# Using the Advanced Preference Tools

The Advanced preference tools enable you to customize the behavior and appearance of your applications, panels, and other user interface items. You can use the Advanced preference tools to configure file types, your default applications, and your panels. You can also use the Advanced tools to customize your sessions and startup programs. You can also use the Advanced tools to choose a theme for the desktop, and how to customize your application menubars and toolbars. This chapter describes how to use the Advanced tools to customize your desktop.

## Opening an Advanced Preference Tool

You can open an Advanced preference tool in either of the following ways:

- From the Desktop Preferences menu

  Choose Applications Desktop Preferences Advanced . Choose the 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 Preferences object in the Nautilus window, then double-click on the Advanced folder. The Advanced preference tools are displayed, as shown in the following figure:

  Shows the Desktop Preferences Advanced location in a Nautilus window. View pane contains CDDB, File Types and Programs, Panel, Preferred Applications, Session Properties and Startup Programs icons.

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

## Configuring File Types and Programs

Use the File Types and Programs preference tool to specify how files of various types are created, displayed, and edited. For example, you can specify that if the MIME type of a file indicates that the file is an audio file, the desktop launches the file with an audio application.

### File Types and Programs Preference Tool

Shows File Types and Programs preference tool. The context describes the graphic.

goscustdoc-TBL-8 describes the elements on the File Types and Programs preference tool.

## Elements on File Types and Programs Preference Tool

Element | Description
Table | To view the contents of a category of file types, click on right arrow next to the category name. The category expands, and displays a description of each file type, and the file extension that is associated with the file type. To select a file type that you want to work with, click on the file type.
Add file type | Click on this button to add a file type. For more information, see goscustlookandfeel-28.
Add service | Click on this button to add a service. For more information, see goscustlookandfeel-30.
Edit | To edit a file type, a service, or a file type category, select the item that you want to edit, then click Edit.
Remove | To delete a file type or a service, select the item that you want to remove, then click Remove.

### To Add a File Type

To add a file type, perform the following steps:

1. Choose Applications Desktop Preferences Advanced File Types and Programs to start the File Types and Programs preference tool.

2. Click on the Add file type button. The Add file type dialog is displayed.

3. Enter the properties of the file type in the dialog. The following table describes the dialog elements on the Add file typedialog:

   Option | Function
   No Icon | Choose an icon to represent the file type. To choose an icon, click on the No Icon button. An icon selector dialog is displayed. Choose an icon from the dialog. Alternatively, to choose an icon from another directory, click Browse. When you choose an icon, click OK.
   Description | Type a description of the file type.
   MIME Type | Enter the MIME type for this type of file.
   Category | Enter the category to which you want the file type to belong in the File Types and Programs preference tool. Choose button
   Filename extensions | Enter the filename extensions to associate with the file type. Enter a filename extension in the upper field, then click on the Add button. To delete a filename extension, select the filename extension in the lower field, then click on the Remove button.
   Use category defaults | Select this option to associate the application that is associated with the category, with the file type.
   Viewing component | Information to be supplied in a future release.
   Default action | Information to be supplied in a future release.
   Program to run | If you do not select the Use category defaults option, specify a program to associate with the file type. Enter the command to start the program in this field. Alternatively, to choose a command that you entered previously, click the down arrow button, then choose the command to run. You can also use the Browse button to choose a command to run.
   Needs terminal | Select this option to run the program in a terminal window. Choose this option for a program that does not create a window in which to run.

4. Click OK.

### To Add a Service

To add a file type, perform the following steps:

1. Choose Applications Desktop Preferences Advanced File Types and Programs to start the File Types and Programs preference tool.

2. Click on the Add service button. The Add service dialog is displayed.

3. Enter the properties of the service in the dialog. The following table describes the dialog elements on the Add servicedialog:

   Option | Function
   Description | Type a description of the service.
   Protocol name | Enter the protocol for the service.
   Program to run drop-down list box | Information to be supplied in a future release.
   Program | Specify the program to associate with the file type. Enter the command to start the program in this field. Alternatively, to choose a command that you entered previously, click the down arrow button, then choose the command to run. You can also use the Browse button to choose a command to run.
   Needs terminal | Select this option to run the program in a terminal window. Choose this option for a program that does not create a window in which to run.

