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overview
Ubuntu MATE Is Linux!
Ubuntu
The MATE Desktop
Open Source

MATE's applications
File Browser (Caja)
Text Editor (Pluma)
MATE Calculator
Archive Manager (Engrampa)
Image Viewer (Eye Of MATE)
Document Viewer (Atril)
MATE Disk Usage Analyzer (Baobab)
MATE System Monitor
MATE Terminal
MATE Control Center

ubuntu MATE's applications
Ubuntu MATE Welcome
Productivity Applications
Document Management
Entertainment Applications
Games
Security
Accessibility
Installing Additional Applications

personalizing ubuntu MATE
Panel Layouts
Window Controls
Desktop Background
Themes
Panels
Desktop, Panel, And Menu Icons
Display Setting
Power Management
Screensaver

about the ubuntu MATE project
Objectives
Hardware Requirements
Downloading Ubuntu MATE
Installing Ubuntu MATE

support
The Ubuntu MATE Guide
The Ubuntu MATE Website
The Ubuntu MATE Community

keyboard shortcuts




UBUNTU MATE GUIDE

Larry Bushey

2022-04-21


OVERVIEW

Ubuntu MATE is an operating system -- the core software that runs your computer,
similar to Microsoft's Windows, Apple's macOS, and Google's Chrome OS. Ubuntu
MATE is a distribution (variation or flavor) of Linux designed for beginners,
average, and advanced computer users alike. It is a dependable, capable, and
modern computer system that rivals all others in popularity and usage.

If you are new to Ubuntu MATE, or only casually acquainted with Linux-based
distributions, it can take very little effort to understand how a Linux
operating system compares with other computer software you have used. You will
find that Ubuntu MATE is more similar than different. This documentation is
designed to help demystify Ubuntu MATE for new-comers and provide a reference
for all users. This guide has several sections, each of which has additional
detail. Click on any link to explore a topic that interests you. You can always
come back to this page or simply continue to explore and learn about Ubuntu MATE
and its applications.


MODERN AND FULL-FEATURED

Ubuntu MATE is a free, full-featured, and modern computer operating system, with
an attractive and easy to understand user interface. Its update manager keeps
both the operating system itself and all of its installed applications updated
to the most current, most secure release. The operating system is more secure
and better-supported than operating systems that come pre-installed on most home
computer hardware today. With modest hardware requirements, Ubuntu MATE is
suitable for modern workstations, laptops, single board computers and older
hardware alike. Ubuntu MATE makes modern computers fast and old computers
usable.


PRE-CONFIGURED YET FLEXIBLE

Using Ubuntu MATE provides you with the freedom to run a complete, full-featured
operating system, pre-configured with most, if not all, of the applications you
will need for your daily computing -- or to change anything about the way it
looks, the way it works, or the applications it runs to suit your taste.


BUILT-IN SECURITY

Ubuntu MATE is designed with security in mind. Unlike operating systems that
update only once a month, Ubuntu MATE receives updates continuously. The updates
include security patches for Ubuntu MATE and all of its components. Security
updates for all of its installed applications are also provided on the same
schedule. This ensures that you have the latest protection for all of your
computer's software as soon as it's available and for as long as you keep it up
to date!


UBUNTU MATE IS LINUX!

The awareness, popularity, and use of Linux has been increasing steadily. Once
you become aware that there is dependable, secure, capable, and modern software
to run your computer that rivals all others in popularity and actual use, you
will want to apply what you already know and try the Linux operating system. You
may already be using a member of the Unix/Linux family: Linux, Android,
ChromeOS, BSD, Azure Sphere, or even macOS. If so, you are likely looking for
new ways to optimize this technology for the way you work.

You may have been attracted to Linux because it is free and you can run it on
almost any computer hardware. You'll likely continue to use Ubuntu MATE Linux
because it is like your previous computer's software, only better. By "better"
you probably mean that it provides a modern but familiar user experience, it is
easy to understand and use, it's designed with security built-in and with
protection from viruses and spyware included. You want all of that included and
upgradeable at no additional charge. Of course you want it all to "just work"
with minimal or no maintenance -- automatic security updates and software
upgrades for both the operating system and all of your installed applications.
You don't mind paying for software, but you prefer the "try before you buy"
philosophy. Ubuntu MATE gives you all of that and more!

While it is great for users who have migrated from Windows, macOS, or ChromeOS,
Ubuntu MATE is also an excellent choice for any kind of computer user, from
casual home user to professional software developer. That's because of its
modern, functionally thought-out design. Ubuntu MATE is capable enough for even
the most experienced computer user because, well, it's Linux! It has the power
of every other Linux built-in. Simply put, it provides a practical alternative
to other software that can run on your computer.

With that in mind, this guide is written from the perspective that Ubuntu MATE
is a typical modern Linux for the average computer user. Let's assume that our
fictional "average user" is someone who needs to browse the Internet, check
email, use a text editor or word processor, and maybe read and store document
files. Let's also include viewing and editing photos, watching videos, and
listening to music and podcasts. As soon as it's installed, Ubuntu MATE provides
you with applications that enable all of those capabilities. Whether you are new
to Linux, upgrading from Windows, macOS, or ChromeOS to Linux, or just thinking
about moving to Linux, this documentation will provide you with practical
guidance on how you can use Ubuntu MATE and its applications to do your
day-to-day work. This is a guide for new users and a reference for all users of
Linux.


WHY USERS SWITCH FROM WINDOWS

In addition to common and well-founded concerns around security, we often
receive questions and comments from Windows users who have, over time, become
more and more dissatisfied with Microsoft's operating system. It seems that
after purchasing and installing a new version of Windows or, more likely, after
purchasing a new computer with the upgraded operating system pre-installed,
those users are finding that they have to repurchase newer versions of the same
software applications they already own, just to have them work with the upgraded
version of Windows. Switching to online, cloud-based software applications might
at first seem to be a practical alternative. But those applications are often
less capable and at least as expensive, especially after a year or more of
paying monthly subscription fees!

To add insult to injury, Windows users sometimes also have to pay for new
accessories like printers and document scanners to replace perfectly functioning
older models that require software that is no longer compatible with the
"upgraded" version of the operating system. They are disappointed that the
promise of a "free upgrade" from Windows 7 or 8 to Windows 10 has, in fact,
turned out to be anything but free. In fact, they tell me, it can be at least as
expensive as previous Windows upgrades have been.

And what about those security concerns? Today, Microsoft provides comprehensive
updates and malware protection built into Windows. Most computer manufacturers
who supply Windows with their hardware seem to feel that, to provide adequate
protection from infection, they must provide additional third-party anti-malware
and anti-virus software. Although it's admirable that automatic updates are
provided with the operating system, Windows users report that because of
Microsoft's implementation of their update system, they are frequently forced to
restart the computer right in the middle of their workflow! Sometimes there are
updates with multiple restarts and delays that cannot be stopped or postponed.
This can leave the computer unusable for a half-hour or more! That behavior
sends Windows users looking for alternatives that allow them to stay productive
all day long.


WHY USERS SWITCH FROM MACOS

Switching to Apple's macOS doesn't get you off of the treadmill of spending
increasing amounts of money for software and hardware upgrades. If anything, it
accelerates that treadmill. Apple's direction for product design seems to trend
toward ever-more expensive products that eliminate printer, monitor, keyboard,
mouse, and other accessory ports. They require expensive dongles and adapters
just to connect common accessories! They've also been sealing shut the
computer's case on newer models, eliminating the possibility of replacing or
upgrading on your own, simple things like RAM, hard drives, and broken parts.
Purchasing the latest hardware from Apple results in some previously functional
software suddenly becoming incompatible. This is not the first time Apple users
have experienced this kind of bumpy transition that makes them wait for older,
Mac-specific applications to be updated just so that they work again.

And what about those computer users who switched to the reportedly more secure
macOS to avoid their security concerns with Windows? Third-party protection is
also recommended for Apple's operating system and macOS also forces updates,
seemingly without warning, that can sometimes be neither stopped nor postponed.
Apple's forced reboots that cause periods of lost productivity are usually less
frequent than Microsoft's but when they do occur they require you to pause your
work for more than a few minutes while the updates are applied and the computer
restarts.


WHY USERS SWITCH FROM CHROMEOS

Google's ChromeOS has seen a surge in usage recently as computer users look for
an economical way to take classes online and work from home. As users acquire
inexpensive Chromebooks, many are finding that the device's performance is
sluggish as compared with more capable PC hardware. They also find that doing
everything within the Chrome browser and relying on performance-reducing browser
plug-ins doesn't meet their expectations. Sometimes you just need to run a
dedicated application on your computer's operating system to get things done!
Disappointingly, Google has discontinued support and security updates for the
oldest Chromebooks and they famously kill their apps, software, and hardware
offerings with little notice. As a result, users may wonder how soon they'll
lose access to the software and hardware they rely on for their daily computing
and need to switch to a fully-functional operating system.


UBUNTU MATE WORKS FOR YOU, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND

Often, neither Microsoft nor Apple will let you upgrade that
perfectly-functioning computer hardware you purchased a few years ago, even
though it has almost the same specs as the newest computers available today. You
are told it 'isn't capable' of running modern software. Insultingly, your
Windows computer that is supposedly incapable of running more modern software
keeps trying to force you to upgrade to the incompatible version! Perhaps out of
frustration you'd rather spend a little time to learn how to personalize Ubuntu
MATE than hunt down one more Windows hack or Apple workaround to prevent your
computer from doing things you don't want it to be doing. Maybe you just want to
use your computer to get things done without advertizing or interruption. Maybe
you believe your computer should be doing work for you, and not the other way
around. Ubuntu MATE is designed to make all of that a reality!


UBUNTU

Ubuntu MATE is created from Ubuntu , one of, if not the, largest deployed Linux
-based desktop operating systems in the world. Linux is at the heart of Ubuntu
and makes it possible to create secure, powerful and versatile operating
systems, such as Ubuntu and Android. Android is now in the hands of billions of
people around the world and it's also powered by Linux.

Ubuntu is developed by Canonical, Ltd. and is available in a number of different
flavors, each coming with its own desktop environment. Started as a
community-developed project, Ubuntu MATE takes the Ubuntu base operating system
and adds the MATE Desktop . Today, Ubuntu MATE is an official flavor of Ubuntu
Linux.

> Tip
> 
> The name " Ubuntu " is pronounced oǒ'boǒntoō . According to The Ubuntu Story ,
> "Ubuntu is an ancient African word meaning 'humanity to others'. It is often
> described as reminding us that 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. We
> bring the spirit of Ubuntu to the world of computers and software."


THE MATE DESKTOP

Wikipedia says that a Desktop Environment is:

> ...an implementation of the desktop metaphor made of a bundle of programs
> running on top of a computer operating system that share a common graphical
> user interface (GUI)... Desktop GUIs help the user to easily access and edit
> files...
> 
> — Wikipedia (24 Feb 2022)

The MATE Desktop is an example of such a desktop environment. It includes a file
manager which can connect you to your local and networked files, a text editor,
archive manager, image viewer, document viewer, system monitor, and terminal.
All of these are highly customizable and managed via a control center. You can
find complete documentation for the MATE Desktop Environment and its
applications in the MATE Desktop User Guide .

The MATE Desktop provides an intuitive and attractive desktop environment using
traditional metaphors like "window" and "desktop". That means, if you've ever
used Microsoft Windows or Apple macOS , the MATE Desktop will feel very
familiar.

The MATE Desktop has a rich history and is the continuation of the GNOME2
desktop, which was the default desktop environment on many Linux and Unix
operating systems for over a decade. This means that MATE Desktop is tried,
tested, and very reliable.

> Tip
> 
> The name " MATE " is pronounced Ma-Tay . It comes from the yerba maté plant,
> native to South America.


OPEN SOURCE

What Linux, Ubuntu, and MATE Desktop all have in common is they are Open Source.
Open source software is software that can be freely used, changed, and shared
(in modified or unmodified form) by anyone. In a nutshell, Ubuntu MATE is free,
in the truest sense of the word.

Although you will find some versions (distributions) of Linux for purchase, the
vast majority are provided free of charge, like Ubuntu MATE. Open Source
software is licensed in a way that allows anyone to give it away for free, no
strings attached. For example, the license gives any member of the user
community the freedom to use Linux for any purpose, to distribute, modify,
redistribute, or even sell the operating system. If you do modify and then
redistribute Linux with your modifications, you are required by the license to
submit your modifications for possible inclusion into future versions. There is
no guarantee that this will ever happen, but if you have made it better, then
your changes just might be included in the next release of Ubuntu MATE.

Unlike Windows and macOS, Linux is not created and supported by just one
company. It is supported by Intel, Redhat, Linaro, Samsung, IBM, SUSE, Texas
Instruments, Google, Canonical, Oracle, AMD, and Microsoft. Over 4,000
developers contributed to Linux over the last 15 years.

This is how we can continually improve and grow without having to charge our
users money. Many of the users of Linux are corporations that use the operating
system to run their businesses or include it in their products. Many of these
corporations provide fixes and new features for Linux as they use the software
for their businesses. In fact, Microsoft now offers Ubuntu on Windows. The
Windows subsystem for Linux provides an Ubuntu userspace for Windows developers.
The improvements provided by both individual users and organizations like
Microsoft are given back to the Linux distribution and the software improves as
a result.

Whether you are a home user of Ubuntu MATE, an Ubuntu MATE software or
application developer, or an employee of an organization that uses the operating
system, you are a member of the Linux and Open Source communities and benefit
from the efforts of the developers who contribute to Ubuntu MATE and its related
projects, Linux, MATE, and Ubuntu. Members of the community can and do run Linux
on almost any hardware, from the prettiest Macbook to the cheapest netbook, from
the newest Chromebook to some very old machines designed for Windows, and from
the most powerful Internet servers to the smallest smart thermostat.


MATE'S APPLICATIONS

The MATE Desktop provides you with essential features that you'd expect in a
computer desktop environment, including some basic applications and utilities,
all of which are highly customizable and managed by the Control Center:

 * Organize files and folders, both on your computer and online.
 * Create and edit text files.
 * A simple calculator with some advanced features.
 * Create, view, modify, or unpack zipped files or compressed archive files.
 * View single photos or image files, as well as large image collections.
 * View documents of various formats like Portable Document Format (PDF) files,
   PostScript files, and e-book (EPUB) files.
 * MATE's disk usage analyzer.
 * Display basic system information and monitor system processes, usage of
   system resources and file systems, and modify the behavior of your system.
 * Access a UNIX shell in the MATE environment and type commands at a command
   line prompt.
 * A single window from which to launch all of the MATE preference tools.


FILE BROWSER (CAJA)

The Caja application, found in the Ubuntu MATE menus at Menu > System Tools >
Caja , lets you organize and manage files and folders, both on your computer and
on a home network. In Ubuntu MATE many things are files, such as word processor
documents, spreadsheets, photos, movies, and music. Caja lets you manage them
all.

> Note
> 
> Your first Ubuntu MATE menu choice depends on which of the Panel Layouts you
> have selected.
> 
> If you chose the default Familiar (Ubuntu-MATE) Layout , the first menu item
> is Menu . It is also the first menu item for Contemporary Layout , Redmond
> Layout , and Pantheon Layout . Applications is the first item for the
> Traditional Layout . The Netbook Layout , Mutiny Layout , and Cupertino Layout
> have no label and simply display the Ubuntu MATE logo to represent the menu.

