First Steps

3.1. The User Interface

The user interface includes the following components:

  • A menu bar on the top.

    Depending on the groupware configuration, there is a header bar above the menu bar. It displays the software title and your username.

  • On the left side below the menu bar the search bar is displayed. It can be enabled or disabled together with the folder tree.

  • The Folder tree can be activated on the left side.

  • On the right side below the menu bar a tool bar is displayed. It contains app specific functions and functions for selecting the view in the display area.

  • The remaining space is used for the display area.

  • Depending on the action executed, the pop-up window or the notification area will overlap the display area.

  • Text that can be clicked is displayed in blue.

  • You can also use the keyboard to access the user interface functions.

The following screen shots show the user interface, using the E-Mail application as an example.

Menu bar

The menu bar

Contains the following icons and buttons:

  • Buttons for launching applications like E-Mail or Calendar

    Next to the E-Mail button, the number of unread E-Mail messages in your personal E-Mail folders are displayed.

  • Depending on the action, additional buttons might be displayed e.g.,: if composing a new email or editing an appointment.

  • Unread Badge icon . The icon notifies you of the number of new objects e.g., unread E-Mail messages or scheduled appointment invitations. Clicking opens the notification area .

  • Refresh icon . Reloads objects from the server. Irrespective of this function, objects are refreshed in regular intervals.

  • System menu icon . Opens a menu with the following entries:

    • Settings. Opens a page that allows customising settings.

    • My contact data. Opens a window where you can adjust your personal contact data in the global address book.

    • Help. Opens the online help.

    • Fullscreen. Switches to fullscreen mode or back to windowed mode.

    • Sign out. Signs you out from the groupware.

    Depending on the groupware's configuration, additional menu entries might be available.

Search bar

The search bar

In order to display the search bar, click on View in the tool bar. Enable Folder view. The search bar is located on the left side below the menu bar. It contains the following:

  • Input field for the search term

  • Search icon . Starts a search.

As soon as the search is enabled the search functions will overlap the folder tree. The search results are displayed in the display area. In order to finish the search, click on Close search.

Tool bar

The toolbar

The tool bar is located below the menu bar. It contains the following functions:

  • Buttons for creating new objects, e.g. a new E-Mail or a new contact.

  • Buttons or icons for editing objects.

  • Depending on the app, additional app specific buttons or icons might be available.

  • Actions icon . Contains app specific functions for organising objects.

  • View button. Contains functions for controlling the layout in the display area and for opening or closing the folder tree.

Folder tree

The folder tree

In order to display the folder tree, click on View in the tool bar. Enable Folder view. The following information is displayed in the folder tree:

  • the app specific folders

  • depending on the application, sections for personal, public and shared folders

    Note: Depending on the groupware configuration, those sections might not be displayed if there are no public or shared folders.

  • The Folder-specific actions icon next to the selected folder. It contains functions for organising folders. Depending on the folder, additional functions might be available.

    Tip: You can also access the folder-specific actions by right-clicking on a folder.

  • Depending on the app, additional functions might be available.

  • The Open folder view icon or the Close folder view icon at the bottom left side opens or closes the folder tree.

Display area

The display area

Depending on the app, the display area includes the following components.

  • A list of objects. On top of the list, control elements for selecting or sorting objects are displayed.

    The details of the object selected in the list, are displayed in a detail view.

  • An icon view of objects. Clicking on an object opens a pop-up window. The object's details are displayed in the pop-up.

You can change the view in the display area by using the View button in the tool bar.

Pop-up

The pop-up

Shows an object's details. In order to open the pop-up, click on a groupware object in the display area. If you read an E-Mail in the display area and click on the name of the sender, the following elements are displayed in the pop-up:

  • buttons for certain actions, e.g. copying the sender's contact data to a folder

  • the sender's contact data

  • relevant information, e.g. your shared appointments or your E-Mail conversation with the sender

  • Information about this person from social networks. You can use the available buttons to open this person's profile.

Those person related data are called halo view. If clicking on certain objects in the pop-up, an additional pop-up opens. In order to close a pop-up, click the Close icon on the upper right side.

Notification area

The info area

Displays information about the following objects:

  • unread E-Mail messages

  • new appointment invitations

  • queued tasks

  • tasks with a due date in the past

In order to open the notification area, click the Unread badge iconin the menu bar. You can do the following:

  • To read a new E-Mail click on it.

  • To open the inbox click on Show Inbox.

  • To confirm new appointments click on the Confirm button.

  • To hide information about specific objects, click the Close icon next to the group.

To close the notification area, click the Unread badge icon again.