4. Click OK.

### To Edit a File Type Category

To edit a file type category, perform the following steps:

1. Choose Applications Desktop Preferences Advanced File Types and Programs to start the File Types and Programs preference tool.

2. Select the file type category that you want to edit. Click on the Edit button. The Edit file category dialog is displayed.

3. Enter the properties of the service in the dialog. The following table describes the dialog elements on the Edit file categorydialog:

   Option | Function
   Name | The name of the service. You can not edit this text box.
   Use parent category defaults | Select this option to associate the application that is associated with the parent category, with this category.
   Default action | Information to be supplied in a future release.
   Program to run | Specify the program to associate with the file type category. Enter the command to start the program in this field. Alternatively, to choose a command that you entered previously, click the down arrow button, then choose the command to run. You can also use the Browse button to choose a command to run.
   Needs terminal | Select this option to run the program in a terminal window. Choose this option for a program that does not create a window in which to run.

4. Click OK.

## Customizing Your Panels

The Panel preference tool enables you to configure the behavior of panels. Any changes that you make with the Panel preference tool affect all of the panels on your desktop.

### Settings for Panels

Shows Panel preference tool. Contains: Close drawer if a launcher inside it is pressed, Enable panel animation check boxes, Animation speed drop-down list box.

## Table Caption

Setting | Function
Close drawer if a launcher inside it is pressed | Select this option if you want a drawer on a panel to close when you choose a launcher in the drawer.
Enable panel animation | Select this option if you want your panels to show and to hide in an animated style.
Animation speed | Select the speed of the panel animation from the drop-down list box.

## Choosing Your Preferred Applications

Use the Preferred Applications preference tool to specify the applications that you want the desktop to use when the desktop starts an application for you. For example, you can specify xterm as your preferred terminal application. When you open the Desktop Background menu then choose New Terminal, xterm starts.

You can customize the settings for the Preferred Applications preference tool in the following functional areas.

- Web Browser

- Text Editor

- Terminal

### Web Browser Settings

Use the Web Browser tabbed section to configure your preferred web browser.

#### Settings for Preferred Web Browser

Shows Preferred Applications preference tool, Web Browser tabbed section. The context describes the graphic.

goscustlookandfeel-TBL-37 lists the preferred web browser settings that you can configure.

### Settings for Preferred Web Browser

Option | Function
Select a Web Browser | Select this option if you want to use a standard web browser. Use the drop-down combination box to specify your preferred web browser.
Custom Web Browser | Select this option if you want to use a custom web browser.
Command | Enter the command to execute to start the custom web browser.
Start in Terminal | Select this option to run the command in a terminal window. Select this option for a browser that does not create a window in which to run.

### Text Editor Settings

Use the Text Editor tabbed section to configure your preferred text editor.

#### Settings for Preferred Text Editor

Shows Preferred Applications preference tool, Text Editor tabbed section. The context describes the graphic.

goscustdoc-TBL-1 lists the preferred text editor settings that you can configure.

### Settings for Preferred Text Editor

Option | Function
Select an Editor | Select this option if you want to use a standard text editor. Use the drop-down combination box to specify your preferred text editor.
Custom Editor | Select this option if you want to use a custom text editor. A Custom Editor Properties dialog is displayed. Name: Type the name of the custom text editor. Command: Enter the command to execute to start the custom text editor. The application can open multiple files: Select this option if the default text editor can open multiple files. The application needs to be run in a shell: Select this option to run the command in a terminal window. Select this option for an editor that does not create a window in which to run.
Properties | Click on this button to display the Custom Editor Properties dialog. Use the dialog to modify the properties of the custom text editor.
Use this editor to open text files in the file manager | Select this option if you want the file manager to start the custom text editor to display text files.

### Terminal Settings

Use the Terminal tabbed section to configure your preferred terminal.

#### Settings for Preferred Terminal

Shows Preferred Applications preference tool, Terminal tabbed section. The context describes the graphic.

goscustlookandfeel-TBL-35 lists the preferred terminal settings that you can configure.

### Settings for Preferred Terminal

Option | Function
Select a Terminal | Select this option if you want to use a standard terminal. Use the drop-down combination box to specify your preferred terminal.
Custom Terminal | Select this option if you want to use a custom terminal.
Command | Enter the command to execute to start the custom terminal.
Exec Flag | Enter the `exec` option to use with the command.