Using the file manager you can do the following:

 * Create documents and folders.
 * Display files and folders.
 * Search for and manage your files.
 * Run scripts and launch applications.
 * Open special locations on your computer.
 * Write data to a CD or DVD.
 * Install and remove fonts.

Like file managers in other operating systems (Apple calls their file manager
"the finder") Caja lets you organize your files into folders. Folders can
contain files and even other folders. Some people find that organizing files
into folders can help them locate their files more easily. Even your desktop is
a folder and Caja even lets you store files and folders on your desktop!



Ubuntu MATE allows more than one user to login to the same computer. Each user
has a personal Home folder that is labeled with the username chosen during
setup. In the illustration, the username and the name of the Home folder is
lebushey . The folder that is actually labeled home contains the personal Home
folders for all users setup on your computer. Normally, there is just one user
(you) and so the home folder contains only your own personal Home folder.

By default, your personal Home folder contains several folders (sub-folders) and
any files that you create. Viewed from the Caja file manager, Desktop is just
another folder in your personal Home folder that can, itself, contain folders
and files. When viewing the desktop showing your background wallpaper, Desktop
can display special icons that allow easy access to your personal Home folder,
Trash , and removable media such as CDs, USB flash drives, and (if your computer
is old enough) floppy disks. See how to enable these special desktop icons in
the section Create System Icons Using MATE Tweak .

The Caja file manager is always running while you are using the MATE desktop
environment. To open a new Caja window, double-click on an icon on the desktop
such as Home or Computer , or choose the application from the menu at Menu >
System Tools > Caja . With the Caja window open, you can open a second pane
within the window by pressing the F3 key on your keyboard. Press the F3 key
again to close the pane.

The file manager window is a file browser of sorts. Double-clicking the icon for
a file opens the file in the Caja software application that lets you view and/or
edit the document. Opening a folder by double-clicking on its icon updates the
current file manager window to show the contents of the opened folder. You can
also open a folder by right-clicking on that folder, then choosing between Open
(this is the same as simply double-clicking the folder), Open in a New Tab , or
Open in a New Window .

In addition to the folder contents, the browser window displays a toolbar with
common actions and locations, a location bar that shows the current location in
the hierarchy of folders, and a sidebar that can hold different kinds of
information.

> Tip
> 
> For more information about how you can use Caja and the various preferences
> that you can set, see the Caja manual (Desktop User Guide) by pressing F1
> while Caja is open.


TEXT EDITOR (PLUMA)

The Pluma text editor, found in the Ubuntu MATE menus at Menu > Accessories >
Pluma Text Editor , enables you to create and edit text files. The aim of Pluma
is to be a simple and easy to use text editor. You can enable more powerful
features with different plug-ins, allowing a variety of tasks related to
text-editing.



> Note
> 
> Your first Ubuntu MATE menu choice depends on which of the Panel Layouts you
> have selected.
> 
> If you chose the default Familiar (Ubuntu-MATE) Layout , the first menu item
> is Menu . It is also the first menu item for Contemporary Layout , Redmond
> Layout , and Pantheon Layout . Applications is the first item for the
> Traditional Layout . The Netbook Layout , Mutiny Layout , and Cupertino Layout
> have no label and simply display the Ubuntu MATE logo to represent the menu.

The Pluma window contains the elements listed in the sections below.

> Tip
> 
> For help topics on this application, see the Pluma manual by pressing F1 while
> Pluma is open.


MENU BAR

The menus on the menubar contain all of the commands you need to work with files
in Pluma . Note, if you have chosen a layout that uses the Global Menu, the
menubar items will be displayed in the Global Menu rather than within the Pluma
window.


TOOLBAR

The toolbar contains icon buttons that represent a subset of the commands that
you can access from the menubar.


DISPLAY AREA

The display area is where the text of the file you are editing is displayed.


STATUS BAR

The status bar is at the bottom of the window and displays information about how
you are using Pluma . The status bar display includes the following information:
Cursor position is the line number and column number where the cursor is
located. Edit mode is changed using the Insert key on your keyboard. If the
editor is in insert mode, the status bar contains the text "INS." If the editor
is in overwrite mode, the status bar contains the text "OVR."


SIDE PANE

By default, the side pane is not shown. To show it, choose View > Side Pane .
The side pane displays a list of open documents and other information depending
on which plugins are enabled.


BOTTOM PANE

The bottom pane is used by programming tools such as the Python Console plugin
to display output. By default, the bottom pane is not shown. To show it, choose
View > Bottom Pane . When you right-click in the Pluma window, a popup menu
appears containing the most common text editing commands. Like other MATE
applications, actions in Pluma can be performed with the menu, with the toolbar,
or with keyboard shortcuts. See the section • • • KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS • • • for a
list of common keyboard shortcuts.


CREATING A NEW DOCUMENT

To create a new document, choose File > New . Pluma displays a new blank
document in the display area.


OPEN A FILE

If you have the Caja file manager open and you can see your file, simply
double-click it, otherwise, to open a file, choose File > Open to display the
"Open File" dialog. Navigate to the folder that contains your file, then select
the file that you want to open and click Open . The file is displayed in the
Pluma window. You can open multiple files in Pluma . The application adds a tab
for each open file to the window above the display area.


SAVE A FILE

To save changes to a file you have opened and/or already saved, choose File >
Save . To save a new file or to save an existing file under a new filename,
choose File > Save As . Enter a name for your file and click Save . To save all
of the files that are currently open in Pluma , choose Documents > Save All . To
close all of the files that are currently open in Pluma , choose Documents >
Close All . If you have any open files with unsaved edits, you will be prompted
to save them before that file is closed.


MATE CALCULATOR

The MATE Calculator application can be found in the Ubuntu MATE menus at Menu >
Accessories > MATE Calculator . It is a calculator with ordinary
notation/reverse polish notation (RPN), a formula entry mode, different number
bases (DEC, HEX, OCT, BIN) and different units of angular measure (DEG, RAD,
GRAD). It supports quad-precision floating point and 112-bit binary arithmetic.

> Note
> 
> Your first Ubuntu MATE menu choice depends on which of the Panel Layouts you
> have selected.
> 
> If you chose the default Familiar (Ubuntu-MATE) Layout , the first menu item
> is Menu . It is also the first menu item for Contemporary Layout , Redmond
> Layout , and Pantheon Layout . Applications is the first item for the
> Traditional Layout . The Netbook Layout , Mutiny Layout , and Cupertino Layout
> have no label and simply display the Ubuntu MATE logo to represent the menu.

MATE Calculator has four modes: Basic, Advanced, Financial and Programming. The
Advanced mode is shown, below.



> Tip
> 
> For help topics on this application, see the MATE Calculator manual by
> pressing F1 while MATE Calculator is open. Topics include user interface,
> equations, number formats, conversions and financial calculations.


ARCHIVE MANAGER (ENGRAMPA)

You can use the Engrampa Archive Manager application, found in the Ubuntu MATE
menus at Menu > Accessories > Engrampa Archive Manager , to create, view,
modify, or unpack an archive. An archive is a file that acts as a container for
other files. Sometimes referred to generically as a "zipped file" or a
"compressed file," an archive can contain many files, folders, and subfolders,
usually in compressed form.

> Note
> 
> Your first Ubuntu MATE menu choice depends on which of the Panel Layouts you
> have selected.
> 
> If you chose the default Familiar (Ubuntu-MATE) Layout , the first menu item
> is Menu . It is also the first menu item for Contemporary Layout , Redmond
> Layout , and Pantheon Layout . Applications is the first item for the
> Traditional Layout . The Netbook Layout , Mutiny Layout , and Cupertino Layout
> have no label and simply display the Ubuntu MATE logo to represent the menu.

The most common archive format on UNIX and Linux systems is the tar archive
compressed with a file name ending in "tar.gz" or "tar.bz." The most common
archive format on Windows systems is the archive created with applications that
generate archives with a file name ending with the ".zip" extension. Archive
Manager supports all of these formats, and if you have the appropriate
command-line tools installed, it will support many more.

The Archive Manager window contains the elements listed in the sections below.

> Tip
> 
> For help topics on this application, see the Archive Manager manual by
> pressing F1 while Archive Manager is open.


MENU BAR

The menus on the menubar contain all of the commands you need to work with files
in Archive Manager . Note that if you have chosen a layout that uses the Global
Menu, the menubar items will be displayed in the Global Menu rather than within
the Archive Manager window.


TOOLBAR

The toolbar contains icon buttons that represent a subset of the commands that
you can access from the menubar.


USING ARCHIVE MANAGER

To create a new archive file, you can choose Open from the menu, click and drag
one or more files or folders from the Caja File Browser window into the Archive
Manager window, or right-click one or more files in Caja and select Compress
from the menu.

To expand a compressed file's contents, you start by opening the archive by
double-clicking it in the File Browser . Next, you can choose one or more files
in the Archive Manager window and either choose Extract from the menu or drag
them to the desktop or other location where you want the files to end up.


IMAGE VIEWER (EYE OF MATE)

The Eye of MATE Image Viewer application, found in the Ubuntu MATE menus at Menu
> Graphics > Eye of MATE Image Viewer , enables you to view single image files,
as well as large image collections.

> Note
> 
> Your first Ubuntu MATE menu choice depends on which of the Panel Layouts you
> have selected.
> 
> If you chose the default Familiar (Ubuntu-MATE) Layout , the first menu item
> is Menu . It is also the first menu item for Contemporary Layout , Redmond
> Layout , and Pantheon Layout . Applications is the first item for the
> Traditional Layout . The Netbook Layout , Mutiny Layout , and Cupertino Layout
> have no label and simply display the Ubuntu MATE logo to represent the menu.

The Image Viewer can open a wide variety of image file formats including
animated graphics (ANI), bitmaps (BMP, PNG, ICO, PCX, WBMP, XBM, XPM), vector
graphics (SVG), and other popular formats like JPEG, GIF, TIFF, and more. Files
can be saved in BMP, ICO, JPEG and PNG formats.

The Image Viewer window contains the elements listed in the sections below.

> Tip
> 
> For help topics on this application, see the Image Viewer manual by pressing
> F1 while Image Viewer is open.


MENU BAR

The menus on the menubar contain all of the commands you need to work with
images in Image Viewer . Note, if you have chosen a layout that uses the Global
Menu, the menubar will be displayed in the Global Menu rather than in the Image
Viewer window.


TOOLBAR

The toolbar contains icon buttons that represent a subset of the commands that
you can access from the menubar.


USING IMAGE VIEWER

Image Viewer has features to help you view your images. You can zoom in and out
or view the image full-screen. You can rotate and flip the image you are
viewing.

The collection view allows you to view and edit large image collections. In this
view, image operations can be applied to all selected images at once.

Image Viewer has special support for digital camera pictures and displays EXIF
metadata recorded with the image. All modifications made in JPEG images are
lossless. That is, saving rotated and flipped JPEG images will not recompress
the image. Besides this, all available metadata (like EXIF) will be preserved
and updated accordingly.




DOCUMENT VIEWER (ATRIL)

The Atril Document Viewer , found in the Ubuntu MATE menus at Menu > Office >
Atril Document Viewer , enables you to view documents of various formats like
Portable Document Format (PDF) files, PostScript files, and e-book (EPUB) files.

> Note
> 
> Your first Ubuntu MATE menu choice depends on which of the Panel Layouts you
> have selected.
> 
> If you chose the default Familiar (Ubuntu-MATE) Layout , the first menu item
> is Menu . It is also the first menu item for Contemporary Layout , Redmond
> Layout , and Pantheon Layout . Applications is the first item for the
> Traditional Layout . The Netbook Layout , Mutiny Layout , and Cupertino Layout
> have no label and simply display the Ubuntu MATE logo to represent the menu.

You can open the Atril Document Viewer from the menus, or more simply by
double-clicking on the file you want to open in the Caja file manager. To zoom
in and out, you can use the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl + + (the plus key) and Ctrl
+ - (the minus key). You can also hold the Ctrl key while scrolling the mouse
wheel, or you can use the on-screen button to select from some preset zoom
levels including Fit Width and Best Fit among others.



The Document Viewer window contains the elements listed in the sections below.

> Tip
> 
> For help topics on this application, see the Atril Document Viewer manual by
> pressing F1 while Document Viewer is open. Topics include printing, copying,
> and working with password-protected documents.


MENU BAR

The menus on the menubar contain all of the commands you need to work with
documents in Atril . Note, if you have chosen a layout that uses the Global
Menu, the menubar items will be displayed in the Global Menu rather than within
the Document Viewer window.


TOOLBAR

The toolbar contains icon buttons that let you navigate the document by page and
change the zoom factor.


LEFT NAVIGATION PANE

Depending on the type of file you are opening, the left pane of the Atril window
may show an index, bookmarks, an outline, or annotations. Clicking the header
lets you switch between them. You can navigate the document page by page, by
scrolling with your mouse, or by using the left pane to jump to a topic.


MATE DISK USAGE ANALYZER (BAOBAB)

The MATE Disk Usage Analyzer , found at Menu > System Tools > MATE Disk Usage
Analyzer , is a graphical tool for analyzing how your storage media is being
used. It can scan the entire file system on a disk or in a specific folder. It
provides a graphical treemap window for each selected disk or folder.

> Note
> 
> Your first Ubuntu MATE menu choice depends on which of the Panel Layouts you
> have selected.
> 
> If you chose the default Familiar (Ubuntu-MATE) Layout , the first menu item
> is Menu . It is also the first menu item for Contemporary Layout , Redmond
> Layout , and Pantheon Layout . Applications is the first item for the
> Traditional Layout . The Netbook Layout , Mutiny Layout , and Cupertino Layout
> have no label and simply display the Ubuntu MATE logo to represent the menu.



The Disk Usage Analyzer window contains the elements listed in the sections
below.

> Tip
> 
> For help topics on this application, see the MATE Disk Usage Analyzer manual
> by pressing F1 while Disk Usage Analyzer is open.


MENU BAR

The menus on the menubar contain all of the commands you need to work with the
disks and file system in MATE Disk Usage Analyzer . Note, if you have chosen a
layout that uses the Global Menu, the menubar items will be displayed in the
Global Menu rather than within the MATE Disk Usage Analyzer window.


TOOLBAR

The toolbar contains icon buttons that represent a subset of the commands that
you can access from the menubar.


MATE SYSTEM MONITOR

The MATE System Monitor , found in the Ubuntu MATE menus at Menu > System Tools
> MATE System Monitor , enables you to display basic system information and
monitor system processes, usage of system resources, and file system usage. You
can also use MATE System Monitor to modify the behavior of your system.

> Note
> 
> Your first Ubuntu MATE menu choice depends on which of the Panel Layouts you
> have selected.
> 
> If you chose the default Familiar (Ubuntu-MATE) Layout , the first menu item
> is Menu . It is also the first menu item for Contemporary Layout , Redmond
> Layout , and Pantheon Layout . Applications is the first item for the
> Traditional Layout . The Netbook Layout , Mutiny Layout , and Cupertino Layout
> have no label and simply display the Ubuntu MATE logo to represent the menu.



