This guide will explain you how to use XFCE desktop for daily usage. After our fourth KDE guide, now it is our fifth about XFCE. XFCE is an user friendly desktop with wide ability for customization. XFCE is . XFCE allows users to use the desktop just by clicking. XFCE is famous of being used as default desktop on Xubuntu. This guide will not explain any of XFCE technical or historical side. This article is written for those who never use Linux or XFCE before.
Anatomy
A default XFCE desktop consists of several parts.
- Menu.
- Applet (in this example, Desktop Switcher).
- Taskbar.
- System Tray.
- Date & Time.
- Desktop Shortcuts.
Concepts
For you Windows users or anyone never seen XFCE before, there are some concepts to help you understand XFCE before you use it.
- XFCE desktop has two main components, panel and applet. It is different with Windows
- XFCE desktop has different layout with Windows, while XFCE place its panel on top.
- XFCE has taskbar and tray on the menu panel, same with Windows.
- XFCE allows desktop shortcut like Windows or Mac OS X, different with GNOME.
- XFCE has some KDE concepts in one side, and some GNOME concepts in other side.
Create Shortcut
To create a desktop shortcut, similar with Windows and KDE, open menu > right-click on one app > Add to Desktop.
Alt+Tab
Multiple Desktop
Actually, XFCE default doesn't have workspace switcher yet. But you may add it yourself by adding a Switcher applet. In this example, I place my switcher on the left of menu. I have 4 desktops here (represented in 4 boxes above).
Work with Workspaces
System Tray
