This chapter describes how to use the menus, move data objects, and use the clipboard and shelves.
Specifically, this chapter explains:
To start MediaWarehouse now, click the words MediaWarehouse . Figure 3-1 shows MediaWarehouse.
For information on other ways to start MediaWarehouse, see “Starting MediaWarehouse.” For information on the types of data objects you can store, see “Types of Data Objects You Can Store.”
MediaWarehouse has a menu bar at the top of the screen (above the viewer) and a Shelves option menu above the shelf storage area. For information about these menus, see:
The MediaWarehouse menu bar, at the top of the screen, is shown in Figure 3-2.
To select an item from a menu, click the left mouse button on the menu, and select the item of interest. MediaWarehouse menus are described below.
Use the File menu to define preferences, import a file, import a linked file, save the current state of MediaWarehouse, or exit the application. Figure 3-3 shows the File menu.
For information about Preferences, see “Media Warehouse Preferences.” For information about linking files, see “Linking Files and Directories.”
Use the Edit menu to perform cut, copy, and paste operations, get information about an object, and search for an object. For information about copying and pasting, see “Moving Data Objects To and From MediaWarehouse.”
Table 3-1 lists the Edit menu functions.
Table 3-1. Edit Menu Functions
Menu Item | Description |
|---|---|
Cut to Clipboard | Cuts (or deletes) the current selection to the clipboard. |
Copy to Clipboard | Copies the current selection to the clipboard. |
Paste from Clipboard | Pastes the current selection from the clipboard. |
Copy to Primary Selection | Copies the primary selection to the clipboard. |
Paste from Primary Selection | Pastes from the primary selection to the clipboard. |
Object Info | Provides information about the current selection including its type, name, and keyword(s) associated with it. You can change the name of the object and keyword(s). Type the new name and/or keywords, and press OK. |
Delete Object | Deletes the object in the viewer. |
Search | Searches for an object. Type the name of the object or keyword(s), or both a name and keyword(s), and press OK. If you use “and” in the keyword search, and you specify both a name and some keywords, they all must match for the search to be successful. If you use “or” in the keyword search, you'll get a match if the name or any of the keywords matches. |
Continue Search | Continues to search the warehouse database for the specified object. |
Figure 3-4 shows the Edit menu.
Use the Shelf menu to add, rename, or delete a shelf. Table 3-2 lists Shelf menu functions.
Table 3-2. Shelf Menu Functions
Menu Item | Description |
|---|---|
New Shelf | Creates a new shelf named “new_shelf.” |
Rename Current Shelf | Renames the current shelf. Type the new shelf name and press OK. |
Delete Current Shelf | Deletes the current shelf and its contents. Press OK to delete the shelf. |
Refresh Shelf Links | Updates a shelf created by linking a directory. |
Figure 3-5 shows the Shelf menu.
Use the Help menu for an overview of MediaWarehouse, for help on a specific topic, for context-sensitive help, and product information. Figure 3-6 shows the Help menu.
Many MediaWarehouse commands have a keyboard shortcut. Table 3-3 lists the command shortcuts.
Command | Keyboard Shortcut |
|---|---|
Online help | F1 |
Click for help | Shift-F1 |
Close a dialog box | Escape |
Save database | Control-S |
Quit MediaWarehouse | Control-Q |
Cut to clipboard | Control-X |
Copy to clipboard | Control-C |
Paste from clipboard | Control-V |
Search | Control-R |
Continue search | Control-N |
You can display a shelf by using the Shelves menu, which is above the storage shelf area. Just click the left mouse button on the Shelves menu and select the desired shelf. Figure 3-7 shows the Shelves menu.
You can also use the Shelf menu above the viewer to add, rename, or delete a shelf (see “Shelf Menu” for information about this menu).
It's easy to copy objects to and from MediaWarehouse (import and export objects), and it's easy to move objects from one shelf to another. Any X application that supports drag and drop, cut and paste, and/or primary selection transfer can serve as the source or destination of objects.
You can copy objects to and from MediaWarehouse by these methods:
You can drag and drop objects to and from MediaWarehouse just as you drag and drop objects to and from many other applications.
