Spring Into Linux
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Understanding Open Source Software
- Open Source Software
- Open Source License
- Linux is Open Source Software
- What is GNU?
- Summary
Chapter 2: Choosing a Linux Distribution
- Distribution Contents
- Red Hat/Fedora
- Mandrake
- SuSE
- Other Distributions
- Live CDs
- Summary
Chapter 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
Chapter 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
- 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
Chapter 5: Interacting with Linux
- The Graphical User Interface on Linux
- GNOME
- KDE
- The Command Line Interface on Linux
- Choosing the Interface
- Summary
Chapter 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
Chapter 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
Chapter 8: Linux Accounts
- Account Types
- Groups
- Account Information
- Adding Accounts
- Passwords
- Group Information
- Adding Groups
- Forgotten Root Password
- Summary
Chapter 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
Chapter 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
Chapter 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
Chapter 12: Spreadsheets
- Creating a Spreadsheet
- Menus and Toolbars
- Formatting Cells
- Formatting Pages
- Editing the Spreadsheet Content
- Formulas and Functions
- Saving and Printing
- Summary
Chapter 13: Graphics
- Graphics File Formats
- Viewing GraphicsFiles
- Scanning Documents
- Presentation Graphics
- Digital Cameras
- Screen Shots
- Diagramming with Dia
- Drawing with OpenOffice Draw
- Creating and Opening Images in the GIMP
- Removing Elements from an Image in the GIMP
- Adding Elements to an Image in the GIMP
- Working with Layers in the GIMP
- Summary
Chapter 14: Printing
- Installing Your Printer on Fedora
- Installing Your Printer on Other Distributions
- Printing
- Managing Print Jobs
- Summary
Chapter 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
Chapter 16: Multimedia
- Configuring Your Soundcard
- Playing Audio CDs
- Downloading Music
- Xmms
- Rhythmbox
- Video Players
- RealPlayer
- MPlayer
- Listening to Radio
- Copying Music Files from CD to Hard Disk
- Summary
Chapter 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
Chapter 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
Chapter 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