1
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
2
<!DOCTYPE article PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.3//EN"
3
"http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.3/docbookx.dtd" [
4
<!ENTITY % globalent SYSTEM "../../../libs/global.ent">
6
<!ENTITY % cdo-C SYSTEM "../../../libs/cdo-C.ent">
8
<!ENTITY % kde SYSTEM "../../libs/kde.ent">
10
<!ENTITY % kde-menus-C SYSTEM "../../libs/kde-menus-C.ent">
12
<!ENTITY % kde-general SYSTEM
13
"/usr/share/apps/ksgmltools2/customization/obsolete/general.entities">
15
<!ENTITY % xinclude SYSTEM "../../../libs/xinclude.mod">
17
<!ENTITY language "en">
19
<article id="config-desktop" status="complete">
21
<title>Desktop Configuration</title>
25
This section contains information on how to configure your desktop, layout, and
32
<sect1 id="intro" status="complete">
33
<title>Introduction to Desktop Customization</title>
36
The great thing about KDE is the ability to customize just about every aspect
37
of the desktop environment. Wallpapers, themes, widgets, color schemes, splash
38
screens and more, the options for customization are endless.
42
<ulink url="http://www.kde-look.org">KDE-Look.org</ulink> is the number one
43
location to find customized settings for your KDE desktop. Some of the
44
applications within KDE even allow you to connect directly to KDE-Look and
45
download a new configuration or image.
49
For more detailed information on some of the customization options available to
50
you, please refer to the <ulink type="help"
51
url="help:/khelpcenter/userguide/customizing-desktop.html">Customizing and
52
Appearance</ulink> section of the KDE Users' Manual.
58
<sect1 id="tips" status="complete">
59
<title>Desktop Tips</title>
62
This section details some tips for using and customizing the desktop.
65
<sect2 id="kde-startup" status="complete">
66
<title>Run programs automatically when KDE starts</title>
71
The easiest way to run programs automatically when KDE
72
starts is to use the <emphasis>Session Management</emphasis> feature of KDE. You
73
can setup KDE exactly the way you'd like it to start every time you login.
79
Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>K-Menu</guimenu><guisubmenu>System
80
Settings</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>Session Manager</guimenuitem></menuchoice>
81
from the Advanced tab on the top and then under <emphasis>Advanced User
82
Settings</emphasis> section. Click the <guibutton>Session Manager</guibutton>
83
button on the right. Ensure that the <guibutton>Restore manually saved
84
session</guibutton> checkbox is enabled.
90
Launch all the applications you want running <emphasis>everytime
91
you log in</emphasis>. Once you have everything set to your satisfaction, click
92
choose <menuchoice><guimenu>K-Menu</guimenu><guisubmenu>Save
93
Session</guisubmenu></menuchoice>. Every time you start KDE, you will return to
100
Another method to do this is to copy the desktop entry of the application you
101
want to autostart from <filename>/usr/share/applications</filename> to the
102
<filename>~/.kde/Autostart</filename> directory.
108
<sect2 id="login-kde-automatic" status="complete">
109
<title>Login automatically to KDE when the computer starts</title>
112
It is possible to login a user automatically when the computer boots. This is
113
not recommended for most computers, as it is not secure and may allow other
114
users access to your information.
120
Go to <application>System Settings</application> by going to &menusysset;.
121
Under the <guilabel>Advanced</guilabel> tab select the <guilabel>Login
128
Click on the <guibutton>Administrator Mode...</guibutton> and enter your user
129
password to gain administrator privileges.
135
Select the <guibutton>Convenience</guibutton> tab. Check the <guilabel>Enable
136
Autologin</guilabel> and select the user to autologin from the drop down menu
137
and select an appropriate time delay.
143
<sect2 id="restartwithoutreboot" status="complete">
144
<title>Restart KDE without rebooting the computer</title>
149
Save and close all open applications.
155
Press &ctrlaltbkspc; to restart KDE or X-Windows.
160
<para>If &ctrlaltbkspc; is disabled, open <application>Konsole</application> by
161
going to &menukonsole;. At the command prompt type the following and press the
162
<keycap>Enter</keycap> key (if asked for a password, type in your user password
163
followed by the <keycap>Enter</keycap> key):
165
sudo /etc/init.d/kdm restart
169
(See <xref linkend="disable-ctrlaltbkspc"/> to disable &ctrlaltbkspc;.)
175
<sect2 id="disable-ctrlaltbkspc" status="complete">
176
<title>Preventing the Ctrl-Alt-Backspace shortcut keys from restarting X</title>
181
Make a backup copy of your existing <filename>/etc/X11/xorg.conf</filename>
182
file. To do so, open <application>Konsole</application> by going to
183
&menukonsole;. At the command prompt type the following and then press the
184
<keycap>Enter</keycap> key (if asked for a password, type in your user password
185
followed by the <keycap>Enter</keycap> key):
187
sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf_backup
194
Open <filename>/etc/X11/xorg.conf</filename> for editing. To do so, press
195
<keycombo><keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F2</keycap></keycombo> and at the
196
<guilabel>Run Command</guilabel> dialog type the following and then press the
197
<guibutton>OK</guibutton> key (if asked for a password, type in your user
198
password followed by pressing the <guibutton>OK</guibutton> button):
200
kdesu kwrite /etc/X11/xorg.conf
207
Add the following lines to the end of the file:
209
Section "ServerFlags"
210
Option "DontZap" "yes"
218
Save the edited file and close out of <application>KWrite</application>.
