path: root/help/C/usage-mainwindow.sgml

    <chapter id="usage-mainwindow">

    <title>The Main Window: Evolution Basics</title>
      <para>
    
        Start <application>Evolution</application> by selecting
    <guimenuitem>Evolution</guimenuitem> from the
    <guisubmenu>Applications</guisubmenu> of the <guimenu>Main
    Panel Menu</guimenu>, or by typing
    <command>evolution</command> at the command-line.After
    <application>Evolution</application> starts up, you will see
    the <interface>main window</interface>, which looks a lot like
    in <xref linkend="usage-mainwindow-fig">. On the left of the
    <interface>main window</interface> are the <interface>shortcut
    bar</interface> and the <interface>tree-view</interface>.
    Just underneath the title bar is a series of menus in the
    <interface>menu bar</interface>, and below that, the
    <interface>tool bar</interface> with buttons for different
    functions. The largest part of the <interface>main
    window</interface> is taken up by a welcome message.  <!--
    para does not end here but after fig! -->

<!-- ==============Figure=================================== -->

<!--
Make sure that this figure meets its descriptions below: it should
show the shortcut bar, the tree view with some trees expanded, and so
forth.  Can these things be labelled with little arrows & stuff?
 -->

    <figure id="usage-mainwindow-fig">
    <title>Evolution Main Window and Inbox</title>
    <screenshot>
      <screeninfo>Evolution Main Window</screeninfo>
      <graphic fileref="fig/mainwindow-pic" format="png" srccredit="Aaron Weber">
        </graphic>
    </screenshot>
    </figure>
<!-- ==============End of Figure=================================== -->


        <note>
      <title>The Way Evolution Looks</title>
      <para>
        The appearance of both
        <application>Evolution</application> and
        <application>GNOME</application> is very easy to
        customize, so your screen might not look like this
        picture.  You might configure
        <application>Evolution</application> to start with a
        different view, or without the <interface>shortcut
        bar</interface> or <interface>tree view</interface>.
          </para>
    </note>
      </para>

      <sect1 id="usage-mainwindow-shortcutbar">
    <title>The Shortcut Bar</title>
    <para>
          The buttons in the <interface>shortcut bar</interface> give
          you quick access to the different functions that
          <application>Evolution</application> provides.
        </para>
    <para>
          The buttons in the <interface>shortcut bar</interface> are:
          <itemizedlist>
        <listitem>
          <para>
                <guibutton>Today</guibutton>, which will bring up a summary
                of any new messages you've recieved, along with the tasks and
                appointments you have lined up for today.
              </para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>
                <guibutton>Inbox</guibutton>, which will show you all
                of your email.  Your Inbox is also where you can
                access Evolution's tools to filter, sort, organize,
                and search your mail.
              </para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
           <para>
                  The <guibutton>Calendar</guibutton>, which can store
                  appointments for you.  Connected to a network, you
                  can use it to keep a group of people on schedule and
                  up to date.
               </para>
            </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>
                The <guibutton>Contacts</guibutton> tool holds your
                addresses, phone numbers, and contact information.
                Like calendar information, contact data can be
                synchronized with hand-held devices and shared over a
                network.  
              </para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para>
                 The <guibutton>Tasks</guibutton> tool combines a "to
                 do" list with reminders to help you keep track of
                 daily events.
              </para>
        </listitem>

        <listitem>
          <para> <guibutton>Notes</guibutton> is your catch-all
                notepad: write <glossterm>haiku</glossterm>, take down
                messages from phone conversations, or keep small
                things organized.
              </para>
        </listitem>
      </itemizedlist>


        </para>
    <para>
          If you prefer to use a keyboard shortcut, or <glossterm>hot
          key</glossterm>, you can use those instead.  They're
          shown... (INSERT DESCRIPTION) You can also set your own hot
          keys for functions that don't have any; this is covered in
          <xref linkend="config">.  If you're using the keyboard
          shortcuts you may also want to hide the <interface>shortcut
          bar</interface> by selecting <guimenuitem>Hide/Show Shortcut
          Bar</guimenuitem> from the <guimenu>MENU</guimenu> menu.
        </para>
     </sect1>

      <sect1 id="usage-mainwindow-treeview">
    <title>The Tree View</title>
    <para>
          The <interface>tree view</interface> is the most comprehensive way to
          get to your information: it can show you everything you've
          stored with <application>Evolution</application>
          appointments, address cards, emails, and so forth.
        
