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Getting started with the launcher

The launcher allows to simply navigate between the different applications of the platform.

launcher App

Application navigation bar

On the left side of the page, you can find the different available applications.

App shortcuts

When you are on an application, you can use the two buttons on the top left to:

Reload App Reload the application

Open App Open the application in a new tab.

Fullscreen Mode

You can enter fullscreen mode by clicking on the bottom left button Fullscreen.

Click on it again or press Escape to exit fullscreen mode.

Jupyter Tool

The Jupyter icon Jupyter Icon on the top right allows you to quickly start and stop your VRE.

You can see the current state of your VRE by looking at the color of the circle next to the icon.

  • Blue: the VRE is stopped.
    • Click on Start Server button to start your VRE

Start Server

  • Orange: the VRE is starting up or shutting down.

Spawning Server

  • Green: the VRE is running.
    • Click on Open in Jupyter Lab to open Jupyter Lab application.
    • Click on Stop Server button to shut down your VRE.

Stop Server

  • Red: an error occured

If it is your first time using the Launcher and the VRE, you will see a red icon and a button to create your user account inside Jupyter. Then you will be able to start your VRE.

Create User

Chat notifications

Via the message icon message_icon, you can see all unread mattermost messages. You can see which person or in which channel you have received a message. By clicking the notification, you can open mattermost on the selected message to read it.

Next to the message icon, you can see a ringbell icon message_bell_icon with the total number of notifications. For now it only counts mattermost messages but in the future it will count other notifications.

message_notif

Helpdesk

This top right icon HelpIcon allows you to get help through a form or live chat if an agent is available.

Stop Server

If an agent is available for a live chat (indicated by a green circle), you can open the chat with the bar at the bottom of the page.

Stop Server

If there is no agent available, you can send a message to the helpdesk via the form.

Wiki

Open the wiki with this button Wiki Icon.

Profile

With the profile menu, you can access your settings or logout.

Profile

Settings

You can edit your settings to match your needs.

Profile

Jupyter Settings

  • Jupyter default Notebook profile: When you start your VRE via the Jupyter icon, the default notebook profile is used.
  • Start with default Notebook profile: Choose if you want the default profile to be started or if you prefer to select your own profile each time.

Preferences

  • Disable sidebar auto expand on hover: Prevents the sidebar to expand when you hover over it.
  • Disable mini sidebar: Removes the mini sidebar. There is either no sidebor or the expanded one.
  • Show Live chat popup: Shows a popup when an agent is available in the bottom right corner.
  • Widgets:
    • Reset widgets preferences: Resets collapsed or removed widgets and other changes.
    • Reset widgets order: Resets the order of the widgets.

When you have made your changes, click on Update Settings to save and apply.

Dashboard

The dashboard is composed of multiple widgets.

Dashboard

Widgets

  • Getting Started: A widget that shows you how to use the Launcher.
  • VRE Usage: A widget that displays CPU, Memory and bandwidth usage of your VRE via grafana dashboard.
    Widgets actions:
    • reload: reloads the widget.
    • open: opens Grafana application on the same dashboard.
  • Tutorials: Contains a list of links to tutorials on specific subjects. Some tutorials redirect you directly to notebook inside your VRE.
    Widgets actions:
    • reload: reloads tutorials list.
    • open: Changes the number of tutorials inside the widgets.
    • Click on View all Tutorials to open the tutorials list.

Each widget can be reduced or removed with the corresponding button collapse and remove.

Widgets can be reordered by selecting the first one and clicking onto the second one to swap their positions. To select a widget, click on its header, it will turn blue to indicate that it is currently selected.

Shortcuts

Use Alt + ⬆️ or Alt + ⬇️ to go to previous or next application in the list.

Use Alt + 4️⃣ to go to application number 4️ (works with any number).