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New page: 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 t...
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 gDesklets call then ''Eye candy for the desktop'', and once you've had a change to see them in action you will understand why.
== Installing gDesklets ==
The gDesklets packages are not installed by default with Fedora Linux. To use them, therefore, they must first be installed. To do so, begin by selecting ''Add/Remove Software'' from the ''Applications'' menu. In the resulting ''Package Manager'' window select ''Search'' and search for ''gDesklets''. Results similar to those shown below should be displayed:
[[Image:fedora_install_gdesklets.jpg|Installing gDesklets on Fedora]]
Select each of the packages in the list and click on ''Apply'' to initiate the installation. Click ''Continue'' in both the confirmation and dependencies dialogs. The packages will then be downloaded and installed.
== 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 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 ==
Once you have positioned a dekslet it can be moved to a new location by clicking on it with the right hand mouse button and selecting ''Move Desklet''. Move the mouse around until the desklet is in the desired position and click to set the location.
== 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 dekslet's configuration page, click with the right mouse button and select the ''Configure desklet'' option. The following figure shows the ''GoodWeather'' properties dialog:
[[Image:fedora_goodweather_properties.jpg|Desklet Properties]]
== Install New gDesklet Packages ==
By default Fedora does not install all the currently available desklets. A more complet elist of avaiable 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''). 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.
The following figure shows a Fedora Desktop with the ''GoodWeather'' and ''reloj'' clock desklets installed:
== Installing gDesklets ==
The gDesklets packages are not installed by default with Fedora Linux. To use them, therefore, they must first be installed. To do so, begin by selecting ''Add/Remove Software'' from the ''Applications'' menu. In the resulting ''Package Manager'' window select ''Search'' and search for ''gDesklets''. Results similar to those shown below should be displayed:
[[Image:fedora_install_gdesklets.jpg|Installing gDesklets on Fedora]]
Select each of the packages in the list and click on ''Apply'' to initiate the installation. Click ''Continue'' in both the confirmation and dependencies dialogs. The packages will then be downloaded and installed.
== 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 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 ==
Once you have positioned a dekslet it can be moved to a new location by clicking on it with the right hand mouse button and selecting ''Move Desklet''. Move the mouse around until the desklet is in the desired position and click to set the location.
== 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 dekslet's configuration page, click with the right mouse button and select the ''Configure desklet'' option. The following figure shows the ''GoodWeather'' properties dialog:
[[Image:fedora_goodweather_properties.jpg|Desklet Properties]]
== Install New gDesklet Packages ==
By default Fedora does not install all the currently available desklets. A more complet elist of avaiable 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''). 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.
The following figure shows a Fedora Desktop with the ''GoodWeather'' and ''reloj'' clock desklets installed: