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Figure 6.25: Customising Screen Resolution

3.Click Apply. The Keep Resolution dialogue box opens, prompting you to confirm settings or use the previous resolution and revert to the original settings. Click Keep resolution to apply new changes.

Figure 6.26: Resolution Confirmation Dialogue Box

The screen resolution will change.

6.3 3D Effects

A computer screen is two-dimensional (2D) and until recently most applications were developed in a 2D layout.

However, advancements in technology fuelled the demand for more life-like on screen visuals, as in three-dimensional (3D) modelling and games. The operating system needs to perform complex calculations to display 3D images in 2D. Consequently, to reduce the burden on the operating system and increase the speed of applications, 3D accelerator cards were developed, which use the graphics processor on the graphics card instead of consuming valuable CPU resources. Almost all modern graphics cards have a built-in acceleration to display 3D.

Ubuntu can utilize the 3D capabilities of a graphics card for desktop effects. An example of these can be seen with Compiz Fusion – spinning cubes, floating windows etc. Compiz Fusion is a fun application used to liven up your desktop experience and make it 3D in appearance.

The effects are enabled by default and can be controlled from the Appearance menu. From here the desktop effects can either be completely disabled or enabled. The number of effects can be controlled via the normal effects and extra effects setting.

If a graphics card does not have 3D capabilities or support for 3D is missing from the Linux drivers for the card, you will be notified that Desktop effects could not be enabled.

6.4 Working with Files Using Nautilus

The Nautilus file manager in Ubuntu provides a simple and integrated way to manage files and applications.

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6.4.1Features of Nautilus

The Nautilus file manager enables you to organise files into folders and perform tasks such as:

•Create and display folders and documents: Create new files, organise them into folders and save them.

•Search and manage your files: Classify files and search them as per their classification.

•Open special locations on your computer: Access the local network and save your files.

•Write data to a CD or DVD

•Navigate using two modes:

–Spatial mode: Allows you to open each folder in a separate window, which then helps open your files as physical objects in different locations. You can view the content of various folders simultaneously.

–Browser mode: Opens your folders in a single window. Only one file manager opens in browser mode, and it is updated when you click another folder in the file manager.

6.4.2Nautilus

1.Click the Places menu. A list of items appears:

•Home Folder: This is a personal folder created by default for every user to create and work on files. It takes the user name by default.

•Desktop: An active component that lies behind all the screens on your computer and provides easy and quick access to the files saved on it.

•Computer: Contains all drives and file systems; makes document backup onto CD and DVD really simple.

•CD/DVD Creator: It consists of folders that you can write to a CD or a DVD. You can also back up your documents on a CD or a DVD.

2.Click any of the above items on the Places menu.

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Figure 6.27: Using File Browser

The Nautilus file manager opens files in browser mode by default. If you open a folder in this mode, the folder will open in the same window. The location bar shows the current location of the opened folder in the hierarchy of folders, and the sidebar shows other folders saved on your computer.

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Figure 6.28: Files Display

While in browser mode, you can move to the parent folder that contains the currently open folder. To move to the parent folder, click Open Parent on the Go menu in the window. NOTE:

You can also click Up on the navigation toolbar or press the BACKSPACE key to move to the parent folder.

3. On the Edit menu, click Preferences. The File Management Preferences dialogue box opens.

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Figure 6.29: Launching File Management Preferences

4.Click the Behaviour tab in the dialogue box. To change the mode to spatial mode, clear the Always open in browser windows check box and then click Close.

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Figure 6.30: Changing File Management Behaviour

5.Close the file manager window and open it again. Your files will now open in spatial mode. If you open another folder, it will open in a different file manager window.

Figure 6.31: Confirming File Management Behaviour Changes

NOTE:

Each time you open a particular folder in spatial mode, you will find its window displayed in the same place on the screen and of the same size as during the last view. For this reason, this mode is referred to as spatial mode.

To move to the parent folder in spatial mode, click Open Parent on the File menu. Alternatively, you can press the ALT+UP arrow key.