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<chapter id="usage-mainwindow">
<title>The Main Window: Evolution Basics</title>
<para>
Start <application>Evolution</application> by selecting
<guimenuitem>Evolution</guimenuitem> from your
<guimenu>Programs</guimenu> menu, or by typing
<command>evolution</command> at the command line. The first time
you run the program, it will create a directory called
<filename>evolution</filename> in your home directory, where it
will keep all your <application>Evolution</application>-related
files. At this point, it will also offer to import old messages
from other mail clients, such as Netscape mail.
</para>
<para>
After <application>Evolution</application> starts up, you will
see the <interface>main window</interface>, with the
<interface>Inbox</interface> open. It should look a lot like the
picture in <xref linkend="usage-mainwindow-fig">. On the left of
the <interface>main window</interface> is the <interface>shortcut
bar</interface>, with several buttons in it. Just underneath the
title bar is a series of menus in the <interface>menu
bar</interface>, and below that, the <interface>tool
bar</interface> with buttons for different functions. The largest
part of the <interface>main window</interface> is taken up by the
content view, where your messages are displayed. Above that is
the message list view, where a summary of your email is displayed.
If you're running the program for the first time,
you'll have one message: a welcome from Ximian.
<!-- ==============Figure=================================== -->
<figure id="usage-mainwindow-fig">
<title>Evolution Main Window and Inbox</title>
<screenshot>
<screeninfo>Evolution Main Window</screeninfo>
<graphic fileref="fig/mainwindow-pic" format="png" srccredit="Kevin Breit">
</graphic>
</screenshot>
</figure>
<!-- ==============End of Figure=================================== -->
</para>
<para>
<note>
<title>The Way Evolution Looks</title>
<para>
Both <application>GNOME</application> and <application>
Evolution</application>'s appearances can be customized,
so your graphics may not look the same as the screenshots.
</para>
</note>
</para>
<sect1 id="usage-mainwindow-shortcutbar">
<title>The Shortcut Bar</title>
<para>
<application>Evolution</application>'s most important job is
to give you access to your information and help you use it
quickly. One way it does that is through the
<interface>shortcut bar</interface>, the column on the left
hand side of the main window. The large buttons with names
like <guilabel>Inbox</guilabel> and
<guilabel>Contacts</guilabel> are the shortcuts, and you can
select different groups of shortcuts by clicking the
rectangular group buttons.
</para>
<para>
Take a look at the <guilabel>Shortcut Bar</guilabel>
The shortcut buttons in that category are:
<variablelist>
<!-- NOT IMPLEMENTED!
<varlistentry>
<term> <guibutton>Today:</guibutton></term>
<listitem>
<para>
This will bring up a summary of any new messages you've
received, along with the tasks and appointments you have
lined up for today.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
-->
<varlistentry>
<term> <guibutton>My Evolution</guibutton></term>
<listitem>
<para>
Start your day here. <guilabel>My Evolution</guilabel>
gives you a quick summary of new or important messages,
daily appointments and urgent tasks. You can customize
its appearance and content, and use it to access
Evolution services.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term> <guibutton>Inbox</guibutton></term>
<listitem>
<para>
Click the <guibutton>Inbox</guibutton> button to start
reading your mail. Your Inbox is also where you can
access Evolution's tools to filter, sort, organize, and
search your mail.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term><guibutton>Calendar</guibutton></term>
<listitem>
<para>
The Calendar can store your appointments and To do lists
for you. Connected to a network, you can use it to keep
a group of people on schedule and up to date.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term><guibutton>Tasks</guibutton></term>
<listitem>
<para>
A full-size view of your calendar's task pad.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term><guibutton>Contacts</guibutton></term>
<listitem>
<para>
The Contact Manager holds your addresses, phone numbers,
and contact information. Like calendar information,
contact data can be synchronized with hand-held devices
and shared over a network.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<!-- NOT IMPLEMENTED YET
<varlistentry>
<term> <guibutton>Notes:</guibutton></term>
<listitem>
<para> The note pad is your catch-all tool: use it to take
messages from phone conversations, keep small things
organized, write <glossterm linkend="haiku">haiku</glossterm>, or whatever
you like. This feature is not yet implemented, but will be
soon. See <xref linkend="usage-notes"> for more
information.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
-->
</variablelist>
</para>
<para>
If you don't like the shortcut bar, you can use the folder bar
or the menu bar to navigate the main window. Press
<keycombo action="simul">
<keycap>Ctrl</keycap>
<keycap>O</keycap>
</keycombo>
to choose from a list of folders you'd like to visit, or use the
drop-down folder bar. You can hide and show the folder bar and
the shortcut bar by selecting those items in the
<guimenu>View</guimenu> menu.
