Folders

Folders on the desktop can store applications, data such as text files or spreadsheets, and other items. Double-clicking on a folder will open it and display its contents.

Folders correspond to directories on your system. Your default desktop includes a folder showing you the contents of your /home directory (see Figure 2-3). Although you can specify different ways to view the contents of your /home and other directories on your system, in general, the left pane of the file manager shows you the directory tree while the right pane shows you the contents of that directory.

Figure 2-3. Contents of an Open Folder

You can start the file manager by double-clicking on a folder on your desktop or from the main menu, under File Manager.

	What is the file manager?
	The file manager is actually an application called the `GNU Midnight Commander`, or `GMC`. `GMC` is GNOME's version of the popular `Midnight Commander` file manager. You can learn more about the `File Manager` in the section called The `GNOME File Manager` in Chapter 10 or from the GNOME User's Guide at the GNOME website.