This is embarrasing. I am using Gnome desktop on Hardy Heron. My desktop nav bar (that normally is at the top) is stuck on the right. There are so many packed icons there is no place to grab the nav bar. I have removed several icons but I am getting down to the essentials. Is there an alternative way to move the nav bar that doesn't involve dragging it with my mouse pointer? (Feeling link a dunce.)

Right click on any possible space on the bar that isn't an applet and click properties. Then you should be able to change the orientation to top. I hope that's what you wanted.

That's what I do after I "unpack" the nav bar. When the nav bar is at the top, the applet spacing is adequate. But, when I (foolishly?) move the nav bar to one side, to deal with an occasional problem*, the applets are so packed that there is no space to grab it with a right click. (Every right click opens an applet.) I begrudgingly move custom applets off, disable some standard applets, move the nav bar to the top, replace the applets and swear under my breath. What I need is a way to move the crowded nav bar from the right side to the top without all the frigging hassle.

*The problem happens when I fill a sticky note with too much text and it hides the note's only control bar under the top nav bar. Two naughty apps team tagging me. ;-)