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<H3><A NAME="s2">2. Onscreen Fundamentals</A></H3>

<P> 
<EM>kpanel</EM> displays two windows: the taskbar and the panel.
<P>
<UL>
<LI>The 
<A HREF="#taskbar">taskbar</A>
displays currently running applications.
<P>
</LI>
<LI>The 
<A HREF="#panel">panel</A>
contains the Application Starter; a button to display the window list; the
virtual desktop buttons; and buttons for frequently launched applications. </LI>
</UL>

The panel and the taskbar can be
positioned  independently.
<P>
<H3><A NAME="taskbar"></A> <A NAME="ss2.1">2.1 Taskbar</A>
</H3>

<P>The <EM>taskbar</EM> displays a list of running applications. 
The titles of windows which are iconified are parenthesized.
Clicking an entry in the list zips you to
the selected application, changing  virtual desktops if necessary.
<P>Also, you can right-click the mouse on an entry in the taskbar, and 
select from options to maximize, iconify, close, or move the application
to the current desktop.
<P>
<H3><A NAME="panel"></A> <A NAME="ss2.2">2.2 Panel</A>
</H3>

<P>The <EM>panel</EM> appears by default on the bottom of the screen. It contains 
the Application Starter, a clock, and buttons for frequently used applications
and the virtual desktops. You can get it out of your way on the current desktop
by clicking the textured bar at the left-hand side (it remains visible on your
other virtual desktops).  You can also 
<A HREF="index-3.html#confPanelBehavior">configure it</A> to hide itself automatically, in which case it will 
disappear until you touch the mouse pointer to the side of the screen 
to which it is attached.
<P>Here is an explanation of the icons that appear on the default panel:
<P>
<UL>
<LI><B>Application Starter</B><BR>
Clicking the large K on the panel opens a menu of applications 
and utilities. It also provides access to the help system and the KDE 
Control Panel.  You can 
<A HREF="index-3.html#confMenu">add your own entries</A>.
<P>Shortcut: <CODE>Alt-F1</CODE> opens the Application Starter
<P>
</LI>
<LI><B>Window List</B><BR>
Clicking the button that looks like a group of windows opens a menu that 
shows currently open applications, organized by desktop.  Parenthesized
titles indicate inconified windows. Select an application to access it. 
<P>Shortcut: Click the middle mouse button on an unoccupied area of the
desktop to display the Window List.
<P>
</LI>
<LI><B>Home Directory</B><BR>
The button with the picture of a house provides quick access to the files
in your home directory.
<P>
</LI>
<LI><B>Virtual Desktops</B><BR>
The text buttons in the middle of the panel, labeled by default "One", "Two",
etc., provide access to the virtual desktops. The number of virtual desktops
and their labels can be 
<A HREF="index-3.html#confVDesk">changed</A>.
<P>
</LI>
<LI><B>Help Browser</B><BR>
The button with the picture of a book provides access to KDE's online help
system.</LI>
</UL>
<P>In addition to the standard icons, you can 
<A HREF="index-3.html#confPanelIcons">add your own buttons</A> to launch frequently used programs. Also, 
programs can be configured to run directly in the taskbar: 
for example, you can define a button which displays a running mail 
notification program in the taskbar, and launches an e-mail program when
clicked.
<P>
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