Ubuntu Panel

The Panel is a rectangular block that contains often used program links for convenience and utilities that you may want handy. Basically, the Panel is a tool to provide resources such as links to programs, information or access to categories of information.

The Panel may contain information that is valuable for you like stock quotes, the date or time of day, network connections, etc. Here is an image of the left hand side of the panel. “Applications” is a link to the menu of applications that are installed on the system. “Places” links you to directories or network connections on your network. “System” is a link to user preferences and system administration options. These are followed by program icons which link to commonly used applications.

The right hand side of the panel is shown below. The user currently logged in is listed as well as the state of on the system in reference to updates. The red arrow indicates that updates are available for the system. The double monitor is actually the network connectivity icon followed by the sound adjustment. Time and date is listed and the red button on the end is a quick link to turn off the system.

The location of the panel is an option that may be exercised by the user and changed quickly by right clicking the panel and selecting the options and location that best fit the user. The “Add to Panel” option allows you to add additional features to the panel which you see listed. These features that can be added are links to applications or applets which perform specific tasks.

If you want to add a feature to the panel select the feature you want and click forward. For example, if you wanted to install a link to an application you use frequently, select “Application Launcher”, click forward which will take you to the option to select a specific program.

Click on a category like “Accessories” and then select the program you want.

The application you select will appear on the panel.

If you decide later to remove the applications, right click the icon and choose “Remove From Panel”. You can also right click the icon and modify the properties of the icon or move the icon by selecting the Move option. This will allow you to arrange the icons in the order and position that you need.

If you right click the panel, you have option to modify the location of the panel by changing the orientation. You also have the option to change the size of the panel. The default size is 24 but that can be increased or decreased depending on your desire. You have three additional options. You may choose to expand the panel all the way across the Desktop, which is the default or you may choose to uncheck expand and have the panel only be as large as needed for the icons that are present in it. Another option, is to use “Autohide” which will make the panel disappear until you move your cursor over it. The third option is to use the “Show hide buttons” which inserts roll-up buttons on either end that you can roll-up the panel to move it out of the way.

If you choose the Background tab you may make the panel background transparent, a specific color or even insert an image into the background.