Plasma/Kickoff: Difference between revisions

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'''Kickoff''' is the default application [[Plasma application launchers|launcher]] of the Plasma desktop. In the default configuration it resides at the very left of the bottom [[Special:myLanguage/Plasma/Panels|panel]]. Besides its main purpose (providing access to your applications) it gives you access to some places on your computer, your recently used documents and options to end your KDE session.
'''Kickoff''' is the default application launcher of the Plasma desktop. In the default configuration it resides at the very left of the bottom [[Special:myLanguage/Plasma/Panels|panel]]. Besides its main purpose (providing access to your applications) it gives you access to some places on your computer, your recently used documents and options to end your Plasma session.


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'''Kickoff''' can be changed to function like a more speedy, traditional menu-based application launchers by right-clicking on the menu icon and selecting <menuchoice>Switch to Classic Menu Style</menuchoice>. Of course, if you do that, you trade the "benefits" of '''Kickoff's''' for superior '''usability'''.
[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Style.png|thumb|center|500px|Kickoff Application Launcher]]
 
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{|class="tablecenter"
|rowspan="2"|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Style.png|300px|thumb|Kickoff Menu Style , the default]]
|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Switch.png|300px|thumb|then switch to...]]  
|-
||[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Classic.png|300px|thumb|"Classic Menu Style", customizable using kmenuedit !]]
|}


== Opening Kickoff == <!--T:5-->
== Opening Kickoff == <!--T:5-->


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To open '''Kickoff''', simply click its icon which is usually located furthest to the left in panel at the bottom of your Plasma Workspace. At the top of '''Kickoff''' you see the search field, at the bottom you see five tabs: <menuchoice>Favorites</menuchoice>, <menuchoice>Applications</menuchoice>, <menuchoice>Computer</menuchoice>, <menuchoice>Recently Used</menuchoice> and <menuchoice>Leave</menuchoice>. In between, the content of the selected tab is shown. You can scroll the content if some of it is hidden. You can also resize '''Kickoff''': grab the top right corner of '''Kickoff''' with the mouse pointer (it turns to a pair of arrows directed diagonally) and drag '''Kickoff''' to the desired size.
To open '''Kickoff''', simply click its icon which is usually located furthest to the left in panel at the bottom of your Plasma Workspace. At the top of '''Kickoff''' you can see the search field, at the bottom you can see two tabs: <menuchoice>Applications</menuchoice> and <menuchoice>Places</menuchoice> as well as power and session options.


=== The Favorites Tab === <!--T:7-->
== The Applications Tab == <!--T:10-->
 
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This tab offers you access to your applications and favorites
 
=== The Favorites Section === <!--T:33-->


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{|class="tablecenter"
{|class="tablecenter"
|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Add_Favorites.png|300px|thumb|Add to Favorites Tab]]  
|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Add_Favorites.png|500px|thumb|Add to Favorites]]  
|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Del_Favorites.png|300px|thumb|Delete this favorite]]  
|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Del_Favorites.png|500px|thumb|Delete this favorite]]  
|-
|-
|colspan="2"|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Drag_Favorites.png|300px|thumb|center|Drag to sort favorites via mouse]]  
|colspan="2"|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Drag_Favorites.png|500px|thumb|center|Drag to sort favorites via mouse]]  
|}
|}


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This tab offers you access to some of the most used applications. Of course you can adjust this selection to your needs. Drag an entry around and drop it at another place in the list to sort it your way. Right clicking an entry gives you even more options: you can remove that entry (<menuchoice>Remove From Favorites</menuchoice>), copy it to the [[Special:myLanguage/Plasma/Panels|panel]] (<menuchoice>Add to Panel</menuchoice>) or the desktop <menuchoice>Add to Desktop</menuchoice> or sort all entries alphabetically<menuchoice>Sort Alphabetically (A to Z)</menuchoice>.
There is a favorites section where you can "pin" your favorite apps. Drag and drop an entry around to sort it your way. Right clicking an entry gives you even more options: you can remove that entry (<menuchoice>Remove From Favorites</menuchoice>), copy it to the [[Special:myLanguage/Plasma/Panels|panel]] (<menuchoice>Add to Panel</menuchoice>) or the desktop (<menuchoice>Add to Desktop</menuchoice>).
 
