SL+User+Interface

=B. Details of the Second Life User Interface=

This section will introduce you to the essentials of the SL User Interface.

One of your first concerns when beginning SL is the user interface and how to control your avatar. Your SL user interface probably looks similar to the window shown below depending on the upgrades to the interface. Provided below (fig. 6) is a description of the user interface controls.

//Figure 6//


 * 1) **File -** Drop down menu allowing for uploading (images, sounds, etc.), taking snapshots, in-world video recording (machinema), setting window size, and exiting SL.
 * 2) **Edit -** Drop down menu allowing for attaching and detaching objects to your avatar, view gestures, view personal profile, edit avatar appearance, view friends and groups, and set preferences.
 * 3) **View -** Drop down menu including viewing options for many things including avatar view, tool bar, inventory, camera and movement controls, maps, and HUD attachments.
 * 4) **World -** Drop down menu including chat and fly options, setting and teleporting to a home location and creating landmarks, setting your avatar status, view account history and purchasing Lindens, and forcing the sun.
 * 5) **Tools -** The items in this drop down menu assist in building allowing for managing, building and editing objects.
 * 6) **Help -** Drop down menu providing access to SL help, reports on bugs, reporting of abuse and lag meter.
 * 7) **Client -** Drop down menu providing options for personal settings, creating high-res snapshots, removing the snapshot sound when pictures are taken in-world, and other in-world client settings.
 * 8) **Server -** Drop down menu including land administrator options.
 * 9) ** Inventory -** Button that opens your avatar 's inventory to view inventory items.
 * 10) **Map -** Button that opens the SL main map allowing you to teleport to other locations on the map.
 * 11) **Mini-Map -** Button that opens a small SL map in the upper-right of your viewer.
 * 12) **Build -** Button provides access to building tools but is only active on land allowing you to build.
 * 13) **Search -** Button that opens a search panel allowing you to search for a variety of in-world items including events, places, people, groups, etc.
 * 14) **Snapshot -** Button that allows you to take in-world pictures.
 * 15) **Fly / Stop Flying -** Button that when pressed either starts or stops your avatar from flying.
 * 16) **Chat -** Button that opens the chat box to text chat with nearby avatar s.
 * 17) **Communicate -** Button that opens Instant messaging, allowing you to IM to individuals or groups.
 * 18) **Search SL -** A quick access location to enter a search topic. It will automatically launch the search panel.
 * 19) **Account Balance -** Identifies how many Lindens are currently in your account.
 * 20) **Buy SL Currency -** Button allowing quick access to buy SL currency (Linden dollars).
 * 21) ** SL Time -** Provides the current SL in-world time.
 * 22) **Land Parcel Identification -** Provides the name of the land parcel on which your avatar is standing.
 * 23) ** Voice Enabled Icon** - Identifies if voice is enabled on the land parcel your avatar is standing.

 The following resources are SL training videos created by Russel Stannard, 2008.
 * Additional Resources: **
 * **Second Life Part 1 - Basic Interface** - to view this video click on the link and a page will appear with a menu on the left side. The videos will begin playing automatically but to view the correct video for this section select the //**6-Basic Interface**// title.