View source for Configure your desktop/en

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Configuring your desktop has changed a lot between KDE 3.5 and KDE 4 and 5. For those updating, a bit of explanation is needed.

{{Note|1=You can configure your desktop by right-clicking the desktop and selecting <menuchoice>Configure Desktop</menuchoice> or pressing <keycap>Alt-D , Alt-S</keycap>.<!--}}-->
<br />
In older versions of Plasma it was possible to edit the right-click menu and remove the <menuchoice>Configure Desktop</menuchoice> item and its keyboard shortcut. If that happened, and you want your <menuchoice>Configure Desktop</menuchoice> item back this is what you do:

In a terminal run
{{Input|1=kate ~/.config/plasma-org.kde.plasma.desktop-appletsrc}}

and under section <code>[ActionPlugins][0][RightButton;NoModifier]</code> make sure these lines are present:
{{Input|1=
configure=true
configure shortcuts=true
}}

After relogin, <menuchoice>Configure Desktop</menuchoice> is visible again.
}}<!--{{-->

== Icons ==

''Challenge:'' You want to place icons on your desktop (like: "watch TV" or "play pingus")

''Solution:''
* with KDE 3.5, right-click and choose "Create link to Application"
* with KDE 4 it is much more complicated:
** the "Desktop folder" approach
*** start [[Special:myLanguage/Konqueror|Konqueror]], choose <menuchoice>Help -> About KDE</menuchoice>. Verify you have KDE 4.2 at least.
*** right-click onto your desktop, choose <menuchoice>Desktop Settings -> Type -> Folder View</menuchoice>
*** in 4.5 that becomes <menuchoice>Desktop Settings -> Activity -> Type -> Folder View</menuchoice>
*** right-click onto your desktop, choose <menuchoice>Create new... -> Link to Application</menuchoice>
** the "drag and drop" approach
*** Open a file manager and drag the file you would like onto the desktop. It will appear there as icon.

=== Example ===
Let's assume you want an icon on your desktop that starts '''Konqueror''':
* find out where the executable is located
** start a konsole by <keycap>Alt + F2</keycap> and then typing{{Input|1=konsole}}
** type{{Input|1=which konqueror}}let's assume the response is{{Output|1=/usr/local/bin/konqueror}}
** point your konqueror to where you can find your executable, in this case /usr/local/bin
** drag-and-drop konqueror onto your desktop
Now you can start konqueror by clicking onto the '''konqueror''' icon on your desktop

== Plasma ==

Your desktop is now based on [[Special:myLanguage/Plasma|Plasma]]. This makes it possible to run ''widgets'' (sometimes referred to as ''plasmoids'') on it, e.g. a clock that docks directly to your desktop and is not surrounded by a border. To add the "clock" widget, right-click onto your desktop and choose <menuchoice>Add widget...</menuchoice>. E.g. choose the '''Analog Clock Widget''' there.

===Rearrange your Panel===

Most of us are creatures of habit, and like our panel to show icons in a familiar order.  '''Plasma''' appears to drop icons in a random order, but you can re-arrange them as long as you have KDE 4.1 or later. If you have the Panel Controller (which looks like a Cashew in a semi-circle) on the right hand edge of your panel, you can re-order or change the size and justification of the panel.  See [[Special:myLanguage/Plasma/FAQ/4.4/Configuration#Can_I_move_the_applets_on_the_panel?|Can I move the applets on the panel?]]

Many more such hints are on the [[Special:myLanguage/Plasma/FAQ/Index|Plasma FAQ]] pages.

===Access your files on a remote desktop===

Under KDE3, if you had an fstab mount to a remote directory you got an icon on your desktop.  This doesn't happen in KDE4, but there's an even better way to reach your files.

Create a folderview (right-click on desktop, <menuchoice>Add Widgets -> Folderview</menuchoice>).  It will be pointing to your home directory by default, but click on the spanner on the handle, to get properties, and you can direct it to open in your remote home.  If you keep your folder fairly small you'll be able to scroll down to the exact directory you need, and open it in '''Konqueror''' (which in some versions seems to be the default for remote directories.  It may well be that this can be changed, too.)

===More than one File Manager===

Everything mentioned as possible in [[Special:myLanguage/Konqueror|Konqueror]] can also be done in [[Special:myLanguage/Dolphin|Dolphin]].  At first glance you might think '''Dolphin''' lacks features, but read the pages linked from the [[Special:myLanguage/Dolphin|Dolphin]] page to learn the new features that make it so powerful.

[[Category:Desktop]]
[[Category:Internet]]