To drag and drop an object into MediaWarehouse:
Initiate the drag-and-drop action in the source application (typically by pressing and holding the middle mouse button).
Drag the object into the shelf area of the MediaWarehouse, and release the mouse button.
The object, represented as an icon, is placed in alphabetical order on the shelf. The object also appears in the viewer if its viewer is installed.
You can link a file by pressing and holding the Shift-Control keys as you drop the file into MediaWarehouse. For more information, see “Linking Files and Directories.”
Figure 3-8 shows an example of dragging and dropping an object.
To drag and drop an object from MediaWarehouse to an application (one that supports drag and drop and the object's type):
Place the cursor over the object in the shelf area, and press and hold the middle mouse button.
Drag the object to the destination application, and release the mouse button.
If your source application supports cut and paste, you can add a data object to MediaWarehouse using that method.
To cut and paste an object into MediaWarehouse:
Initiate the “cut” or “copy” function (typically a menu item) in the source application. This places the object on the X clipboard.
Move the cursor to MediaWarehouse.
Pull down the Edit menu and select “Paste from Clipboard.”
A notifier appears asking you to select the import data type. Select the appropriate type and press OK.
A notifier appears asking you to type the name of the object and/or any keyword(s). MediaWarehouse uses the name and keywords for searching its database. Type the name and any keyword(s) you want associated with the object and press OK.
The object, represented as an icon, is placed in alphabetical order on the shelf. The object also appears in the viewer, if its viewer is installed. Figure 3-9 shows this procedure.
To cut and paste an object from MediaWarehouse to another application (one that supports the clipboard and the object's type):
Select the object you want to copy by clicking on its icon in the shelf area.
Pull down the Edit menu and Select “Copy to Clipboard.”
Move the cursor to the destination application, and paste it there.
You can use the primary selection entries on the Edit menu to copy characters to and from MediaWarehouse.
To copy characters (such as text) to MediaWarehouse:
Place the cursor in the source application, window, or screen and select the text by highlighting it (typically by pressing and holding the left mouse button).
Move the cursor to MediaWarehouse.
Pull down the Edit menu and select “Paste from Primary Selection.” The text appears in the viewer and an icon representing the object appears on the shelf below. The icon is labeled with the first few characters of the text you just pasted. Figure 3-10 shows this procedure.
To copy characters (such as text) from MediaWarehouse to another application (one that supports primary-selection transfer):
Select the object you want to copy by clicking on its icon in the shelf area. The text appears in the viewer.
Pull down the Edit menu and select “Copy to Primary Selection.”
Move the cursor to the destination application, and press the middle mouse button.
When you copy a data object to MediaWarehouse and store it there, you place the object on a shelf. You can add a new shelf, rename, and delete a shelf, and move an object from one shelf to another. This section describes:
You can add a new shelf by pulling down the Shelf menu and selecting “New Shelf.” The new self is named “new_shelf” and is empty when it first appears. To rename the shelf, see “Renaming Shelves.”
You can rename a shelf by pulling down the Shelf menu and selecting “Rename Current Shelf.” Just type the new shelf name and press OK.
You can delete a shelf by pulling down the Shelf menu and selecting “Delete Current Shelf.” You are asked if you want to delete the shelf, since the deletion cannot be undone. To delete the shelf and its contents, press OK.
To move an object from one shelf to another:
Select the object you wish to move by clicking on it. It appears in the viewer.
Pull down the Edit menu and select “Copy to Clipboard.”
Click the Shelves option menu and select the destination shelf.
Pull down the Edit menu and select “Paste from Clipboard.”
A notifier appears asking you to select the import data type. Select the appropriate type. The object appears on its new shelf.
You can rename or delete a data object on a shelf.
To rename an object:
Move the cursor to the shelf area and select the object you want to rename.
Pull down the Edit menu and select “Object Info.”
A notifier appears listing the type of object, and its name and keywords (if any). Type the name of the object and any keywords you want associated with the object and press OK. MediaWarehouse uses the name and keywords for searching its database.
To learn about tailoring MediaWarehouse for your particular environment, see Chapter 4, “Customizing MediaWarehouse.”