KWin: Difference between revisions
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== Feature Overview == | == Feature Overview == | ||
* Stable and reliable | * Stable and reliable | ||
* Compositing, 3D effects | * Compositing, 3D effects | ||
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KWin supports '''compositing''', which means using 3D effects for handling your windows. This can make windowmanagement smoother, easier, more efficient and more natural. It’s hardware requirements are very modest and pretty much every reasonably modern system since 2002 supports it. There are still some issues with certain hardware, more info about that can be found on [http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/KWin techbase] | KWin supports '''compositing''', which means using 3D effects for handling your windows. This can make windowmanagement smoother, easier, more efficient and more natural. It’s hardware requirements are very modest and pretty much every reasonably modern system since 2002 supports it. There are still some issues with certain hardware, more info about that can be found on [http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/KWin techbase] | ||
== Practical Features == | |||
Click with your right mouse button on a window decoration or use [[System Settings]] to access the new and easier configuration of KWin. Here you can enable effects to more efficiently manage your windows. You can for example use the "Present Windows" as the effect for "window switching". Instead of showing you icons or very small previews of your applications, it arranges them in a grid so you can quickly choose the right one. Just use the "ALT-TAB" keysequence and keep the ALT key pressed. You can now use tab to switch through the windows or just activate the right one using the mouse. Hitting "ALT-TAB" keys quickly will show you the next window in the que, just like it used to. | |||
Click with your right mouse button on a window decoration or use | |||
If your X server already supports compositing, switching it on is as easy as opening System Settings, opening the "Desktop" module, choosing "Desktop Effects" and enabling the checkbox "Enable desktop effects". More advanced compositing settings (such as VSync operation, Direct rendering, compositing mode) and available through the "Advanced" dialog. Customising the behaviour of the KWin effects means opening the "All effects" tab, and choosing the plugins you want to use. Please note that only a subset of the plugins works with XRender-based compositing. For the full experience, you need to use OpenGL mode. | If your X server already supports compositing, switching it on is as easy as opening System Settings, opening the "Desktop" module, choosing "Desktop Effects" and enabling the checkbox "Enable desktop effects". More advanced compositing settings (such as VSync operation, Direct rendering, compositing mode) and available through the "Advanced" dialog. Customising the behaviour of the KWin effects means opening the "All effects" tab, and choosing the plugins you want to use. Please note that only a subset of the plugins works with XRender-based compositing. For the full experience, you need to use OpenGL mode. | ||
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== Tutorials == | == Tutorials == | ||
===You want an application to launch in a specific size and position every time=== | ===You want an application to launch in a specific size and position every time=== | ||
Sometimes the screen position of an application is vital to your comfort, so use the flexibility of | |||
Sometimes the screen position of an application is vital to your comfort, so use the flexibility of KWin to make sure it's always where you want it. | |||
Position the window where you want it to open, then right-click on the title-bar, choosing Advanced > Special Window Settings. This will open a settings window, with appropriate entries already made. All you need to do now is select the Geometry tab and check Position and Size. OK - you're finished! | Position the window where you want it to open, then right-click on the title-bar, choosing Advanced > Special Window Settings. This will open a settings window, with appropriate entries already made. All you need to do now is select the Geometry tab and check Position and Size. OK - you're finished! | ||
===Script the window manager from the command line=== | ===Script the window manager from the command line=== | ||
Use the [http://www.kde-apps.org/content/show.php/WMIface?content=40425 WMIface] utility. | Use the [http://www.kde-apps.org/content/show.php/WMIface?content=40425 WMIface] utility. | ||
===Customise the position of titlebar buttons=== | ===Customise the position of titlebar buttons=== | ||
Take a look at | |||
Take a look at System Settings > Appearance > Windows > Buttons tab - and enable "Use custom titlebar button positions". The options open to you may depend on your distribution or theme, and it's clear that there is more to come. | |||
Perhaps you would like more space between the Close button and the Minimise/Maximise pair? So you will want to add a spacer - two if you wish. The way to do it was not intuitive to me. The description on the customise page seems clear enough once you understand it, but it wasn't immediately to me. | Perhaps you would like more space between the Close button and the Minimise/Maximise pair? So you will want to add a spacer - two if you wish. The way to do it was not intuitive to me. The description on the customise page seems clear enough once you understand it, but it wasn't immediately to me. | ||