The System tab shows information about the computer's hardware and software, as
shown above. The Processes tab, shown below, shows information about active
processes (applications, utilities, etc.) and how they relate to each other. You
can stop, end, or kill a process or otherwise control active processes.



The Resources tab displays current CPU, memory, and network usage. File Systems
lists all mounted file systems and basic information about each.

> Tip
> 
> For help topics on this application, see the MATE System Monitor manual by
> pressing F1 while MATE System Monitor is open.


MATE TERMINAL

MATE Terminal is a terminal emulation application that can be found in the
Ubuntu MATE menus at Menu > System Tools > MATE Terminal . It provides access to
the powerful Linux command line and interprets and executes the commands that
you type at a command-line prompt.

> Note
> 
> Your first Ubuntu MATE menu choice depends on which of the Panel Layouts you
> have selected.
> 
> If you chose the default Familiar (Ubuntu-MATE) Layout , the first menu item
> is Menu . It is also the first menu item for Contemporary Layout , Redmond
> Layout , and Pantheon Layout . Applications is the first item for the
> Traditional Layout . The Netbook Layout , Mutiny Layout , and Cupertino Layout
> have no label and simply display the Ubuntu MATE logo to represent the menu.

You don't need to know how to use the command line to use today's modern Linux
distributions, but understanding the basics can help you simplify some tasks
with single-line commands, automate repetitive tasks with simple scripts, and
use additional features not available in graphical versions of applications.

Although the MATE Terminal can be used to launch graphical applications by
simply typing the name of the application and pressing the Enter key, you
normally use it to run applications that are not designed to be run as graphical
applications. These text-based applications, known as command-line programs, can
be used to create scripts and other programs, get and install additional
software from the software catalog, check the status of your computer's hardware
and installed software, and many, many other things. In fact, years before
graphical applications were made popular for computing, computer users checked
email, communicated with other computers, shared files, photos, and programs,
and even browsed early versions of the Internet from terminal applications very
similar to the MATE Terminal .


EXAMPLE: INSTALLING APPLICATIONS USING "APT" ON THE COMMAND LINE

As an example of how to use the command line, let's look at the apt application.
It is a powerful command-line tool which can be used to install new software
packages, upgrade existing software packages, update the package list index, and
even upgrade the entire Ubuntu MATE system.

> Note
> 
> For additional information about the apt application, type the following in a
> terminal window:
> 
> man apt

It's good practice to ensure that you have the latest changes made in the Ubuntu
software repositories before installing software. The apt command can be used to
update the index of available software packages that are on your computer. To do
this, type the following in the terminal window:

sudo apt update

> Note
> 
> When you use "sudo" you are telling Linux that you want to run the command as
> administrator, so for security purposes, you will be asked for your password
> the first time you use "sudo" in a terminal session.
> 
> Also, note that what you type in the terminal is case-sensitive. "Install" is
> not the same as "install." As far as the terminal is concerned, they are two
> entirely different words.

Installing software using the apt tool is quite simple, provided you know the
name of the application, and provided it is available in the software catalog.
For example, to install the audio recording and editing application Audacity ,
type the following into a terminal window at the command prompt:

sudo apt install audacity

To uninstall (remove) an application is just as easy. To remove the Audacity
application installed in the previous example, type the following:

sudo apt remove audacity

Adding the "--purge" option to "apt remove" will remove the package
configuration files as well. This may or may not do what you want, so use it
with caution. Here's how that looks using our same example:

sudo apt remove --purge audacity

Over time, updated versions of packages currently installed on your computer may
become available from the package repositories. To use the command line to
upgrade the applications on your system, first update the package index:

sudo apt update

When that command has finished running, type the following to complete the
upgrade:

sudo apt upgrade


EXAMPLE: INSTALL SNAP PACKAGES ON THE COMMAND LINE

In addition to installing applications from the Ubuntu catalog, you can use the
command line to install "snap" applications from the catalog of applications
provided by the snap store. Snaps are application packages for the Linux
desktop, cloud, and IoT that are easy to install, secure, cross-platform, and
self-contained. Since support for snap packages is included with Ubuntu MATE you
can install from the snap store with a simple command. The specific command
you'll need can be found within the application's listing in the snap store (
snapcraft.io/store). For example, to install the version of Audacity available
in the snap store, the command is:

sudo snap install audacity

Simple, right? Since snap support is built-in to Ubuntu MATE, snap applications
receive automatic updates just like everything else!

To remove the Audacity snap, run this command:

sudo snap remove audacity


EXAMPLE: INSTALL FLATHUB PACKAGES ON THE COMMAND LINE

Another source of applications is Flathub. This source allows you to use the
command line to install "flatpak" applications from the catalog of applications
provided by the flathub app center. Flatpaks are easy to install,
cross-platform, and self-contained applications for Linux distributions. Support
for flatpack packages can be enabled from the Software Boutique . Once flathub
support is enabled, you can install flatpaks from the app center with a simple
command. The specific command you'll need can be found within the application's
listing in the flathub app center ( flathub.org/apps ). For example, to install
the version of Audacity available in the app center, the command is:

sudo flatpak install flathub org.audacityteam.Audacity

To remove the Audacity flatpak, run this command:

sudo flatpak uninstall org.audacityteam.Audacity


DISPLAY YOUR SYSTEM INFO USING THE COMMAND LINE

Possibly the easiest command to use in the terminal to get a full listing of
your computer's configuration is the inxi command. To install inxi , use apt ,
as we learned in the previous section:

sudo apt install inxi

Once the application is installed, to display your system information with a
moderate amount of detail, as shown in the illustration below, simply type:

inxi -F

For a more verbose set of information, use

inxi -Frmxx

For just the very basic info, type simply

inxi



You can also type the "list hardware" command, lshw , at the command line
without any switches or options, but the text file it generates runs on forever
and is a little difficult to follow in the terminal. It needs to run as root
(administrator), so you'll need to type "sudo" in front of the command. The
command listed below runs lshw with the -html option to create an html file.
Open it in a browser and you have a nice "web page" with all of your hardware
specs.

sudo lshw -html>myhardware.html

When you run this command, it can detect and report on your touchscreen, if you
have one, attached USB storage drives, and even the micro-SD card on a mobile
phone if you have one charging on a USB port!

> Note
> 
> How to use terminal and command-line programs is a topic that has been
> explored in many books. One popular and excellent book on this topic is The
> Linux Command Line: A Complete Introduction by William E. Shotts Jr. Another
> source of information on using the terminal is the MATE Terminal manual
> contained within the MATE Desktop User Guide. It's provided with Ubuntu MATE.
> To go there directly, open the MATE Terminal application from the menu, then
> press the F1 key on your keyboard to open the manual.


MATE CONTROL CENTER

The Control Center provides you with a single window that houses all of the
major Ubuntu MATE preference tools. These tools let you tweak the way things
look and behave, manage software updates, and make adjustments to the printing
system, among other things.



Simply click the icon for the preference you want to adjust. Each of these
preferences is also available under the Menu > Preferences menu. The preference
items in the menu correspond to the items in the Control Center .

You'll also find many of the settings and selections you can make from within
the Ubuntu MATE Welcome application are also available in the Control Center .
The Control Center simply provides a central point from which you can adjust
almost any system-level setting for your Ubuntu MATE computer.

> Tip
> 
> For more help on this application, see the Configuring Your Desktop topic in
> the MATE Desktop User Guide .


UBUNTU MATE'S APPLICATIONS

While the MATE Desktop provides the essential user applications and tools to
control and use your computer, Ubuntu MATE adds a collection of additional
applications to turn your computer into a truly powerful workstation. These
additional applications include productivity and office applications,
applications for managing the documents you create, entertainment and games,
accessibility, and more. Naturally, you'll also find a firewall, a backup
application, a document/photo scanner, printer management, and designed-in
security, all included in Ubuntu MATE.

If that's not enough, Ubuntu MATE's Software Boutique and optional Software
Centers provide searchable access to additional software choices from Ubuntu's
repositories. The Ubuntu software repositories include thousands of applications
in hundreds of categories, suitable for just about any professional or
recreational pursuit, and the majority of them are free of charge.


UBUNTU MATE WELCOME

Developed by the Ubuntu MATE team, the Ubuntu MATE Welcome application is a
utility that helps you to get comfortable with your new operating system. It
guides you in a step-by-step fashion through post-install configuration such as
installing drivers and adding language support.



Welcome introduces new users to the operating system, highlights key features of
Ubuntu MATE, provides quick guidelines on getting started and displays the
computer system's specifications. Welcome also introduces users to the Ubuntu
MATE Community with links to the community forums, social networks, the Ubuntu
MATE store with branded products for sale, and details on donating to the
project. Welcome also includes access to the Software Boutique . It is exactly
the same Software Boutique available from the menus and is provided at startup
for convenience.


GETTING STARTED: UPDATES AND EXTRAS

One of the first things you will want to do after you install Ubuntu MATE for
the first time, or after upgrading to a new release is to click on the Getting
Started button in the Welcome application and choose the Updates & Extras topic.
This walks you through some common post-installation configuration tasks like
checking for updates, adding support for audio and video, and adding Blu-Ray and
DVD playback support. It's organized in a step-by-step wizard so you don't miss
anything -- and you can go back at any time to undo what you've done, or to find
something you skipped.



Don't be surprised when you are asked for your password. You are performing
updates and installing software. Ubuntu MATE is just keeping you safe. Clicking
the Next button in the upper right of the window takes you to the next topic,
Drivers .


GETTING STARTED: DRIVERS

Most drivers for Linux distributions like Ubuntu MATE are already provided as
part of the Linux kernel. The kernel is the foundational part of the operating
system that makes Linux Linux. While a wide range of hardware is compatible with
Ubuntu MATE as a result, your computer hardware may include components and
peripherals that require proprietary drivers to function properly. When you were
installing Ubuntu MATE, you were asked if you wanted to download and use
third-party software. If you ticked the checkbox to do that, clicking the
Additional Drivers button reveals which, if any, proprietary drivers have
already been installed and enabled for you. If you did not purchase your
computer with Linux pre-installed, you may find that clicking Install Firmware
Package is required to get some devices to work correctly.



The open source drivers for some proprietary devices, the ones provided in the
kernel, are sometimes reverse-engineered. What that means is that the
manufacturers of proprietary devices won't provide the specifications or the
details of their own drivers to open source developers because they want to keep
their "technology" secret. (Hence the term proprietary.) The developers of
reverse-engineered drivers provided in Ubuntu MATE have made their best effort
and have tested the functionality thoroughly, but sometimes there are features
that could not be reproduced and are not provided in these drivers.

Sometimes, though, manufacturers of proprietary devices will provide
Linux-compatible drivers that they develop themselves. They won't let us know
how their drivers work, so they never make it into the kernel, but where these
proprietary drivers are available, they sometimes perform better than the
reverse-engineered versions. With Ubuntu MATE, many of the proprietary drivers
that have been made available are provided in the Welcome application, or in
Software & Updates under the Additional Drivers tab. (It's available in the menu
at Menu > Administration > Software & Updates .) Usually, Ubuntu MATE
automatically makes the best choice of open source or proprietary drivers for
your hardware when it's installed, but you have the choice of which driver works
best for you.

If you find that Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or other hardware does not work, and the
Additional Drivers did not find alternative drivers, you may need to research
your device to find the appropriate driver. You'll find three methods of
discovering your computer's specs in the next section, Displaying Your System
Information .

If there is nothing there in Additional Drivers to improve the performance of
your hardware device, you may find something on the hardware manufacturer's
site. You may need to install proprietary manufacturer drivers using the command
line if you choose to use them. If you do, be careful to follow the installation
instructions carefully, and before you install, make a system backup and
understand how to uninstall just in case the proprietary drivers don't work. DO
NOT simply search for drivers using drivers.com or other third-party sites. When
you use third-party sources, there is no guarantee that you aren't getting
something that will inject malware or corrupt your system. If you are unsure, or
if you simply can't figure it out, you are better off asking about it in Ubuntu
MATE forums and looking for someone else that has some advice or experience. Or
you could just settle for the lower performance of the reverse-engineered
driver. Of course, if you happen to be an expert in a device that doesn't have
drivers in the kernel, the open source community would appreciate you sharing
your expertise to help develop high-performance open source drivers for
inclusion in the kernel.


GETTING STARTED: SETTING UP PRINTERS

Setting up a printer is often as simple as plugging in its USB cable, or
connecting it and your computer's Wi-Fi to your home wireless network. For more
on printing see Document Management . Click on Read more on printing in the
"Getting Started" window to discover Linux-compatible printers that can be
detected and setup automatically.


GETTING STARTED: ADDITIONAL UTILITIES

In Software Utilities for Peripherals , you will find applications that you can
install from the Ubuntu repositories to help with specific needs.



One useful example is Solaar , which is a utility for pairing and unpairing
Logitech Unifying Receivers with Logitech peripherals like mice and keyboards.
Click the Install button below the description of the software utility you want
to download and install.




GETTING STARTED: SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS

When you move to a new operating system, whether it's Windows, macOS or a Linux
OS that's new to you, it's sometimes difficult to find what you are looking for
-- at first. Take finding a list of your system hardware for example. In classic
Windows, if you wanted a graphical display of the specs for your computer, you
right-clicked on the My Computer desktop icon and selected Properties . With
Windows 10, you click the Windows logo in the taskbar, then select Settings >
System > About . Neither is likely to be very intuitive if you have only ever
used a Mac. On Apple's macOS, you select About This Mac from the Apple logo menu
to get a dialog box with selections to display at least some of your computer's
specifications. Linux, too, has graphical tools to display information about
your computer's hardware. Ubuntu MATE provides system specifications in the
Welcome application. From the menu, select Menu > Welcome > Getting Started >
System Specifications .



> Tip
> 
> This graphical method presents a nice browseable list of information, but with
> a terminal and a few commands, you can really dig under the hood of your
> Ubuntu MATE computer's hardware. You can also use the command line to reveal
> some additional information stored in text files on your hard drive. For a
> discussion about how to do this, see the topic Display Your System Info Using
> The Command Line .


PRODUCTIVITY APPLICATIONS

Many of the applications you would expect to find installed on a modern computer
are provided, pre-installed on Ubuntu MATE. If you don't find an installed
application to do what you want to do, you'll likely find it in the Software
Boutique or by using one of Ubuntu MATE's other software management
applications, then you can install it from there. See the topic Installing
Additional Applications for more information about installing software.

Unlike with Windows and macOS, Ubuntu MATE provides you with all of the
pre-installed applications at no charge. And the vast majority of the software
available in the software repositories is also free of charge. Here is a
sampling of some of the productivity applications you'll find as soon as you
start using Ubuntu MATE.


FIREFOX WEB BROWSER

Pre-installed with Ubuntu MATE, Firefox is a popular application on almost any
computing platform that delivers safe, easy web browsing. A familiar user
interface, enhanced security features including protection from online identity
theft, and integrated search let you get the most out of the web. Firefox also
provides features such as changing your home page, searching the web,
bookmarking a site, and using a private browsing mode. You can also synchronize
your Firefox bookmarks, history, passwords and more between your devices. Read
more about Firefox.


