Chapter 2. Customizing Your Settings

Contents

2.1. Hardware
2.2. Look and Feel
2.3. Personal
2.4. System

You can change the way the GNOME desktop looks and behaves to suit your own personal tastes and needs. Some of the settings you might want to change include:

These settings and others can be changed in the Control Center. To access the Control Center, click Computer+Control Center. The Control Center is divided into the following four categories:

Figure 2.1. GNOME Control Center

GNOME Control Center

Some settings require that you use the YaST Control Center. These administrator settings includes most of the hardware, the graphical user interface, Internet access, security settings, user administration, software installation, and system updates and information. You need the root password to access the YaST Control Center.

For information on configuring administrator settings, see System Configuration with YaST in the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Deployment Guide.

2.1. Hardware

Hardware settings include the following:

2.1.1. Configuring Bluetooth Services

Bluetooth services enable you to connect wireless devices such as mobile phones and personal data assistants (PDAs) to your computer. Bluetooth wireless support includes automatic recognition of Bluetooth-enabled devices via the YaST central configuration and administration tool. Click Computer Control Center Hardware Bluetooth, then set the configuration options that are appropriate for your device.

[Note]Note

Root privileges are required for configuring Bluetooth services.

2.1.2. Configuring Your DSL Connection

If you connect to a network over a DSL Connection, use this option to configure your connection. The DSL connection is configured in YaST.

[Note]Note

Root privileges are required for configuring your DSL Connection.

  1. Click Computer+Control Center+Hardware+DSL.

  2. Enter the root password.

    YaST opens.

  3. Follow the instructions in YaST to configure DSL.

2.1.3. Configuring Your Graphics Card and Monitor

Your graphics card was configured for your monitor during installation. If you ever need to change these settings, click Computer Control Center Hardware Graphics Card and Monitor, then set the appropriate options for your monitor.

[Note]Note

Graphics card configuration is done in YaST2 and requires root privileges.

2.1.4. Modifying Keyboard Preferences

Use the Keyboard Preferences tool to modify the autorepeat preferences for your keyboard and to configure typing break settings.

Click Computer Control Center Hardware Keyboard.

You can set the following preferences:

2.1.4.1. Configuring Keyboard Preferences

Use the Keyboard tabbed page to set general keyboard preferences.

Figure 2.2. Keyboard Preferences Dialog—Keyboard Page

Keyboard Preferences Dialog—Keyboard Page

You can modify any of the following keyboard preferences:

Table 2.1. Keyboard Preferences

Option

Description

Key Presses Repeat When Key is Held Down

Enables keyboard repeat. The action associated with a key is performed repeatedly when you press and hold that key. For example, if you press and hold a character key, the character is typed repeatedly.

Use the Delay option to select the delay from the time you press a key to the time that the action repeats.

Use the Speed option to set the speed at which the action is repeated.

Cursor Blinks in Text Boxes and Fields

Lets the cursor blink in fields and text boxes.

Use the slider to specify the speed at which the cursor blinks.

Type to Test Settings

The test area is an interactive interface that lets you see how the keyboard settings affect the display as you type. Type text in the test area to test the effect of your settings.

Click the Accessibility button to start the Keyboard accessibility preference tool.

2.1.4.2. Configuring Keyboard Layout Preferences

Use the Layouts tabbed page to set your keyboard layout.

Figure 2.3. Keyboard Preferences Dialog—Layouts Page

Keyboard Preferences Dialog—Layouts Page

Select your keyboard model from the drop-down list, then use the navigational buttons to add or remove the selected layout to or from the list of available layouts.

You can select different layouts to suit different locales.

Click the Accessibility button to start the Keyboard accessibility preference tool.

2.1.4.3. Configuring Keyboard Layout Options

Use the Layout Options tabbed page to set your keyboard layout options.

Figure 2.4. Keyboard Preferences Dialog—Layout Options Page

Keyboard Preferences Dialog—Layout Options Page

Select an option from the list of available layout options and click Add to add the option or Remove to remove it.

Click the Accessibility button to start the Keyboard accessibility preference tool.

2.1.4.4. Configuring Typing Break Preferences

Use the Typing Break tabbed page to set typing break preferences.

Figure 2.5. Keyboard Preferences Dialog—Typing Break Page

Keyboard Preferences Dialog—Typing Break Page

You can modify any of the following typing break preferences:

Table 2.2. Typing Break Preferences

Option

Description

Lock Screen to Enforce Typing Break

Locks the screen when you are due a typing break.

Work Interval Lasts

Lets you specify how long you can work before a typing break occurs.

Break Interval Lasts

Lets you specify the length of your typing breaks.

Allow Postponing of Breaks

Lets you postpone typing breaks.

Click the Accessibility button to start the Keyboard accessibility preference tool.

2.1.5. Configuring a Modem

If you connect to a network over a modem, use this option to configure your modem. The modem is configured in YaST.

[Note]Note

Root privileges are required for configuring your modem.

