# 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 part2-1. The chapters in this section are as follows:

- gosbasic-1

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

- gosoverview-1

  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.

- gosgetstarted-1

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

- gospanel-1

  Read this chapter to find out more about using panels in the desktop. 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.

- goseditmainmenu-1

  Read this chapter to find out more about using menus in the desktop.

- gosmetacity-1

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

- gosnautilus-1

  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.

- gosdeskback-1

  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;