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<sect1 id="sect-gui-overview">
<title>Overview</title>
<!-- TODO: add section on "druids" graph/textopen/textsave. -->
<!-- TODO: add section with "dialogs" filein/fileout/sheet/function/preferences/properties... -->
<para>
This part of the &gnum; manual
explains the pieces of the software that users can manipulate. The
menus, the toolbars and the cell grid area comprise what is called
the graphical user interface of an application because it is an
interface --- a way to interact with Gnumeric --- which is made of
graphical elements --- pictures --- designed to be used by human
users.
</para>
<para>
&gnum; opens by default with a view
of an empty workbook which is called "Book 1" and which contains
three worksheets: "Sheet1", "Sheet2", and "Sheet3" as can be seen
in <xref linkend="fig-gui-overview-gnumeric-labelled" />. The
outermost portion of the window is not actually part of
&gnum; and may look different on
different machines. &gnum; attempts
to place its name and the name of the workbook on this outer
portion.
</para>
<para>
The majority of spreadsheet work is done while interacting with
this view of &gnum;. All of the
functions which &gnum; provides can
be accessed quickly from here. The graphic elements of
&gnum; are made of several
independent pieces. <xref
linkend="fig-gui-overview-gnumeric-labelled" /> shows a newly
opened, empty Gnumeric with the principle elements labelled.
</para>
<figure id="fig-gui-overview-gnumeric-labelled">
<title>The Gnumeric worksheet elements</title>
<mediaobject>
<imageobject>
<imagedata fileref="figures/gnumeric-labelled.png" format="PNG" />
</imageobject>
</mediaobject>
</figure>
<para>
The elements names are listed below along with a reference to
the section that discusses that element. Those reading this document
on their computers may be able to click on the references to jump to
that section of the manual.
</para>
<variablelist>
<varlistentry>
<term>
<emphasis role="bold">1</emphasis>
The menubar
</term>
<listitem>
<para>The menubar provides access to the core
functions of GNOME. Almost everything that can
be done in &gnum;
can be done through the menus. The menus and
menubar are discussed in <xref linkend="sect-gui-menus" />. </para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term>
<emphasis role="bold">2</emphasis>
The standard toolbar
</term>
<listitem>
<para>
The standard toolbar provides shortcuts for the most used
items in the menus. The toolbars are discussed in <xref
linkend="sect-gui-toolbars" /> and this toolbar in particular in
<xref linkend="std-toolbar" />.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term>
<emphasis role="bold">3</emphasis>
The format toolbar
</term>
<listitem>
<para>
The format toolbar changes the display properties of data in
the workbook. It is presented in <xref linkend="fmt-toolbar"
/>, part of the general discussion of toolbars of <xref
linkend="sect-gui-toolbars" />.
</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term>
<emphasis role="bold">4</emphasis>
The object toolbar
</term>
<listitem>
<para>This toolbar enables the user to draw graphic elements
on the sheet, such as text labels, big red circles or thin
green arrows. These can be used to bring attention to a
particular part of a worksheet. The object toolbar is
explained in <xref linkend="obj-toolbar" /> in the <xref
linkend="sect-gui-toolbars" /> portion of the manual.</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term>
<emphasis role="bold">5</emphasis>
The data entry area
</term>
<listitem>
<para>The data entry area is useful for the
modification of complex formulas. It is discussed in
<xref linkend="data-entry" />. </para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term>
<emphasis role="bold">6</emphasis>
The cell grid area
</term>
<listitem>
<para>The cell area lies in the middle of all the rest. The
cell area includes the row and column labels, the scrollbars
and the tabs below. The use of these elements is explained in
<xref linkend="cell-grid" />.</para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
<varlistentry>
<term>
<emphasis role="bold">7</emphasis>
The information area
</term>
<listitem>
<para>This area is used by
&gnum; to give
feedback on the status of certain
operations. This information is explained in
<xref linkend="info-area" />. </para>
</listitem>
</varlistentry>
</variablelist>
<para>
The next chapters will explain each of these elements. <xref
linkend="sect-gui-menus" /> will explain the menus, <xref
linkend="sect-gui-toolbars" /> will explain the toolbars, <xref
linkend="data-entry" /> will explain the data entry area, <xref
linkend="cell-grid" /> will explain the cell grid area, and <xref
linkend="info-area" /> will explain the information area.
</para>
<!-- A few of these functions are complicated (and powerful) so
they are explained in larger sections later in the manual. The next
section gives references to those detailled so that readers looking
for advanced information can skip to those sections directly. -->
</sect1>
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