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xfce:getting-started [2018/11/12 14:20] – [Installation] alexxconsxfce:getting-started [2020/10/09 01:44] (current) – added xfce logo kevinbowen
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 +~~NOTOC~~
 +{{ :xfce-64x64.png?nolink|}}
 ====== Getting Started with Xfce ====== ====== Getting Started with Xfce ======
 +
 +  * **[[#Installation|Installation]]**
 +  * **[[#Running Xfce|Running Xfce]]**
 +  * **[[#The Desktop Environment|The Desktop Environment]]**
 +  * **[[#Common Tasks|Common Tasks]]**
 +  * **[[#Further Reading|Further Reading]]**
 +
 +----
  
 ===== Introduction ===== ===== Introduction =====
  
-Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment for unix-like operating systems. It aims to be fast and light on system resources, while still being visually appealing and easy to use.+Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment for Unix-like operating systems. It aims to be fast and light on system resources, while still being visually appealing and easy to use.
  
 Xfce embodies the traditional UNIX philosophy of modularity and re-usability. It consists of a number of components that provide the full functionality one can expect of a modern desktop environment. They are packaged separately and you can pick among the available packages to create the optimal personal working environment. Xfce embodies the traditional UNIX philosophy of modularity and re-usability. It consists of a number of components that provide the full functionality one can expect of a modern desktop environment. They are packaged separately and you can pick among the available packages to create the optimal personal working environment.
  
-Another priority of Xfce is an adherence to standards, specifically those defined at [[http://freedesktop.org|freedesktop.org]].+Another priority of Xfce is an adherence to standards, specifically those defined at [[https://freedesktop.org|freedesktop.org]]. 
 + 
 +----
  
 ===== System Requirements ===== ===== System Requirements =====
  
-Even though xfce is very light-weight, there are some [[xfce:system-requirements|distribution specific minimum requirements]].+Even though Xfce is very light-weight, there are some [[xfce:system-requirements|distribution specific minimum requirements]]. 
 + 
 +----
  
 ===== Installation ===== ===== Installation =====
  
-The Xfce project officially only releases [[http://archive.xfce.org|source code]] for the desktop environment. However, binary packages may have been contributed by other people for your OS or distribution. Here some links to distribution specific installation instructions:+The Xfce project officially only releases [[http://archive.xfce.org/xfce/?C=M;O=D|source code]] for the desktop environment. However, binary packages may have been contributed by other people for your OS or distribution. Here some links to distribution specific installation instructions:
     * [[http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xfce|Arch]]     * [[http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Xfce|Arch]]
     * [[http://wiki.debian.org/Xfce|Debian]]     * [[http://wiki.debian.org/Xfce|Debian]]
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 Detailed instructions on compiling Xfce yourself can be found [[.:building|here]]. Detailed instructions on compiling Xfce yourself can be found [[.:building|here]].
-===== Using Xfce ===== 
  
-==== Getting Started ====+----
  
-=== Login Manager ===+===== Running Xfce =====
  
-Xfce4-session installs a file that should add an option for login managers to run and Xfce session. The Xfce Desktop Environment does not have its own DM, but various options are available like gdm, slim, lxdm and lightdm.+===  Display Managers === 
 + 
 +Xfce4-session installs a file that should add an option for display managers to run an Xfce session. The Xfce Desktop Environment does not have its own DM, but various options are available like ''gdm'', ''slim'', ''lxdm'' and ''lightdm''. Check [[xfce:display_managers|this link]] for details.
  
 === Command line === === Command line ===
  
-Use ''startxfce4'' to start an Xfce session or choose //Xfce Session// from the login manager, which includes the session manager, the panel, the window manager and the desktop manager. See [[.:xfce4-session:advanced|auto login from console]] for more information.+Use ''startxfce4'' to start an Xfce session or choose //Xfce Session// from the login manager, which includes the [[:xfce:xfce4-session:start|session manager]], the [[:xfce:xfce4-panel:start|panel]], the [[:xfce:xfwm4:start|window manager]] and the [[:xfce:xfdesktop:start|desktop manager]]. See [[.:xfce4-session:advanced|auto login from console]] for more information.
  
