Xfce User Guide

1. Overview

Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment running on Unix-like operating systems. Xfce provides multiple functional components, including all applications. This document describes how to use Xfce.

The following figure shows the WebUI.

Figure 1 Main screen of the desktop

2. Desktop

2.1 Desktop Icons

By default, icons such as the file system, main folder, and mount directory are placed. You can double-click the icons to open the page.

Figure 2 Default desktop icons

2.2 Shortcut Menu

Right-click in the blank area on the desktop. The shortcut menus are displayed, as shown in the following figure.

Figure 3 Shortcut menu

The following table describes some options.

ParameterDescription
Open in New WindowOpen the Desktop directory of the login user.
Create LauncherCreate a launcher.
Create URL LinkCreate a URL link.
Create FolderCreate a folder.
Create DocumentCreate a text file.
Open Terminal HereCreate a terminal.
Arrange Desktop IconsAutomatically arrange desktop icons.
Desktop SettingsSet the background, menus, and icons.
PropertiesSet desktop properties, such as the general, logo, and permission.
ApplicationsApplications

3. Taskbar

3.1 Basic Functions

The taskbar is located at the top, including application, window display area, multi-view switch, and tray menus.

Figure 4 Taskbar

ComponentDescription
ApplicationsDisplay all applications and settings, and allow you to search for applications and settings.
Window display areaThe blank area in the middle of the horizontal bar, which displays running programs or opened documents. You can minimize, maximize, close, or pin the window to the top.
Switching viewsPerform operations in multiple workspaces without interfering with each other.
TraySet the network connection, sound, power, notification center, calendar, and login user actions.

3.1.1 Applications

Figure 5 All applications

3.1.2 Window Display Area

Figure 6 Window display area

3.1.3 Multi-View Switching

Click in the taskbar to enter the corresponding work area.

For example, you can use the mouse to switch among multiple workspaces to select the operation area that you want to work in.

Figure 7 Switching among multiple views

3.1.4 Tray

Figure 8 Tray menu

3.1.4.1 Network

You can click on the taskbar and select a network connection mode as required.

Figure 9 Network connection page

Network settings dialog box

Right-click the network icon on the taskbar. The network setting menu is displayed.

Figure 10 Network settings

Click Edit Connections. The network setting dialog box is displayed.

Figure 11 Network setting dialog box

Double-click the specified network connection, for example, enp1s0. The page for setting the connection is displayed.

Figure 12 Setting the wired network

3.1.4.2 Volume

Click the volume icon on the taskbar to open the sound page.

Figure 13 Volume setting window

3.1.4.3 Power supply

Click on the taskbar.

Figure 14 Power supply devices

You can click Power Manager Settings to configure the display and nodes.

Figure 15 Setting the power manager

3.1.4.4 Notification Center

Click on the taskbar.

Figure 16 Notification center

You can disable the notification function by selecting Do not disturb.

The notification center displays the latest important information list. You can click Clear log to clear the information list.

You can click Notification settings to go to the notification setting page of the control panel and set the applications to be displayed and the number of messages to be displayed.

Figure 17 Notification center

3.1.4.5 Calendar

You can click the date and time on the taskbar to display the calendar window and view the calendar, month calendar, and annual calendar.

You can choose a year, a month and a day to view the information of a specific day.

Figure 18 Calendar-big

Right-click the time and date on the taskbar and click Properties to set the time.

Figure 19 Date setting

3.1.4.6 Advanced Settings

Right-click the taskbar and choose Panel from the shortcut menu.

Figure 20 Shortcut menu on the taskbar

You can set the layout of the taskbar and add or delete items.

Figure 21 Shortcut menu on the taskbar

3.1.4.7 Login User Actions

Click the login user on the task bar to view related actions.

Figure 22 Actions of a login user

3.1.4.7.1 Lock Screen

If you use the computer currently, you can lock the screen (which does not affect the current running status of the system) to prevent misoperations. After locking the screen, you can enter the password to log in to the system again.

By default, the system automatically locks the screen after a period of idle time.

3.1.4.7.2 Switch User

If you want to log in to the computer as another user, choose Switch User.

Then, the system closes all running applications. Therefore, before performing this operation, save the current work.

3.1.4.7.3 Suspend

For the sake of environmental protection and energy saving, you can select Suspend**.**

After that, the related data is read into the memory. Do not switch the power supply.

3.1.4.7.3 Shut Down

You can choose Shut Down to shut down a computer.

Before performing this operation, save the current work.

3.1.4.7.3 Log Out

To log out of the GUI, click Log Out.

Then, the system closes all running applications. Therefore, before performing this operation, save the current work.

4. Shortcut Operation Bar

4.1 Basic Functions

The shortcut operation bar is located at the bottom, including the icons for displaying all the desktops, terminals, file managers, web browsers, application search, and user home directories.

Figure 23 Shortcut operation bar

ComponentDescription
Show DesktopHide all windows and show the desktop. Click again to restore the window.
TerminalOpen a terminal.
File ManagerOpen a file manager.
Web BrowserOpen a web browser.
Application FinderOpen the application search window.
User Home DirectoryOpen the home directory of the login user.

4.1.1 Show Desktop

Click on the shortcut operation bar to display the desktop.

Figure 24 Showing the desktop

4.1.2 Terminal

Click on the shortcut operation bar to open a terminal.

Figure 25 Terminal-big

4.1.3 File Manager

You can click the icon on the shortcut operation bar to open a file manager.

Figure 26 File manager

4.1.4 Web Browser

You can click the icon on the shortcut operation bar to open a web browser.

Figure 27 Web browser

4.1.5 Application Finder

You can click the icon on the shortcut operation bar to open an application program search interface.

Figure 28 Searching for an application

4.1.6 User Home Directory

Click on the shortcut operation bar and click Open File. The user home directory page is displayed.

Figure 29 User home directory

Click the icon on the shortcut operation bar, and then click Open in Terminal to open a terminal. The current directory is the home directory of the user.

Figure 30 User home directory