## Configuring Session Properties and Startup Applications

The Session Properties & Startup Programs preference tool enables you to manage your sessions. You can set session preferences, and specify which applications to start when you start a session. You can configure sessions to save the state of applications on your desktop, and to restore the state when you start another session. You can also use this preference tool to manage multiple GNOME sessions.

You can customize the settings for sessions and startup applications in the following functional areas:

- Session Options

- Startup Programs

- Current Session

### Setting Session Options

Use the Session Options tabbed section to manage multiple sessions, and to set preferences for the current session.

#### Settings for Session Options

Shows Session preference tool, Session Options tabbed section. The context describes the graphic.

goscustsession-TBL-11 lists the session options settings that you can configure.

### Settings for Session Options

Option | Function
Show splash screen on login | Select this option to display a splash screen when you start a session.
Prompt on logout | Select this option to display a confirmation dialog when you end a session.
Automatically save changes to session | Select this option if you want the session manager to save the current state of your session. The session manager saves the session-managed applications that are open, and the settings associated with the session-managed applications. The next time that you start a session, the applications start automatically, with the saved settings. If you do not select this option, when you end you session the Logout Confirmation dialog displays a Save current setup option.
Choose Current Session | Use this area of the dialog to manage multiple sessions on the desktop, as follows: To create a new session, click on the Add button. The Add a new session dialog is displayed. Use this dialog to specify a name for your session. To change the name of a session, select the session in the Choose Current Session table. Click on the Edit button . The Edit session name dialog is displayed. Type a new name for your session. To delete a session, select the session in the Choose Current Session table. Click on the Delete button.

### Configuring Startup Applications

Use the Startup Programs tabbed section of the Session Properties & Startup Programs preference tool to specify non-session-managed startup applications. Startup applications are applications that start automatically when you start a session. You specify the commands that run the non-session-managed applications in the Startup Programs tabbed section. The commands execute automatically when you log in.

You can also start session-managed applications automatically. For more information, goscustsession-16.

#### Settings for Startup Programs

Shows Session preference tool, Startup Programs tabbed section. The context describes the graphic.

goscustsession-TBL-19 lists the startup applications settings that you can configure.

### Settings for Startup Programs

Option | Function
Non-session-managed Startup Programs | Use this area of the dialog to manage non-session-managed startup applications as follows: To add a startup application, click on the Add button. The Add Startup Program dialog is displayed. Enter the command to start the application in the Startup Command field. Alternatively, you can use the Browse button to choose a command to run. You can also use the Browse button to choose a file to append to the command line. For example, you can enter emacs on the command line, then choose a file to edit. If you specify more than one startup application, use the Priority spin box to specify the startup order of the each application. The startup order is the order in which you want the startup applications to start. To edit a startup application, select the startup application, then click on the Edit button. The Edit Startup Program dialog is displayed. Use the dialog to modify the command and the startup order for the startup application. To delete a startup application, select the startup application, then click on the Delete button.

### Setting Session Properties

Use the Current Session tabbed section to specify startup order values, and to choose restart styles for the session-managed applications in your current session.

#### Session Properties

Shows Session Properties and Startup Programs, Current Session tabbed section. The context describes the graphic.

sessprop01 lists the session properties that you can configure.

### Session Properties

Option | Function
Order | The Order setting specifies the order in which the session manager starts session-managed startup applications. The session manager starts applications with lower order values first. The default value is 50. To specify the startup order of an application, select the application in the table. Use the Order spin box to specify the startup order value.
Style | The Style setting determines the restart style of an application. To select a restart style for an application, select the application in the table, then choose one of the following styles: Normal Starts automatically when you start a GNOME session. Use the `kill` command to close applications with this restart style during a session. Respawn Restarts automatically whenever you close or kill the applications. Choose this style for a program if the program must run continuously during your session. To kill an application with this restart style, select the application in the table, then click on the Remove button. Trash Does not start when you start a GNOME session. Settings Starts automatically when you start a session. Applications with this style usually have a low startup order, and store your configuration settings for GNOME and session-managed applications.
Remove | Click on the Remove button to delete the selected application from the list. The application is removed from the session manager, and closed. Deleted applications are not started the next time that you start a session.