-By default the //Xfce session manager// manages the startup of applications. It allows you to save your session when you quit Xfce, so that the next time you log in, the same applications will be started for you automatically.+By default, the //Xfce session manager// manages the startup of applications. It allows you to save your session when you quit Xfce, so that the next time you log in, the same applications will be started for you automatically.
  
-==== The Default Desktop ====+---- 
 + 
 +===== The Desktop Environment =====
  
 The Xfce Desktop Environment is not a single entity that provides all functionality, but rather it tries to adhere to the old UNIX tradition of small tools that do one job and do it well. The Xfce Desktop Environment is not a single entity that provides all functionality, but rather it tries to adhere to the old UNIX tradition of small tools that do one job and do it well.
  
 <figure "Default Xfce session, with desktop manager and panel"> <figure "Default Xfce session, with desktop manager and panel">
-{{http://cdn.xfce.org/frontpage/src/slider-desktop.png?nolink|}}+{{:xfce:slider-desktop.jpg?600nolink|}}
 </figure> </figure>
  
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 ! The middle mouse button (or Shift + left click) opens a list of all applications that are currently running. You can activate an application by clicking on its menu entry. ! The middle mouse button (or Shift + left click) opens a list of all applications that are currently running. You can activate an application by clicking on its menu entry.
 ? Window Manager ? Window Manager
-! The window manager is responsible for placing the windows on the screen and provides the window borders and decorations. It allows you to move windows around by draggin the titlebar and provides title bar buttons, for example to close, minimize or maximize a window. Look at the [[.:xfwm4:|manual]] for a full explanation of the window manager settings.+! The Window Manager is responsible for placing the windows on the screen and provides the window borders and decorations. It allows you to move windows around by dragging the title bar, and provides title bar buttons: for example to close, minimize or maximize a window. Look at the [[.:xfwm4:|manual]] for a detailed explanation of the window manager settings.
 ? Settings Manager ? Settings Manager
-! The settings manager runs in the background and makes sure that all Xfce applications update their settings when the user changes something in the settings manager dialog (see following section) and it takes care of reading the configuration from disk at startup. Have a look at the [[.:xfce4-settings:|Settings Manager]] for a full explanation of the settings manager.+! The settings manager runs in the background and ensures that all Xfce applications update their settings when the user changes something within the application. It is also responsible for reading the configuration files on disk at startup. Look at the [[.:xfce4-settings:|manual]] for a detailed explanation of the settings manager.
  
-==== Common Tasks ====+[[|Back To Top]] 
 +----
  
-This section will explain how to perform several common tasks to quickly get you started working with Xfce. Because that is what Xfce is designed for, to allow you to get work done.+===== Common Tasks =====
  
-=== Running programs ===+This section will explain how to perform several common tasks to quickly get you started working with Xfce and familiar with its applications.  
 + 
 +=== Running Programs ===
  
 ? Xfce Panel ? Xfce Panel
-! The panel is designed to allow quick access to the most frequently used applications by putting them on the main panel. Less often used applications can be put in a launcher menu or can be found in the applications menu.+! The panel can be used to allow quick access to your most frequently used applications by means of launchers, these application launchers are displayed as icons on your panel that launch your specified program. The Applications Menu on the panel also contains all installed programs.
 ? Desktop Menu ? Desktop Menu
-! Another method for starting applications is from the desktop mouse menu. Read the [[.:xfdesktop:|Desktop Manager manual]] for information on how to change the menu contents.+! Another method for starting applications is from the desktop right-click menu. Read the [[.:xfdesktop:|Desktop Manager manual]] for more information on how to change the menu contents.
 ? Application Finder ? Application Finder
-! If you know the name of a program and it is not on the panel or in the desktop menu you can use the run dialog. To open the dialog type {key>Alt+F2} or choose the {gui>Run Program...} option from the desktop menu.+! If you know the name of the application you want to launch you can use the Application Finder. To open the dialog, press {key>Alt+F2} or choose the {gui>Run Program...} option from the desktop menu.
  
