## Capitolo 8. Configuring Your Desktop

This chapter describes how to use the preference tools to customize the GNOME Desktop.

A preference tool is a small application that allows you to change settings in the GNOME Desktop. Each preference tool covers a particular aspect of your computer. For example, with the Mouse preference tool you can set your mouse to left-handed or right-handed use, or change the speed of the pointer on the screen. With the Windows preference tool you can set behaviour common to all windows such as the way in which you select them with the mouse.

To open a preference tool, choose System->Preferences in the top panel. Choose the tool that you require from the submenu.

With a few exceptions, the changes you make to settings in a preference tool take effect immediately, without needing to close the preference tool. You can keep the preference tool window open while you try the changes, and make further changes if you wish.

Some applications or system components may add their own preference tools to the menu.

Some settings for your system require administrator access. These are in the System->Administration submenu.

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