          The <interface>tree view</interface> display presents your
          data like a <glossterm>file tree</glossterm>&mdash; it
          starts small at the top, and branches downwards. There are a
          few folders you will always see, because they're at the top.
          On my computer, I have only one: <guilabel>Local</guilabel>.
          When I click on the plus sign next to the label, I see the
          contents:
          <itemizedlist>
             <listitem>
                <para>
                  <guilabel>Calendar</guilabel>, where you'll find the
                  appointments and event listings.
               </para>
             </listitem> 
             <listitem>
                <para>
                <guilabel>Contacts</guilabel>, where your address
                cards are stored.
               </para>
             </listitem>
             <listitem>
                <para>
              <guilabel>Directories</guilabel>, for directories, which
              have not been implemented yet.
               </para>
             </listitem>
             <listitem>
                <para>
                 <guilabel>Inbox</guilabel>, for your incoming mail.
                 This is where you will make the most subfolders.
               </para>
             </listitem>
            <listitem>
                <para>
                <guilabel>Outbox</guilabel>, where you can store
                copies of mail you have sent, or unsent drafts.
               </para>
             </listitem>
             <listitem>
                <para>
                <guilabel>Trash</guilabel>, where you can throw things away.
               </para>
             </listitem>
          </itemizedlist>

        </para>

    <para>
          Right-clicking will bring up a menu for just about anything
          in GNOME, and <application>Evolution</application> is no
          exception.  If you right-click on a folder, you'll have a
          menu with the following options:
      <itemizedlist>
        <listitem><para>Something</para></listitem>
        <listitem><para>Something</para></listitem>
        <listitem><para>Something</para></listitem>
      </itemizedlist>.
        </para>

    <tip>
         <title>Context-Sensitive Help</title>
      <para>
            You can almost always get help on an item by
        right-clicking it.  If you're not sure what something is,
        or don't know what you can do with it, right-clicking and
        choosing <guimenuitem>Help</guimenuitem> is a good way to
        find out.
          </para>
        </tip>
    
    <para>
          If a folder has other folders in it, there will be a plus
          sign next to it. Click on the plus sign, and the folder will
          open to let you see the other folders inside.  This may
          change in the future to something more attractive, like
          triangles that drop down as you click on them to display the
          rest of the tree.
        </para>

    <para>
          Any time new information arrives in a folder, that folder
          will be highlighted, or its label displayed as bold
          text. You can learn more about customizing
          <application>Evolution</application> alerts and appearance
          in <xref linkend="config">.
        </para>

    <para>
          Moving and deleting folders and other items works in one of
          two ways: using <glossterm>drag-and-drop</glossterm> or by
          right-clicking and selecting an item from the
          <interface>right-click menu</interface>.  You can drag the
          folders inside the tree view to change their order or put
          one folder inside another.  To delete a folder, drag it into
          the trash folder or right-click it and select
          <guimenuitem>Delete</guimenuitem> from the menu that pops
          up.  The same goes for individual messages, appointments,
          and address cards, whether they're in the <interface>tree
          view</interface> or not: drag them where you want them, and
          they will go there.  <!-- ****This paragraph could use some
          work**** -->
        </para>
    <para>
          You can also use the <guimenu>right-click menu</guimenu> to
          move, rename, and delete folders.
          <guimenuitem>Delete</guimenuitem> function from the
          <guimenu>right-click menu</guimenu>.
        </para>
    <para>
          Once you've familiarized yourself with the <interface>main
          window</interface> you can start doing things with it.
          We'll start with your email inbox: you've got a letter
          waiting for you already.
        </para>
      </sect1>
    </chapter>