EVOLUTION MAIL AND CALENDAR

Web-based email programs that come from your Internet service provider (ISP) and
Internet mail systems like Yahoo Mail and Google's Gmail are convenient to use
because they allow you to read and send email from any device. The only thing
you need to run these is a web browser and an Internet connection. Many ISPs
provide email clients that you can use to read and respond to your email
off-line as well. Unfortunately, those off-line programs are usually
applications for Windows. Many ISPs also give you the option of using their
online email in conjunction with almost any computer-based email client that can
handle POP mail or IMAP mail. Evolution allows you to access your personal
information like your calendars, mail, address books and tasks in one place.

Evolution features integration with Exchange and Google servers, a newsgroup
client, LDAP support, web calendars and RSS reader.

If you use the automatic account configuration, setting up a new account with
Evolution is easy. The first time you run Evolution, it opens the First-Run
Assistant . It helps you set up email accounts and import data from other
applications. All you need to do is provide your username and password for your
email provider and your email address.

To learn more about how to use each of the features of Evolution , see the
Evolution Mail and Calendar Manual by pressing F1 while Evolution is open.


LIBREOFFICE OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY SUITE

LibreOffice is a full-featured office productivity suite that provides a near
drop-in replacement for Microsoft's office suite and is compatible with Google's
online office suite. Like many office suites, LibreOffice includes several
applications, but unlike other suites, it contains applications like Base and
Math , as a basic part of the suite. LibreOffice is also truly full-featured,
unlike the online versions of office productivity apps that provide only the
basic functions most people use. Basic capabilities are fine until you need to
use one of those "advanced" features. Then you'll be looking for something with
all the features. The Document Foundation (the organization behind LibreOffice)
maintains an excellent set of documentation online for LibreOffice at the
LibreOffice website.

 * LibreOffice Writer. Writer , the word processor. - Compare with Microsoft
   Word and Google Documents .

 * LibreOffice Calc. Calc , the spreadsheet application. - Compare with
   Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets .

 * LibreOffice Impress. Impress , the presentation engine. - Compare with
   Microsoft PowerPoint and Google Slides .

 * LibreOffice Draw. Draw , the drawing and flowcharting application. - Compare
   with Microsoft Visio and with inserting a drawing into a Google document.

 * LibreOffice Base. Base , the database and database frontend. - Compare with
   Microsoft Access .

 * LibreOffice Math. Math , for editing mathematics. - Compare with Microsoft
   Equation Editor and the Auto-Latex Google Docs add-on.


BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY

Ubuntu MATE provides the software you need to support Bluetooth connections to
headphones, mice, keyboards, or other computing devices.

In order to use a Bluetooth device like a mouse or a headset, you first need to
connect (pair) your computer and the device. Before you begin, make sure
Bluetooth is enabled. Some computers allow you to disable Bluetooth from
BIOS/UEFI. Check your BIOS settings to ensure that, if you have this setting,
Bluetooth is enabled. Some laptops have a function key or other button that
toggles Bluetooth and/or Wifi on and off. If your computer has this capability,
make sure that Bluetooth is enabled in that way as well.

 1. Click the Bluetooth icon in the upper panel and select Devices .
 2. Click Search in the panel just below the menus. Your computer will begin
    searching for devices.
 3. Right-click on the device you want to pair and select Connect . The pairing
    should happen automatically.
 4. In the notification area, click Confirm to accept the pairing request.

> Note
> 
> You need to finish your connection within about 20 seconds on most devices, or
> the connection will not be completed. If that happens, return to the device
> list and start again.


NOTIFICATIONS

The Notifications indicator displays text notifications, as well as
notifications supplying additional media, such as sounds or icons. offers a “do
not disturb” feature. When do not disturb is enabled, notifications will not be
displayed but will be captured in the notification center for review. By
selecting Indicators from the Look and Feel section of the Control Center , then
choosing Date and Time in the left pane of the window, it's also possible to
blacklist some notifications, so they are never stored by the notification
center.






DATE AND TIME SETTINGS

Beginning in release 21.04, Ubuntu MATE returns to a graphical method of setting
what appears in the clock indicator. The setting is in the Control Center .

 1. Open the Control Center .
 2. Open Indicators in the Look and Feel section. This opens Ayatana Indicators
    Settings .
 3. Select Date and Time in the left pane of the window and the settings for the
    clock appear in the right pane.
 4. Here you can turn on and off the Year, Month and Date, Day of the Week, and
    Number of Seconds on the indicator in the panel. You can also modify some
    setting for the menu that appears when you click on the time in the panel.




CAFFEINE

With a coffee cup for an icon, Caffeine is a status bar application which sits
in the panel near the clock and prevents the desktop from becoming idle. Simply
click on the icon and choose Activate to temporarily prevent the activation of
both the screensaver and the "sleep" power saving mode. Click the icon again and
choose Deactivate to go back to normal.

Caffeine is not installed out-of-the-box with Ubuntu MATE, but it is available
at no charge in the Software repositories. See: Software Centers for how to
enable a software center for access to the repositories.




DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT

Ubuntu MATE makes printing, scanning and saving documents almost easier than
creating them. All the software you are likely to need is pre-installed for most
popular printers and scanners, so setting up your hardware is easy, too.

> Note
> 
> Your first Ubuntu MATE menu choice depends on which of the Panel Layouts you
> have selected.
> 
> If you chose the default Familiar (Ubuntu-MATE) Layout , the first menu item
> is Menu . It is also the first menu item for Contemporary Layout , Redmond
> Layout , and Pantheon Layout . Applications is the first item for the
> Traditional Layout . The Netbook Layout , Mutiny Layout , and Cupertino Layout
> have no label and simply display the Ubuntu MATE logo to represent the menu.


PRINTING

Printing on Ubuntu MATE is simple and easy. The most popular printer drivers are
already provided in Ubuntu MATE's Linux kernel. In most cases you simply connect
your printer via its USB cable and Ubuntu MATE immediately configures it for
use. There is nothing to do but start printing.



If you need to configure a network (or wireless) printer manually, you can
follow these simple steps. Before you start, ensure that the printer is turned
on and connected to the same network as your computer.

 1. Open the Printers application at Menu Administration Printers .
 2. Click Add .
 3. Click on Network Printer to view the network printers automatically detected
    by Ubuntu MATE.
 4. Select the printer from the list and click Forward . Note that a driver has
    been automatically selected for you. If your printer driver is not
    automatically selected, you can select the manufacturer and the model from
    the database of drivers when prompted.
 5. On the next screen, you can accept the suggestions provided or you can name
    your printer, give it a long description and even name its location.
 6. Click Apply to complete the configuration.
 7. Print a test page to verify the setup and you are ready to begin using your
    network printer.

Read more about printing.


SCANNING

The Simple Scan application, found in the Ubuntu MATE menus at Menu > Graphics >
Simple Scan , provides a simple and easy way to scan your documents. Once your
scanner is connected via USB or over the network, configuration is usually
automatic.

Using Simple Scan is as easy as: load your document, press Simple Scan's Scan
button, then save the image. For more information about how to use Ubuntu MATE's
more advanced scanning capabilities, view the Simple Scan Manual by pressing F1
while Simple Scan is open.


PDF CREATION

Whether you are scanning a page, writing a book, or saving a web page, you
sometimes need to make a PDF file from a document. You don't need a special
application with Ubuntu MATE. PDF creation is built-in. Most applications
provide a menu selection to Save As PDF or Export to PDF . If the application
you use does not offer one of those options, Ubuntu MATE provides the ability to
print a document or file in PDF format. See the illustration.




ENTERTAINMENT APPLICATIONS

Ubuntu MATE comes pre-installed with three significant applications for managing
your entertainment and media files and subscriptions. If you need even more, the
Software Centers offer many, many options to choose from.

> Note
> 
> Your first Ubuntu MATE menu choice depends on which of the Panel Layouts you
> have selected.
> 
> If you chose the default Familiar (Ubuntu-MATE) Layout , the first menu item
> is Menu . It is also the first menu item for Contemporary Layout , Redmond
> Layout , and Pantheon Layout . Applications is the first item for the
> Traditional Layout . The Netbook Layout , Mutiny Layout , and Cupertino Layout
> have no label and simply display the Ubuntu MATE logo to represent the menu.


SHOTWELL DIGITAL PHOTO ORGANIZER

Shotwell , found in the Ubuntu MATE menus at Menu > Graphics > Shotwell , is a
digital photo organizer. It allows you to import photos from disk or camera,
organize them in various ways, view them in full-window or full-screen mode, and
export them to share with others. It is able to manage photos in many different
image formats, also including raw CR2 files.

When you first launch Shotwell , it scans your computer for photos and imports
them so that you can use Shotwell to organize them. Once you have all the photos
from your computer's hard drive within Shotwell , you can import new files by
choosing File > Import From Folder from the menus, or by dragging and dropping
them onto the Shotwell window, or by connecting a camera to your computer and
choosing to import the photos from there.

With Shotwell , you have several features to help you organize your photos. You
can group photos that were taken at the same time into events, then rename,
merge and sort events. Flag photos to mark them as special, or to work with them
as a set. You can also search for, rate, tag, and title your photos. Shotwell
also provides the ability to edit the photos themselves. You can change the date
and time of photos where they are incorrect, crop photos, remove red-eye,
auto-enhance to improve brightness and contrast, rotate or flip a photo, and
even straighten photos taken at an angle.

Of course, you can share your photos from Shotwell by exporting or printing
them. You can also publish them to Facebook or other online sites, send them via
email or instant messaging, or simply display them as a slideshow.

To learn more about how to use each of the features of Shotwell , see the
Shotwell Photo Manager Manual by pressing F1 while Shotwell is open.


CELLULOID MEDIA PLAYER

Celluloid , found in the Ubuntu MATE menus at Menu > Sound & Video > Celluloid
is a simple media player that aims to be easy to use while maintaining high
level of configurability. Playlist entries can be added, removed, or rearranged
easily with drag and drop operations.

For additional information about Celluloid and how to use it, see the Celluloid
(formerly GNOME MPV) README.




RHYTHMBOX MUSIC AND PODCAST MANAGER

Rhythmbox , found in the Ubuntu MATE menus at Menu > Sound & Video > Rhythmbox ,
is a very easy to use music playing and management program which supports a wide
range of audio formats (including MP3 and ogg). Originally inspired by Apple's
iTunes , Rhythmbox is much easier to understand and use, and it supports
Internet Radio, iPod integration and generic portable audio player support,
audio CD burning, audio CD playback, music sharing, and podcasts.

Subscribe to a podcast with Rhythmbox

 1. Click Podcasts in the Rhythmbox's left panel.
 2. Click the Add button in the button bar. The search panel opens.
 3. Type a search term or you can type or paste the link for the podcast feed
    into the search field.
    
    

 4. Click Search . Podcasts matching your search appear in a list below the
    search.
 5. Select the podcast you want from the list and click Subscribe . The episodes
    are added to the playlist and Rhythmbox immediately begins downloading the
    latest episode into a folder named for the podcast within your Music folder.
    Rhythmbox checks periodically for new episodes of each podcast and downloads
    them for you.
 6. Click Close to hide the search panel.

To play an episode, select one from the list and press the ▶ (Play) button. You
may wish to click on the header of the Date field to sort the episodes so that
the latest episode is at the top of the list. As long as you have an Internet
connection, you can play any of the older episodes without downloading them.
Right-click any episode in the list to see an option to download that episode.

For more information on how to use the playlist and other features of Rhythmbox,
see the Rhythmbox Music Player Manual by pressing F1 while Rhythmbox is open.


GAMES

In the last few years, Linux has become a first-class gaming platform thanks to
Valve bringing the Steam platform to Linux. At the time of writing, Steam has
more than 2000 high-quality indie and AAA titles available for Linux. Ubuntu
MATE is fully compatible with Steam for Linux.

While Steam is a major step forward for gaming on Linux, there are also many
high quality and enjoyable Open Source games titles available for Ubuntu MATE
via the Ubuntu Software Centre . It doesn't matter if you like flight
simulators, motor racing, first-person shooters, jump and run or card games,
you'll find something to keep you entertained.




SECURITY

Ubuntu MATE, and other distributions of the Linux operating system are more
secure, and better supported than the operating systems pre-installed on most
home computer hardware today. Linux is backed by many large corporations, as
well as independent developers and users, many of whom are focused on ensuring
and improving the security that is built into the operating system. The built-in
updater provided with Ubuntu MATE provides security updates for both its
software applications and the operating system. Vulnerabilities are patched more
quickly and are delivered automatically and more frequently than the two most
popular desktop operating systems.

Unlike operating systems that update only once a month, Ubuntu MATE receives
updates continuously. The updates include security patches for Ubuntu MATE and
its installed applications and are all provided on the same frequent schedule.
This ensures that you have the latest protection for all of your computer's
software -- as soon as it's available!

Ubuntu MATE is designed to make it difficult for viruses, rootkits, and other
malware to be installed and run without conscious intervention by you, the user.
Ubuntu MATE users are not administrators by default. Administrators ("root"
users) on any computer system have permission to do anything they want,
including doing damage to the system. To be extra secure, Ubuntu MATE requires
you to provide your administrator password to install or run programs as root.
Every single time.


BASIC LINUX SECURITY GUIDELINES

Canonical lists just over 30 Linux viruses and worms in its published malware
list. In contrast, there are about 140,000 viruses for Windows, so...

 * If you dual-boot with Windows, run Windows in a VM, use WINE or simply share
   files with Windows-using friends, scan the files for viruses.
 * Enable the Ubuntu MATE software firewall, if it isn't already. (See below.)
 * Keep your system updated. Updates are automatic on most Linux distributions.
   Let them run as soon as they are available.
 * Use strong passwords. On everything. And use a secure password manager to
   store them.
 * Make backups regularly.
 * Install software only from trusted sources, like Ubuntu MATE's Software
   Boutique or software repositories.
 * Use security-related plugins for your Internet browser that protect your
   data, credentials, and privacy.
 * Use your common sense. The biggest security threat is generally found between
   keyboard and chair.


BACKUPS (DÉJÀ DUP)

Ubuntu MATE comes pre-installed with a backup utility called Déjà Dup . The
application is found in the Control Center at Menu > Control Center > Backups .
Reinstalling an operating system again after something goes horribly wrong is
annoying at best, but losing your photographs, emails, and personal documents
can be a devastating loss of priceless, irreplaceable valuables. Backing up the
information on your hard drive on a regular basis is critical for anyone who
uses a computer routinely. You have spent hours on end producing the information
that is on your hard drive. You should routinely back up at least your new data
files on a weekly basis. "Data" files include databases, documents,
spreadsheets, etc. Anything YOU created, imported, or downloaded onto your hard
drive is a data file.

If you are prepared to restore from a backup, then you are far more secure. It
is important to make backups right before performing certain risky operations
like upgrading to a new operating system version, moving a large number of files
around, deleting files and folders, etc. Déjà Dup even lets you automate your
backups for added convenience and safety.

In the event that your computer has a digital disaster, or you are concerned
that it has an infection, your backups will ensure that you can restore Ubuntu
MATE to a known previously good state. For additional help on using this
application, see the Déjà Dup manual by pressing F1 while Déjà Dup is open.




HOW DO I KNOW WHAT & WHERE TO BACKUP?

