UKUI Desktop Environment

Overview

Desktop Environment is the basis for the user's operation on the graphical interface, and provides multiple functions including taskbar, start menu, etc. The main interface is shown in figure below.

Fig. 1 Desktop main interface-big

Desktop

Desktop Icons

The system places three icons Computer, Recycle Bin and Personal by default, and double click the left mouse button to open the page. The functions are shown in table below.

IconDescription
Computer: Show the drives and hardwares connected to the machine
Recycle Bin: Show documents that have been diverted
Personal: Show personal home directory

In addition, right-clicking "Computer" and selecting "Properties", it can show the current system version, kernel version, activation and other related information.

Fig. 2 "Computer" - "Properties"-big

Right-click Menu

Right-click on the desktop blank and a menu appears as shown in figure below, providing the users with some shortcut features.

Fig. 3 Right-click Menu

Some of the options are described in table below.

OptionDescription
NewCreate new folders, text documents, WPS files
View typeFour view types are available: small icon, medium icon, large icon, super large icon
Sort byFour ways to arrange documents according to name, type of document, size and date of modification

Taskbar

Basic Function

Taskbar is located at the bottom and includes the Start Menu, Multi View Switch, File Browser, Firefox Web Browser, WPS, and Tray Menu.

Fig. 4 Taskbar

ComponentDescription
Start menu: Open the system menu to find applications and files
Multi View Switch: Operate in multiple workspaces without interfering with each other
File Browser: Browse and manage documents in the system
Firefox Web Browser: Provide a convenient and safe way to access the Internet
WPS: Realize the most common functions of office software such as text, forms, presentations, and more
Window Display AreaThe blank part in the middle of the horizontal bar. Display running programs, opened documents, and allow users to close the windows, top the windows, etc
Tray Menu: Include settings for voice, Kylin weather,input method, internet connection, notification center, date, and night mode
Show DesktopThe button is on the far right. Minimize all windows on the desktop and return to the desktop; Clicking again will restore the windows

Multi View Switch

Click the icon "" on the taskbar to enter the interface shown in figure below, and select the operation area that users need to work on at the moment in multiple work areas.

Fig. 5 Multi View Switch-big

Preview Window

Users move the mouse over the app icon in the taskbar, and then a small preview window will be shown if this app has already been opened.

Hover over the specified window as shown below for hover state, the window will be slightly fuzzy glass effect (left), the rest of the window as default Status (right).

Fig. 6 Taskbar - Preview Window

Users can close the application by right-clicking on the app icon in the taskbar.

Fig. 7 Taskbar - Right-click Preview

The sidebar is located at the right of the entire desktop. Click the icon "" in the taskbar tray menu to open the storage menu, and click the icon "" in Sidebar to pop up the sidebar as shown in figure below.

The sidebar consists of two parts: Notification Center, Clipboard and Widget.

Fig. 8 Sidebar without message status-big

Notification Center

Notification center will display a list of recent important and newest information.

Select "Clear" in the upper right corner to clear the list of information; Select "Setting" in the upper right corner to go to the notification settings in the control center, and users can set which applications can show information and the quantity of information.

Fig. 9 Notification Center-big

Workspace at right side can be set to fold by applications.

Fig. 10 Fold messages by applications-big

Icon "" at the top right corner of the sidebar can store unimportant information. When the messages are more than 999+, it will be shown as the form of which means limitless.

Fig. 11 Message Organizer

Clipboard

Clipboard can save the contents those were recently selected to copy or cut, and users can operate them by using the icons in Table.

Fig. 12 Clipboard

Clicking "", users can edit the the contents of the clipboard.

Fig. 13 edit the content

IconDescriptionIconDescription
Copy the contentEdit the content
Delete the content

The second label of the clipboard is the small plug-in that contains alarm clock, notebook, user feedback.

Fig. 14 Plug-in

Tray Menu

Storage Menu

Click "" at the tray menu to open the storage menu.

It contains Kylin Weather, Input Method, Bluetooth, USB, etc.

Fig. 15 Storage Menu

Input Method

The taskbar input method defaults to Sogou input method. Use the shortcut key "Ctrl+Space" to switch it out, and the "Shift" key to switch between Chinese and English modes.

Fig. 16 Input Method

USB

When the USB is inserted into the computer, it will be automatically read the data inside.

Click "" to open the window as shown in figure below.

When users need to umount the USB, please click the icon "".

Fig. 17 The status of USB

Power Supply

Click the icon "":

When no power supply is detected.

Fig. 18 No Power Supply

When power supply is detected.

Fig. 19 Have Power Supply

Users right-click the icon "" of power manager to open the power setting menu.

It provides two setting options: adjust screen brightness, and set power and sleep.

Fig. 20 Power Manager

If the power manager pops up a"low battery" window, users can click to turn on the power save mode, and the power manager will set the machine to run in this mode immediately.

Fig. 21 Power Saving Mode

Network

Users can choose wired or wireless network connections by clicking the icon "" of network manager.

