3. NsCDE Basics
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## 3. NsCDE Basics

Default NsCDE hybrid desktop envoronment contains a Front Panel at the center bottom of the current workspace. The Front Panel displays most important application icons and applets, information about workstation, date, time, current active workspace and page, system load, and exit controls. The Front Panel and enables user to run applications, to log out, and to switch between workspaces and pages. Applications that are running are visible as X11 windows and icons on the workspace, bordered by FVWM window manager with title bar, buttons on the title bar, borders and corners. Applications can also be started from the Workspace Menu, which is displayed by clicking mouse button 3 on an unused part of the workspace backdrop (root window).

### 3.1. Desktop Overview

Figure 1. Default NsCDE Desktop

NsCDE as desktop provides windows, workspaces, keybindings, controls, menus and the Front Panel.

- Windows contain software applications and are framed with controls so you can move them, resize them, or place them in additional workspaces.

- Keybindings, or keyboard shortuts enables you to call actions or manipulate windows without touching the mouse and immediately.

- Workspaces are the screen areas where application windows are placed when opened. We can consider workspaces as software or virtual screens.

- Controls enable you to manipulate objects, select choices, or type information.

- Menus provide access to commands used to manage windows and operate applications.

- The Front Panel is a collection of frequently used controls, available in every workspace.

Some of the windows, icons and objects you'll encounter as you use the desktop are:

- Window icons

- The Front Panel

- Style Manager

- File Manager

- Editor

- Tray

#### 3.1.1. Window Icons

When you a window is iconified, it becomes an icon on the workspace. To iconify a window, click the first of two buttons near the upper right corner of the window titlebar.

To deiconify the window, double-click mouse button 1 on the icon. You can also deiconify the window by clicking its icon to display the Window menu and then clicking on the menu's Deiconify item.

Figure 2. Window Icons on Workspace and Icon Menu

#### 3.1.2. Front Panel

The Front Panel is a special window at the bottom of the display. It provides controls, indicators, and subpanels for quick overview and launch. The Front Panel also provides the workspace manager (WSM) for selecting a workspace. The clock, calendar, check mail, and FP Lite are examples of indicators. Arrow buttons over Front Panel controls are Subpanels launchers. Clicking an arrow button will open a Subpanel.

Figure 3. Front Panel

#### 3.1.3. Style Manager

Use Style Manager to easily customize many elements of the desktop including:

- Colors, Backdrops

- Font size

- Keyboard, Mouse, Screensaver, Beep

- Screen Power, Window Behavior, Workspaces and Pages Behavior

To start Style Manager, click its icon on the Front Panel. Second right of the Workspace Manager.

Figure 4. Style Manager

#### 3.1.4. File Manager and Editor

File Manager and Editor are the user's choice among great amount of them for X11 interface. While it is totally possible to run NsCDE without them, many people prefer to have them. Good choices for graphical File Manager are Krusader, PcmanFM, PcmanFM-qt, Spacefm and so on. PcmanFM and PcmanFM-qt can serve also as application managers, because they support menu://applications/ pseudo-path which presents system catalog of installed GUI apps with their icons under their categories. Gvim is a good choice for editor, while some more lightweight include Mousepad, Nedit, Xfe ...

#### 3.1.5. System Tray

System Tray functionality is provided by the stalonetray(1) application which is fully integrated with NsCDE and serves well for the purpose of hosting tray icons added by the user, user's XDG autostart files by dex(1), or by the programs. By default, stalonetray is located in lower right corner of the screen, and it is configured in `$FVWM_USERDIR/Stalonetray.conf`.

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