Your computer may be able to save data onto CDs, DVDs, Zip Drives, Jaz Drives or
even floppy disks! That's fine for a file or two, but today your best option for
practical backups is to use online storage or an external hard drive.

On a typical recordable CD, you can store up to 700 megabytes (MB) of
information while DVDs can store up to 8.4 gigabytes (GB). Blu-ray discs are a
more recent type of optical media. They can hold up to 50GB of data. With the
size of files these days, you might get one or two video files on a DVD. If you
have a file that is larger than 700MB, like a moderate LibreOffice Impress
presentation file, or a Writer document with graphics, an ordinary CD has no
hope of holding even one whole file.

When backing-up data files, it is not always necessary to backup every file you
have on your hard drive, although it's a good idea to do so monthly. On your
Ubuntu MATE computer, few files, if any, outside of your "home" folder need to
be backed-up at all. If a disaster were to happen, and you lost your computer or
your hard drive, you could simply reinstall the Ubuntu MATE operating system and
your applications in well under an hour, then restore the backed-up contents of
your "home" folder. Your "home" folder contains the information that you have
created yourself, including your mail file, and the settings and preferences for
most of your applications.



Large external hard drives have become so inexpensive that it is wise to include
an external hard drive in your budget when you are buying a new computer. Ubuntu
MATE's Caja file manager is shown in the illustration above, copying the "home"
folder to an external storage device.

Instead of being stored on your computer's hard drive, the files you copy to an
external or networked drive are stored safely off of your computer. That way, if
something happens to your computer's internal hard drive, or if you have your
laptop stolen, all your files are safely stored on an external device.

An alternative to a physical drive is an online (off-site) storage service like
Dropbox , Box , Google Drive , or SpiderOak . The advantage to this kind of
backup is that your files are stored on the Internet. Even if the worst were to
happen, and you lost everything to a fire or flood, your backups would be safe.
And if you copy your files to online storage, you will also likely be able to
access them from another computer, a tablet or smartphone!


BACKING UP YOUR COMPUTER IS CHEAP DISASTER RECOVERY INSURANCE

One way to backup inexpensively is to get a large USB external hard drive and
copy everything in your "home" folder to it on a regular basis. And perhaps the
easiest way to ensure that you make your backups regularly is to automate the
process using the backup software that comes pre-installed with Ubuntu MATE.



At least monthly, you should make a complete backup of everything important on
your hard drive either by using backup software or by simply copying to a second
hard drive or a network drive. Linux applications such as the pre-installed
Ubuntu MATE Backup ( Déjà Dup ) application can automate these backups for you.
You do this so that if your computer or hard drive were to be stolen, destroyed
or damaged beyond repair, you would have a "disaster recovery" copy. From a
"disaster recovery" copy, you could restore your entire "home" folder to the
condition it was in, at the time of your last backup. If you do such a complete
backup monthly, the worst case would be that you would have to restore less than
a month's worth of additional data from your incremental data backups.
(Incremental backups contain only what has changed since your last full backup.)


HOW OFTEN SHOULD I BACKUP?

In reality, how often you should backup depends on several factors. In general,
the more you use your computer or the more critical the work you are doing, the
more often you should backup.

As a general guideline, you should use the external drive and/or your online
storage to make a complete backup of your entire hard drive every month. So that
you don't forget, automate the process using the backup software pre-installed
with Ubuntu MATE. You can even set up the Backup application so that it copies
only new files, and updates new versions of files on your computer to the backup
device, never deleting anything from the copy. What a lifesaver that can be!

Use an online service or external hard drive to make a monthly full backup. In
addition, each week you should back up your critical data files in an
incremental backup onto your external storage, or to your online storage.
Incremental backups can be automated, too.

Don't wait. Setup a scheduled backup right now -- or you will wish you had!


SOFTWARE UPDATER

The Software Updater available from the Ubuntu MATE Welcome app or from the
menus at Menu > Administration > Software Updater is the update manager for your
system. Ubuntu MATE periodically checks to see if new software and security
updates are available for your computer. The updates are for Ubuntu MATE, all of
its components, and all of your installed applications. This ensures that you
have the latest updates and protection for all of your computer's software as
soon as it's available, not just once a month like other operating systems.



After you launch the Software Updater from the menus, if updates are available,
the application lists the updates and asks if you want to install them now.
Click Install Now to begin the download. The dialog shown below appears while
the update is in progress and another appears once the update is complete.



> Note
> 
> If Ubuntu MATE cannot install all of the updates and upgrades at once, you
> will see an option to perform a Partial upgrade . You should normally choose
> that option, restart if required, then check for additional updates using the
> Software Updater .

You have control over when and how software updates occur. Use the Settings
button on the Software Updater screen, or from the menus, choose Menu >
Administration > Software & Updates , then select the Updates tab.



These are your options for controlling updates to Ubuntu MATE and its
applications:

 * You can choose from options to install "Important," "Recommended,"
   "Unsupported" or any combination of these updates.
 * You can have the updater automatically check for updates every day, every two
   days, every week, every two weeks, or turn off automatic checking altogether.
 * You can have the updater automatically download and install security updates,
   download but not install them or simply display the updates so you can choose
   whether to download and install.
 * For other updates (other than security updates) you can choose to display
   available updates as soon as they are available, weekly, or every two weeks.
 * You can also choose to be notified whenever there is a new release of Ubuntu
   MATE, only when there is a Long-Term-Support (LTS) release, or never.


FIREWALL

Ubuntu MATE's Firewall Configuration utility (Gufw), found in the Control Center
at Menu > Control Center > Firewall Configuration , provides an uncomplicated
way to manage your firewall settings. The firewall is not enabled by default in
Ubuntu MATE because by default, Ubuntu MATE does not open ports to the outside
world. If you do choose to enable the firewall, and if you are a normal user,
you will be safe with these settings:

 * Status=On
 * Incoming=Deny
 * Outgoing=Allow

No need to set the firewall to autostart. After you change the settings they
will remain in place until you change them again.




ACCESSIBILITY

Accessibility, also referenced as "Assistive Technology" or "Universal Access,"
is a key priority for Ubuntu MATE. When computer access is shared within a
household or business and where individual needs differ, Ubuntu MATE is an
excellent solution.

Preference settings for basic accessibility setting are found in the Control
Center at Menu > Control Center > Assistive Technology . From there you can
check the box to enable assistive applications, change which visual and mobility
applications are used by default, and even change whether they are started when
your computer starts up. You can also modify your keyboard (sticky keys, slow
keys, bounce keys) and mouse (locate pointer, acceleration, sensitivity, drag &
drop, double-click timeout) accessibility settings from here. You can even
enable an on-screen keyboard if you need it.



Ubuntu MATE has many keyboard shortcuts that, by pressing a combination of keys,
help you do things that normally require a mouse, trackpad, or another input
device that might also require sight or muscular range of motion not possible
for some computer users requiring accessibility. For some of these keyboard
shortcuts, Ubuntu MATE makes use of a special meta key, the "Super" key,
available on most computer keyboards. The Super key can be used to activate the
menus/launchers and many keyboard shortcuts that include the Super key. Note
that on computer keyboards designed for use with the Windows operating system,
the Super key is labeled with the "Windows" logo. On keyboards designed for use
with Apple's operating system, the Super key is labeled as the "Command" key. On
computers designed for Linux, the Super key may be labeled with the Tux penguin
logo (the Linux mascot), the Ubuntu logo, or perhaps even a blank square. For
additional information about keyboard shortcuts and enabling the Super key on
some computer hardware, see the section: • • • KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS • • • .


ENABLING ACCESSIBILITY AT STARTUP

When Ubuntu MATE is first installed as your computer's operating system, it is
pre-configured so that both Orca , the screen reader, and Onboard , the
on-screen keyboard, are already installed and running in the background. All you
need to do to use them is press the keyboard shortcut detailed in each section
below to turn the feature on. You use the same shortcut to turn each application
off again.

If you want to use these features at the login screen, before Ubuntu MATE even
starts, the accessibility icon in the upper right of the screen lets you toggle
on and off Orca and Onboard . You can also use Orca 's keyboard shortcut Alt +
Super + S to enable the screen reader to assist in the login process.


ORCA SCREEN READER

The Orca screen reader is a free, open source, flexible, and extensible screen
reader that provides you with access to the graphical desktop via
user-customizable combinations of speech and/or braille. It is pre-installed in
Ubuntu MATE for blind and low vision users. At the login screen, and after
Ubuntu MATE starts, you toggle the screen reader off and on by pressing Alt +
Super + S .

With some other Linux distributions, getting Orca to work can be tricky. With
Ubuntu MATE all the setup is done for you. It also works nicely with pretty much
all of the pre-installed software, including the LibreOffice office suite and
the Firefox browser.

For complete information about using and configuring the Orca screen reader,
refer to the website https://help.gnome.org/users/orca/stable/ .

The Orca documentation on the website occasionally refers to the "Orca Modifier"
key. The key that Orca uses by default as the "Orca Modifier" depends on whether
you are using Orca 's "Laptop" keyboard layout or its "Desktop" keyboard layout.

> Tip
> 
> If you are using Orca 's "Laptop" layout, the default Orca Modifier will be
> CapsLock .
> 
> If you are using Orca 's "Desktop" layout, for the Orca Modifier you can use
> either the normal Insert key or the KeyPad+ Insert . On US keyboards, KeyPad+
> Insert is the same key as the 0 (zero) on the numeric keypad.

You can use the "Orca Modifier" key to get to Orca 's help. Press Orca Modifier
+ H to enter "learn mode".

> Tip
> 
> To view Orca 's documentation, press F1 .
> 
> To hear a list of Orca 's shortcuts, press F2 .
> 
> To hear a list of Orca 's shortcuts for the current application, press F3 .

To learn more about how to use Orca to read documents and websites, see the web
page: https://help.gnome.org/users/orca/stable/#reading.

You may find that the screen reader speaks too slowly or too quickly for you.
You can adjust the rate at which Orca speaks, and make other adjustments as
well, in Orca Preferences. To get to the Orca Preferences screens, press Orca
Modifier + Spacebar . If you find yourself needing to adjust the speed
frequently, you might want to bind (map) the "increase the rate" and "decrease
the rate" commands to specific keys. That way you can more easily make these
adjustments. To review (and setup) the keyboard shortcuts and commands that Orca
uses, you will want to refer to the documentation on key bindings on this web
page: https://help.gnome.org/users/orca/stable/howto_key_bindings.html.en .

This is just a small sampling of the documentation that is available to you on
the Orca site. Browse around. Discover what this powerful tool can do!


ONBOARD ON-SCREEN KEYBOARD

Onboard is the name of Ubuntu MATE's on-screen keyboard. Onboard is
pre-installed in Ubuntu MATE and is available at the press of a few keys for
anyone requiring the use of an on-screen keyboard in place of a traditional
hardware keyboard. In addition to supporting mobility-impaired users, Onboard
provides support for tablet and touch-screen computers. To turn Onboard off or
on again from the hardware keyboard, press Alt + Super + K .

You can also enable Onboard so that it is available on-screen right at startup:

 1. Open the Assistive Technologies Preference tool, found at Menu Control
    Center Assistive Technology .
 2. Check the box labeled Enable assistive technologies .
 3. Click the Preferred Applications button.
 4. Select the Accessibility tab.
 5. Under Mobility select Onboard .
 6. Check the box labeled Run at start and click Close .



Additional settings and preferences for Onboard are listed in the Control Panel
in the Personal section as Onboard Settings .


SCREEN MAGNIFIER

If you are a low vision computer user and you require screen magnification,
Magnus is a very simple desktop magnifier, showing the area around the mouse
pointer in a separate window. You can select the level of magnification that
works for you between two, three, four, and five times. The screen magnifier is
also useful for accurate graphical design or detail work. To turn on or off the
screen magnifier, press Alt + Super + M .




MOBILITY FEATURES

The Control Panel provides preferences for Mouse and Keyboard that each offer
settings that will be of interest to users with mobility impairments.

Mouse Preferences provide the ability to adjust the Pointer Speed sliders until
the pointer motion is comfortable for you. A tab is provided for mouse and
touchpad with sliders for each device. You can set different pointer speed for
each type of device. For example, you can have one scroll speed for a laptop
touchpad and another for a mouse. Sometimes the most comfortable settings for
one type of device are not the best for another.



> Note
> 
> The Touchpad section only appears if your system has a touchpad, while the
> Mouse section is only visible when a mouse is plugged in.

The Keyboard Preferences provides several tabs that have settings allowing you
to adjust the following:

 * Keyboard navigation — Use applications and the desktop without a mouse.
 * Turn on bounce keys — Ignore quickly-repeated key presses of the same key.
 * Turn on slow keys — Have a delay between a key being pressed and that letter
   appearing on the screen.
 * Turn on sticky keys — Type keyboard shortcuts one key at a time rather than
   having to hold down all of the keys at once.




INSTALLING ADDITIONAL APPLICATIONS

Almost every software package that is available and tested for Ubuntu MATE is
available in the online software repositories (software catalog). The concept of
software repositories is likely not all that familiar to long-time users
switching from Windows since classic Windows users normally had to go to a brick
and mortar store or go online to purchase new software for the Microsoft
operating system. For macOS users, however, the concept of the Apple App Store
is similar in concept to the software repositories. Both contain trusted
applications verified to run on their respective operating systems. Unlike most
software in the App Store, the vast majority of Linux applications are neither
proprietary nor expensive.

The software repositories for Ubuntu MATE are managed, maintained and updated by
the distribution's maintainers and are variably referred to as "the software
catalog," "the software library," "the software center," "software sources," or
simply "software repositories." These repositories contain almost ALL of the
full-featured, free and open source software that has been tested for
installation on Ubuntu MATE and other Ubuntu derivatives. And they won't put
spyware and viruses on your computer!

To install software on Ubuntu MATE, you normally use the Software Boutique . You
can also use the Software Center or the Synaptic package manager. When a Linux
user says "package" think "software package". Software centers and package
managers are examples of applications that are used to browse and retrieve
software packages from software repositories. Ubuntu MATE conveniently gives you
the option to install one when your search in the Software Boutique returns no
results.


TRUSTED SOURCES

The Ubuntu software repositories include thousands of applications in hundreds
of categories, suitable for just about any professional or recreational pursuit,
and most are free of charge. When you use Ubuntu MATE, those applications, as
well as security updates, driver updates, application updates, software upgrades
and operating system upgrades, are all available from trusted sources so you
won't need to search the Internet for software. No more risking malware,
junkware, or ransomware as a result of downloading from the wrong site! Ubuntu's
software catalog is the ultimate in a trusted source!

There are several ways to obtain software from the software catalog. Ubuntu
MATE's own Software Boutique is a carefully curated selection of the
best-in-class applications from the Ubuntu repositories, chosen because they
integrate well, complement Ubuntu MATE and enable you to personalize your
computing experience. When you first install Ubuntu MATE, the Software Boutique
is the main graphical application you will use to install software. Thousands of
applications not available in the Software Boutique are available to explore in
the full Ubuntu software catalog ( Software Centers ) and from the the unique
Snap Store, located at https://snapcraft.io/store . You have full access to the
entire library at any time using the command line, but in order to obtain
software from the complete software catalog using a graphical application that
lets you browse through it, you will need to enable one or more of the software
center applications from within the Software Boutique .

