Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop

Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop

by Tom Adelstein, Sam Hiser
Released September 2004
Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
ISBN: 9780596007522

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Book description

The Java Desktop System (TM), from Sun Microsystems, is a modern system for all kinds of users, novice through expert. As an unusually robust, well-integrated desktop system, it may become the first to fulfill the promise of mass adoption for open source.

JDS brings Linux and other open source software up to a level of usability that makes them suitable for the enormous base of Personal Computer users including office workers, students, mobile and home users. It behaves pretty much the way a Windows or Mac user would expect, but with many more powerful features. JDS has seen widespread adoption in the United States, Britain, China, and elsewhere.

This book is the ideal guide to JDS: it is clear and direct, but loaded with insights from authors who have spent time working with, supporting, and enhancing the system. Tom Adelstein is an award winning polymath system designer; Sam Hiser is a respected business consultant with an itch that led him to become the marketing project lead for OpenOffice.org. Both are advocates for open source and founders of the Open Government Interoperability Project, members of the Open Source Software Institute and contributors to the JDShelp.org project.

This book carefully covers such housekeeping chores as setting up networking, updates, and backups. Then it enters into great depth concerning the key productivity tools every user needs: email, web browsing, instant messaging, word processing, spreadsheets, and slide presentations.

A number of chapters and appendices concerning useful tools, including things you can add to your system, rounds out this remarkably useful book. It has plenty to offer the new user as well as the seasoned Linux professional.

