Using Menus

A menu is a list of frequently-used commands that help you manage windows and operate software applications.

Choosing a menu command performs an associated action. For example, choosing "Minimize" from a window menu turns the window into an icon. Some of the most common menus are:

Window menus.
Figure 3-5 Window Menu
The Workspace menu.
Figure 3-6 Workspace Menu
Software application menus:
- Menus that "pull down" from the application's menu bar.
  Figure 3-7 Application Pulldown Menu
- Menus that "pop up" on an application or on a desktop object.
  Figure 3-8 Application Popup Menu

Menu commands whose labels are "greyed out" are inactive. These commands are only available under certain conditions. For example, the "Restore" command is available in a window menu only when the window is an icon.

An underlined character in a command is called a mnemonic. A key sequence listed to the right of some commands is called an accelerator. Both mnemonics and accelerators provide you with quick keyboard access to menu commands. For example, the "Close" command on the window menu can be accessed by pressing the c key (the mnemonic), or by pressing Altf4 (the accelerator).

The Window Menu

The window menu provides easy access to services that control the behavior of the window.

Figure 3-9 Window and Window Icon Menus

Restore: Turns an icon back into a window. This item is active only when the window is an icon or maximized.
Size: Interactively changes the size of the window. This item is inactive in the icon's menu.
Minimize: Turns the window into an icon.
Maximize: Enlarges the window to its greatest allowable size.
Lower: Puts the window on the bottom of the stack of overlapping windows in a workspace.
Occupy Workspace: Displays a dialog to select the workspaces in which the window should appear.
Occupy All Workspaces: Displays the window in all workspaces.
Unoccupy Workspace: Removes the window from the current workspace. This item is inactive if the window is displayed in only one workspace.
Close: Closes the window, removing it from the workspace.

Choosing a Command from a Window Menu

Mouse.

Click mouse button 1 on the window menu button to display the menu. Or, if the window is an icon, click the icon.
Click a menu command.

Or, you can use the dragging method:

Hold down mouse button 1 as you drag the pointer through the menu.
When you reach the command, release the mouse button.

To close the menu without choosing a command, click anywhere off the menu, or press Esc.

Keyboard.

Press Alt+Tab until you reach the window or window icon.
Press Alt+space bar to display the window menu.
Press the command's mnemonic, the underlined character.

To close the menu without choosing a command, press ESC.

The Workspace Menu

The Workspace menu contains commands that help manage the workspace.

Figure 3-10 Workspace Menu

Shuffle Up: Puts the bottom window (in a stack of overlapping windows) on the top of the stack.
Shuffle Down: Puts the top window (in a stack of overlapping windows) on the bottom of the stack.
Refresh: "Repaints" the screen should the display become unreadable.
Minimize/Restore Front Panel: Turns the Front Panel into an icon. When selected a second time, restores the Front Panel.
Restart Workspace Manager: Stops, then restarts the Workspace Manager after you have customized configuration files.
Log out: Begins the logout process, the same as choosing the exit button in the Front Panel.

Move the pointer over the workspace backdrop.
Press and hold mouse button 3. The Workspace menu appears.
Drag the pointer through the menu while still holding down button 3.
When you reach your choice, release button 3.




	NOTE: The Workspace menu can only be accessed with the mouse.

Using Menus

Technical documentation

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The Window Menu

Choosing a Command from a Window Menu

The Workspace Menu