> Note
> 
> Installing applications from the command line is discussed in a little more
> detail in Example: Installing Applications Using "apt" on the Command Line .


SOFTWARE BOUTIQUE

The Software Boutique 's curated selection of the most popular applications lets
you:

 * Select from the list of Ubuntu MATE's recommended software, tested for the
   distribution.
 * Use simple tools to manage software packages installed on your system.
 * Install a software center or package manager with even more powerful ways to
   obtain additional software for your computer.

To launch the Software Boutique from the menus, choose Menu > Administration >
Software Boutique .




SOFTWARE CENTERS

If you don't find what you're looking for in the Software Boutique , install one
of the available Software Centers to explore the complete Ubuntu software
catalog. Choose the "More Software" category using the icons across the top of
the Software Boutique 's main window. The selection labeled simply "Software"
installs a graphical application that lets you browse, install and update
additional software applications and system extensions from the Ubuntu software
repositories.

The Synaptic Package Manager is a graphical package management application that
lets you install software onto your computer and manage the software that is
already installed. It allows you to search, install, upgrade, and remove
packages using the software repositories. It also lets you add more software
sources, modify repository settings, view changelogs, and even lock a package to
a specific version.

Ubuntu MATE always has security in mind. Regardless of how you choose to install
software, you are always asked for your password before anything can be
installed. This is a list of some of the most popular software selections
available from the repositories:

 * Barrier keyboard and mouse sharing application
 * Codecs, libdvdcss2
 * Dropbox for file sharing
 * Gimp advanced image editor
 * The Google Chrome browser
 * Clementine music manager
 * Minetest minecraft-inspired game
 * Skype for Linux
 * The Steam gaming platform
 * The Software application
 * Slack collaboration tool for teams
 * Spotify for music
 * Synaptic package manager
 * Telegram messaging app
 * uGet download manager
 * VeraCrypt file and folder encryption
 * VirtualBox virtual machine

There is much more available. You can browse by the application's name or by
function -- what the application does. Because the vast majority of the software
available in the repositories is free, you can try applications and if you don't
like them, or if they don't do what you expect them to do, you can uninstall
them just as easily.


PERSONALIZING UBUNTU MATE

Although you can do some basic tweaking out of the box with other operating
systems, Linux is infinitely more configurable than Mac or Windows. Sure you can
get add-on software to personalize your Windows desktop quite a bit, but Ubuntu
MATE provides the customization tools built right in, with additional utilities
just a few clicks away in the software repositories (free software store). What
makes Ubuntu MATE so much more flexible is that it is designed to be
customizable.

So, what can you do with Ubuntu MATE? From simply changing the background
desktop image (wallpaper) to altering the menu position, to making your desktop
a virtual "dashboard" for displaying the health and performance of your
computer's hardware, Ubuntu MATE can do it. You can even revamp the Ubuntu MATE
desktop to make it look and behave convincingly like macOS or Windows. Covering
all of the possibilities for customization would fill an entire book, so this
section will simply give you some ideas as to what can be done, and it will be
up to you to explore on your own how you can configure your system to make it
look and work the way that best suits your style.



As you learn about Ubuntu MATE, you might find it more comfortable to put things
where you were used to finding them on your previous system. Ubuntu MATE
provides the unique MATE Tweak tool to do just that, to transform the look and
feel of your computer. The MATE Tweak application is found in the Ubuntu MATE
menus at Menu > Control Center > MATE Tweak and can be used to quickly change
how things look and feel. You can even make Ubuntu MATE look and work like other
popular operating systems if that's what you want. Or you can give it a unique
and distinctive look of its own so that anyone looking at your screen can tell
you aren't using the same computer software they are!


PANEL LAYOUTS


CHOOSING AND CHANGING PANEL LAYOUTS

One of the quickest ways to change the look and feel of Ubuntu MATE is to select
a different panel layout using MATE Tweak which is found in the Ubuntu MATE
menus at Menu > Control Center > MATE Tweak . Each panel layout is distinctive
and provides a different desktop workflow.

From the main page of Ubuntu MATE Welcome you can also click on the Customise
Panels button to open a page that lets you select the panel layout right from
the Welcome application.



Of course, since this is Linux, with any of these eight layouts, you can move
the panels to the sides of your screen if you like, you can add or remove a
dock, and you can even name and save your own customized panel layouts to make
it easy to switch between them. All of this is done from MATE Tweak . Using the
MATE Tweak application, you also can control the size of the icons that appear
in the panels, which icons display on your desktop, and whether the windows show
some animation or snap into position when they open. You can even change whether
the window controls for Close, Minimize and Maximize appear on the left, like
macOS, or on the right, like Windows.


FAMILIAR (UBUNTU-MATE) LAYOUT

When you first install Ubuntu MATE, you'll be using its own layout, named
Familiar. The Familiar layout, introduced in release 18.04, is based on the
Traditional layout with the menu-bar (Applications, Places, System) replaced by
the Brisk menu's simple " Menu ". The Familiar layout has a clock in the top
right, and a panel with the list of open applications at the bottom. The menu
for each application appears at the top of the application's window in the
familiar way -- that is 'familiar' if you are used to the way it's done on
Microsoft's windows. If you prefer to try something else, you can select a
different panel layout using the MATE Tweak "Panel" options.




TRADITIONAL LAYOUT

The Traditional layout was the default Ubuntu MATE Layout prior to release
18.04. It has a classic look of Linux with a menu-bar (Applications, Places,
System) in the top left, clock in the top right, and a panel with the list of
open applications at the bottom. The menu for each application appears at the
top of the application's window. This is the traditional way application menus
appear on Microsoft's windows.




CONTEMPORARY LAYOUT

The Contemporary layout has the classic look of Ubuntu MATE's default Familiar
layout, with a menu in the top left, clock in the top right, and a panel with
the list of open applications at the bottom. A significant difference from the
Familiar layout is that, in the Contemporary layout, each application's menu
always appears in the top panel rather than within the individual application's
window. Called the "Global Menu," this feature was introduced for Ubuntu MATE
17.10 and is implemented in the traditional way Apple handles menus for its
application windows.




REDMOND LAYOUT

The Redmond layout is similar to Microsoft Windows, with a single taskbar
containing a menu, a list of open applications, and a clock at the bottom of the
screen. Each application's menu bar appears at the top of that application's
window in the traditional Windows way. The name "Redmond" is a sly reference to
the US city where Microsoft's headquarters is located. The Redmond layout’s
"Menu" button provides a list of your applications in the bottom left corner.
You will find this familiar if you've ever used Windows or the Linux Mint
distribution.




CUPERTINO LAYOUT

The Cupertino layout is similar to Apple's macOS with a panel at the top of the
screen and a dock at the bottom. The dock is used to display the pinned and open
applications, and to launch applications. Of course, this layout uses the Global
Menu so that the application menus always appear in the top panel rather than on
the application windows, in the traditional macOS way. You'll notice one
distinctive difference between the Cupertino layout's Ubuntu MATE logo icon in
the top left corner, and macOS's Apple logo icon. Instead of a small menu that
gives you access to some basic Apple system tools, the Ubuntu MATE icon gives
you access to the entire menu of applications, utilities, and system tools.




PANTHEON LAYOUT

The Pantheon layout is a blend of the Contemporary layout and the Cupertino
layout. It has both a menu in the top left and a dock at the bottom of the
screen to display pinned and running applications. Each application's menu
appears at the top of that application's window, just as it does in the Redmond
layout.




MUTINY LAYOUT

If you have tried other Ubuntu flavors and you like the look of the Unity
desktop, you'll find the Mutiny layout familiar. It mimics, as closely as
possible, the Unity 7 interface used in traditional Ubuntu through 2017. Mutiny
has a dock of icons on the left of the screen to launch applications, show
pinned applications, and show running applications. A unique feature of the
Mutiny Layout is the menu icon at the top of the dock which displays a
full-screen pane of application icons listed in categories. Each application's
menu appears at the top of that application's window.




NETBOOK LAYOUT

Designed specifically for small screens, the compact Netbook layout has a single
taskbar, menu, clock, and list of open applications at the top of the screen.
There is no dock or panel at the bottom. That way everything is accessible no
matter how small your screen.




WINDOW CONTROLS


CHANGING THE LOCATION OF THE WINDOW CONTROLS

Another quick way to adjust the look of your Ubuntu MATE desktop is to change
the location of the window controls. You know, the buttons you use to minimize,
maximize, and close a window. Ubuntu MATE let's you put them on the left like on
macOS or on the right like Windows. You can also include or exclude a button for
a menu with more window options. You may notice that the screen shots included
in this guide have a mix of button locations. Choose the location that you like
best or switch between them as your mood changes.



To change the location of the window buttons:

 1. Open the MATE Tweak application by selecting Menu Control Center MATE Tweak
    .
 2. Choose the Windows icon in the pane on the left side of the MATE Tweak
    window.
 3. Adjust the value for Window control placement .


DESKTOP BACKGROUND


CHANGING THE DESKTOP WALLPAPER

Most desktop environments allow you to change the background wallpaper by
right-clicking on the desktop itself, then selecting the appropriate option from
the context menu that appears. Ubuntu MATE is no exception.

 1. Right-click the desktop and choose Change Desktop Background . If you
    prefer, you can use the menus: Menu Control Center Appearance Background .
 2. Select the image you want to use.
 3. If you have a picture on your computer's hard drive that you want to use,
    click the Add button, locate the file, and then click Open .
 4. Your background changes immediately. Click Close .



> Note
> 
> You can use the link on the lower left to download more images from the
> Internet. Always make sure you use only trusted sites to obtain new background
> images.


THEMES


CHANGING THE THEME

A desktop theme can include the set of fonts and colors used on your desktop,
the size and style of icons, the size, shape and color of the borders of each
window, whether there are 3-D or animation effects, and even whether the buttons
have icons. Changing your theme is just as easy as changing background
wallpaper.

 1. From the menus choose Menu Control Center Appearance Theme .
 2. Select the theme you want to use from the list.
 3. Your theme changes immediately. Click Close .



> Note
> 
> You can use the link on the lower left to download more themes from the
> Internet. Always make sure you use only trusted sites to obtain new themes.


PANELS


MODIFYING THE PANELS

The bars at the top and bottom edges of Ubuntu MATE's Traditional Layout are
called Panels. Apple's macOS has a menu panel at the top edge of the screen. The
icons that are typically at the bottom of a macOS desktop are actually in a dock
and not truly in a panel. The single panel in Windows is known as the "taskbar"
and is typically located at the bottom edge of the screen. The top and bottom
panels of Ubuntu MATE can be easily modified in many ways and moved into a
different position on the screen. You can also have more or fewer than two
panels if you wish.

 1.  Right-click a blank space in the panel and choose Properties from the menu.
     
     

 2.  From within the dialog box, you can edit Orientation to choose whether you
     want the panel at the top, at the bottom, or on one of the sides of your
     screen.

 3.  You can increase the size of the panel, and its corresponding icons.

 4.  Choose the Expand checkbox to make the panel go completely across the
     screen. Uncheck it to make it behave more like a dock.

 5.  Use the Show hide buttons setting with Expand unchecked to make buttons
     appear at either end of the panel to let you adjust its size.

 6.  The Autohide setting causes the panel to vanish when you move the mouse
     cursor away from it and reappear when your mouse reaches the edge of the
     screen where you placed the panel.

 7.  The Background tab gives you more options for the appearance of the panel,
     including the ability to make it completely transparent, a solid color, or
     add a graphic background image.

 8.  Click Close to complete your modifications for this panel.

 9.  To add an additional panel, right-click an existing panel and choose New
     Panel .

 10. Right-click the new panel you just created (or any existing panel) and
     choose Add to panel to add launchers, monitors, and other panel items.

 11. Now start over at step one, above, and edit the preferences for your shiny
     new panel!


DESKTOP, PANEL, AND MENU ICONS


CREATE APPLICATION ICONS FROM THE MENUS

Ubuntu MATE makes it very easy to add icons, also referred to as shortcuts or
launchers, to your desktop for your most frequently used applications. Here,
you'll see how to add the word processor icon to your desktop. The process is
exactly the same for any application that appears in the Ubuntu MATE menus.

These are the steps to follow:

 1. Locate the application in the menu. For the word processor application,
    select Menu > Office . (If you have chosen the Traditional Panel Layout,
    select Applications > Office .)

 2. Now locate, but do not click on the LibreOffice Writer icon.

 3. Right-click on LibreOffice Writer .

 4. From the context menu that appears, select Pin to desktop . (If you have
    chosen the Traditional Panel Layout, select Add to desktop .)
    
    
    
    

 5. The finished launcher will appear on your desktop as shown below. You can
    move it around and place it anywhere you want on the desktop.
    
    

> Note
> 
> If you are using the Brisk menu, the same context menu lets you pin the icon
> as a shortcut icon to the Favourites menu! You find the Favourites menu at
> Menu > Favourites .
> 
> If you are using the Main menu (Traditional Layout) you can also add the
> launcher to the panel from the context menu. Alternatively, you can add a
> launcher icon to a panel by simply dragging the icon from the menu and
> dropping it onto the panel, regardless of the panel layout you are using.


CREATE SYSTEM ICONS USING MATE TWEAK

If you want to create System icons for such things as your "Computer," your
"Home" folder, the "Trash" icon, an icon to access locations on your "Network,"
or "Mounted Volumes" like USB drives and DVD drives, then Ubuntu MATE makes that
easy for you, too. You simply use the MATE Tweak application, located in Control
Center to select the icons you want to be displayed. The screenshot below shows
your "Desktop" options. Ensure that the Show Desktop Icons setting is checked to
be certain that the icons you've selected are visible on your desktop.




EDITING THE ICONS IN THE MENU

Ubuntu MATE provides you with the ability to edit the main menu in the top
panel. This can be very helpful if, for example, you have created a bash script
that you want to launch from the menu like any other application. You can even
give it a custom icon.

Launching a Script:

In this example, you'll see how a custom icon can be added to run a script that
toggles on and off 100% screen brightness and a sleep delay. Remember, this is
just one example of how you can add something to the menus. You can add a menu
item for a script like this, you can add a menu item for an application, or you
can add a menu item to open a specific document in a word processor or other
application. It's up to you. To illustrate, the screenshot below shows the
"toggle-awake.sh" script open for editing in the Pluma text editor application.
The Pluma theme has been switched to a brighter one using its Preferences
settings to make the text easier to read here.



> Note
> 
> If you are writing scripts, the Pluma editor is an excellent tool to use. As
> you can see by the colored text in the script above, it is designed for this
> with text highlighting, and there other similar features built-in.

> Note
> 
> If you create a folder named "bin" in your home folder, Ubuntu MATE recognizes
> any file you place in that folder as a potential executable program or script.
> To change a file's permissions to allow it to run as any other program:
> Right-click on the file in the File Manager , select Properties > Permissions
> > Allow executing file as program .

Adding the Menu Item:

 1.  In the menus, select Menu > Control Center > Main Menu .

 2.  In the left panel, select the category under which you want your menu item
     to appear. For this example, we'll use the "Accessories" category.

 3.  Click the New Item button to start creating your new menu item.

 4.  To create an icon that launches an application select Application as the
     Type .

 5.  Click in the field labeled Name and enter the name you want to appear in
     the menu. In the example, we named our menu item "Awake".
     
