Ubuntu Kung Fu: Tips, Tricks, Hints, and Hacks

Contents......Page 5
Introduction......Page 15
How to read this book......Page 16
Acknowledgements......Page 17
An Ubuntu administration crash course......Page 19
The Ubuntu desktop......Page 20
Users, passwords and files......Page 22
Command-line or GUI?......Page 25
Software installation and management......Page 35
Using gconf-editor......Page 50
Editing configuration files......Page 52
Making and keeping backups......Page 53
Rescue me! What to do if it all goes wrong......Page 55
Miscellaneous things you ought to know......Page 57
Set any picture as wallpaper with a single-click......Page 62
See (and reuse) the most recently typed commands......Page 63
Switch monitor resolutions with a single mouse-click......Page 64
Stop the cursor blinking......Page 65
Optimize startup for faster boot times......Page 66
Change Gedit's printing font......Page 70
Shrink or enlarge images at the command line......Page 72
Have Ubuntu speak to you......Page 73
Take photos or record videos with your webcam......Page 74
Add a swap file or expand existing swap space......Page 75
Get rid of the virtual console legal boiler-plate......Page 76
Create website or email links that automatically install software......Page 77
Make fonts look superb......Page 79
Slow down a touchpad's scrolling......Page 80
Improve the GNOME Terminal look and feel......Page 82
Ensure Ubuntu always knows the time......Page 83
Share files across the network (without tearing your hair out)......Page 84
Save ink when printing......Page 86
Browse the web from the command-line......Page 87
Create an ``Ubuntu install'' USB stick......Page 88
Quickly run applications without opening a terminal window......Page 90
Instantly search Google for any word or phrase......Page 91
Ensure you're informed about the newest releases of Ubuntu......Page 92
Configure Ubuntu's firewall......Page 93
Repair Windows from within Ubuntu......Page 98
Logon automatically after boot-up......Page 99
Use an alternative wifi connection manager......Page 100
Make Evolution more like Outlook (just a little bit)......Page 101
Give Ubuntu a static IP address......Page 103
Format a USB memory stick (or camera memory card)......Page 104
Protect Ubuntu so it can't be booted without a password......Page 107
Dump the text on a virtual console to a file......Page 109
Eliminate the time period during which sudo/gksu powers hang around......Page 110
Access Ubuntu files from Windows......Page 111
Make Ubuntu safe for children to use......Page 113
Go completely fullscreen in virtually any application......Page 117
Follow the moon's phases......Page 118
Drag and drop files onto the terminal window......Page 119
Use the ultra-quick xterm to bash-out commands......Page 120
Install all the program compilation tools you'll need......Page 121
Avoid network slowdowns and incompatibilities......Page 122
Print at the command-line......Page 123
Get your webcam working in Ubuntu......Page 124
Install all the multimedia playback codecs you'll ever need......Page 125
Get better DVD movie playback......Page 126
Run the terminal with a single key-press......Page 127
Kill the network connection instantly......Page 128
Post blog entries from your Ubuntu desktop......Page 129
Temporarily disable a user account......Page 130
Take complete control of desktop effects and animations......Page 131
Do some desktop publishing......Page 132
Search the Ubuntu file system......Page 134
Remove the ``bad password'' wait period......Page 137
Run Ubuntu... without Linux!......Page 138
Scan for viruses......Page 139
Get the most out of (or into) a Nautilus window......Page 143
Administer the printer from a web browser......Page 144
Connect to shared folders from the command-line......Page 145
Switch to a lightweight file manager......Page 147
Use syntax highlighting in Gedit......Page 149
Use an alternative email client......Page 150
Ensure people hear you when using a microphone......Page 152
Add a second hard disk......Page 153
Install 465 open source fonts......Page 155
Make your Windows partition read only......Page 156
Run GUI programs from a terminal window without tying up input......Page 157
Set the CPU speed from the desktop......Page 158
SSH into Ubuntu from Windows......Page 159
Enable the root user......Page 160
Quickly create graphical text banners......Page 161
Securely erase data......Page 162
Turn any text file into a PDF at the command-line......Page 164
Uninstall Ubuntu......Page 165
Access ISO images as if they're disk drives......Page 167
Improve Ubuntu's Microsoft Office 2007 file support......Page 168
Get around partitioning errors if using BootCamp on Macs......Page 169
Sleep, Ubuntu, sleep!......Page 170
Reveal the desktop......Page 171
Set hard disk power-saving......Page 172
Use FTP under Ubuntu......Page 173
Switch to old-fashioned tree-view in Nautilus......Page 175
Increase the number of documents remembered by Gedit......Page 176
Utilize all a sound card's features......Page 177
Make the command-prompt colorful......Page 178
Give the boot menu a wallpaper......Page 180
Reconfigure your graphics card from the ground-up......Page 183
Administer Ubuntu using a web browser, from any computer (or operating system)......Page 184
Give Nautilus windows their own wallpaper......Page 187
Create an encrypted filestore accessible from any operating system......Page 188
Make Ubuntu blue (or dark grey, or dark brown)......Page 192
Use versions of Ubuntu that are entirely Free Software......Page 193
Monitor your computer's temperature and fan speeds......Page 194
Print multiple photos on one sheet of paper......Page 195
Try some alternative web browsers......Page 196
Convert images from one format to another at the command-line......Page 197
Make new mail windows taller......Page 198
Import email messages from Outlook and/or Outlook Express......Page 199
Use the Mac OS ``quit'' keyboard shortcut......Page 200
Access Ubuntu's desktop from any computing device......Page 201
