# Working With Menus

This chapter describes how to use menus in the GNOME Desktop.

## Introduction to Menus

You can access all desktop environment functions through menus. The panels contains menus, so you can use a combination of menus and panels to perform your tasks. You can perform various actions on your menus, such as copy menu items to panels.

You can access the following menus in your desktop environment:

- Applications menu: You can access many of your applications, commands, and configuration options from the Applications menu. You can also access the desktop environment preference tools from the Applications menu.

- Actions menu: You can access various commands that enable you to perform desktop environment tasks from the Actions menu. For example, you can start the Search Tool application, or log out of the desktop environment.

- Main Menu: You can access the items in the Applications and Actions menus from the Main Menu. You can have many Main Menu buttons in your panels.

- Menu Bar: You can also access the items in the Applications and Actions menus from the Menu Bar. You can have many Menu Bar objects in your panels.

You can also right-click on the desktop to open the Desktop menu. The Desktop menu enables you to perform desktop-related tasks.

All of these menus provide you with multiple ways to perform your tasks, and enable you to work in the way that you prefer.

## Menu Features

Menus can contain the following items:

- Submenus

- Launchers or menu items

An arrow to the right of an item in a menu indicates that the item is a submenu. When you point to the submenu, the submenu opens. You can choose items from the submenu.

When you choose a launcher, the launcher starts an application or runs a command. You can also right-click on a launcher to open a popup menu. The popup menu enables you to add the item to a panel, and perform other tasks. For more information on the popup menu, see the next section.

You can change the theme for your session to change how all your menus look. To change the theme, use the Theme preference tool.

### Menu Item Popup Menu

Items in menus have an associated popup menu that enables you to perform tasks related to the item. When you right-click on an item in a menu, the popup menu for the item opens. The popup menu also contains a submenu that allows you to perform menu-related tasks.

You can use the menu item popup menu to perform the following tasks:

- Add menu items as launchers to panels.

- Remove items from menus.

- Open the Run Application dialog with the menu item command in the dialog.

- Add menus to panels. You can add a menu as a menu object or as a drawer object.

- Add new items to menus.

- Change the properties of submenus and menu items.

shows the popup menu.

#### Menu Item Popup Menu

Menu item popup menu. The context describes the graphic.

describes menu item popup menus.

#### Menu Item Popup Menus

Item | Description
--- | ---
Add this launcher to panel | Adds the launcher to the panel from which you open the menu.
Remove this item | Removes the launcher from the menu.
Put into run dialog | Displays the Run Application dialog with the command from the Command field of the launcher in the command field on the Run Application dialog.
Help on application-name | Opens the online help for the application.
Properties | Displays a dialog that enables you to edit the properties of the launcher.
Entire menu Add this as drawer to panel | Adds the submenu as a drawer to the panel from which you open the menu.
Entire menu Add this as menu to panel | Adds the submenu as a menu object to the panel from which you open the menu.
Entire menu Add new item to this menu | Enables you to add an item to the submenu.
Entire menu Properties | Displays a dialog that enables you to edit the properties of the submenu.

## Applications Menu

The Applications menu contains a hierarchy of submenus, from which you can start the standard GNOME applications and preference tools. The Applications menu contains the Desktop Preferences menu. You can use the Desktop Preferences menu to start the desktop environment preference tools. The Applications menu also includes the file manager and the help browser.

The Applications menu resides in the following places:

- Main Menu

- Menu Bar

- Start Here location in the file manager

## Actions Menu

The Actions menu contains various commands that enable you to perform desktop environment tasks. describes the commands in the Actions menu.

### Actions Menu Commands

Menu Item | Function
--- | ---
Run Application | Opens the Run Application dialog. Use the Run Application dialog to run commands. For more information, see .
Search for Files | Starts the Search Tool application. For more information, see the Search Tool manual.
Open Recent | Displays a submenu of the last ten files which you saved.
Take Screenshot | Takes a screenshot of the screen, and opens the Save Screenshot dialog. Use the Save Screenshot dialog to save the screenshot.
Lock Screen | Locks your screen.
Log Out | Logs you out of the current session.

The Actions menu resides in the following places:

- Main Menu. The items in the Actions menu are at the top level of the Main Menu.

