Part I. Introducing Linux / Chapter 4. The KDE Desktop | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 3.5. Assistive Technology Support | 4.2. Settings |  | |
Part I. Introducing Linux / Chapter 4. The KDE Desktop | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5. Assistive Technology Support | 4.2. Settings | | |
Table of Contents
Abstract
The KDE desktop offers an intuitive graphical interface. The following sections show you how to make efficient use of KDE's features and how to customize the desktop to meet your personal needs. This is followed by an introduction to the file manager Konqueror and a brief description of some small but useful utilities.
The main components are the icons on the desktop and the panel at the bottom of the screen. The mouse is your most important tool. Click a symbol or an icon once to start the associated program or the file manager Konqueror. If you right-click an icon, different menus appear, depending on the program. As well as the icons, there are two desktop menus.
If you middle-click the desktop (if your mouse only has two buttons, press both buttons at the same time), a window and desktop management menu is displayed. The menu lists the various desktops and the windows opened in them. It also offers the following items:
If you have several windows on your desktop, they are placed next to each other and aligned with the top left corner.
Starting from the top left corner, the windows on the desktop are placed on top of each other in such a way that only the top and left borders of the lower windows are visible.
Desktop 1 is your default desktop. This part of the menu lists all the windows currently opened. You can bring them to the foreground by clicking one of the respective items.
You can use the additional (virtual) desktops provided and switch to them 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.
Use this menu item to create new directories, files, or devices on the desktop. A list of possible elements is provided for selection in a submenu.
The bookmark editor allows you to create, group, change, or delete bookmarks. The bookmarks are used by the browser and file manager Konqueror. The bookmark editor can also import bookmarks from other browsers, such as Mozilla, Netscape, Opera, and Internet Explorer.
This menu item opens a window in which to enter a command manually. Execute the command by pressing Enter.
Use this item to undo the last action. For example, if you have just created a new directory on the desktop, clicking this item reverts the creation so the directory disappears.
To keep a folder or document handy on the desktop, you can copy an icon from the file manager by right-clicking and selecting then moving the mouse to the desired location on the desktop. Right-click again and select . The icon is now available on your desktop and can be moved around by dragging it with the left mouse button pressed.
This allows you to rearrange the icons on the desktop. You can also change the order of the icons.
This arranges the windows on the desktop, either on top of each other beginning from the top left corner or next to each other.
If the desktop appears garbled in some way, use this menu item to redraw it.
This menu item starts a configuration dialog with which to configure the appearance and behavior of the desktop. Details about the configuration of the desktop are provided in Section 4.2, “Settings”.
This menu opens a dialog box asking if you want to start a new user environment. After clicking , the current session disappears into the background and the system switches to a new login screen. Each session has a function key assigned to it: F7 represents the first session, F8 the second one, and so on. To switch between different sessions, press Ctrl-Alt-Fx, where Fx is the function key corresponding to the desired session.
If you leave your workstation and do not log out, you should use this function to prevent others from gaining access to your files. Depending on the setting, the screen turns blank or starts displaying a screensaver. To continue using the computer, enter your password.
Log out of your system if you are not going to use the system for some time.
Open the main menu by clicking the icon to the far left of the panel. Alternatively, press Alt-F1. The main menu is subdivided into these sections: , (a menu with all applications sorted according to categories), and . The following section provides information about a number of actions that can be triggered from the main menu. Detailed information about the Control Center is available in Section 4.2, “Settings”.
By selecting from this menu, start an editor in which to organize your bookmarks. If you select one of the bookmarks present in the menu, the Konqueror browser starts and loads the corresponding URL.
This item opens a dialog in which to enter a command. You can use it to start an application whose command you know without navigating through the program submenus.
To start a second session with a graphical user interface on your machine, select from the main menu. Your current session remains active while you are taken to the login screen. Log in. You can also start another window manager. Access the first session by pressing Ctrl-Alt-F7. Press F8 instead of F7 to access the new session. Additional sessions can be accessed by pressing Ctrl-Alt-F9 to F12.
If you leave your workstation, you can blank your screen or start a screensaver. Access to the session can only be regained with a password. To unlock, enter your normal login password. Locking the screen ensures that others cannot read or manipulate your documents or e-mail messages.
You can log out from the system by means of this menu item. However, first you are asked what should happen after the logout. If you select , the login screen is displayed, allowing you or another user to log in to the system. You can also shut down and turn off the computer or shut it down and reboot immediately. Confirm your selection with or remain logged in by clicking .