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===If you prefer a Classic, KDE3-style Desktop=== | ===If you prefer a Classic, KDE3-style Desktop=== | ||
Right-click on your desktop - select Desktop Settings (or Appearance Settings, in some distros). Change the Type: from Desktop to Folder View. The whole desktop is now a folderview, and another right-click on the desktop will allow you to select FolderView Settings. Set the folderview to the directory you want to use as your desktop. | Right-click on your desktop - select Desktop Settings (or Appearance Settings, in some distros). Change the Type: from Desktop to Folder View. The whole desktop is now a folderview, and another right-click on the desktop will allow you to select FolderView Settings. Set the folderview to the directory you want to use as your desktop. | ||
===A video of KWin features=== | ===A video of KWin features=== | ||
A demonstration of features is '''[http://blip.tv/file/1649485 here]''' | A demonstration of features is '''[http://blip.tv/file/1649485 here]''' | ||
===Open applications directly into a different desktop=== | ===Open applications directly into a different desktop=== | ||
Use commands like | Use commands like | ||
kstart --desktop 4 kate | kstart --desktop 4 kate | ||
==Using with small screens (eg Netbooks)== | |||
===Make the window decorations smaller=== | |||
System Settings > Appearance > Windows > Window Decoration tab - select Laptop. | |||
===Change the base fonts=== | ===Change the base fonts=== | ||
On many netbooks the screen is very clear, so that reading fonts much smaller than you expect is feasible. On my Acer Aspire One I find that 8 point is a good base settings. | On many netbooks the screen is very clear, so that reading fonts much smaller than you expect is feasible. On my Acer Aspire One I find that 8 point is a good base settings. | ||
===Make Firefox use smaller fonts=== | ===Make Firefox use smaller fonts=== | ||
Experimentation with about:config did not bring satisfactory results. Do this instead. Download and install gtk-chtheme from http://plasmasturm.org/code/gtk-chtheme/. Using that tool you can either set a specific font size, or better still, tell it to use your KDE desktop settings. This will work with Firefox as well as any gtk applications that you use. | Experimentation with about:config did not bring satisfactory results. Do this instead. Download and install gtk-chtheme from http://plasmasturm.org/code/gtk-chtheme/. Using that tool you can either set a specific font size, or better still, tell it to use your KDE desktop settings. This will work with Firefox as well as any gtk applications that you use. | ||
===KMail's Aggregation options take up too much space=== | ===KMail's Aggregation options take up too much space=== | ||
See '''[[KMail/FAQs_Hints_and_Tips#Get_more_screen_space_in_KMail|this FAQ]]''' to change it. | See '''[[KMail/FAQs_Hints_and_Tips#Get_more_screen_space_in_KMail|this FAQ]]''' to change it. | ||
===KMail's Folder-List Tooltips hide too many folder names=== | ===KMail's Folder-List Tooltips hide too many folder names=== | ||
See '''[[KMail/FAQs_Hints_and_Tips#Un-configure_KMail_folder_tool_tips|this FAQ]]''' to change their behaviour | See '''[[KMail/FAQs_Hints_and_Tips#Un-configure_KMail_folder_tool_tips|this FAQ]]''' to change their behaviour | ||
Revision as of 10:32, 8 June 2010
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The reliable and flexible window manager for KDE Plasma Desktops, now with effects! |
Feature Overview
- Stable and reliable
- Compositing, 3D effects
- Easy configuration
- Improved efficiency
KWin (pronounce "kwin") is the window manager for the KDE Plasma Desktop. It gives you complete control over your windows, making sure they're not in the way but aid you in your task. It paints the windowdecoration, the bar on top of every window with (configurable) buttons like close, maximize and minimize. It also handles placing of windows and switching between them.
KWin supports compositing, which means using 3D effects for handling your windows. This can make windowmanagement smoother, easier, more efficient and more natural. It’s hardware requirements are very modest and pretty much every reasonably modern system since 2002 supports it. There are still some issues with certain hardware, more info about that can be found on techbase
Practical Features
Click with your right mouse button on a window decoration or use System Settings to access the new and easier configuration of KWin. Here you can enable effects to more efficiently manage your windows. You can for example use the "Present Windows" as the effect for "window switching". Instead of showing you icons or very small previews of your applications, it arranges them in a grid so you can quickly choose the right one. Just use the "ALT-TAB" keysequence and keep the ALT key pressed. You can now use tab to switch through the windows or just activate the right one using the mouse. Hitting "ALT-TAB" keys quickly will show you the next window in the que, just like it used to.
