play the sound file that is associated with the selected event.

Sound file drop-down combination box, Browse

To associate a sound with an event, select the event in the Sounds table. Enter the name of the sound file that you want to associate with the selected event in the drop-down combination box. Alternatively, click Browse to display a Select sound file dialog. Use the dialog to specify the sound file that you want to associate with the selected event.

You can only associate sound files in `.wav` format with events.

## Customizing Themes in the Desktop

A theme is a group of coordinated settings that specify how your desktop appears. Use the Theme preference tool to select a theme for your desktop. You can choose from a list of available themes. The list of available themes includes several themes for users with accessibility requirements.

When you select a theme in the Theme preference tool, you actually select a group of more specific themes that collectively determine the appearance of your desktop. Each theme is actually a group of other, more specific themes that control the look-and-feel of particular parts of the desktop. The following types of theme can control specific parts of the desktop:

Controls theme

  Specifies the visual appearance of your panels, menus, and applets. Controls themes also specify the appearance of GNOME-compliant application interface items. For example, controls themes affect the appearance of buttons, scrollbars, check boxes, and so on.

Window frame theme

  Specifies the visual appearance of your window frames.

Icons theme

  Specifies the visual appearance of the icons on your panels, menus, and desktop background.

### To Create a Custom Theme

The themes that are listed in the Theme preferences tool are different combinations of controls themes, window frame themes, and icon themes. You can create a custom theme that uses different combinations of controls themes, window frame themes, and icon themes.

To create a custom theme, perform the following steps:

1. To open the Theme preference tool, choose Applications Desktop Preferences Theme.

2. Select a theme in the list of themes.

3. Click on the Details button. A Theme Details dialog is displayed.

4. Select the controls theme that you want to use in the custom theme from the list in the Controls tabbed section. The list of available controls themes includes several themes for users with accessibility requirements.

5. Click on the Window Border tab to display the Window Border tabbed section. Select the window frame theme that you want to use in the custom theme from the list of available themes. The list of available window frame themes includes several themes for users with accessibility requirements.

6. Click on the Icons tab to display the Icons tabbed section. Select the icons theme that you want to use in the custom theme from the list of available themes. The list of available icons themes includes several themes for users with accessibility requirements.

7. Click Close to close the Theme Details dialog.

8. On the Theme preferences tool, click on the Save theme button. A Save theme to disk dialog is displayed.

9. Type a name and a short description for the custom theme in the dialog, then click Save. The custom theme now appears in your list of available themes.

### To Install a Theme

You can add a theme to the list of available themes. The new theme must be an archive file that is tarred and zipped. That is, the new theme must be a `.tar.gz` file.

To install a new theme, perform the following steps:

1. To open the Theme preference tool, choose Applications Desktop Preferences Theme.

2. Click on the Install theme button. An Install New Theme dialog is displayed.

3. Enter the location of the theme archive file in the drop-down combination box. Alternatively, to browse for the file, click on the Browse button. When you have selected the file, click OK.

4. Click on the Install button to install the new theme.

You can also install new controls themes, window frame themes, or icons themes. You can find many controls themes on the Internet.

To install a new controls theme, window frame theme, or icons theme, perform the following steps:

1. To open the Theme preference tool, choose Applications Desktop Preferences Theme.

2. Click on the Details button. An Theme Details dialog is displayed.

3. Click on the tab for the type of theme that you want to install. For example, to install an icons theme, click on the Icons tab.

4. Click on the Install new theme button. An Install New Theme dialog is displayed.

5. Enter the location of the theme archive file in the drop-down combination box. Alternatively, to browse for the file, click on the Browse button. When you have selected the file, click OK.

6. Click on the Install button to install the new theme.

You can also delete controls themes, window frame themes, or icons themes.

To delete a controls theme, window frame theme, or icons theme, perform the following steps:

1. To open the Theme preference tool, choose Applications Desktop Preferences Theme.

2. Click on the Details button. An Theme Details dialog is displayed.

3. Click on the tab for the type of theme that you want to delete.

4. Click on the Go to theme folder button. A file manager window opens on the default theme folder.

5. Use the file manager window to delete the theme.

## Customizing Windows

Use the Windows preference tool to customize window behavior for your desktop.

Windows preference tool. The context describes the graphic.

lists the window behavior settings that you can customize.

### Settings for Window Behavior

Option | Function
--- | ---
Select windows when the mouse moves over them | Select this option to give focus to a window when you point to the window. The window retains focus until you point to another window.
Raise selected windows after an interval | Select this option to raise windows a short time after the window receives focus.
Interval before raising | Specify the interval to wait before raising a window that has received focus.

Double-click titlebar to perform this action

Select the behavior that you want to occur when you double-click on a window titlebar. Select one of the following options:

- Roll up: Shades the window.

- Maximize: Maximizes the window.

To move a window, press-and-hold this key then grab the window | Select the key to press-and-hold when you drag a window to move the window.