Spring Into Linux®

Description

The Linux desktop is rapidly gaining as an alternative to Windows. IDC

estimates that Linux has now surpassed Apple with 3% of the desktop market,

and that this number will double by 2006.

And the new desktop users are not just students curious about a free operating

system, but working professionals who are familiar with Windows and who

find themselves needing to come up-to-speed quickly on Linux. They need to

quickly masters the Linux equivalents of Outlook, Microsoft Office, and

Internet Explorer. They need to understand how to customize their Linux

desktops so that they can be as productive as possible. And they need to do all

of this quickly.

They need Spring Into Linux. Written in the unique "Spring Into" style, this

book is organized as a series of one-page and two-page tutorials. Written for

professionals who don't need a lot of hand-holding, the information is quite

dense. Each tutorial contains at least one example of the concept or procedure

being described, with plenty of supporting screenshots.

Back Cover

The fastest route to true Linux mastery!

You know your way around Windows (or maybe a Mac, or even UNIX). Now, you're ready for Linux.

And you don't have a minute to waste.

Welcome. This book's for you.

Janet Valade has spent thirteen years helping new users master Linux and related technologies. She knows the "magic words" that'll help you get the job done, fast. (And she knows exactly how to keep you out of trouble, too!)

You'll learn Linux through dozens of focused, bite-size examples, each one carefully designed to build on what you've learned before.

Need specific solutions? This book's carefully crafted, high-efficiency format delivers them... instantly. Working on Fedora? Mandrake? SuSE? No matter. This book is for you.

No other introduction to Linux covers this much, this well, this quickly. Dig in, get started, get results!

• All you need to succeed with Linux—without the hassles!

• Choose the best Linux distribution for your personal or business needs

• Get Linux installed quickly and running reliably

• Handle your day-to-day tasks and efficiently manage your files

• Master KDE, GNOME, and the Linux command line

• Write documents and build spreadsheets with OpenOffice.org

• Set up Web access, email, and instant messaging

• Work with powerful Linux multimedia and graphics software

• Find, install, and run new Linux software

• Set up your printer to work with Linux

• Supercharge Linux with shell scripts and customized configuration files

Includes concise Linux command reference and quick guide to building powerful Regular Expressions

Spring Into... is a new series of fast-paced tutorials from Addison-Wesley Professional Publishers. Each book in the series is designed to bring you up-to-speed quickly. Complex technologies are reduced to their core components, and each component is treated with remarkable efficiency in one- or two-page spreads. Just the information you need to begin working...now! And because the books are example-rich and easy to navigate, you'll find that they make great on-the-job references after you've mastered the basics.

© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.

Contents

Preface.

About the Author.

About the Series Editor.

1. Understanding Open Source Software.

Open Source Software

Open Source License

Linux Is Open Source Software

What Is GNU?