- Menu Bar.

### Using the Run Application Dialog

The Run Application dialog gives you access to the command line. When you run a command in the Run Application dialog, you cannot receive output from the command.

To run a command from the command line perform the following steps:

1. Display the Run Application dialog. You can display the Run Application dialog in any of the following ways:

   - From any panel

     Add the Run button to a panel. Right-click on the panel, then choose Add to Panel Actions Run. Click on the Run button.

   - From the Main Menu

     Open the Main Menu, then choose Run Application.

   - From the Menu Bar

     Choose Actions Run Application.

   - Use shortcut keys

     The default shortcut keys to display the Run Application dialog are AltF2. You can change the shortcut keys that display the Run Application dialog in the Keyboard Shortcuts preference tool.

   - From a menu item popup menu

     Right-click on an item in a menu, then choose Put into run dialog from the popup menu. The Run Application dialog opens with the command from the menu in the command field.

   The Run Application dialog is displayed.

2. Enter the command that you want to run in the blank field. Alternatively, to choose a command that you ran previously, click the down arrow button beside the command field, then choose the command to run.

   Alternatively, select the Show list of known applications option to display a list of available applications.

   You can also use the Run with file button to choose a file to append to the command line. For example, you can enter emacs as the command, then choose a file to edit.

   Select the Run in terminal option to run the application or command in a terminal window. Choose this option for an application or command that does not create a window in which to run.

3. Click on the Run button on the Run Application dialog.

### To Take a Screenshot

You can take a screenshot in any of the following ways:

- From the Menu Bar

  To take a screenshot of the entire screen, choose Actions Take Screenshot. A Save Screenshot dialog is displayed. To save the screenshot, select the Save screenshot to file option. Enter the path and filename for the screenshot in the drop-down combination box. Alternatively, to save the screenshot to another directory, click Browse. When you select a directory, click OK.

  You can also save the screenshot to the desktop. To save the screenshot to the desktop, select the Save screenshot to desktop option.

- From any panel

  Add the Screenshot button to a panel. Right-click on the panel, then choose Add to Panel Actions Screenshot. Click on the Screenshot button to take a screenshot of the entire screen. Use the Save Screenshot dialog to save the screenshot.

- Use shortcut keys

  To take a screenshot, use the following shortcut keys:

  Default Shortcut Keys | Function
  --- | ---
  Print Screen | Takes a screenshot of the entire screen, and displays the Save Screenshot dialog. Use the Save Screenshot dialog to save the screenshot.
  AltPrint Screen | Takes a screenshot of the window to which the mouse points, and displays the Save Screenshot dialog. Use the Save Screenshot dialog to save the screenshot.

  You can use the Keyboard Shortcuts preference tool to modify the default shortcut keys.

- Use a command

  You can use the `gnome-panel-screenshot` command to take a screenshot. The `gnome-panel-screenshot` command takes a screenshot of the entire screen, and displays the Save Screenshot dialog. Use the Save Screenshot dialog to save the screenshot.

  You can also use options on the `gnome-panel-screenshot` command as follows:

  Option | Function
  --- | ---
  `--window` | Takes a screenshot of the window that has focus, and displays the Save Screenshot dialog. Use the Save Screenshot dialog to save the screenshot.
  `--delay=seconds` | Takes a screenshot after the specified number of seconds, and displays the Save Screenshot dialog. Use the Save Screenshot dialog to save the screenshot.
  `--help` | Displays the options for the command.

## Main Menu

Open Main Menu. Menu items: Applications, Run Application, Search for Files, Open Recent, Take Screenshot, Lock Screen, Log Out.

The Main Menu provides access to the Applications menu and the many of the items in the Actions menu. You can access almost all of the standard applications, commands, and configuration options from the Main Menu.

You can add Main Menu buttons to your panels. By default, the Main Menu is represented on panels by a stylized footprint icon, as illustrated in the graphic above.

### To Open the Main Menu

You can open the Main Menu in the following ways:

- From a panel with a Main Menu

  Click on the Main Menu.

- Use shortcut keys

  You can use shortcut keys to open the Main Menu. When you use shortcut keys to open the Main Menu, the Main Menu appears at the mouse pointer.