Table of contents

  1. Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop
    1. Foreword
    2. Preface
      1. Look and Feel
      2. Audience
      3. Conventions Used in This Book
      4. Using Code Examples
      5. We’d Like to Hear from You
      6. Acknowledgments
    3. 1. Introducing the JDS Linux Desktop
      1. So What Do You Get?
      2. How to Use This Book
      3. System Requirements
      4. Installing JDS
      5. What’s on Your JDS Screen
        1. Icons on the Desktop
          1. This Computer
          2. Documents
          3. Network Places
          4. Trash
          5. Learn About the Java Desktop System
          6. Bottom panel
        2. Workspaces
      6. Where to Find the Information You Need
        1. Other Sources of Information You May Need to Run JDS
      7. What’s Next?
    4. 2. Essential JDS
      1. Starting JDS
        1. Booting and Logging In
        2. Automatic Login
      2. Ending a Session or Shutting Down JDS
        1. Locking the Screen
      3. Running Programs
        1. Typical Program Behavior
        2. General Window Tips
        3. Closing an Application
        4. Starting a Program with the Terminal
        5. Accessing System Settings and Preferences
      4. Managing Users
      5. Accessing Directories (Folders)
        1. Common Linux Directories
      6. So What Have We Learned?
    5. 3. Toward JDS Proficiency
      1. Role of the Operating System
        1. Under the Desktop
        2. The Nautilus File Manager
        3. Icons and Thumbnails
        4. What You Can Do in the File Manager
          1. Looking through the hierarchy of folders
        5. Computer Resources and the This Computer Window
        6. File Types and Their Associated Applications
        7. Adding a Home Directory to Your Desktop
          1. Adding applications to the Panel and Launch menu
          2. Adding items to the Launch menu
          3. Utilities you can add to the Gnome JDS panel
      2. JDS Printing System
      3. Gaining JDS Proficiency
    6. 4. JDS Networking
      1. Looking at the Internet
        1. Built for Broadband
        2. Dial-up Connections to the Internet
      2. Connecting by Dial-up Modem
        1. Adding Your ISP Information
          1. Modem sessions
      3. JDS in a Local Network
      4. Going Wireless
      5. Public and Private Hotspots
        1. What Kinds of Hotspots Exist?
        2. What Do You Need to Join a Hotspot?
        3. How Do You Find a Public or Community Hotspot?
      6. Joining Wireless Hotspots
        1. Private Hotspots
        2. How Secure Is the Hotspot?
      7. Different Networking Protocols Available in JDS
      8. JDS Networking Recap
    7. 5. Maintaining and Supporting JDS
      1. Using Online Update
        1. Using System Tools
      2. Install/Remove Software
        1. Maintenance Mode: Install/Remove Packages
        2. Adding New Software
        3. Understanding the JDS Text-Based Package Management System
          1. Example: Installing XCDROAST
      3. Backing Up and Restoring Files and Folders
        1. JDS Backup Module
        2. JDS Restore Module
      4. Maintaining and Supporting JDS
    8. 6. Using the Internet Applications
      1. Email and Calendar
        1. Email and Calendar Setup
          1. Email account setup: gathering the required information
          2. Setting up your first email account: evolution setup assistant
          3. Message Storage option
        2. Importing Contacts (from Your Old Address Book)
        3. Email and Calendar Basics
          1. Inbox Views
          2. Compose a message
          3. Customizing the Compose window: From, Reply-to, Cc., Bcc
          4. Contacts: adding and deleting a record
          5. Calendar views
          6. Calendar: highlighting contiguous dates
          7. Summary: customizing News & Weather
        4. Email and Calendar Power Tips
          1. Email: setting up signatures
          2. Email using security and encryption
          3. Contacts: creating Contact Lists (or Groups)
      2. JDS Instant Messenger (IM)
        1. IM Setup
          1. Sign up a new account, get a screen name
          2. Account setup
        2. IM Basics
          1. Sign on
          2. Auto-login
          3. Begin to chat
          4. The Buddy List
          5. Adding buddies
          6. Begin to chat with buddies
          7. Add a group
          8. The Conversation window
        3. Conversation Text Customization
          1. Conversation inserts
          2. What’s that little keyboard icon in the top right?
          3. Multiparty chat
        4. IM Power Tips
          1. Chat between IM and cell phone
          2. Disable (or enable) sounds
          3. Managing “Away Messages”
          4. Privacy Control
          5. Transferring files
      3. Web Browser
        1. Web Browser Setup
          1. Resetting your Home Page
          2. Launch shortcuts
          3. Importing Favorites or Bookmarks (from your old desktop environment)
            1. Step 1: exporting Favorites from Windows XP
            2. Step 2: email your Favorites to yourself
            3. Step 3: import your Favorites into the JDS Web Browser
        2. Web Browser Basics
          1. Elements of the web browser
          2. Entering a URL directly
          3. Clicking hyperlinks
          4. Adding a Bookmark
        3. Web Browser Power Tips
          1. Quick entry for URLs
          2. Managing Bookmarks
          3. Creating Bookmark folders
          4. Filing Bookmarks
          5. Personal Toolbar
          6. Custom keywords
          7. Search
          8. Sidebar
          9. Tabbed browsing
          10. Pop-up blocking
          11. Allowing certain pop ups
          12. Cookies
          13. Managing history
          14. Clearing history
          15. Turning off the history function
          16. Master password security
          17. Manage passwords
          18. Macromedia Flash
    9. 7. Word Processing with StarWriter
      1. StarWriter Basics
        1. Launching StarWriter
        2. Initial Setup
        3. Opening Files
        4. Saving Files
          1. Saving as different file types
        5. The Save Progress Indicator
        6. Feature Comparisons
        7. Names of the Toolbars
          1. Customizing the Toolbars
        8. Basic Formatting
          1. One-click character formatting
          2. Inserting headers and footers
          3. Page numbering
          4. Inserting the filename
        9. Introducing Templates and Styles
          1. Introducing Templates
          2. Introducing Styles
        10. Basic Printing
      2. StarWriter Power Tips
        1. Saving or Exporting to Common File Formats
          1. Saving in the MS Word file formats
          2. Export as Adobe PDF
          3. Sending a document as an email file attachment
          4. Sending a document as a PDF attachment to an email
        2. Power Formatting
          1. Frames
          2. Linking text frames
          3. Borders
          4. Sections
