34,333
edits
Changes
no edit summary
If you've spent any time with Windows Vista you may have seen the small applets that run on the desktop, things such as a clock and a weather widget. It will probably come as no surprise to you that Linux had feature like this long before Windows Vista came along. On the Fedora GNOME desktop this functionality is provided by technology called ''gDesklets''. The creators of the gDesklets technology call then it ''Eye candy for the desktop'', and once you've had a change to see them in action you will understand why.
== Installing gDesklets ==
== Launching gDesklets ==
Once the gDesklet packages are installed, invoke the configuration tool from the ''Applications->Accessories->gDesklets''. The ''gDesklets Shell'' dialog will appear with a list of categories of desklets currently installed and available for use. browse Browse through the options and select a gDekslet to run (the ''GoodWeather'' desklet is my favorite). With the desklet selected, select ''File->Run Selected Desklet''. The desklet will start up and appear on the desktop. Move the desklet to the desired location and click with the left hand mouse button.
== Moving a Desklet ==
== Setting the Properties of a Desklet ==
Most desklets can be configured. For example the GoodWeather desklet allows the location for which the weather is being reported to be changed. To access a deksletdesklet's configuration page, click with the right mouse button and select the ''Configure desklet'' option. The following figure shows the ''GoodWeather'' properties dialog:
== Install New gDesklet Packages ==
By default Fedora does not install all the currently available desklets. A more complet elist complete list of avaiable available desklets can be found at [[http://www.gdesklets.de/index.php?q=desklet/browse/alphabetical/ http://www.gdesklets.de/index.php?q=desklet/browse/alphabetical/]].
Any of these desklets can be downloaded for free and added to your desktop. To do so simply download your chosen desklets and start the gDesklet shell (''Applications->Accessories->gDesklets''). If you have saved the package file to your desktop, simply click and drag the package icon into the ''gDesklet Shell'' to install it. Alternatively, in the gDesklet Shell, select ''File->Install Package'' and in the file selection dialog navigate to the downloaded package, select it and click on the ''Open'' button. A dialog will appear informing you that the package has been installed. Browse the desklets in the ''gDesklet Shell'' window until you find the new desklet. Select it and launch it from the ''File'' menu.