IconDescriptionIconDescription
ConnectedUnconnected
Connection limitedLocked
ConnectingWifi connected
Wifi unconnectedWificonnection limited
Wifi lockedWifi connecting

Fig. 22 Network Connection

  • Wired Network In the wired network connection interface, click on the wired network plan to expand. Details of the network.

    Fig. 23 Wired Network

  • Wireless Network Click the switch button in the upper right corner to turn on the wireless network connection, and select the WiFi from the list of available wireless networks. Enter the password to access the Internet.

    Fig. 24 Wireless Network

  • Network Setting Right-click the icon "" of network manager to pop up the setting menu.

    Fig. 25 Wired Network Setting

    Click network setting to go to the setting window immediately.

    Fig. 26 Network Setting

Volume

Click the icon "" to open the volume window, and there provides three modes.

  • Mini Mode It only displays the volume of the speaker.

    Fig. 27 Mini Mode

  • According to Equipment It contains input equipment and output equipment.

    Fig. 28 According to Equipment List

  • According to Application It contains system volume and other applications' volume.

    Fig. 29 According to Application List

Calendar

Click the date&time on the taskbar to open the calendar window.

Users can view the day's information by filtering the year, month, day. The date will be displayed in large letters, with the time, the week, the festival,and the lunar calendar. Taboos can be seen by checking.

Fig. 30 Calendar-big

Night Mode

Click the icon "" on the Taskbar and then the system changes to the night mode.

Advanced Setting

Right-click the Taskbar to open the menu.

Fig. 31 Right-Clicking Menu

Users can set the lauserst of taskbar according to "Taskbar Settings".

Window

Window Manager

The functions provided as shown in Table.

FunctionDescription
Title BarShow the title name of current window
Minimize/Maximize/CloseThe three icon buttons at the right of the title bar correspond to minimize, maximize and close respectively
Side SlidingUsers can scroll up and down to view the page by the slider at the right of the window
StackAllow overlap among windows
Drag and DropLong press the left mouse button at the title bar to move the window to any position
ResizeMove the mouse to the corner of the window and long press the left button to resize the window

Window Switch

There are three ways to switch windows:

  • Click the window title on the Taskbar.

  • Click the different window at the desktop.

  • Use shortcut keys Alt + Tab.

Start Menu

Basic Function

Click the button to open the "Start Menu".

It provides sliding bar.

Fig. 32 Start Menu

Category Menu at right side

When the mouse is over the right side of the start menu, it will appear a pre-expanded cue bar. Clicking to expand, and then three categories are showing at the right side by default: "Common Software", "Alphabetical Category", and "Functional category".

  • All Software: List all software, recently used software will be displayed on the top of this page.

  • Alphabetical Category: List all software by first letter.

  • Functional category: List all software by their functions.

Users can click the button at top right corner to view fullscreen menu mode.

Fig. 33 Fullscreen Menu-big

Function Button at right side

It provides User Avatar, Computer, Control Center and Shutdown four options.

User Avatar

Click "" to view user's information.

Computer

Click "" to open personal home folder

Control Center

Click "" to go to the control center.

Shutdown
Lock Screen

When users do not need to use the computer temporarily, the lock screen can be selected (without affecting the current running state of the system) to prevent misoperations. And input the password to re-enter the system.

The system will automatically lock the screen after a period of idle time by default.

Fig. 34 Lock Screen-big

Switch Users & Log Out

When users want to select another user to log in using the computer, users can select "Log out" or "Switch user".

At this point, the system will close all running applications; Therefore, please save the current jobs before performing this action.

Shutdown & Reboot

There are two ways:

1)"Start Menu" > "Power" > "Shutdown"

It will pop up a dialog box, and users can choose shutdown or reboot as needed.

Fig. 35 Shutdown Dialog Box-big

2)"Start Menu" > right side menu of the "Shutdown" button > "Shutdown"/"Reboot"

The system will shutdown or reboot immediately without popping up the dialog box.

Advanced Setting

Right-clicking Start Menu, it provides lock screen, switch user, log out, reboot, and shutdown five shortcut options.

Applications

Users can search apps in the search box by key words. As shown in figure below, the result will show up automatically with the input.

Fig. 36 Search Apps

Right-clicking one app in the Start Menu, the right-click menu popping up.

Fig. 37 Right-click Menu

The options are described in table below.

OptionDescription
Attach to "All Software"Add the selected software to the top of the list of All Software
Attach to TaskbarGenerate icon for the application on the Taskbar
Add to Desktop ShortcutGenerate shortcut icon for the application on the desktop
UninstallRemove the application

FAQ

Failed to Login to the System after Locking the Screen

  • Switch to character terminal by Ctrl + Alt + F2.

  • Input the user-name and passwd to login to the system.

  • Do "sudo rm -rf ~/.Xauthority".

  • Switch to graphical interface by Ctrl + Alt + F1, and input the passwd.

Appendix

Shortcut Key

Shortcut KeyFunction
F5Refresh the desktop
F1Open the user-guide
Alt + TabSwitch the window
winOpen the Start Menu
Ctrl + Alt + LLock Screen
Ctrl + Alt + DeleteLog out