2.3 Desktop Components

The graphical desktop environment should not pose any problems for former Windows or Macintosh users. The main components are the icons on the desktop and the panel at the bottom of the screen. Click a symbol or an icon once to start the associated program or the file manager Konqueror.

Figure 12 KDE Desktop

The desktop has the following icons by default:

2.3.1 Understanding the Desktop Menus

If you middle-click the desktop (if your mouse only has two buttons, press both buttons at the same time), window and desktop management menus are displayed. If you keep the mouse button pressed, select a menu item directly. Alternatively, release the mouse button and click the menu item.

  • Unclutter Windows: If you have several windows on your desktop, they are placed next to each other and aligned with the top left corner.

  • Cascade Windows: Starting from the top left corner, the windows on the desktop are placed on top of each other so that only the top and left borders of the lower windows are visible.

  • Desktop 1: Desktop 1 is your default desktop. All open windows are listed under this menu item. Click windows to move them to the foreground.

  • Additional Desktop: You can use additional virtual desktops. Switch to another desktop with the menu or the panel. All functions are available on all desktops. This limits the number of programs and associated windows that need to be arranged on one desktop. These virtual desktops resemble additional desks in your office.

If you right-click the desktop, a more complex menu is displayed, allowing you to customize your desktop.

  • Create New: Enables creation of new elements (such as directories, files, or URLs) on the desktop. A list of possible elements is provided for selection in a submenu.

  • Bookmarks: Opens the KEditBookmarks bookmark editor so you can create, group, change, or delete bookmarks. The browser and file manager Konqueror can access these bookmarks.

  • Undo: Lets you undo the last action. For example, if you just created a new directory on the desktop, clicking this item cancels the creation so the directory disappears.

  • Paste: To create a desktop icon for a folder or document, copy the icon from the file manager by right-clicking and selecting Copy and then moving the mouse to the desired location on the desktop. Right-click again, then click Paste. The icon is now available on your desktop and can be dragged to another location.

  • Icons: Rearranges the symbols on the desktop. You can also change the order of the icons.

  • Windows: The windows on the desktop are either placed on top of each other at the top left corner or next to each other.

  • Refresh Desktop:If the desktop appears garbled in some way, use this menu item to redraw it.

  • Configure Desktop: Opens a configuration dialog where you can configure the appearance of the desktop. Details about desktop configuration are provided in Customizing Your Settings.

  • Lock Screen: Lets you leave your workstation without logging out but prevents others from gaining access to your files. Depending on the setting, the screen either goes black or a screen saver starts. To continue using the computer, enter your password.

  • Logout User: Logs you out from your system.

2.3.2 Managing the Trash Bin

The trash bin is a directory for files marked for deletion. Drag icons from the file manager or the desktop to the trash bin icon by keeping the left mouse button pressed, then release to drop them there. Alternatively, right-click an icon and select Move to Trash from the menu. Click the trash bin icon to view its contents. You can retrieve an item from the trash if desired.

Files removed with Delete are not moved to the trash bin, but deleted completely. To delete the files in the trash bin completely, right-click the trash bin icon, then click Empty Trash Bin.

2.3.3 Accessing CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and Floppy Disks

Click My Computer on the desktop, then click the drive you want.

Figure 13 My Computer

If you click the Floppy icon when a floppy disk is inserted (or the CD-ROM icon when a CD is inserted), the file manager starts and displays the content of the disk. Display a menu with various options by right-clicking the individual icons on the disk. It is also possible to move the icon to a different location, such as to the desktop or your home directory, by simply keeping the left mouse button pressed and dragging it to the appropriate location. You are asked whether you want to move or copy the file or create a link. You can also copy or move files from your home directory to a floppy disk.

2.3.4 Using the Bottom Panel

The panel at the bottom of the screen (also called the system tray) consists of several areas. By default, the icon for the main menu is located at the far left. Other icons are lined up next to it. The House icon provides quick access to your home directory with all subdirectories. The other icons start applications, such as a terminal window and the Konqueror Web browser.

Figure 14 Bottom Panel (System Tray)

Next to these icons are the numbered buttons that you use to switch desktops. These multiple desktops enable you to organize your work. If you use many programs simultaneously you might want to run some programs in one desktop and other programs in the other desktop. To switch between your work, click the desktop in the panel.

The taskbar is located next to the virtual desktops. All started applications are displayed in the taskbar. If you click a window title in the taskbar, the application is moved to the foreground. If it is already in the foreground, clicking minimizes the application; if you click it again, it reopens. To the right of the taskbar are applets, such as the clipboard Klipper, and any other applets you have started. The clock helps you keep track of the time.

