Overview of HP VUE

HP VUE creates an environment for interacting with your workstation. This environment is called a "visual" or "graphical" environment because it provides a display to guide you through performing tasks. HP VUE also includes a set of applications, such as a text editor and a style manager, that make it easier to use and customize your workstation.

This illustration shows HP VUE with several windows and applications running. Chapter 1 “Getting Started” explains how to start your workstation and log in.

Figure 2-1 HP VUE has many built-in applications.

Computers understand commands, and commands often have complex rules and syntax. If you are not running HP VUE, you must learn these commands and then type them in exactly the right way to accomplish a task.

With HP VUE, you can give commands to your computer without having to learn or type commands.

In HP VUE, commands are represented by icons (called controls) drawn on the Front Panel of the display. These controls look much like buttons on an instrument panel. You use the mouse or keyboard to "push" the buttons.

For example, you can use the Mailer control, shown below, to start an electronic mail program.

Figure 2-2 The Mailer control starts an electronic mailer.

While HP VUE provides an easy way to work with files and applications using icons, some tasks may require you to type HP-UX commands using a command line. You can use an HP VUE terminal window for typing commands.

If HP VUE is not running, the command line is still available. See Part II of this guide for information on common HP-UX commands, and “Overview of the Non-Windowed Environment” later in this chapter.

Features of HP VUE

HP VUE includes these features:

Windows are containers on the screen for applications; they let you run more than one application at a time.
Workspaces allow you to have the equivalent of up to six different screens, although only one screen is displayed at a time. It's as though your display had several layers that you can shuffle.
Workspaces provide a way to organize your work. Each workspace can contain its own set of windows. For example, in one workspace you can run windows containing word-processing and desktop publishing applications, while in another workspace you can run windows containing spreadsheet and chart programs.
Icon-based file management. Files are represented by icons that can be selected and moved.
Front Panel controls and toolboxes for easy access to applications.
Extensive online help, provided by the HP Help Manager.
Session management. HP VUE remembers which applications were running when you logged out and restarts them the next time you log in.
Easy customization for colors, fonts, window behavior, and other aspects of the appearance and behavior of your workstation's interface.
Easy-to-use Text Editor and Icon Editor.
Multimedia (text and audio) application for annotating files.
Multimedia (images and audio) applications for playing, recording, and editing audio; and capturing and viewing images.

HP VUE--Regular and Lite

Regular HP VUE sessions provide all the functionality of HP VUE. Regular HP VUE is most likely the default interface on your workstation.

However, some models and configurations of HP workstations may not provide satisfactory performance when running HP VUE.

HP VUE Lite is a subset of HP VUE that provides enhanced performance in exchange for some features. VUE Lite improves system performance by omitting the following:

File Manager, File Annotator, Toolboxes
Session Manager
Printer and trash controls

To use HP VUE Lite, select it from the Options menu on the HP VUE login screen.

Choosing the HP VUE Environment

HP recommends that you use HP VUE (or HP VUE Lite) on your workstation whenever possible. The features of HP VUE make it easier to learn about and use your workstation. Use HP VUE (or HP VUE Lite) if you:

Want an easy-to-use interface. You'll still be able to type commands in a window if you choose.
Want to run more than one application at a time. You can run applications that create their own windows and applications that run in a terminal window.
Want to run the applications that are part of HP VUE. For example, HP VUE's Text Editor provides an easy way to edit files. Its Help Manager lets you access extensive online information.

If HP VUE has not been configured to start automatically, you see a login prompt without windows when you start your system. To start HP VUE, see “Enabling and Disabling HP VUE”.

Overview of HP VUE

Technical documentation

» Table of Contents

» Glossary

» Index

Features of HP VUE

HP VUE--Regular and Lite

Choosing the HP VUE Environment