          5. Generating a Table of Contents
        3. Styles
          1. The Stylist
          2. First example: applying a character style
          3. Stylist view modes
          4. Modifying styles
          5. Updating styles
          6. Adding new styles (or creating styles)
          7. Changing page styles in mid-document
          8. Changing headers or footers in mid-document
          9. Changing page numbers in mid-document
          10. Mirrored (odd and even) page formats
          11. Load (transfer) styles
        4. Templates
          1. Saving your own document as a template
          2. Creating a new template
          3. Editing templates
          4. Managing templates
          5. Template linkages
          6. Change the default template for all new text documents
          7. Autopilot: quick document creation
        5. Master Documents
        6. Collaboration with Documents
          1. Changes Tracking
          2. Comparing documents
          3. Version control
        7. Navigator
        8. Keyboard Shortcuts
          1. Function key defaults
          2. Custom keyboard mappings
        9. Searching Documents: Find & Replace
        10. Insert Hyperlinks
        11. Word Count
        12. Password-Protecting Documents
      3. StarOffice Initial Setup
      4. StarWriter Customizations
        1. Add an Icon on the Desktop or Panel
        2. Adjusting Unpopular Default Settings
          1. Word Completion (turning off)
          2. Auto-Replace (turning off)
          3. Auto-Capitalization (turning off or making exceptions)
        3. User Data (for Tracking Changes)
      5. StarWriter’s File Format
        1. Defaulting to the MS Word File Format
        2. Document Compatibility
        3. Troubleshooting Incompatibilities
    10. 8. Spreadsheets and Presentations Using StarOffice
      1. StarCalc
      2. StarCalc Basics
        1. Opening Files
        2. Saving Files
        3. Exporting a File as PDF
        4. Sending Files as Email Attachments
          1. Send as PDF
          2. Send as StarCalc file
        5. Entering Numbers
        6. Entering Labels (Text)
        7. Autofill
        8. Entering Simple Formulas
        9. Summing a Column of Numbers
        10. Moving Cell Contents
        11. Adjusting Widths and Heights
        12. Merging Cells
        13. Basic Formatting
          1. The Object Bar
          2. Underlining a cell
          3. Underlining a cell label
          4. Cell background color
          5. Formatting numbers
        14. Freezing and Splitting Windows
        15. Page Break View
        16. Setting the Print Range
        17. Functions
        18. Creating Graphs
        19. Worksheets, or Sheets
          1. Adding a new sheet
          2. Deleting a sheet
          3. Renaming a sheet
          4. Selecting a group of sheets
          5. Navigating among many sheets
        20. Sorting Data
        21. Data Sources
        22. Macros
      3. StarImpress
      4. StarImpress Basics
        1. Tips for Presentation
        2. Creating a Presentation from Scratch with Autopilot
        3. Opening an Existing Presentation
        4. Saving a Presentation
        5. Export Formats
          1. Export to HTML
          2. Export to Macromedia Flash
        6. StarImpress Workspace Views
        7. StarImpress Modes
          1. Slide Mode
          2. Master Mode
          3. Layers Mode
        8. Editing a Presentation
          1. Entering text
          2. Using bullets
          3. Importing graphics, tables, and charts
          4. Adding slides
          5. Deleting slides
          6. Moving slides around
          7. Changing the background (color, fill, or gradient)
          8. Changing the background (bitmap image)
        9. The Presentation Palette
        10. Putting on a Slideshow
          1. Starting a slideshow
          2. Ending a slideshow
          3. Slideshow transitions
          4. Custom slideshows
    11. 9. Using Windows Applications with JDS
      1. Remote Desktop Protocol
        1. WINE
        2. VMWare
        3. Win4Lin
        4. WINEX
        5. CodeWeavers Crossover Office
          1. Starting CrossOver Office the first time
      2. Using Windows Applications with JDS
    12. 10. Using Other JDS Software
      1. Adobe Acrobat Reader and StarOffice PDF Creator
      2. RealPlayer 8 Plug-in
      3. GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP)
      4. Using Other JDS Software
    13. A. Linux Commands
    14. B. Online Documentation
      1. The Linux Documentation Project
      2. JDS Community Support
      3. Java Desktop System (Release2)
      4. Web Browser (Mozilla)
      5. Instant Messenger (gaim)
      6. StarOffice 7
      7. StarOffice Tutorials for Kids
      8. OpenOffice.org Documentation (FAQs)
        1. Tutorials (Digital Distribution’s Flash Demos)
        2. Help, HOWTOs, Templates, and Other Items
        3. Informational Mailing Lists
    15. C. Secure Connections Through SSH
      1. Examples
    16. D. Using RPM Manager
      1. The RPM Manager
        1. The rpm Command
          1. General options
          2. Install, upgrade, and freshen options
          3. Query options
          4. Package selection options
          5. Information selection options
          6. Uninstall options
          7. Verify options
          8. Database rebuild options
          9. Signature check options
          10. Miscellaneous options
          11. FTP/HTTP options
        2. The rpmbuild Command
        3. RPM Examples
    17. E. Known Problems and Solutions
      1. Problem: Panel Crashes
        1. Solution
      2. Problem: Connecting by Modem
        1. Solution
      3. Problem: Can’t Run File from Remote Directories
        1. Solution
      4. Problem: Sound Recorder Slide Bar
        1. Solution
      5. Problem: Sound Recorder Stops
        1. Solution
      6. Problem: Backspace Is Inserted
        1. Solution
      7. Problem: RPMs Don’t Recognize the Linux Release on Your Machine
        1. Solution
      8. Problem: Clock Settings
        1. Solution
      9. Problem: VMWare Failure
        1. Solution
      10. Problem: Help
        1. Solution
      11. Problem: Sun Java Desktop Doesn’t Support DVD Playback
        1. Solution
      12. Problem: ATI Video Cards
        1. Solution
    18. F. Installation Guide
      1. System Requirements
        1. Dual Booting
      2. Installing JDS
      3. Resizing Your Partition
      4. Creating a Custom Partitions Table
      5. Checking for and Installing System Updates
      6. Some Common Troubleshooting
        1. Monitor Out of Range
        2. Sony VAIO Laptop with a ATI Radeon IGP 345M Video Card Does Not Work
        3. Install Fails on Disk 2
        4. Having Trouble with Wireless LAN Card
    19. Glossary
    20. Index
    21. Colophon

Product information

  • Title: Exploring the JDS Linux Desktop
  • Author(s): Tom Adelstein, Sam Hiser
  • Release date: September 2004
  • Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
  • ISBN: 9780596007522