If you right-click an empty space in the panel, a menu providing the usual help and configuration options for the panel is displayed. Use the menu to change the size of the panel and to add and remove applications. To add an application, right-click an empty space, click AddApplication Button, then select the application you want to add from the menu. To remove applications or applets, right-click the corresponding icon, then click Remove in the displayed menu.

2.3.5 Accessing the Main Menu

Access the main menu using the N icon to the far left of the panel.

Figure 15 KDE Desktop Main Menu

By default, this menu contains entries for logging out from the system, locking the screen, and executing commands. Use the Home item to display your home directory, or start the Control Center to customize the desktop. The other menu entries let you start a variety of programs sorted by subjects:

  • Logout User: You can log out from the system using this menu item. However, you are first asked what should happen after the logout. If you select Login As Different User, the login screen is displayed, allowing you or another user to log in to the system. You can also turn off or restart the computer. Confirm your selection with OK, or remain logged in by clicking Cancel.

  • Lock Screen: If you leave your workstation, you can blank your screen or start a screen saver. To restore the session view, enter your normal login password. This is a security so no one can access your documents or e-mail messages.

  • Switch User: To start a second session with a graphical user interface on your machine, select Switch User from the main menu. Your current session remains active while you are taken to the login screen where you can log in as a different user Access the first session by pressing Ctrl+Alt+F7. Press Ctrl+Alt+F8 to access the new session. Additional sessions can be accessed by pressing Ctrl+Alt+F9 to F12.

  • Run Command: To easily start an application whose name you know without navigating through the menus, enter its command in the dialog that opens.

  • Bookmarks: Use Edit Bookmarks to start the bookmark editor and to manage your bookmarks. If you select a bookmark from the menu, the browser starts and loads the desired URL.

  • Find Files: Starts the program KFind. If you forget where a certain file is, enter its name in the Named field and start a search in your home directory. If you are not sure what the exact file name is, use wildcards. Use Help to access the KFind manual, which provides detailed information about the program.

    Additional search criteria can be specified in the Properties dialog. You can limit your search to files that were modified or created recently or to files that belong to a specific user or group.

Detailed information about the Control Center is available in Customizing Your Settings.

2.3.6 Managing the Main Menu

You can use the KDE Menu Editor to add new programs to the main menu, remove a menu item for an application, or change the location of an item on the menu.

Figure 16 KDE Menu Editor

  1. Click N Control Center to open the KDE Control Center.

  2. Click DesktopPanels.

  3. Click the Menus tab, then click Edit K Menu.

  4. Choose from the following options:

    Click

    To

    File > New Item

    Add a new menu item.

    File > New Submenu

    Add a new submenu.

    Edit > Cut

    Cut the current menu item to the clipboard.If you want to move a menu item, you should first cut it to theclipboard, move to the destination using the left panel, then usethe Paste function to paste the menu item from the clipboard.

    Edit > Copy

    Copy the current menu item to the clipboard.You can later use the Paste function to paste the copied menu itemfrom the clipboard to its new destination. You can paste the sameitem many times.

    Edit > Paste

    Paste a menu item from the clipboardto the currently selected place in the main menu. You must firstuse Cut or Copy before you can Paste.

    Edit > Delete

    Delete the currently selected menu item.

    Settings > Configure Shortcuts

    Add, delete, or change keystrokes forselected actions.

  5. To edit a selected menu item, select the item in the left frame, then choose from the following options:

    Option

    Description

    Name

    The name of the program as it appearsin the Main menu. It can be different from the real executable name.

    Comment

    Use this option to describe the programin greater detail.

    Command

    The name of the executable program. Makesure that you have permission to run the program.

    Enable Launch Feedback

    Select this option to display feedbackwhen an application icon is clicked with the left mouse button.

    Work Path

    Specify the work path of the program.This is the current path when the program launches. It does notneed to be the same as the executable location.

    Icon List button

    Click the icon button to display a choiceof icons. Choose an icon for your program.

    Run in Terminal

    Select this option if your program requiresa terminal emulator in order to run. This mainly applies to consoleapplications.

    Terminal Options

    Put all terminal options in this field.

    Run As Different User

    Select this option if you want to runthis program as a different user, then provide the username in theUsername field.

    Current Shortcut Key

    Displays the assigned (if any) keystrokesfor the item. Click the button to add or change the keystrokes.

  6. Click FileQuit to exit the KDE Menu Editor.