The most convenient way to use . is at a graphics workstation running a windowing system. These notes are aimed at users who have this facility. In particular we will occasionally refer to the use of . on an X-window system although the vast bulk of what is said applies generally to any implementation of the . environment.
Most users will find it necessary to interact directly with the operating system on their computer from time to time. In these notes we mainly discuss interaction with the operating system on Unix machines. If you are running . under either Macintosh or Windows you will need to make the appropriate adjustment. For both the Macintosh and Windows implementations we have attempted to adhere to the relevant user interface guidelines.
Setting up a workstation to take full advantage of the customizable features of . is a straightforward if somewhat tedious procedure, and will not be considered further here. Users in difficulty should seek local expert help.