Installing & Using Gnome-Do
GNOME Do (Do) is an intelligent launcher tool that makes performing common tasks on your computer simple and efficient. Do not only allows you to search for items in your desktop environment (e.g. applications, contacts, bookmarks, files, music), it also allows you to specify actions to perform on search results (e.g. run, open, email, chat, play). Want to send an email to mom? Simply type “email mom.” Want to listen to some music? Simply type “play beatles.” Do provides instantaneous, action-oriented desktop search results that adapt to reflect your habits and preferences. For example, if you use Firefox web browser often, typing “f” in Do will launch it. Or, if you visit The New York Times webpage often, Do will open it if you simply type “nyt.” Unlike other search tools that present search results as flat, homogeneous lists, Do provides familiar graphical depictions of search results that assure you that your intent is being realized correctly; searching for “mom” will show a picture of mom, and searching for “beatles” will show a Beatles album cover. Do has many more powerful and exciting capabilities that must be seen to be appreciated.
To Install (as root in all cases)
- On Ubuntu: sudo aptitude install gnome-do gnome-do-plugins
- On Gentoo: emerge gnome-do gnome-do-plugins
- On OpenSuse 11: GNOME Do is installed by default but it’s version 0.4 and new plugins aren’t compatible with this version. To install the newest version just click here.
- On OpenSuse 10.3: Just click here.
- On Fedora: yum install gnome-do
To Use
Start GNOME Do by selecting the GNOME Do entry in the Applications > Accessories menu, or by executing the command gnome-do.
Once the application is running, you can summon it by pressing Super + Space. On most keyboards the super key is the same as the Windows key or the Command key.
You should see a dialog with a search icon and two panes in the center of your screen. The pane on the left is the item pane, which shows the item you have selected, and the pane on the right is the action pane, which shows the action you wish to perform on the item.
To start GNOME Do without showing its window, use the –quiet option:
$ gnome-do –quiet or $ gnome-do -q
Launching Applications
Launch GNOME Do and begin typing the application name – for example Rhythmbox.
Press enter and the selected application will launch. Be aware that GNOME Do will start matching as you type, so you shouldn’t need to type the entire name.
File Management
GNOME Do can help open files for you as well. For example, start typing home. You should get an option to open the home folder in Nautilus by pressing enter. This will work for any folder in your home folder.
Open Websites
Just type it in. For example, www.tuxtraining.com
Email and IM
Type the name of the contact, then tab across and select the required Action.
Enjoy
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