     

 6.  In the Command field, click the Browse button then navigate to, and open,
     the application or script you want to run. Alternatively, in the Command
     field, you can type a command as you would enter it in a terminal to run
     the application. This could simply be the name of the application, the name
     of your script, or even a long, complex command.

 7.  Next, in the Comment field, enter a description if you wish one to appear
     when you hover over the icon in the menu.

 8.  To change the icon for the menu item, click on the icon that is displayed
     by default. It's a button! Browse the icons and pixmap folders to select
     the icon you want to use, then click Open . For this example, we use a
     coffee cup icon located here:
     
     /usr/share/icons/hicolor/48x48/apps/caffeine.png

 9.  Click the OK button to create your menu item. It now appears in the list of
     menu items in the category you chose. It's at the bottom of the list. You
     can change its position in the menu by selecting your new menu item and
     using the Move Up and Move Down buttons.

 10. Close the editor to begin using your new menu entry.
     
     


DISPLAY SETTING


MULTIPLE DISPLAYS

Ubuntu MATE makes connecting multiple monitors and changing the resolution quite
easy. Changing monitor preferences is accomplished by selecting Menu > Control
Center > Displays in the menus.

 1. When you connect a second monitor, it will likely connect automatically. If
    it doesn't, simply click on the black rectangle that represents the second
    monitor and choose the On setting. When the display is switched to "On" the
    rectangle will be in color.
    
    

 2. Select the resolution settings you prefer. The list includes all of the
    resolutions that the monitor is capable of displaying. In this example, an
    HDMI cable is used to connect a 1080P television as a monitor.
    
    

 3. To apply the settings, click the Apply button.

 4. The new configuration is set temporarily. If you don't confirm the settings,
    for example, if the settings don't work properly, after a short delay the
    configuration will revert to the previous settings.
    
    

 5. Click on Keep This Configuration to confirm your changes.


HIGH-RESOLUTION MONITORS

Linux support for high-resolution computer displays (HiDPI or 4K displays) is
still being perfected . However, with the 18.04 release, the Ubuntu MATE team
has released a utility that automatically detects your 4K display and sets the
appropriate screen scaling for you. Without scaling, you may find that 4K
displays, like screens on such modern laptops as the Dell XPS 13, or external 4K
monitors have tiny icons and fonts that make them difficult to see and to use.
With HiDPI support, Ubuntu MATE lets you take advantage of the full resolution
of your beautiful 4K display and still have everything readable.

Of course, Ubuntu MATE allows you to make the decision as to whether to use
HiDPI scaling or not. Here is how to make changes to the HiDPI settings.

 1. Before you begin modifying your screen settings, if it wasn't selected by
    default, you can use the instructions in the previous section to ensure that
    your display is set to the highest resolution available. If supported, this
    will be the 4K resolution for your HiDPI display.

 2. Open the MATE Tweak application by selecting Menu > Control Center > MATE
    Tweak .

 3. Choose the Windows icon in the pane on the left side of the MATE Tweak
    window.

 4. In the HiDPI section, adjust the setting labeled Select a window scaling
    factor . Choose Auto-detect to have Ubuntu MATE automatically detect and set
    HiDPI window scaling when it detects a high resolution monitor. Choose
    Regular if you never want scaling applied. Choose HiDPI if you always want
    scaling applied.
    
    

 5. Your new HiDPI settings will take effect immediately. No need to log out!


POWER MANAGEMENT


STRATEGIES FOR MAXIMIZING BATTERY LIFE

Today you can install Linux on almost any computer hardware -- Mac or Windows
PC. With a computer like one from designed-for-Linux lines such as System76,
Entroware, OpenSourcePC, or Dell XPS Developer Edition, you can be sure you'll
have the "just works" experience with whatever version of Linux you choose to
install. But whether you choose a computer with Linux pre-installed, or you
install it on hardware you already own, out-of-the-box laptop battery life can
sometimes be disappointing. Here are some things you can do to improve your
laptop's longevity when you don't have a connection to AC power.




1. ADJUST POWER MANAGEMENT SETTINGS

The Power Management Settings, found in the Control Panel , allows you to
control when the computer sleeps or hibernates, and how the display behaves.
Focus on the On Battery Power settings. If your laptop doesn't behave when
hibernating, use the "sleep" or "suspend" setting when closing the lid and when
the computer is idle.



In addition to using the sleep and suspend settings, reducing the backlight
brightness and dimming the screen while idle can reduce the battery drain while
operating on battery power.


2. ADJUST SCREEN BRIGHTNESS

A laptop's biggest battery usage is typically in powering the LCD screen. The
brighter the screen, the more power is consumed. On some models, reducing
backlight brightness from 100% to about 50% or even 30% provides enough
illumination to see the screen comfortably except when outdoors, and
dramatically improves battery life. That adjustment is usually controlled by
hardware keys on your keyboard. If you can find a brightness setting that allows
you to easily read the screen, but no brighter, then you'll extend your
on-battery time for sure. You'll find the software-based brightness adjustment
on the On AC Power tab. Its setting applies to both when you are on AC (mains)
power and when you are on battery. However, if you also choose Reduce backlight
brightness on the On Battery Power tab, then when using battery power, your
display is actually adjusted to 50% of the display brightness you choose.




3. TURN OFF WHAT YOU DON'T USE

Don't use a Bluetooth mouse, keyboard or headphones? Turn off your Bluetooth
adapter by right-clicking on the Bluetooth icon in the top panel and selecting
Turn Bluetooth Off . The computer uses power searching for Bluetooth devices.
Turn off similar settings for other devices or services (like WiFi) that you
never or rarely use.




4. USE TLP

TLP is an advanced power management utility for Linux that can improve your
battery life tremendously. TLP optimizes power settings automatically on startup
and every time you change the power source. The Ubuntu MATE 16.04 release came
with the TLP command-line utility pre-installed and pre-configured. If you are
using a later release of Ubuntu MATE that doesn't install it by default, look in
the Software Center for TLP . It'll likely be there, ready to install. The
screenshot, below, shows the default configuration of TLP on a Dell XPS 13.




5. GET A NEW BATTERY

Although today's battery technology is vastly superior to that of just a few
years ago, batteries have a finite lifetime. They don't develop a "memory" when
you "top them up" like they used to, but they do have a limited number of full
charge cycles they can handle before they expire. If your laptop's battery will
no longer hold a charge, maybe it's time to replace it. Hopefully, your model
allows you to do that. If not, you may be tethered to AC power until you can
replace your computer.


SCREENSAVER


DECORATING YOUR SCREEN

The concept of a screensaver was important in the days when the cathode ray tube
(CRT) was the only type of computer monitor available. In today's world, this
software that originally prevented a permanent image from burning into your CRT
screen is used mainly to provide an interesting animated image on the monitor
when you step away. Although the power management settings can lock your screen,
so too can the screensaver. It's your choice whether to use the screensaver or
the power management settings to manage screen locking. If you don't care for an
animated screensaver, you can choose to disable it altogether.



The screensaver settings can be found at Menu > Control Center > Screensaver .
Choose from the available default images or choose to use the images you saved
in your pictures folder as the screensaver. You can also choose a simple blank
screen or random images. The time setting that appears below the image preview
allows you to control the amount of time it takes after your mouse and keyboard
have been idle before the screensaver activates. Uncheck Activate screensaver
when computer is idle to completely disable the screensaver. If you choose to
use the screensaver, a check mark in the setting Lock screen when screensaver is
active ensures that you must enter your password to dismiss the screensaver.
Unchecking the box means that the screensaver will stop as soon as you move the
mouse or type on the keyboard.


ABOUT THE UBUNTU MATE PROJECT

Ubuntu MATE is a stable, easy-to-use operating system with a configurable
desktop environment. It is ideal for those who want the most out of their
computers and prefer a traditional desktop metaphor. With modest hardware
requirements, it is suitable for modern workstations, single board computers and
older hardware alike. Ubuntu MATE makes modern computers fast and old computers
usable.


WHY UBUNTU MATE?

Ubuntu MATE is a desktop distribution (variation) of GNU/Linux -- a dependable,
secure, capable, and modern computer system that rivals all others in popularity
and usage. Unlike other operating systems, Linux is used:

 * on most of the world's fastest and most powerful supercomputers
 * on many of, if not most of, the computers that make up the backbone of the
   Internet
 * and on corporate servers that require stability and reliability

The Ubuntu MATE operating system is more secure, and better supported than the
operating system pre-installed on most home computer hardware today.

Using Ubuntu MATE provides you with the freedom to run a complete, full-featured
operating system, pre-configured with most (if not all) of the applications you
will need for your daily computing. Change anything about the way it looks, the
way it works, or the applications it runs to suit your taste.





OBJECTIVES

Ubuntu MATE has a number of guiding objectives and goals.

 * Accessible to all, regardless of language and physical ability.
 * Increase both Ubuntu and MATE Desktop user adoption
 * Ubuntu alternative for computers that aren't powerful enough to run a
   composited desktop.
 * First choice Ubuntu platform for remote workstation solutions such as LTSP
   and X2Go.
 * Recreate the halcyon days of Ubuntu for users who prefer a traditional
   desktop metaphor.
 * Use themes and artwork similar to Ubuntu so that Ubuntu MATE is immediately
   familiar.
 * When possible contribute to Debian so both the Debian and Ubuntu communities
   benefit.
 * Software selection will favor functionality and stability over lightness and
   whimsy.


HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS

Ubuntu MATE is designed to run on almost any computer hardware. Of course,
Ubuntu MATE runs particularly well on the newest, fastest hardware, but it also
runs well on almost any vintage of machine. In fact, an older computer designed
during the Windows Vista era can easily be outfitted with the new, modern and
fully-supported Ubuntu MATE and it will likely run better than it did with the
previously installed operating system. Of course, Ubuntu MATE will run much more
efficiently if your computer meets or surpasses the recommended requirements.
These are the recommendations for Desktop and Laptop computers.

Core 2 Duo Core i3 1 gigabyte (GB) of RAM 4 gigabytes (GB) RAM 8 gigabytes (GB)
of available space on the hard disk 16 gigabytes (GB) of available space on the
hard disk Bootable DVD-ROM drive Bootable DVD-ROM or USB flash drive 1024 x 768
or higher resolution 1440 x 900 or higher (with graphics acceleration) Sound
card Sound card Speakers or headphones Speakers or headphones


DOWNLOADING UBUNTU MATE

The Ubuntu MATE website's download page gives you several options for
downloading an ".iso image file" that you can use to create a CD, DVD or USB
drive that allows you to try Ubuntu MATE without changing your computer at all,
with an option to install it permanently later. You will need at least 512MB of
RAM to install from this image.




WHICH VERSION SHOULD I CHOOSE?

Your first decision will require you to know a little about your computer's
hardware specifications.

 1. Choose 64-bit (amd64) if your computer has more than 3GB of RAM, with a
    64-bit capable Intel or AMD processor. This is also a good choice for UEFI
    PCs booting in CSM mode and for modern Intel-based Apple Macs.

 2. Choose PowerPC if you have an older generation PowerPC-based hardware, like
    Apple Macintosh G3, G4 and G5; Apple iBooks and PowerBooks; and IBM
    OpenPower 7xx Machines.

 3. The Raspberry Pi 64-bit (arm64) is the 64-bit version ideal for users that
    intend to run complex applications that will benefit from a 64-bit
    instruction set. Compatible with models B3, B3+, and B4.

 4. The Raspberry Pi 32-bit (armhf) is for the Raspberry Pi and other compatible
    microcomputers. This one is 32-bit and is compatible with Models B2, B3,
    B3+, and B4.

Your second decision is between the version labeled Long Term Support (LTS)
release and a 'normal' or 'interim' release. Here is some information about each
that will help you choose the right release for you.

 1. Ubuntu MATE releases a new version every six months. Every two years, the
    release is a Long Term Support release. Interim releases are recommended for
    users desiring the latest features and applications while LTS releases are
    recommended for stability and mission-critical systems.

 2. Ubuntu MATE's normal support releases (interim releases) are supported for
    nine months while LTS releases are supported for three years .

 3. "Support" includes:
    
    * Updates for potential security issues and bugs (not new versions of
      software)
    
    * Availability of Commercial support contracts from Canonical
    
    * Support by Landscape, Canonical's server management toolset designed for
      enterprises

 4. Ubuntu MATE's LTS release (five-year support) is the best choice for most
    users. It is well-supported and will run all the software you depend on.
    It's regularly updated with new hardware support and performance
    improvements, so you don't need to be concerned that everything will work
    properly.

 5. If you are a developer who needs the latest versions of certain packages,
    the "normal" six-month release cycle (nine-month support) might be for you.
    If you want to be on the bleeding edge, have the latest versions of all your
    software, and use the latest features before they make it to the LTS version
    of Ubuntu MATE, choose the "normal" cycle of six-month releases. Note that
    the "bleeding edge" refers to the fact that some of these latest versions
    may not perform as reliably as the versions supported within the LTS
    releases.


DOWNLOAD

 1. Once you have chosen the version to download, select Direct Download to
    begin downloading the file you will need for the installation. The file you
    are downloading ends in ".iso".

 2. Select a location for your downloaded file, if prompted, and click Save to
    begin your download.

> Note
> 
> Now that you have the file, the next topic will discuss how to prepare
> installation media. It also describes how to try Ubuntu MATE without changing
> your computer at all, or to install Ubuntu MATE permanently onto your
> computer.


INSTALLING UBUNTU MATE


CREATING INSTALLATION MEDIA

The .iso file you downloaded using the instructions in the previous topic
doesn't do you much good on its own. You need to put that file in a form that
will allow you to install it on your computer. This section describes how to
create the installation media (CD, DVD, SD card, or USB drive) that will allow
you to do just that. As a note, installable media is often referred to as
"bootable" or "live" media because using this method you run Ubuntu MATE
directly from the media, live. This allows you to try Ubuntu MATE on your
computer without installing, and without changing anything at all on your
computer. When you shut down and remove the "bootable" media, your computer is
back to normal.

To install and try Ubuntu MATE from a USB drive or SD card, you’ll need media
with at least 4 GB of memory and have downloaded a compatible copy of Ubuntu
MATE for your system. You can also use a CD or DVD to install Ubuntu MATE, but
this method is recommended only for older computers or where the computer can't
be configured to boot from a USB device. For information on how to make a CD or
DVD for installation using Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu, see the " Burning ISO
HowTo " article on Ubuntu help.

Most likely, if you are considering a switch to Ubuntu MATE, you are using
Windows. If you are creating the bootable media from Windows, macOS, or a
distribution of Linux, the post " Imaging a USB Drive " on the Ubuntu MATE
website provides step-by-step instructions.


PREPARING FOR INSTALLATION

Ubuntu MATE is relatively simple to set up, whether you're looking to replace
your existing operating system or install Ubuntu MATE alongside an existing one
- such as Microsoft Windows or another GNU/Linux distribution.

Step one: Backup!

