== Changing Desktop Panel Properties ==

== Changing Desktop Panel Properties ==

The properties of the desktop panels are controlled using the ''Panel Properties'' dialog. To access the Panel Properties for a particular panel move the mouse pointer over a blank section of the panel and click the right hand mouse button. In the resulting popup menu select the ''Properties'' menu option to invoke ''Panel Properties'':

The properties of the desktop panels are controlled using the ''Panel Properties'' dialog. To access the Panel Properties for a particular panel, move the mouse pointer over a blank section of the panel and click the right hand mouse button. In the resulting popup menu select the ''Properties'' menu option to invoke ''Panel Properties'':

[[Image:gnome_panel_properties.jpg|GNOME Desktop Panel Properties]]

[[Image:fedora_gnome_panel_properties.jpg|Fedora GNOME Desktop Panel Properties]]

The position of the panel on the desktop can be changed using the ''Orientation'' menu. The panel can be positions at the top or bottom of the screen or positioned vertically on the left or right hand sides of the desktop.

The position of the panel on the desktop can be changed using the ''Orientation'' menu. The panel can be positioned at the top or bottom of the screen, or positioned vertically on the left or right hand sides of the desktop.

The height of the panel may be adjusted using the ''Size'' property. Reduce the height of the panel to increase available desktop space.

The height of the panel may be adjusted using the ''Size'' property. Reduce the height of the panel to increase available desktop space.

By default the panel stretches to the width of the desktop. With the ''Expand'' property switched off the panel will appear only as wide as it needs to be to accommodate the items it contains.

By default, the panel stretches to the width of the desktop. With the ''Expand'' property switched off the panel will appear only as wide as it needs to be to accommodate the items it contains.

''Autohide'' causes the panel to be hidden until the mouse pointer moves to the side of the desktop where the panel is located, at which point the panel will appear.

''Autohide'' causes the panel to be hidden until the mouse pointer moves to the side of the desktop where the panel is located, at which point the panel will appear.

The ''Background'' tab of the ''Panel Properties'' dialog provides control over the background of the panel. The panel can be a specific color, the color dictated by the current theme, a user defined image or transparent to a specific degree:

The ''Background'' tab of the ''Panel Properties'' dialog provides control over the background of the panel. The panel can be a specific color, the color dictated by the current theme, a user defined image or transparent to a specific degree:

[[Image:gnome_panel_background_properties.jpg]]

[[Image:fedora_gnome_panel_background_properties.jpg]]

== Adding Items to a GNOME Destop Panel ==

== Adding Items to a GNOME Destop Panel ==

When Ubuntu Linux is installed a number of items are added to the two default panels. Additonal items, however, may be added to any panel. To add items to a panel simply click with the right mouse button over the panel to be configured and select the ''Add to Panel'' menu option. The ''Add to Panel'' dialog will then appear:

When Fedora Linux is installed, a number of items are added to the two default panels. Additional items, however, may be added to any panel. To add items to a panel simply click with the right mouse button over the panel to be configured and select the ''Add to Panel'' menu option. The ''Add to Panel'' dialog will then appear:

[[Image:gnome_add_to_panel.jpg|GNOME Add to Panel Dialog]]

[[Image:fedora_gnome_add_to_panel.jpg|GNOME Add to Panel Dialog]]

To add an item to the panel scroll through the list, select the item you are interested in and press the ''Add'' button. The following screenshot shows a panel with the system monitor and weather items added:

To add an item to the panel scroll through the list, select the item you are interested in and press the ''Add'' button. The following screenshot shows a panel with the system monitor and weather items added:

 

[[Image:fedora_gnome_panel_with_items.jpg|Fedora Desktop Panel with items added]]

[[Image:gnome_panel_with_items.jpg|Ubuntu Desktop Panel with items added]]

To edit the properties or preferences for a panel item move the mouse pointer over the item in the panel and click the right mouse button. Select either ''Properties'' or ''Preferences'' from the menu and the appropriate dialog will appear. For example, the ''Preferences'' panel for the Weather item allows various settings to be changed, such as the location and units for displaying temperature (Celsius or Fahrenheit). The system monitor can similarly be configured to also display system load, memory and network graphs.

To edit the properties or preferences for a panel item move the mouse pointer over the item in the panel and click the right mouse button. Select either ''Properties'' or ''Preferences'' from the menu and the appropriate dialog will appear. For example, the ''Preferences'' panel for the Weather item allows various settings to be changed, such as the location and units for displaying temperature (Celsius or Fahrenheit). The system monitor can similarly be configured to also display system load, memory and network graphs.

To delete an item from a panel right click with the mouse on the item and select ''Remove from Panel''.

To delete an item from a panel right click with the mouse on the item and select ''Remove from Panel''.