  The default shortcut keys to open the Main Menu are AltF1. To change the shortcut keys that open the Main Menu, use the Keyboard Shortcuts preference tool.

### To Add a Main Menu to a Panel

You can add as many Main Menu buttons as you want to your panels. To add a Main Menu to a panel, right-click on any vacant space on the panel. Choose Add to Panel Main Menu.

## Menu Bar

Menu Bar applet. Menus: Applications, Actions.

The Menu Bar provides access to the Applications and Actions menus. You can access almost all of the standard applications, commands, and configuration options from the Menu Bar.

### To Add a Menu Bar to a Panel

You can add as many Menu Bar applets as you want to your panels. To add a Menu Bar to a panel, right-click on any vacant space on the panel. Choose Add to Panel Menu Bar.

## Customizing Your Menus

You can modify the contents of the following menus:

- Applications menu

- Desktop Preferences menu

You use the following desktop environment components to customize menus:

- Menus on panels

- Nautilus file manager

When you use panels to customize your menus, you use the menu item popup menu. For more information, see .

When you use the file manager to customize your menus, you must access the Applications menu or the Desktop Preferences menu from within the file manager. To access the Applications menu or the Desktop Preferences menu, open a file manager window. Choose Go Start Here. Double-click on the Applications object or on the Desktop Preferences object. For more information on the file manager, see Nautilus File Manager.

### To Add a Menu

To add a menu, perform the following steps:

1. In a file manager window, access the location where you want to add the menu. For example, to add a menu to the Applications menu, choose Go Start Here, then double-click on the Applications object.

2. Choose File New Folder. An untitled folder is added to the view pane. The name of the folder is selected.

3. Type a name for the folder, then press Return.

The next time that you log out then log in again, the menu is in the assigned location.

### To Add a Launcher to a Menu

To add a launcher to a menu, perform the following steps:

1. Right-click on any item in the menu to which you want to add the launcher.

2. Choose Entire menu Add new item to this menu. A Create Launcher dialog is displayed.

3. Enter the properties of the launcher in the Create Launcher dialog. For more information on the elements in the Create Launcher dialog, see Working With Panels.

4. Click OK.

### To Add a Launcher to an Empty Menu

To add a launcher to an empty menu, perform the following steps:

1. Open a file manager window, then choose Go Start Here. Alternatively, double-click on the Start Here object on the desktop. The Start Here location is displayed.

2. In the file manager window, double-click on the object that represents the menu to which you want to add the launcher.

3. Choose File New Launcher. A Create Launcher dialog is displayed.

4. Enter the properties of the launcher in the Create Launcher dialog. For more information on the elements in the Create Launcher dialog, see Working With Panels.

5. Click OK.

### To Copy a Launcher to a Menu

To copy an existing launcher to a menu, perform the following steps:

1. In a file manager window, access the location from which you want to copy the launcher. For example, to copy a launcher from the Applications menu, choose Go Start Here, then double-click on the Applications object.

2. Select the launcher that you want to copy, then choose Edit Copy File.

3. In a file manager window, access the location to which you want to copy the launcher.

4. Choose Edit Paste Files. The launcher is added to the new location.

Alternatively, you can drag the launcher from one location to another.

The next time that you log out then log in again, the launcher is in the new menu location.

### To Edit the Properties of a Menu

To edit the properties of a menu, perform the following steps:

1. Right-click on any item in the menu that you want to edit.

2. Choose Entire menu Properties. A Launcher Properties dialog is displayed.

3. Modify the properties of the menu in the Launcher Properties dialog. For more information on the elements in the Launcher Properties dialog, see Working With Panels.

4. Click OK.

### To Edit a Menu Item

To edit a menu item, perform the following steps:

1. Right-click on the item that you want to edit.

2. Choose Properties. A Launcher Properties dialog is displayed.

3. Modify the properties of the launcher in the Launcher Properties dialog. For more information on the elements in the Launcher Properties dialog, see Working With Panels.

4. Click OK.

### To Delete an Item from a Menu

To delete an item from a menu, use the menu item popup menu. To delete an item from a menu, perform the following steps:

1. Right-click on the item that you want to delete.

2. Choose Remove this item.