  1. Click Computer Control Center Hardware Modem.

  2. Enter the root password.

    YaST opens.

  3. Follow the instructions in YaST to configure the modem.

2.1.6. Configuring the Mouse

Use the Mouse Preference tool to configure your mouse for right-hand use or for left-hand use. You can also specify the speed and sensitivity of mouse movement.

Click Computer Control Panel Hardware Mouse.

You can customize the settings for the Mouse Preference tool in the following areas:

2.1.6.1. Configuring Button Preferences

Use the Buttons tabbed page to specify whether the mouse buttons are configured for left-hand use. You can also specify the delay between clicks for a double-click.

Figure 2.6. Mouse Preferences Dialog—Buttons Page

Mouse Preferences Dialog—Buttons Page

The following table lists the mouse button preferences you can modify.

Table 2.3. Mouse Button Preferences

Option

Description

Left-handed Mouse

Configures your mouse for left-hand use, swapping the functions of the left mouse button.

Timeout

Use the slider to specify the amount of time that can pass between clicks when you double-click. If the interval between the first and second clicks exceeds the time that is specified here, the action is not interpreted as a double-click.

2.1.6.2. Configuring Pointer Preferences

Use the Cursors tabbed page to set your mouse pointer preferences.

Figure 2.7. Mouse Preferences Dialog—Pointers Page

Mouse Preferences Dialog—Pointers Page

The following table lists the mouse pointer preferences you can modify.

Table 2.4. Mouse Pointer Preferences

Option

Description

Cursor Theme

Displays the available cursor themes.

Highlight the Pointer When You Press Ctrl

Enables a mouse pointer animation when you press and release Ctrl. This feature can help you locate the mouse pointer.

2.1.6.3. Configuring Motion Preferences

Use the Motion tabbed page to set your preferences for mouse movement.

Figure 2.8. Mouse Preferences Dialog—Motion Page

Mouse Preferences Dialog—Motion Page

The following table lists the mouse motion preferences you can modify.

Table 2.5. Mouse Motion Preferences

Option

Description

Acceleration

Use the slider to specify the speed at which your mouse pointer moves on your screen when you move your mouse.

Sensitivity

Use the slider to specify how sensitive your mouse pointer is to movements of your mouse.

Threshold

Use the slider to specify the distance that you must move an item before the move action is interpreted as a drag and drop action.

2.1.7. Configuring a Network Card

If you connect to a network over a network card, use this option to configure your connection. The network card is configured in YaST.

[Note]Note

Root privileges are required for configuring your network card.

  1. Click Computer Control Center Hardware Network Card.

  2. Enter the root password.

    YaST opens.

  3. Follow the instructions in YaST to configure the network card.

2.1.8. Installing and Configuring Printers

Use the Printers module to install and configure printers.

To start the Printers module, click Computer Control Center Hardware Printers.

Figure 2.9. Printers Dialog

Printers Dialog

2.1.9. Configuring Removable Drives and Media

You can use a wide variety of removable drives and media, including storage devices, cameras, scanners, and more. The configurations for many of these devices are set up automatically during installation. To change the configuration for a drive or other removable device, click Computer Control Center Hardware Removable Drives and Media.

Some of the possible configuration settings include:

  • What happens when a blank CD is inserted in the CD drive

  • What happens when an audio CD is inserted in the drive

  • Whether images are automatically imported from a digital camera when it is attached to the computer

  • Whether removable storage devices are mounted when they are plugged in to the computer

  • Whether PDAs are automatically synced when attached to the computer

In general, you do not need to change the settings that are already configured unless you want to change the behavior when a device is connected or if you want to connect a new device that is not yet configured. If you attach a device for the first time and it behaves in an unexpected or undesired way, check the Removable Drives and Media settings.

2.1.10. Configuring a Scanner

The Scanner configuration enables you to attach and configure a scanner, or to remove an already-attached scanner.

[Note]Note

Scanner configuration is done in YaST2 and requires root privileges.

To open YaST2 and configure a scanner, click Computer Control Center Hardware Scanner. Refer to the instructions on the Scanner Configuration screen for information about the available options.

2.1.11. Specifying Screen Resolution Settings

Use this module to specify the resolution settings for your screen, including Resolution and Refresh Rate.

Click Computer Control Center Hardware Screen Resolution.

Figure 2.10. Screen Resolution Preferences Dialog

Screen Resolution Preferences Dialog

The following table lists the screen resolution preferences you can modify.

Table 2.6. Screen Resolution Preferences

Option

Description

Resolution

Select the resolution (in pixels) to use for the screen.

Refresh Rate

Select the refresh rate to use for the screen.

Rotation

Select the rotation mode for your screen if you use a nonstandard monitor.

Make Default for This Computer Only

Makes the screen resolution settings the default settings only for the computer that you are logged in to.

If you cannot find a setting you want, you might need to use the Administrator Settings to reconfigure your graphics card and monitor settings. See Configuring the Graphics Card and Monitor in the Deployment Guide for more information.


SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop Gnome User Guide 10 SP1