3.2. The File Menu

The File menu is the most important menu in Gnumeric because it gives the user the ability to interact with the computer operating system. This menu allows the user to create files containing all the work they have done. It also enables users to print the results of their work. Finally, the File menu is the best way to close Gnumeric.

Figure 3-4. The File menu.

The menu choices are grouped into the following groups:

File operations.

These menu items perform operations on files. Each item is presented below. File operations are critical and are therefore discussed in their own section latter in this manual in Chapter 10.

Printing operations.

These menu items enable Gnumeric to print. Each item is presented below and printing issues are discussed fully in Chapter 11.

The document summary.

This menu item allows us to edit the summary information of the file currently open in that window. Summary information describes the sheet for including for instance the author name and a comment. See the explanation below.

Recently used files.

These menu entries are shortcuts to re-open recently used files. The list will change dynamically as new workbooks are opened and created. Clicking on a file name listed here is the same as using the Open menu entry and finding the file in the Find File dialog. Note that if the file has been moved since Gnumeric last saved it, gnumeric will not find the file.

The Close and Quit operations.

These menu items either close the current worksheet,Close, or close all open worksheets,Quit. Gnumeric will prompt the user with a Save Workbook.. dialog for any workbooks that have been changed since the last time they were opened or saved.

The File menu contains: