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Replacing Panels with Docking Station (awn)

984 bytes added, 10:54, 14 November 2012
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… I will NOT be returning to panels… I like AWN that much!''
==Background==
I find '''Awn''' to allows me to work very efficiently on my computer system, and provides a very clean interface.
I no longer require a separate panel to show applications that are currently running, the docking station places an arrow below the icon to indicate the number of instances of that application. If I require to go to that instance, I just click on the icon and select that instance from a menu...
 ==General Tasks==
3. Remove all panels, so you are just using AWN.
==Installing AWN==
'''INSTALLING AWN'''
[[Image:awn7.png|thumb|200px|right ]]
 
For help in using the Synaptic Package Manager for AWN, refer to : [ [[Install Applications in Ubuntu]] ]
'''==CONFIGURING AWN'''== 
In order to run Awn make the following selections:
'''APPLICATIONS''' -> '''ACCESSORIES''' -> '''AWN Manager'''
 
The Preferences settings will appear. There are several settings categories, but we will start at Preferences.
[[Image:awn2.png|thumb|250px|right ]]
 
Here are the main Preferences:
Switch to the '''Task Manager ''' setting. Here you can click and drag applications from the panel into this area to add applications. The Firefox application has already been added.   Then, switch to the '''Applets''' setting. You can select an applet and then double-click to add an applet into awn. You can click and drag these added applets to change their order of appearance. If you wish to remove an applet, click on the applet you want to remove, and then press the up arrow key that appears above the added applets.'''NOTE:''' It is recommended to add the Cairo Main Menu applet into your list, so you have a menu to launch other applications, and you can logout, reboot, or shutdown your computer.   Then switch to the '''Themes''' setup, and select a theme.'''Warning:''' when you change a theme, it may change the Preferences settings, so you may have to reset them…  The '''Advanced''' settings allows you to change parameters such as height, or icon transparency.  
Switch to Once you have set up AWN, click on the Applets setting'''CLOSE''' button, and '''restart your computer'''. You can select an applet and then doubleshould see upon startup, that you now have AWN running (as well as the panels). In order to change the AWN settings, simply right-click to add somewhere on the awn area (but not directly on an applet into awn. You can click and drag these added applets to change their order of appearanceicon). If you wish to remove an appletlaunch more than one of the same applications, simply right-click on the applet you want to remove, icon and then press the up arrow key that appears above the added appletsselect '''“launch”'''.
NOTE: It is recommended to add the Cairo Main Menu applet into your list, so you have a menu to launch other applications, and you can logout, reboot, or shutdown your computer.
Switch to the Themes setup, and select a theme. Warning: when you change a theme, it may change the Preferences settings, so you may have to reset them…
The Advanced settings allows Now, that we have installed AWN and it runs upon startup, '''we no longer require panels'''. If you to change parameters such as heighthave secondary panels, or icon transparencyyou can easy remove them by right-clicking on the panel, and select remove. But you cannot perform this operation with the main panel.
Once you have set up AWN, click on the CLOSE button, and restart your computer. You should see upon startup, that you now have AWN running (as well as the panels). In order to change the AWN settings, simply right-click somewhere on the awn area (but not directly on an icon). If you wish to launch more than one of the same applications, simply right-click on the icon and select “launch”.
Now, that we have installed ===Replacing Gnome with AWN and it runs upon startup, we no longer require panels. If you have secondary panels, you can easy remove them by right-clicking on the panel, and select remove. But you cannot perform this operation with the main panel.===
In order to hide the panel, you must instruct your system to use awn instead of panels. You do this by issuing the following single-line command in a shell prompt (you do NOT have to be super-user, and this command should be issued for each user on the system)STEPS:
gconftool:*After installing Avant Window Manager, run the program (under '''Accessories''' section), '''right-2 –type string –set click on the docking panel''' to '''edit preferences''', and select '''Start AWN Automatically'''.:*Next, as super-user, edit the following file: '''sudo vi /usr/desktopshare/gnome/-session/required_componentssessions/gnome-fallback.session''':*Remove the occurrence of '''gnome-panel “awn”''':*Lock-out of your current session.:*Prior to logging into your session, '''select your default session as "Classic Gnome"''' (with or without effects):*You should you see your AWN docking station (not your gnome session). Enjoy!
'''NOTE: This other procedure is now considered obsolete!''' '''In order to hide the panel, you must instruct your system to use awn instead of panels.''' You do this by issuing the following single-line command in a shell prompt (you do NOT have to be super-user, and this command should be issued for each user on the system): '''<span style="font-family:courier;color:blue">gconftool-2 –type string –set /desktop/gnome/session/required_components/panel “awn”</span>''' This will take effect the next time you log-in or restart… If for some reason, you want to '''return to panels''', you can issue the following single-line command to restore your panels: '''<span style="font-family:courier;color:blue">gconftool-2 –type string –set /desktop/gnome/session/required_components/panel “gnome-panel”</span>'''
gconftool-2 –type string –set /desktop/gnome/session/required_components/panel “gnome-panel”
Regards of your preference, I encourage you to try to see if you like it. Must of my friends prefer using awn…
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