Summary

2. Choosing a Linux Distribution.

Distribution Contents

Red Hat/Fedora

Mandrake

SuSE

Other Distributions

Live CDs

Summary

3. Getting Ready to Install Linux.

Hardware Requirements

Hardware Compatibility

Purchasing Linux

Downloading Linux

Planning Your Computer System

Running Linux with Windows

Examining Your Hard Drive

Making Room for Linux During Installation

Making Room for Linux Before Installation

Booting from the CD or from a Floppy

Summary

4. Installation.

Installation Overview

Starting the Fedora Installation Procedure

Collecting Hardware Information for Fedora

Selecting the Installation Type for Fedora

Selecting Where to Install Fedora

Collecting Network Information for Fedora

Languages and Time Zone for Fedora

Creating the Root Account for Fedora

Selecting Packages to Install on Fedora

Installing the Fedora System

Starting the Mandrake Installation Procedure

Collecting Information for Mandrake

Selecting Packages to Install on Mandrake

Installing the Mandrake System

Creating Accounts for Mandrake

Configuration Summary for Mandrake

Finishing Mandrake Installation

Starting the SuSE Installation Procedure

Configuration Settings for SuSE

Selecting Packages to Install on SuSE

Installing the SuSE System

Configuring the Installed SuSE System

Finishing SuSE Installation

Summary

5. Interacting with Linux.

The Graphical User Interface on Linux

GNOME

KDE

The Command-Line Interface on Linux

Choosing the Interface

Summary

6. Using Your Desktop.

Logging In

Your First Login

Anatomy of a Desktop

KDE and GNOME Desktops

The Panel

Working on the Desktop

Configuring the Desktop

Changing the KDE Background

Changing the GNOME Background

Setting Fonts

Setting the Screen Saver

Organizing the Desktop

Changing the Panel Location and Size

Configuring Multiple Virtual Desktops

Logging Out

Summary

7. Using the Command Line.

Entering Commands

Entering a Single Command

Command-Line Syntax

Redirecting Input and Output

Running Commands in the Background

Editing the Command Line

Command-Line Help

Some Useful Commands

The sort Command

The grep Command

Configuring the Terminal Window

Summary

8. Linux Accounts.

Account Types

Groups

Account Information

Adding Accounts

Passwords

Group Information

Adding Groups

Forgotten Root Password

Summary

9. File Management.

File Organization

File Information

Examining Files from the Desktop

Examining Files from the Command Line

File Permissions

Changing Permissions

Managing Owners and Groups

File Types

Finding Files

Creating Directories, Files, and Links

Copying, Renaming, and Moving Files

Viewing and Editing Text Files

Deleting Files and Directories

Summary

10. Applications and Programs.

Programs

Linux Commands

Applications

Managing Application Software

Installing from the Distribution CDs

Installing from the Distribution Web Site

Finding Packages on the Internet

Installing Packages Using RPM

Installing Packages from Source Code

Summary

11. Word Processing.

Creating a Document

Menus and Toolbars

Formatting

Styles

Using Templates

Creating Templates

Editing Document Contents

Autocorrection

Spell Checking

Tables and Columns

Frames

Graphics in Documents

The Gallery

Document File Formats

Tracking Changes

Summary

12. Spreadsheets.

Creating a Spreadsheet

Menus and Toolbars

Formatting Cells

Formatting Pages

Editing the Spreadsheet Content

Formulas and Functions

Saving and Printing

Summary

13. Graphics.

Graphics File Formats

Viewing Graphics Files

Scanning Documents

Presentation Graphics

Digital Cameras

Screen Shots

Diagramming with Dia

Drawing with OpenOffice Draw

Creating and Opening Images in the GIMP

The GIMP Toolbox

Changing Image Size in GIMP

Removing Elements from an Image in GIMP

Adding Elements to an Image in the GIMP

Working with Layers in the GIMP

Summary

14. Printing.

Installing Your Printer on Fedora

Installing Your Printer on Other Distributions

Printing

Managing Print Jobs

Summary

15. The Internet.

Accessing the Internet

Hardware for Accessing the Internet

Checking Your Network Connections

Adding a Dial-Up Network Connection

Adding a Broadband Network Connection

Web Browsers

Browsing with Mozilla

Mozilla Menus and Toolbars

The Mozilla Sidebar

Tabbed Browsing in Mozilla

Controlling Pop-Ups with Mozilla

Downloads, Forms, Passwords, and Cookies

Plug-Ins

Summary

16. Multimedia.

Configuring Your Sound Card

Playing Audio CDs

Downloading Music

Xmms

Rhythmbox

Video Players

RealPlayer

MPlayer

Listening to Radio

Copying Music Files from CD to Hard Disk

Summary

17. Email, Messaging, and News.

Email Accounts

Email Software

Setting Up an Email Account

Configuring Mozilla Email

Reading Email in Mozilla

Sending Email in Mozilla

Mozilla Message Filters

Creating a Message Filter in Mozilla

Spam

Mozilla Address Book

Adding and Editing Address Cards

Instant Messaging

Signing Up for AIM

Signing Up for MSN Messenger

Signing On with Gaim

IM Conversations

Newsgroups

Summary

18. Editing Text Files.

Opening a File in Kate

Editing in Kate

Kate Features for Programmers

Opening a File in vi

Editing and Saving Files with vi

Moving Around a File in vi

vi Editing Commands

Sample vi Editing Session

Summary

19. Shell Scripts.

A Simple Shell Script

The Basics of Variables and Arrays

Reading Data into Variables

Special Characters and Quotes

Flow Control

Testing Conditions

If Statements

Case Statements

For Loops

While Loops and Until Loops

Infinite Loops

Scheduling Scripts to Run Automatically

A Sample Script

Summary

Appendix A: Regular Expressions.

Appendix B: Command Reference.

Index.

Features

The power and flexibility of the Linux desktop - for working professionals needing to get up to speed fast on Linux.

° From Janet Valade, best-selling PHP author and longtime Linux expert.

° Covers the three most popular versions of Linux: Fedora, SuSE, and Mandrake PLUS both the GNOME and KDE desktop suites

° Fast-paced: introductory tutorials give way to advanced topics such as the Linux command line and Linux shell scripts - all in the unique Spring Into one-page and two-page tutorial format.

Author

Janet Valade has 20 years experience in the computing ?eld. Her background includes experience as a technical writer for several companies, as a Web designer/programmer for an engineering ?rm, and as a systems analyst in a university environment where, for over 10 years, she supervised the installation and operation of computing resources, designed and developed a state-wide data archive, provided technical support to faculty and staff, wrote numerous technical papers and documentation, and designed and presented seminars and workshops on a variety of technology topics.

Janet currently has two published books—PHP & MySQL for Dummies, Second Edition, and PHP 5 for Dummies. In addition, she has authored chapters for several Linux and Web development books.

© Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.