2.3. Using included software

This is a brief overview of applications included in Linux Mint 20.1 Cinnamon.

You can launch them from the Applications Menu (Fig. 21). You can search the list of installed applications using the search bar.

Fig. 21 Launching an application

Note

Some applications discussed here are not included in the default installation.

This includes GNU Image Manipulation Program and Inkscape. You can install them using Software Manager.

2.3.1. Files — manage files and directories

Files is the default file manager (Fig. 22) in Linux Mint.

Fig. 22 Main window of Files

Using Files

You can launch Files from the Applications Menu or by clicking on its icon in the Panel.

These are some tips on using Files.

Toggle icon and list views

You can quickly switch between Icon and List View using icons in the toolbar.

Toggle sidebar

You can open the sidebar view or hide it using icons in the status bar.

Open an extra pane

You can open an extra pane using:

View ‣ Extra Pane

This is especially useful when you are copying files between local directories or when connected to remote systems.

Bookmark locations

When you are browsing a directory, you can bookmark it if you will access it frequently. This function is available under:

Bookmark ‣ Add Bookmark

Connect to servers

Files can be used to connect to external servers using FTP, SSH, Samba and Webdav. This option is available under:

File ‣ Connect to Server

To learn more about this feature, read Transferring files between systems.

2.3.2. Firefox — browse the web

Firefox is the default web browser (Fig. 23).

Fig. 23 Firefox web browser

Other web browsers can be installed using Software Manager.

2.3.3. Text Editor — create and edit text files

The Text Editor can be used for working with files in plain text formats like .txt, .md and .fasta, or editing configuration files like .bashrc (Fig. 24).

Fig. 24 Text Editor with Document Statistics and Preferences windows open

Using Edit ‣ Preferences, you can customize settings like the font used, display of line numbers, indentation, word wrap etc.,

The Tools ‣ Document Statistics feature is useful for counting the numbers of words and characters in a document.

Opening hidden files in Text Editor

To open hidden files in Text Editor:

1. Use File ‣ Open to select a file

2. In the Open Files dialog that appears, right-click in the middle pane and select Show Hidden Files (Fig. 25).

   

   Fig. 25 Opening hidden files in Text Editor

   You can also use the Ctrl + h keyboard shortcut.

2.3.4. LibreOffice — edit documents and spreadsheets

LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc can be used to create and edit documents and spreadsheets, respectively (Fig. 26).

Fig. 26 LibreOffice Writer and Calc programs

The default file formats used by Writer and Calc are ODF Text Document (.odt) and ODF Spreadsheet (.ods) respectively.

These applications also support reading and writing files in Microsoft Office formats like .docx or .doc (Word) and .xlsx or .xls (Excel).

There are additional applications in the LibreOffice suite with functionality to create and edit slide shows or presentations, scientific formulas, diagrams and file-based databases.

2.3.5. Terminal — access the command-line

The Terminal application (Fig. 27) provides the possibility of working with the command-line interface. The default login shell for users on Linux Mint is Bash.

Fig. 27 Terminal

By selecting the Edit ‣ Preferences menu item, you can customize Terminal’s appearance and functionality (Fig. 28).

Fig. 28 Changing Terminal colour scheme in preferences

2.3.6. Screenshot — take screenshots of desktop or windows

The Screenshot program is useful for taking screenshots of the entire screen, an application window or a selected area of the screen (Fig. 29).

Fig. 29 Screenshot program

2.3.7. Software Manager — install software from repositories

Software Manager can be used to install software from Linux Mint, Ubuntu, Debian and Flathub repositories (Fig. 30).

For a step-by-step procedure for installing software using Software Manager, please consult The quick and easy method.

Fig. 30 Software Manager

2.3.8. GNU Image Manipulation Program — edit images

The GIMP program can be used to edit images in various formats like JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP etc., (Fig. 31).

Fig. 31 Editing an image in GIMP

2.3.9. Inkscape — create vector graphics

Inkscape can be used to create and edit images in the scalable vector graphics (SVG) format (Fig. 32).

Fig. 32 Creating vector graphics in Inkscape

2.3.10. Useful tips

Adding an application to favourites

If you use an application frequently, you can consider adding it to favourites. This list is on the left side of the applications’ menu.

To favourite an application, right-click on the application name in applications menu and select Add to favorites.

Alternatively, you can choose the Add to panel action, which will add the application to your Panel. Some applications are visible in the Panel by default — a Show Desktop applet, Firefox browser, Terminal, and Files.

Setting default applications

If you would like to set default applications for certain categories or file types, you can do so in System Settings under:

Preferences ‣ Preferred applications

Comments