# A Tour of the GNOME Desktop

A desktop environment desktop environment is a windows-based environment for users. The desktop environment is the sum of all the parts of your working environment. This section introduces the core components in the GNOME Desktop environment.

The GNOME Desktop is very configurable, therefore this section covers the main functional possibilities of the GNOME 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 GNOME Desktop

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

- GNOME Desktop Sessions

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

- Working With Panels

  Read this chapter to find out more about using panels. Panels are a key component of the GNOME Desktop. This chapter tells you how to use the different parts of your panels, and how to invoke the available functions of the desktop environment 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 the file manager to work with your file system. This chapter also describes how to customize the file manager.

- Using Your Desktop

  Read this chapter to find out more about using the desktop. The desktop is the part of the desktop environment where there are no interface graphical items, such as panels and windows. This chapter describes how to use the desktop 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 menu, and how to customize the desktop.

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