</para>
<tip>
<title>Shortcut Bar Tricks</title>
<para>
To remove a shortcut from the shortcut bar, right-click on it
and select <guimenuitem>Remove</guimenuitem>. To add one,
select <menuchoice> <guimenu>File</guimenu>
<guisubmenu>New</guisubmenu> <guimenuitem>Evolution Bar
Shortcut</guimenuitem> </menuchoice>.
</para>
<para>
To change the way the shortcut bar looks, right-click in an
empty space on the shortcut bar. From the menu that appears,
you can select icon sizes.
</para>
</tip>
</sect1>
<sect1 id="usage-mainwindow-folderbar">
<title>Folders and The Folder Bar</title>
<para>
The <interface>folder bar</interface> is a more comprehensive
way to view the information you've stored with
<application>Evolution</application>. It displays all your
appointments, address cards, and email in a tree that's a lot
like a <glossterm linkend="filetree">file
tree</glossterm>— it starts small at the top, and branches
downwards. On most computers, there will be three or four
folders at the base. First is the <guilabel>Local</guilabel>
folder, which holds all the <application>Evolution</application>
data that's stored on your computer. After that are
<guilabel>Other Contacts</guilabel>, <glossterm
linkend="ldap">LDAP</glossterm> contact directories stored on a
network, followed by any <glossterm
linkend="imap">IMAP</glossterm> mail folders you may have
available to you over your network. Lastly, there are
<guilabel>Virtual Folders</guilabel>, discussed in <xref
linkend="usage-mail-organize-vfolders">,
</para>
<para>
A typical <guilabel>Local</guilabel> folder contains the following folders:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem>
<para>
<guilabel>My Evolution</guilabel>, a quick summary to help you do
your tasks.
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
<guilabel>Calendar</guilabel>, for appointments and
event listings.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
<guilabel>Contacts</guilabel>, for address cards.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
<guilabel>Drafts</guilabel>, for messages you started and didn't finish.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
<guilabel>Inbox</guilabel>, for incoming mail.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
<guilabel>Outbox</guilabel>, for messages you have written
but not yet sent. This will be empty unless you use
<application>Evolution</application> while offline.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
<guilabel>Sent</guilabel>, for sent mail.
</para>
</listitem>
<listitem>
<para>
<guilabel>Trash</guilabel>, a virtual folder view of all
the messages you have marked for deletion but not yet
<glossterm linkend="expunge">expunged</glossterm>. Note that
once you have expunged a message, it
is gone for good.
</para>
</listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>
<tip id="foldertips">
<title>Navigating without the Folder Bar</title>
<para>
You don't need the folder bar or the shortcut bar to move
around the main window. You can use <keycap>Tab</keycap> to
switch from one part of the window to another, and the folder
menu on the right side of the window just below the toolbar
to move about the folder tree, even with the folder and
shortcut bars hidden.
</para>
</tip>
<para>
If you get any serious amount of mail, you'll want more folders
than just your Inbox. To create a new folder, select
<menuchoice> <guimenu>File</guimenu>
<guisubmenu>New</guisubmenu>
<guimenuitem>Folder</guimenuitem></menuchoice>
<keycombo action="simul">
<keycap>Shift</keycap>
<keycap>Ctrl</keycap>
<keycap>E</keycap>
</keycombo>. You'll be
asked where you want to put it, and what kind of folder it
should be. You can choose from three types:
<guilabel>Mail</guilabel>, for storing mail,
<guilabel>Calendar</guilabel> for storing calendars, and
<guilabel>Contacts</guilabel> for storing contacts.
</para>
<sect2 id="subfolders">
<title>Subfolders</title>
<para>
<application>Evolution</application> can also manage subfolders.
Subfolders are folders inside of folders. This works well if
you want to try to separate your home folders from your work
folders.