Back up any important data to another storage device before you start to install
in case something goes horribly wrong! Save all of your important files and
folders to an external USB drive or a 2nd hard drive. DO NOT save anything to
the same drive you intend to use for Ubuntu MATE. Once you start, there is no
going back! Here is an article with some considerations around backups: Backup
Strategies For Your Computer

Step two: Plan for recovery

If you have a recovery partition and your current system allows you to create
recovery disks for your computer, stop reading and go do that now. If you decide
that Ubuntu MATE is not for you, this will allow you to reinstall your original
operating system. Then you can use the data backup you made in step one to
restore all your data.

Step three: Decide what to do with the recovery partition.

If your computer has a recovery partition, if you format over the recovery
partition, you will not be able to recover your previous operating system. Only
format or remove the recovery partition if you are certain that you don't want
it anymore.


INSTALLING

Now that you've created the installation media, you've done your backup, and
you've planned for recovery (you DID do all that right?) you are ready to
install (or just try) Ubuntu MATE. For most relatively modern computer, the
installation process will take well under an hour to complete. Stay connected to
the Internet to install all available updates. Plug your device into a power
source if it is running on battery power.

 1.  Completely shut down your computer.

 2.  Insert the USB stick.

 3.  Start the computer and watch the screen to determine which function key to
     press to change the boot device. The message flashes by quickly, right at
     the bottom edge of the screen, but the most frequently used keys are F1 ,
     F2 , F4 , F12 and the Del key. It depends on your computer's manufacturer.
     If your computer boots up normally and you don't see Ubuntu MATE startup,
     shut down and try again.

 4.  When you get to the screen that lets you change the boot device, select the
     menu entry that represents the Ubuntu MATE live USB stick. Press the key
     that lets you boot using the USB stick. That's usually the Enter or F10
     key. If you need help, try this article from How-To Geek: " How to Boot
     Your Computer From a Disc or USB Drive "

 5.  Once the computer has started loading Ubuntu MATE, you will be given some
     options. Select the option: Try Ubuntu MATE .
     
     

 6.  Once Ubuntu MATE has booted successfully, you will be able to use the
     computer as though Ubuntu MATE were installed. It's not. It is running from
     the USB stick. The live session you are currently in right now provides a
     good opportunity to test Ubuntu MATE without modifying your computer,
     allowing you to test that all of your peripherals are working as intended
     before committing to installing it on your machine. Once you are ready,
     double-click the installation icon on the desktop.

 7.  You don't need to connect to the Internet to complete the installation of
     Ubuntu MATE, but if you want to use the web browser, or if you want to
     install additional updates during the installation, you should connect your
     network cable, or connect to Wi-Fi. Click the Network Manager icon in the
     upper right corner of the screen (near the clock) and select your SSID for
     your wireless network. If prompted, enter the passcode, click the Connect
     button and you will be connected.

 8.  To begin the installation, double-click the Install Ubuntu MATE icon on the
     desktop.
     
     

 9.  Select your language. Press the Continue button.

 10. If you have an Internet connection, choose the option to download updates
     while installing. For first-time Ubuntu MATE users, you should also choose
     the option to install third-party software to ensure a smooth transition to
     your new operating system. Press the Continue button.
     
     
     
     > Tip
     > 
     > Minimal Installation is presented as a radio button option in the
     > installer, it will install just the MATE Desktop, its utilities, its
     > themes and Firefox. All the other applications such as office suite,
     > email client, video player, audio manager, etc. are not installed. This
     > is a useful option if you have minimal disk space or you wish to select
     > applications other than the default software provided with Ubuntu MATE.
     
     > Tip
     > 
     > If you have an NVIDIA GPU connected to your computer and select Install
     > third-party software for graphics and Wi-Fi hardware during installation,
     > the NVIDIA proprietary drivers will be installed.
     > 
     > After completion of your installation, the proprietary NVIDIA drivers are
     > installed and configured. Ubuntu MATE users with laptops that support
     > hybrid graphics will see the MATE Optimus hybrid graphics applet
     > displaying the NVIDIA logo. MATE Optimus adds support for NVIDIA
     > On-Demand and will prompt users to log out when switching the GPU's
     > profile.

 11. If you are sure that you want to completely erase every trace of your
     previous operating system, choose the option: Erase disk and install Ubuntu
     MATE . If you are not sure, then choose the option: Install Ubuntu MATE
     alongside your original operating system. This will allow you to choose
     which operating system to use when you start your computer. If you chose to
     install alongside, then press the Continue button.

 12. Press the Install Now button.

 13. Read the message on the screen to confirm your choices, then press the
     Continue button to start the installation.

 14. Select your location. Press the Continue button.

 15. Choose your preferred keyboard layout. Press the Continue button.

 16. Enter your full name, a name for your computer, a username, and a password.
     You will use the username and password when you log into your computer.
     Press the Continue button.

 17. Now wait just a few minutes while the installation completes, and updates
     are downloaded and installed.

 18. Press the Continue Testing button if you wish to continue to use the live
     environment, or press the Restart Now button to reboot and log into your
     new installation of Ubuntu MATE!

 19. When prompted, remove the installation medium, then press Enter . Your
     computer will restart (if that's what you selected) and you will be
     prompted for your password to complete the log in process.


SUPPORT

If you can't find the answer in this guide, many of the answers are available in
the vast resource that is the Ubuntu MATE website. Often, the fastest and
easiest way to get answers to your questions about how to use Ubuntu MATE is to
ask the friendly and helpful Ubuntu MATE community . The next few topics in this
guide describe using this guide, the website, the community, and the wiki, and
provide a bit more detail about the kind of support each can provide.


THE UBUNTU MATE GUIDE

The Ubuntu MATE Guide , found in the Ubuntu MATE menus at Menu > Accessories >
Ubuntu MATE Guide , is for users needing a little extra help while learning to
use Ubuntu MATE.

In the early days of home computing, computers came with thorough documentation.
They included a set of manuals, detailing every button, port, light, software
application and software feature. Although this guide doesn't attempt to come
close to that level of detail, it's been created for you and other computer
users like you who want a reference detailed enough to help you to learn about
Ubuntu MATE and its applications and to build your confidence and competence in
using them to get things done.

> Tip
> 
> Many of the applications available in Ubuntu MATE are also available in other
> flavors of Ubuntu and in other distributions (versions) of Linux.

The guide is divided into these main topics:

 * Overview: Ubuntu MATE is modern, full-featured, flexible and secure.
 * MATE's Applications: Applications provided by the MATE Desktop Environment.
 * Ubuntu MATE's Applications: Pre-configured with applications you use for
   daily computing.
 * Personalizing Ubuntu MATE: Making Ubuntu MATE your own.
 * About the Ubuntu MATE Project: The Ubuntu MATE project, objectives, hardware
   requirements, and downloading & installing Ubuntu MATE.
 * Support: Getting the help you need to use Ubuntu MATE.
 * Keyboard shortcuts: Some common keyboard shortcuts using Ubuntu MATE, and
   equivalents you may have used with your previous operating system.
 * FAQ: Frequently asked questions.



> Tip
> 
> Scrolling through the guide and jumping from topic to topic is fine if you
> want to read the Ubuntu MATE Guide like a manual. If you are looking for help
> on a particular topic, clicking the blue magnifying glass icon in the upper
> right corner of the help window opens a search tool. Type what you want to
> search for into the search box and press Enter to see a list of topics related
> to your search.


THE UBUNTU MATE WEBSITE

The Ubuntu MATE website, located at https://ubuntu-mate.org provides a wealth of
information. It provides lots of details about the operating system and even a
few screenshots to give you a feel for how it looks.




ABOUT

Click the About link for a page that breaks down what exactly Ubuntu MATE is in
easy to understand language.


FEATURES

Click the Features link for a page that lets you to dive under the hood and see
the features that make Ubuntu MATE different.


BLOG

The Blog link reveals the place where the Ubuntu MATE project leaders thank the
community for its support of Ubuntu MATE, make announcements, and provide
updates on planned releases.


DOWNLOAD

Click the Download link to get the latest release of Ubuntu MATE to install on
your computer, or give to your friends to try on their computers.


SUPPORT

Click the Support link for ways you can get support from the Ubuntu MATE
community, a link to the online version of this guide, and other resources. For
additional information about the community, see The Ubuntu MATE Community .


GET INVOLVED

The Get Involved link lets you explore the different ways you can contribute to
the development of Ubuntu MATE.


EMPORIUM

The Emporium link reveals the "Ubuntu MATE Emporium" where you can purchase
Entroware computers, pre-installed with Ubuntu MATE, books about Ubuntu MATE,
shirts, jackets, mugs, and more!


FUNDING

The Funding page details a crowdfunding campaign with three main objectives:

 1. Fund the Ubuntu MATE project’s hosting and bandwidth costs. These include
    domain name registrations, server hosting and bandwidth costs to provide a
    website and Discourse powered community space that is not reliant on social
    networks.

 2. Fund the full-time development of Ubuntu MATE and MATE Desktop and also be
    able to offer financial rewards to contributors of either project. Help
    subsidize the travel expenses of team members to represent MATE Desktop and
    Ubuntu MATE at FLOSS conferences.

 3. Support other Open Source projects that Ubuntu MATE depends upon.


THE UBUNTU MATE COMMUNITY

Posing your question to the Ubuntu MATE Community is the fastest and easiest way
to get answers about how to use Ubuntu MATE. Join the conversation and get
involved. Stop by to share your experiences, ask questions and discuss topics
with other users and developers in our growing community.




KEYBOARD SHORTCUTS

Ubuntu MATE has many keyboard shortcuts that, by pressing a combination of keys,
help you do things that normally require a mouse, trackpad, or another input
device. You can find more keyboard shortcuts documented in the Getting Started
section of Ubuntu MATE Welcome . This provides a comparison of some of these
keyboard shortcuts with those you might have used in your previous operating
system.

> Note
> 
> Changing your theme or window manager in the MATE Tweak tool might change some
> of these shortcuts. These changes in behavior are indicated in the
> descriptions and tables that follow.

Every major operating system makes use of a special hardware "meta key" on the
keyboard. They are listed below, and for the purpose of running Ubuntu MATE on
your computer hardware, the keys are equivalent with one another. In Linux
documentation, the "meta key" is often referred to as the "Super key".

⌘ Apple macOS Command key (used on Apple keyboards) ⊞ The Microsoft Windows logo
key (used on Microsoft-branded and many generic keyboards)  The Ubuntu logo key
or Tux penguin logo key, also known as the "Super" key (used on keyboards of
some computers pre-installed with Linux)

Your keyboard's meta key can be used by Ubuntu MATE to activate menus and
launchers as well as the many keyboard shortcuts that include the "Super" key.
As they are for users of the MATE Desktop in other Linux distributions, both the
Super + L and the Ctrl + Alt + L key combinations are recognized as screen lock
keyboard shortcuts in Ubuntu MATE.

> Tip
> 
> The Super key just works after you install Ubuntu MATE on most computer
> hardware. However, when you order a computer pre-installed with Linux from the
> manufacturer Dell, you will need to follow Dell's instructions on how to
> enable the Super key. Details are available from Dell's support website in a
> knowledge base article entitled, " How to enable the Ubuntu super key on Dell
> OEM Ubuntu installations ." Check your hardware manufacturer's documentation
> or website to determine if your computer's Super key requires similar setup.


COMMON APPLICATION SHORTCUTS

These shortcuts apply in most applications.

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·············································· Meta Key  ⌘ ⊞ Copy the selected
text/object Ctrl + C ⌘ + C Ctrl + C Cut the selected text/object Ctrl + X ⌘ + X
Ctrl + X Paste/insert the selected text/object Ctrl + V ⌘ + V Ctrl + V Paste the
selected text without formatting or with options Ctrl + Shift + V ⌘ + Shift + V
Ctrl + Shift + V Select all text Ctrl + A ⌘ + A Ctrl + A Find and replace words
Ctrl + F ⌘ + F Ctrl + F Make the selected text bold Ctrl + B ⌘ + B Ctrl + B Make
the selected text italic Ctrl + I ⌘ + I Ctrl + I Underline the selected text
Ctrl + U ⌘ + U Ctrl + U Open a new document or window Ctrl + N ⌘ + N Ctrl + N
Save the current document Ctrl + S ⌘ + S Ctrl + S Open another document Ctrl + O
⌘ + O Ctrl + O Print the current document Ctrl + P ⌘ + P Ctrl + P Undo the last
change you made Ctrl + Z ⌘ + Z Ctrl + Z Redo a change that you just undid Ctrl +
Shift + Z ⌘ + Shift + Z Ctrl + Y Toggle the current application between
full-screen and windowed F11 ⌘ + Ctrl + F F11


WINDOW SHORTCUTS

These shortcuts help you manipulate windows with your keyboard.

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·············································· Switch between currently open
windows Alt + Tab ⌘ + Tab Alt + Tab Switch between currently open windows in all
workspaces Ctrl + Alt + Tab Ctrl + Alt + Tab Switch to previous workspace Ctrl +
Alt + ← Ctrl + ← ⊞ + Ctrl + ← Switch to next workspace Ctrl + Alt + → Ctrl + → ⊞
+ Ctrl + → Move the current window to the previous workspace Ctrl + Alt + Shift
+ ← Move the current window to the next workspace Ctrl + Alt + Shift + → Quit
application Alt + F4 ⌘ + Q Ctrl + F4 Close window Ctrl + W ⌘ + W Ctrl + F4 Move
the current window Alt + F7 Resize the current window Alt + F8 Minimize current
window Alt + F9 ⌘ + M Toggle maximize the current window Alt + F10 or  + ↑ / 
+ ↓ Toggle the pulldown terminal Alt + F12 Display the window menu with options
such as 'Always on Top' and 'Minimize' and 'Maximize' and the above commands Alt
+ Space Place window in top left corner of screen Ctrl + Alt + NumPad 7 ⊞ + ← ,
⊞ + ↑ Place window in the top half of screen Ctrl + Alt + NumPad 8 ⊞ + ↑ Place
window in top right corner of screen Ctrl + Alt + NumPad 9 ⊞ + → , ⊞ + ↑
Center/Maximize the window in the middle of the screen Ctrl + Alt + NumPad 5 ⊞ +
↓ Place window in the bottom left corner of the screen Ctrl + Alt + NumPad 1 ⊞ +
← , ⊞ + ↓ Place window in the bottom half of screen Ctrl + Alt + NumPad 2 ⊞ + ↓
Place window in the bottom right corner of the screen Ctrl + Alt + NumPad 3 ⊞ +
→ , ⊞ + ↓


DESKTOP SHORTCUTS

These are shortcuts you can use to operate parts of the desktop.

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·············································· Open the Applications menu Alt +
F1 (Main Menu)  (Brisk Menu) Ctrl + Esc or ⊞ Toggles 'Show Desktop' Ctrl + Alt
+ D F11 ⊞ + D Run an application by typing its name in the box which appears Alt
+ F2 ⌘ + Space ⊞ + R Take a screen shot of the whole screen PrtSc ⌘ + Shift + 3
⊞ + PrtSc Take a screen shot of the current window Alt + PrtSc ⌘ + Shift + 4 Alt
+ PrtSc Open the dialog box to shutdown, restart or suspend Tap the Power button
Hold the Power button for 1.5 sec Lock your screen Ctrl + Alt + L or  + L Ctrl
+ Shift + Power or Ctrl + Shift + Eject ⊞ + L Open a terminal Ctrl + Alt + T
Screen reader enable/disable Ctrl +  + S ⌘ + F5