If your X server already supports compositing, switching it on is as easy as opening System Settings, opening the "Desktop" module, choosing "Desktop Effects" and enabling the checkbox "Enable desktop effects". More advanced compositing settings (such as VSync operation, Direct rendering, compositing mode) and available through the "Advanced" dialog. Customising the behaviour of the KWin effects means opening the "All effects" tab, and choosing the plugins you want to use. Please note that only a subset of the plugins works with XRender-based compositing. For the full experience, you need to use OpenGL mode.
Employing motion physics, KWin provides your windows with a more natural feel. New desktop effects like the "Cube" desktop switcher and "Magic Lamp" minimize animation have been added. Improvements in the existing effects make window management smoother than ever. KWin has seen many performance improvements to enable these effects even on low-end hardware. Elaborate checks have been build in to ensure users with low-end hardware are not presented with an unusable setup. KWin detects the capabilities of the hardware and if needed gracefully scales its effects down. You can take control and disable these checks or change settings like the global animation speed to finetune your experience. When your computer is under heavy load, KWin will automatically disable the compositing temporarily to keep things running smoothly. It will notify you if it does so, and you can re-enable compositing by pressing "SHIFT+ALT+F12". Finally, support for multiple screen handling has been improved in KWin using the new Kephal library. You can move maximized windows between Xinerama screens and the addition of external screens is handled correctly.
More information about what was introduced in KDE SC 4.2 can be found at the following link:
Tutorials
You want an application to launch in a specific size and position every time
Sometimes the screen position of an application is vital to your comfort, so use the flexibility of KWin to make sure it's always where you want it.
Position the window where you want it to open, then right-click on the title-bar, choosing Advanced > Special Window Settings. This will open a settings window, with appropriate entries already made. All you need to do now is select the Geometry tab and check Position and Size. OK - you're finished!
Script the window manager from the command line
Use the WMIface utility.
Customise the position of titlebar buttons
Take a look at System Settings > Appearance > Windows > Buttons tab - and enable "Use custom titlebar button positions". The options open to you may depend on your distribution or theme, and it's clear that there is more to come.
Perhaps you would like more space between the Close button and the Minimise/Maximise pair? So you will want to add a spacer - two if you wish. The way to do it was not intuitive to me. The description on the customise page seems clear enough once you understand it, but it wasn't immediately to me.
To simply move things around you work with the speciman titlebar - that is the dark blue bar with a large KDE on it. Drag icons there and you will see them move in the preview window at the bottom of the screen.
You may find that you have other icons available to you. A circle indicates that the button will set that window on all desktops. Another icon that you may find useful is Shade - a toggle between rolled up (titlebar only visible) and normal view. These icons are added by dragging from the text description window onto the speciman title bar - just position them as you want to use them.
If you prefer a Classic, KDE3-style Desktop
Right-click on your desktop - select Desktop Settings (or Appearance Settings, in some distros). Change the Type: from Desktop to Folder View. The whole desktop is now a folderview, and another right-click on the desktop will allow you to select FolderView Settings. Set the folderview to the directory you want to use as your desktop.
A video of KWin features
A demonstration of features is here
Open applications directly into a different desktop
Use commands like
kstart --desktop 4 kate
Using with small screens (eg Netbooks)
Make the window decorations smaller
System Settings > Appearance > Windows > Window Decoration tab - select Laptop.
Change the base fonts
On many netbooks the screen is very clear, so that reading fonts much smaller than you expect is feasible. On my Acer Aspire One I find that 8 point is a good base settings.
Make Firefox use smaller fonts
Experimentation with about:config did not bring satisfactory results. Do this instead. Download and install gtk-chtheme from http://plasmasturm.org/code/gtk-chtheme/. Using that tool you can either set a specific font size, or better still, tell it to use your KDE desktop settings. This will work with Firefox as well as any gtk applications that you use.
KMail's Aggregation options take up too much space
See this FAQ to change it.
KMail's Folder-List Tooltips hide too many folder names
See this FAQ to change their behaviour
| Back to Applications/Desktop |