Table of 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.

 

About the 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. A A(c) Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.