=== The Applications Tab === <!--T:10-->


=== The Applications Section === <!--T:34-->


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[[Image:Menu_applications.png|center|300px]]
{|class="tablecenter"
|[[Image:Menu_applications.png|500px|thumb|View all applications in alphabetical order]]
|[[File:Kickoff Section View.png|500px|thumb|Click on a letter to navigate to the first item in a specified section.]]
|}




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This tab gives you access to all installed applications, divided into several categories like <menuchoice>Office</menuchoice> or <menuchoice>Internet</menuchoice>. Click on a category to see what applications are available in that category. To return to the overview, use the breadcrumbs on the top of the application list. Right clicking on an application entry brings you some options for the entry: <menuchoice>Add to Favorites</menuchoice>, <menuchoice>Add to Panel</menuchoice> or <menuchoice>Add to Desktop</menuchoice>.
This section gives you access to all installed applications, divided into several categories like <menuchoice>Office</menuchoice> or <menuchoice>Internet</menuchoice>. There is also an <menuchoice>All Applications</menuchoice> section. Hover over a category to see what applications are available in that category. Right clicking on an application entry brings you some options for the entry: <menuchoice>Add to Favorites</menuchoice>, <menuchoice>Add to Panel</menuchoice> or <menuchoice>Add to Desktop</menuchoice>.


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== The Places Tab == <!--T:35-->  
From KDE 4.11, a new menu called 'Recently Installed' can be used to find newly installed applications easily. If it is not enabled, right click on the launcher icon, choose <menuchoice>Application Launcher Settings</menuchoice>, and enable '''Show 'Recently Installed'''' checkbox. The newly installed applications will be seen in that entry for three days.


=== The Computer Tab === <!--T:13-->
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This tab offers you access to different places on your computer
 
=== The Computer Section === <!--T:13-->




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[[Image:Menu_computer.png|center|300px]]
[[Image:Menu_computer.png|center|500px]]


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In the <menuchoice>Computer</menuchoice> section you will find some links to system applications (like [[Special:myLanguage/System_Settings|System Settings]]), your favorite places (configured via [[Special:myLanguage/Dolphin|Dolphin]]), and available storage media. Again, right-clicking those entries will bring you some options to add them to the desktop (<menuchoice>Add to Desktop</menuchoice>) or [[Special:myLanguage/Plasma/Panels|panel]] (<menuchoice>Add to Panel</menuchoice>).


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=== The History Section === <!--T:36-->
On the <menuchoice>Computer</menuchoice> tab you will find some links to system applications (like [[Special:myLanguage/System_Settings|System Settings]]), your favorite places (configured via [[Special:myLanguage/Dolphin|Dolphin]]), and available storage media. Again, right-clicking those entries will bring you some options to add them to the desktop (<menuchoice>Add to Desktop</menuchoice>) or [[Special:myLanguage/Plasma/Panels|panel]] (<menuchoice>Add to Panel</menuchoice>).


=== The Recently Used Tab === <!--T:16-->
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[[Image:Kickoff History.png|center|500px]]


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Your recently-used applications and documents are presented on this tab. Note that only applications launched via '''Kickoff''' are taken into account for this list.
Your recently-used applications and documents are presented in this section. Note that only applications launched via '''Kickoff''' are taken into account for this list.
A right-click on an entry brings you the usual context menu with copy options and additional options to clear the recently used history.
A right-click on an entry brings you the usual context menu with copy options and additional options to clear the recently used history.


=== The Frequently Used Section === <!--T:37-->


=== The Leave Tab === <!--T:18-->


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[[Image:Kickoff Frequent.png|center|500px]]


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[[Image:Menu leave.png|center|300px]]
Your frequently-used applications and documents are presented in this section. Note that only applications launched via '''Kickoff''' are taken into account for this list.
 
A right-click on an entry brings you the usual context menu with copy options and additional options to clear the frequently used history.
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This tab gives you several options to leave your KDE session or shutdown your computer.
 