224
The change will take effect the next time you log in to KDE. If you want the
225
change to take effect immediately, restart KDE manually. (See <xref
226
linkend="restartwithoutreboot"/>.)</para>
231
<sect2 id="run-application" status="complete">
232
<title>Start a Program Manually</title>
235
Sometimes it can be useful to start a program manually, for example when the
236
program does not have an entry in the menu. This is easy to do with the
237
<guilabel>Run Command</guilabel> dialog.
243
Open the <guilabel>Run Command</guilabel> dialog by pressing
244
<keycombo><keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F2</keycap></keycombo>
250
Enter the name of the program you wish to run, and press the
251
<guibutton>OK</guibutton> button.
257
<sect2 id="numlock-on-startup" status="complete">
258
<title>Automatically turn on NumLock when KDE starts</title>
263
Open <application>System Settings</application> by going to &menusysset;. In
264
the <application>System Settings</application> window select the
265
<guilabel>Keyboard & Mouse</guilabel> option.
271
Under the <guilabel>Keyboard</guilabel> section, locate the subsection titled
272
<guilabel>NumLock on KDE Startup</guilabel>, enable the <guibutton>Turn
273
On</guibutton> checkbox. Click on <guibutton>Apply</guibutton> to save your
280
The change will take effect the next time you log in to KDE. If you want to test
281
it right away, turn off NumLock and restart KDE (see <xref
282
linkend="restartwithoutreboot"/>).
286
<sect2 id="firefox-help-handler" status="complete">
287
<title>Handle help:/ links in Firefox like Konqueror</title>
290
<application>Firefox</application> is not installed by default so in order for
291
this to work you will have had to previously installed
292
<application>Firefox</application>. Please refer to the <ulink type="help"
293
url="help:/kubuntu/add-applications/">Adding Applications</ulink> documentation
294
for more information on installing applications.
298
<application>Konqueror</application> is able to handle help:/
299
<acronym>URL</acronym>s by default. <application>Firefox</application> is also
300
able to handle these the same way however it requires you to manually edit the
301
configuration of <application>Firefox</application> to do so. The following
302
procedure will aide you in such configuration.
308
Start <application>Firefox</application> by choosing left &menuff;.
314
In the address bar type <userinput>about:config</userinput> and press the
315
<keycap>Enter</keycap> key.
321
<mousebutton>Right</mousebutton> click on the list and select
322
<menuchoice><guimenu>New</guimenu><guimenuitem>Boolean</guimenuitem></menuchoice
323
>. Type <userinput>network.protocol-handler.external.help</userinput> as the
324
<guilabel>Preference Name</guilabel> and <userinput>true</userinput> as the
325
<guilabel>Value</guilabel>. Press the <guibutton>OK</guibutton> button when
332
<mousebutton>Right</mousebutton> click again on the list and select <menuchoice>
333
<guimenu>New</guimenu><guimenuitem>String</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. Type
334
<userinput>network.protocol-handler.app.help</userinput> as the
335
<guilabel>Preference Name</guilabel> and <userinput>khelpcenter</userinput> as
336
the <guilabel>Value</guilabel>. Press the <guibutton>OK</guibutton> button when
343
<sect2 id="menu-editing" status="complete">
344
<title>Edit K-Menu</title>
347
Kubuntu comes with the <application>KDE Menu Editor</application>, so you can
348
customize your menus and add entries for applications that don't automatically
349
appear after they are installed. To add, remove, or modify an entry, refer to
350
the following procedure.
356
Open <application>KDE Menu Editor</application> by
357
<mousebutton>right</mousebutton> clicking on <application>KMenu</application>
358
and choosing <guimenuitem>Menu Editor</guimenuitem>. If you have locked your
359
<application>Kicker</application>, you can also open <application>KDE Menu
360
Editor</application> by pressing
361
<keycombo><keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F2</keycap></keycombo> and typing
362
<userinput>kmenuedit</userinput> followed by pressing the
363
<guibutton>OK</guibutton> button.
369
In <application>KDE Menu Editor</application>'s left-hand pane, choose the
370
submenu the new entry should appear in.
375
<para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>File</guimenu><guimenuitem>New
376
Item</guimenuitem></menuchoice> or press the <guibutton>New Item</guibutton>
377
button. In the <guilabel>New Item</guilabel> window, choose a
378
<guilabel>Name</guilabel>. Then add the <guilabel>Description</guilabel>,
379
<guilabel>Comment</guilabel>, and <guilabel>Command</guilabel>. Select the icon
380
by clicking on <guilabel>Icon</guilabel>. The <guilabel>Command</guilabel> will
381
usually be the package name, <guilabel>Name</guilabel> is what will appear on
382
the menu, and the <guilabel>Comment</guilabel> will appear in the tooltip that
383
appears near the menu entry. <guilabel>Icons</guilabel> are chosen from
384
<filename>/usr/share/icons/icon_theme</filename> directory by default, or can be
385
chosen from anywhere in your files.