</para>
</sect2>
<note>
<title>Folders Have Limits</title>
<para>
Calendars must go in calendar folders, mail in mail
folders, and contacts in contact folders.
</para>
</note>
<para>
Right-clicking will bring up a menu for just about anything
in GNOME, and <application>Evolution</application> is no
exception. If you right-click on a folder, you'll have a
menu with the following options:
<itemizedlist>
<listitem><para><guimenuitem>View</guimenuitem>, to view the folder. </para></listitem>
<listitem><para><guimenuitem>Open in New Window</guimenuitem>, to see it in a new Evolution window. </para></listitem>
<listitem><para><guimenuitem>Move</guimenuitem>, to move the folder to another location. </para></listitem>
<listitem><para><guimenuitem>Copy</guimenuitem>, to duplicate the folder. </para></listitem>
<listitem><para><guimenuitem>Delete</guimenuitem>, to delete the folder and all its contents. </para></listitem>
<listitem><para><guimenuitem>Rename</guimenuitem>, to change its name. </para></listitem>
<listitem><para><guimenuitem>Create New Folder</guimenuitem>, to create another folder in the same location. </para></listitem>
<listitem><para><guimenuitem>Add to Shortcut Bar</guimenuitem>, to add the folder to your shortcut bar. </para></listitem>
<listitem><para><guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem>, to view or change the folder properties. </para></listitem>
</itemizedlist>
</para>
<para>
You can also rearrange folders and messages with by dragging and
dropping them.
</para>
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<tip>
<title>Context-Sensitive Help</title>
<para>
GNOME 2.0 offers context-sensitive help, which means you can
almost always get help on an item by right-clicking it. If
you're not sure what something is, or don't know what you can
do with it, choosing <guimenuitem>Help</guimenuitem> from the
right-click menu is a good way to find out.
</para>
</tip>
-->
<para>
Any time new information arrives in a folder, that folder label
is displayed in bold text, along with the amount of new messages in
that folder inside of paranthesis.
</para>
</sect1>
<sect1 id="usage-mainwindow-menubar">
<title>The Menu Bar</title>
<para>
The <interface>menu bar</interface>'s contents will always
provide all the possible actions for any given view of your
data. That means that, depending on the context, menu bar items
will change. If you're looking at your Inbox, most of the menu
items will relate to mail; some will relate to other components
of <application>Evolution</application> and some, especially
those in the <guimenu>File Menu</guimenu> will relate to the
application as a whole. The contents of the menu bar are
described in <xref linkend="menuref">.
</para>
<para>
<variablelist>
<varlistentry>
<term> <guimenu>File</guimenu></term>
<listitem><para>
Anything even related to a file or to the operations
of the application generally falls under this
menu: creating things, saving them to disk,
printing them, and quitting the program itself.
</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term> <guimenu>Edit</guimenu></term>
<listitem><para>
The <guimenu>Edit</guimenu> menu holds
useful tools that help you edit text and move it around.
</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term> <guimenu>View</guimenu></term>
<listitem><para>
This menu lets you decide how <application>Evolution</application>
should look. Some of the features control the appearance of
<application>Evolution</application> as a whole, and others
the way a particular kind of information appears.
</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term> <guimenu>Actions</guimenu></term>
<listitem><para>
Holds actions which maybe applied to a message. Normally,
if there is only one target for the action — for
example, replying to a message — you can find it in
the <guimenu>Actions</guimenu> menu.
</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term> <guimenu>Tools</guimenu></term>
<listitem><para>
Tools for configuring, changing, and
setting up preferences go here. For mail, that means things like
<guimenuitem>Mail Configuration</guimenuitem> and the
<guimenuitem>Virtual Folder Editor</guimenuitem>. For the
<interface>Calendar</interface> and the <interface>Contact
Manager</interface>, it's color, network, and layout
configuration.
</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term> <guimenu>Help</guimenu></term>
<listitem><para>
Select among these items to open the
<application>Help Browser</application>
and read the <application>Evolution</application> manual.
</para></listitem>
</varlistentry>
</variablelist>
</para>
<para>
Once you've familiarized yourself with the <interface>main
window</interface> you can start doing things with it. We'll
start with your executive summary.
</para>
</sect1>
</chapter>