== Search Field == <!--T:21-->
== Search Field == <!--T:21-->
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{|class="tablecenter"
{|class="tablecenter"
|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Search_Name.png|300px|thumb|Search name]]  
|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Search_Name.png|500px|thumb|Search name]]  
|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Search_Description.png|300px|thumb|Search description]]  
|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Search_Description.png|500px|thumb|Search description]]  
|}
|}


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{|class="tablecenter"
{|class="tablecenter"
|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Program_Desktop.png|300px|thumb|Program on desktop and panel]]  
|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Program_Desktop.png|500px|thumb|Program on desktop]]  
|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Category_Desktop.png|300px|thumb|Category on desktop and panel]]  
|[[Image:Kickoff_Menu_Program_Panel.png|500px|thumb|Program on panel]]  
|}
|}


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Besides '''Kickoff''', other application launchers - e.g. [[[Special:myLanguage/KRunner|KRunner]] - are available which may fit your needs better. See the page [[Special:myLanguage/Plasma_application_launchers|Plasma application launchers]] for more details.
Besides '''Kickoff''', other application launchers - e.g. [[Special:myLanguage/KRunner|KRunner]] - are available which may fit your needs better. See the page [[Special:myLanguage/Plasma_application_launchers|Plasma application launchers]] for more details.
 
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You can change your launcher by right-clicking on the menu icon and selecting <menuchoice>Show Alternatives...</menuchoice>
 
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{|class="tablecenter"
|[[File:Kickoff_Menu_Switch_Alternatives.png|440px|thumb|Using <menuchoice>Show Alternatives...</menuchoice> you can switch to any menu you want]]
|[[File:Kickoff_Menu_Switch_to_Dashboard.png|500px|thumb|For example "Application Dashboard"!]]
|}
 
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{{Prevnext2||nextpage=Special:myLanguage/Plasma/Application_Dashboard ||nexttext=Application Dashboard |index=Special:myLanguage/Plasma_application_launchers|indextext=Application Launchers}}
 


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Latest revision as of 11:31, 14 January 2023

Kickoff Application Launcher

Kickoff is the default application launcher of the Plasma desktop. In the default configuration it resides at the very left of the bottom panel. Besides its main purpose (providing access to your applications) it gives you access to some places on your computer, your recently used documents and options to end your Plasma session.

Kickoff Application Launcher

Opening Kickoff

To open Kickoff, simply click its icon which is usually located furthest to the left in panel at the bottom of your Plasma Workspace. At the top of Kickoff you can see the search field, at the bottom you can see two tabs: Applications and Places as well as power and session options.

The Applications Tab

This tab offers you access to your applications and favorites

The Favorites Section

Add to Favorites
Delete this favorite
Drag to sort favorites via mouse

There is a favorites section where you can "pin" your favorite apps. Drag and drop an entry around to sort it your way. Right clicking an entry gives you even more options: you can remove that entry (Remove From Favorites), copy it to the panel (Add to Panel) or the desktop (Add to Desktop).

The Applications Section

View all applications in alphabetical order
Click on a letter to navigate to the first item in a specified section.


This section gives you access to all installed applications, divided into several categories like Office or Internet. There is also an All Applications section. Hover over a category to see what applications are available in that category. Right clicking on an application entry brings you some options for the entry: Add to Favorites, Add to Panel or Add to Desktop.

The Places Tab

This tab offers you access to different places on your computer

The Computer Section

In the Computer section you will find some links to system applications (like System Settings), your favorite places (configured via Dolphin), and available storage media. Again, right-clicking those entries will bring you some options to add them to the desktop (Add to Desktop) or panel (Add to Panel).

The History Section

Your recently-used applications and documents are presented in this section. Note that only applications launched via Kickoff are taken into account for this list. A right-click on an entry brings you the usual context menu with copy options and additional options to clear the recently used history.

The Frequently Used Section

Your frequently-used applications and documents are presented in this section. Note that only applications launched via Kickoff are taken into account for this list. A right-click on an entry brings you the usual context menu with copy options and additional options to clear the frequently used history.

Search Field

Search name
Search description

Instead of browsing through all the tabs and categories you can simply enter a search term. The search field has focus when opening the menu, so you can simply start typing. The search will not only match against applications names, but also against their description. So if you need a browser, but don't know the name of the installed browsers, simply type "browser" in the search field. This should result in a list of all available browsers.


Add to Desktop and Panel

Program on desktop
Program on panel


All program items and categories can be added to desktop and panel, right click and select Add to ...

Alternative Application Launchers

Besides Kickoff, other application launchers - e.g. KRunner - are available which may fit your needs better. See the page Plasma application launchers for more details.

You can change your launcher by right-clicking on the menu icon and selecting Show Alternatives...

Using Show Alternatives... you can switch to any menu you want
For example "Application Dashboard"!