View technical details of your PC's hardware......Page 202
Switch to old-fashioned ``spatial browsing'' mode......Page 203
Search man pages......Page 204
Use a dial-up modem......Page 205
Steal the Windows (or Mac OS) fonts......Page 206
Use unusual characters or symbols......Page 208
Encrypt and sign emails......Page 209
Create .zip files using maximum compression......Page 214
Create an Ubuntu ``updates'' CD/DVD......Page 215
Get a high-quality (and free) command-line word processor by installing Microsoft Word......Page 216
Create a ``superuser terminal'' shortcut......Page 218
Find out who you are!......Page 219
Use a GUI version of vim......Page 220
See a quote of the day whenever you login......Page 221
Make GNOME System Monitor appear when Ctrl+Alt+Delete is hit......Page 223
Change your computer's name (hostname)......Page 225
Swap around the minimize, maximize, and close buttons......Page 226
Add an über-Start button to Ubuntu......Page 227
Connect to a remote computer as if you are sitting in front of it......Page 228
Change Ubuntu's system sounds......Page 230
Move around the command-line like a pro......Page 231
``Scroll'' a virtual console......Page 232
Do math at the command-line......Page 233
Create keyboard shortcuts that use the ``Windows'' key......Page 234
Create a text file without a text editor......Page 235
See which virtual console you're working at......Page 236
Get warned when sudo powers hang around......Page 237
Add drop shadows to screenshots......Page 238
Change Firefox's spellchecker language......Page 239
Take full control of Ubuntu's PulseAudio sound output......Page 240
Mirror commands and output across different terminal windows......Page 241
Instantly view a load of images as a slideshow......Page 242
Use a Windows-style ``Start'' button and taskbar......Page 243
Change your password......Page 245
Convert hex to decimal (and vice versa)......Page 246
Quickly send web links by email......Page 247
Sharpen images at the command line......Page 248
Run Windows programs under Ubuntu......Page 249
See a visual representation of file and folder locations......Page 252
Create text banners......Page 254
Use a Macintosh OS X-like Dock......Page 255
Process words at the command-line......Page 256
Repair Ubuntu file system errors......Page 258
Clone your Ubuntu installation onto a new hard disk......Page 259
Create a boot log to help solve startup problems......Page 264
Install a personal FTP server for file sharing......Page 265
Shutdown, reboot, hibernate, or sleep Ubuntu with a single click......Page 268
Delete files rather than trash them......Page 269
Rename many files at once (a.k.a. bulk rename)......Page 270
Get an alternative media player......Page 272
Use the mouse at the virtual console (complete with copy & paste)......Page 276
See a progress display as the desktop loads......Page 277
Make the GNOME Terminal window translucent......Page 278
Automate the download and installation of new theme components......Page 279
Burn Ubuntu CD images (ISOs) using Windows---for free......Page 280
Quickly create links to files, folders, and/or applications......Page 281
Monitor CPU usage......Page 282
Make files and folders entirely private......Page 283
Get quick access to stuff you're working on......Page 284
Insert command-line output and files into the clipboard......Page 285
Get notified when new mail arrives......Page 286
Increase output ``remembered'' by GNOME Terminal......Page 287
Have OpenOffice.org save in Microsoft Office format by default......Page 288
Password-protect and encrypt files......Page 289
Add notes to any file/folder......Page 293
Encrypt files so that only the recipient can open them......Page 294
Define your own menu shortcut keys......Page 295
Always know your IP address......Page 296
View technical details of any multimedia file......Page 297
Convert PDFs and images to Macromedia Flash slideshows......Page 298
Create an alias to save typing long commands......Page 299
Send genuine smileys in your emails......Page 300
Make Windows bootable if things go wrong during Ubuntu installation......Page 301
Edit the name & artist information of MP3 files......Page 302
Never touch the mouse while using Ubuntu (well, almost)......Page 303
Install Skype......Page 304
Arrange output into columns......Page 305
Synchronize files between a laptop and desktop PC......Page 306
Rename files quickly......Page 310
Have sudo insult you......Page 311
See the GNOME fish......Page 312
Use desktop widgets......Page 313
Read eBooks......Page 315
Make (almost) any wifi card work with Ubuntu......Page 316
Connect to a Windows Vista computer's remote desktop......Page 321
Use a ``legal'' MP3 codec......Page 322
Use look-a-likes of the Microsoft fonts......Page 323
Play old MS-DOS games......Page 324
Install Google applications......Page 325
Use alternative office applications......Page 329
Backup your data......Page 332
Give old Macintosh computers a new lease of life......Page 337
Install the GNOME wallpapers......Page 338
Play MP3/Ogg files at the command-line......Page 339
Optimize Ubuntu's performance......Page 340
Tweak Ubuntu into oblivion......Page 341
Do just about anything to a file by right-clicking it......Page 343
Get notified of new Gmail messages......Page 346
OCR scanned text......Page 347
Turn your desktop into your /home folder......Page 349
Allow Terminal Server Client to access VNC desktops......Page 350
Install Windows on a computer that has Ubuntu on it......Page 351
Turn your computer into a egg timer......Page 354
Create a portable USB stick installation of Ubuntu......Page 355
Enhance the copy and paste clipboard......Page 359
Be told when your tea has brewed......Page 360
Fix USB key sticks that wrongly report they're full......Page 361
Use Ubuntu's built-in download manager......Page 362
Record your desktop......Page 364
Take screenshots in any format......Page 365
Automatically scroll PDF files......Page 366
V......Page 367