| Chapter 4. Working With Panels |
4.2. Managing Panels
4.2.b. Panel Properties
You can change the properties of each panel, such as the position of the panel, the hide behavior, and the visual appearance.
To modify the properties of a panel, right-click on a vacant space on the panel, then choose Properties. The Panel Properties dialog contains two tabbed sections, General and Background.
General Properties Tab
In the General tab, you can modify panel size, position, and hiding properties. The following table describes the dialog elements on the General tabbed section:
|
Dialog Element |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Orientation |
Select the position of the panel on your screen. Click on the required position for the panel. |
|
Size |
Use the spin box to specify the size of the panel. |
|
Expand |
By default, a panel expands to the full length of the edge of the screen where it is located. A panel that does not expand can be moved away from the screen edges to any part of the screen. |
|
Autohide |
Select this option if you want the panel to only be fully visible when the mouse pointer is over it. The panel hides off-screen along its principal edge, leaving a narrow part along the edge of the desktop. Move the mouse pointer over the visible part of the panel to make it move fully into the screen. |
|
Show hide buttons |
Select this option to display hide buttons at each end of your panel. Clicking on a hide button moves the panel lenthways, hiding it off-screen except for the hide button at the opposite end. Click this hide button to restore the panel to being fully visible. |
|
Arrows on hide button |
Select this option to display arrows on the hide buttons, if the hide button is enabled. |
Background Properties Tab
You can choose the type of background for the panel in the Background tab. The choices are as follows:
|
Dialog Element |
Description |
|---|---|
|
None (use system theme) |
Select this option to have the panel use the settings in the Theme preference tool. This keeps your panel's background looking the same as the rest of the desktop and applications. |
|
Solid color |
Select this option to specify a single color for the panel background. Click on the Color button to display the color selector dialog. Choose the color that you require from the color selector dialog. Use the Style slider to specify the degree of transparency or opaqueness for the color. For example, to make the panel transparent, move the slider to the Transparent end. |
|
Background image |
Select this option to specify an image for the panel background. Click on the button to browse for the file. When you have selected the file, click OK. |
You can also drag a color or image on to a panel to set the color or image as the background of the panel. You can drag a color or image from many applications. For example:
-
You can drag a color from any color selector dialog.
-
You can drag an image file from the Nautilus file manager to set it as the background of the panel.
-
You can drag a color or a pattern from the Backgrounds and Emblems dialog in Nautilus file manager to a panel to set it as the background.
Click Close to close the Panel Properties dialog. (Next: Hiding a Panel)
............................................................................
Chapter 4. Working With Panels
Table of Contents
4.1. Introduction
4.1.a Top
Edge Panel
4.1.b.
Bottom Edge Panel
4.2. Managing Panels
4.2.a.
Moving a Panel
4.2.b. Panel Properties (you are here)
4.2.c
Hiding a Panel
4.2.d.
Adding a New Panel
4.2.e.
Deleting a Panel
4.3. Panel Objects
4.3.a. Interacting
With Panel Objects
4.3.b. Adding
an Object to a Panel
4.3.c. Modifying
the Properties of an Object
4.3.d. Moving
a Panel Object
4.3.e. Locking
a Panel Object
4.3.f. Removing
a Panel Object
4.4. Applets
4.5. Launchers
4.5.a.
Adding a Launcher to a Panel
4.5.b.
Modifying a Launcher
4.5.c.
Launcher Properties
4.6. Buttons
4.6.a. Force
Quit Button
4.6.b. Lock
Screen Button
4.6.c. Log
Out Button
4.6.d. Run
Button
4.6.e. Screenshot
Button
4.6.f. Search
Button
4.6.g. Show
Desktop Button
4.7. Menus
4.8. Drawers
4.8.a.
To Open and Close a Drawer
4.8.b.
To Add a Drawer to a Panel
4.8.c.
To Add an Object to a Drawer
4.8.d.
To Modify Drawer Properties
4.9. Default
Panel Objects
4.9.a.
Window Selector Applet
4.9.b.
Notification Area Applet
4.9.c.
Main Menu Panel Object
4.9.d.
Menu Bar Panel Object