391
To change the order of menu entries, click and drag the entry in the
392
<application>KDE Menu Editor</application> window.
396
<sect2 id="desktop-applets" status="complete">
397
<title>Advanced Desktop Applets</title>
400
<application>SuperKaramba</application> is a system for bringing mini programs
401
(desklets) such as weather forecasts, news tickers, system information displays,
402
or music player controls onto your desktop, where they are sitting there in a
403
symbiotic relationship of eye candy and usefulness.
408
<para>Install the <application>superkaramba</application> package. For more
409
information on installing extra applications, please refer to the <ulink
410
type="help" url="help:/kubuntu/add-applications/">Adding Applications</ulink>
417
Once installed, open <application>SuperKaramba</application> by going to
424
To download extra applets for <application>SuperKaramba</application> you can
425
either select the <guibutton>New Stuff...</guibutton> button in the main window
426
or you can go to <ulink url="http://www.kde-look.org">KDE-Look.org</ulink> and
427
select the <emphasis>Karamba</emphasis> link.
431
<sect2 id="fonts" status="complete">
432
<title>Install Extra Fonts</title>
435
This section describes how to install extra fonts from the
442
For <emphasis role="bold">international fonts</emphasis>, install the following
443
packages (please refer to the <ulink type="help"
444
url="help:/kubuntu/add-applications/">Adding Applications</ulink> documentation
445
for help on installing extra applications):
453
xfonts-intl-chinese-big
456
xfonts-intl-japanese-big
464
For <emphasis role="bold">Microsoft TrueType core fonts</emphasis>, install the
465
<application>msttcorefonts</application> package (please refer to the <ulink
467
url="help:/kubuntu/add-applications/">Adding Applications</ulink> documentation
468
for help on installing extra applications).
474
For <emphasis role="bold">Ghostscript fonts</emphasis>, install the
475
<application>gsfonts-x11</application> package (please refer to the <ulink
476
type="help" url="help:/kubuntu/add-applications/">Adding Applications</ulink>
477
documentation for help on installing extra applications).
483
If you prefer to download individual fonts by hand, you can install them easily
484
by opening <application>Konqueror</application> and typing
485
<userinput>fonts:/</userinput> into the location bar. Then you can install the
486
font, either system-wide or for personal use by dragging and dropping into the
491
<!-- COMPIZ-FUSION -->
492
<sect2 id="compiz-fusion" status="writing">
493
<title>Install Compiz Fusion</title>
496
Compiz Fusion is a project that uses 3D graphics acceleration to bring new
497
graphical effects and features to your desktop. The project resulted from the
498
mergence of Compiz and Beryl (a previous project based on Compiz). This section
499
describes how to install Compiz Fusion on Gutsy Gibbon.
504
Before installing Compiz Fusion, you may need to check whether you have
505
the correct drivers installed for your graphics card. Please refer to <ulink
506
type="http" url="http://www.compiz.org/NVidia"/>, <ulink
507
type="http" url="http://www.compiz.org/ATI"/> and <ulink
508
type ="http" url="http://www.compiz.org/Intel"/> for
509
information about nVidia, ATI and Intel graphics card drivers respectively.
516
Go to &menuadept; (when prompted for a password at the <guilabel>Run as root -
517
KDE su</guilabel> dialog, type in your password and press
518
the <guibutton>OK</guibutton> button).
524
Install the following packages:
527
compiz-fusion-plugins-main
528
compiz-fusion-plugins-extra
529
compiz-config-settings-manager
536
After the installation finishes, you can run Compiz Fusion by
537
pressing <keycombo><keycap>Alt</keycap><keycap>F2</keycap></keycombo> and typing
538
the following at the <guilabel>Run Command</guilabel> dialog followed by
539
pressing the <guibutton>OK</guibutton> button:
548
The following procedure describes how to configure Compiz Fusion to run at
555
Go to <filename>~/.kde/Autostart</filename> using
556
<application>Konqueror</application>.
562
Right click the content area and
563
choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Create New</guimenu><guimenuitem>Link to
564
Application</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. This opens a properties tabbed window.
570
In the <guilabel>General</guilabel> tab, provide a descriptive
571
name for the program e.g. Compiz-Fusion.
577
Click the <guilabel>Application</guilabel> tab and type the
578
following at the <guilabel>Command</guilabel> text box followed by pressing the
579
<guibutton>OK</guibutton> button to finish and close the tabbed window:
586
From now on, when you start <application>KDE</application>, Compiz Fusion
587
should start up automatically.
594
To configure Compiz Fusion, go to
595
<menuchoice><guimenu>K-Menu</guimenu><guisubmenu>Settings</guisubmenu><guimenuitem>CompizConfig
596
Settings Manager</guimenuitem></menuchoice>.
added
removed
kubuntu/config-desktop/C/config-desktop.xml
