Tutorials/KDE3 to KDE SC 4

KDE 3 features missing in KDE4 (and work-arounds)

Automounting of USB devices

In KDE 3 you could choose to have usb devices mounted automatically upon plugin. In KDE4.1 this is no longer possible.

Workaround:

The best way is to install a fixed device notifier plasmoid that has automount functionality:

http://www.kde-look.org/content/show.php/New+Device+Notifier+with+Automount?content=91517

Alternative approach:

Use an automount mechanism outside of KDE4, e.g. manually edit hal configuration files and/or add the devices to /etc/fstab.

Configuration example with udev under Debian/Ubuntu:

As root create and edit a file and named: 80-usbdevice.rules and save it under /etc/udev/rules.d/. In this file add a rule for the automatic mounting for each individual device that should be automounted.

The lines look like this for a vfat usb stick (replace ##entries## according to your system). RUN+="/bin/mount -t vfat -o uid=0,gid=46,umask=007 /dev/##DEVICENAME## /media/##usb-stick##"

Afterwards restart udev

sudo /etc/init.d/udev reload

For details please consult the writing udev rules guide.[1]

Auto-hide Panels

Kicker in KDE3 used to have an option to autohide. In KDE4.1 this is currently not possible.

Work-around:

Wait for KDE4.2

Move applets on the panel

In kicker in KDE3, one could move applets by clicking the middle mouse button or by dragging a handle. In KDE4 such simple configuration is not possible.

Work-around:

This is somewhat tricky and requires many clicks:

1. Right click on the desktop or a plasma panel you wish to configure. Be careful to hit a free spot, otherwise it won't work. Then choose "Unlock plasmoids".

After doing this a new icon will appear on the panel, which will shift the position of all other applets and icons. It is called "Cashew" and offers the same options you get with a right click for people without a right mouse button. Do not worry it will disappear once you relock the plasmoids.

2. Click on the cashew, choose "Configure panel". Do not worry the complicated black border will disappear again.

3. Now you can configure one panel and can also move around the applets and icons. Unfortunately, there are many bugs left in plasma, which make this a tricky experience (i.e. some applets claim too much space etc., others can't be moved). Also you can not drag applets from one panel to the other or to the desktop. Workaround: Delete the applet and readd it to the other panel.

4. Finish by clicking on the "Cashew" and lock plasmoids.

Obtain network access behind Fritzbox routers

Currently, KDE4 networking contains or triggers a bug that makes it impossible to obtain network access behind a popular FritzBox router (and some other models). If you cannot access any websites with konqueror and if other net access (e.g. internet update of plasmoids) fail, you may be a victim of this bug. See the Bug report[2] for details. There is no real fix yet.

Work-arounds

1. Use any program but konqueror KDE4, for example firefox, opera etc for browsing. Please note that this does not fix the problems for e.g. downloading plasmoids from the net.

2. Change the network settings of your system to direct DNS requests directly to an external DNS server to circumvent the router.

3. Use a different router, i.e. buy new hardware.

4. Turn off IPV6 completely by preventing the ipv6 linux kernel module from loading. For details refer to http://www.cyberciti.biz/tips/linux-how-to-disable-the-ipv6-protocol.html

Show the application name instead of the description in the K - menu

KDE3 used to let you configure whether you wanted to see the application name (e.g. amarok) or the description (e.g. media player). KDE4 always shows only the description and this makes it very hard to find applications.

Work-around: None so far.