-=== Managing windows and workspaces ===+=== Managing Windows and Workspaces ===
  
 ? Basic window operations ? Basic window operations
-! You can move windows around the screen by dragging their title bar. A window can be closed, hidden, maximized, shaded and made sticky ((this means it will show up on all workspaces)) by using the title bar buttons. +! You can move a window around the screen by dragging on its title bar. A window can be closed, minimized, maximized, shaded and made sticky (make it show up on all workspaces) by using the title bar buttons. 
-! Right clicking on the title bar will open a menu that gives access to all window operations. +! Right-clicking on the title bar will open a menu that gives access to all window operations. 
-! Shading a window, which means collapsing it to only show the title bar, can also be accomplished by using the mouse wheel over the title bar. Mouse wheel up is shade, mouse wheel down is unshade. +! Shading a window, or rolling it up to hide its contents and only show the title bar, can also be accomplished by scrolling the mouse wheel while hovering over the title bar. Mouse wheel up is shade, mouse wheel down is unshade. 
-! If you want maximized windows to not cover the entire screen you can set workspace margins from the settings manager dialog (see below).+! If you don't want maximized windows to cover up the entire screen, you can set workspace margins in the Settings Manager.
  
 ? Application management ? Application management
-! To find out what applications are currently running you can look at the task list on the top panel. Clicking on a button in the task list will focus the associated application. Clicking again will hide it.+! To see what applications are currently running, you can look at the task list on the panel. Clicking on an application in the task list will focus it, and clicking it again will hide it.
 ! When you click with the middle mouse button on the desktop background a list of windows is shown, ordered by workspace. You can activate the application or change workspaces by choosing the appropriate menu entry. ! When you click with the middle mouse button on the desktop background a list of windows is shown, ordered by workspace. You can activate the application or change workspaces by choosing the appropriate menu entry.
  
 ? Workspaces ? Workspaces
-! You can change workspaces by clicking on them in the graphical pager, either on the taskbar or on the panel. Pressing {key>Ctrl+Alt+LeftArrow} or {key>Ctrl+Alt+RightArrow} will cycle through the workspaces. Using the mousewheel over the pager or the desktop background has the same effect. +! You can change workspaces by clicking on them in the graphical pager on the panel. Pressing {key>Ctrl+Alt+LeftArrow} or {key>Ctrl+Alt+RightArrow} will cycle through the workspaces. Scrolling the mouse wheel while hovering over the pager or the desktop background has the same effect. 
-! To add or remove workspaces you can use the middle click desktop menu or the settings dialog (see below).+! To add or remove workspaces, you can use the middle-click desktop menu or the settings dialog (see below). 
 + 
 +=== Using the Settings Manager === 
 + 
 +The Settings Manager provides access to the global preferences of many aspects of the Xfce Desktop Environment. You can run it by pressing its launcher on the panel, from the desktop mouse menu or by running ''xfce4-settings-manager''.
  
-=== Using the settings manager dialog ===+Refer to the individual manuals of the Xfce components for more information on settings specifically for that application. Don't be afraid to explore all the settings to find out what options are available that allow you to create the best possible working environment.
  
-The settings manager dialog provides access to the global preferences of many Xfce applications. You can run it by pressing its launcher on the panel, from the desktop mouse menu or by running ''xfce4-settings-manager''.+----
  
-Dialogs to change many aspects of the Xfce Desktop Environment are available. See the separate manuals of the Xfce components for more information. It may be interesting to have a quick look at all the dialogs to find out what options are available that allow you to create the best possible working environment.+===== Further Reading =====
  
-=== Further Reading ===+This guide provides only a general overview of the Xfce Desktop Environment. More information is available in the [[.:|manuals]] of the individual components of Xfce.
  
-This user guide has only given a very general overview of the Xfce Desktop Environment. More information is  available in the [[.:|manuals]] of the separate components of Xfce. 
  
 +[[|Back To Top]]
 +----
 +[[:start|Back to main Xfce documentation page]]