Plasma/Pannelli

Pannelli nel desktop Plasma

Pannello in modalità configurazione con il sotto-menu Più impostazioni aperto.

Un pannello è un contenitore di oggetti che può essere posizionato su ogni lato del desktop. Possono esserci più pannelli sul medesimo lato. La disposizione predefinita prevede un pannello che occupa tutta la parte bassa del desktop con i seguenti oggetti: menu delle applicazioni, cambia desktop, gestore dei processi (elenco delle finestre aperte), vassoio di sistema, notificatore dei dispositivi e orologio. Se stai utilizzando un portatile, un netbook o un altro computer dotato di batteria, nel pannello ci sarà anche un oggetto per la gestione energetica. All'estremità del pannello c'è una casella degli strumenti che può essere attivata per accedere alle opzioni di configurazione.

Configurazione

Il pannello può quindi essere configurato facendo clic sulla casella degli strumenti che si trova a destra per i pannelli orizzontali o in basso per quelli verticali. A questo punto il pannello è in modalità di configurazione. Si può anche accedere alla configurazione del pannello tramite il menu contestuale (clic destro) del pannello.

The arrows on the edge of the panel allow the panel's size to be adjusted. Dragging the arrow makes the panel smaller or larger. Dragging the arrow when it is pointing down, moves the panel's position.

Widgets in the panel can be sorted by dragging them when in configuration mode. Widgets align left in the horizontal and top in the vertical panel

The Panel Toolbox

• Screen Edge: Allows you to drag the panel to any of the four edges of the screen.

• Height (for horizontal panel): Allows the panel height to be adjusted.

• Width (for vertical panel): Allows the panel width to be adjusted.

• Add Widgets: Allows widgets to be added to the panel.

• Add Spacer: Allows you to add a spacer into the panel giving space between the items in it.
  • The standard behavior of a spacer is that it uses as much space as possible (flexible size), but you can also set it to a fixed size:. Enter the context (right click) menu and deactivate Set Flexible Size.

The "More Settings" Menu

• Panel Alignment: Allows the alignment of the panel to be set in three pre-set positions.
  • Left/Top
  • Center
  • Right/Bottom

• Visibility
  • Always Visible: Keeps the panel visible at all times, even when windows are maximised.
  • Auto Hide: Hides the panel off screen until the mouse is placed near the screen edge.
  • Windows can cover: This allows windows to cover the panel and if maximised, will cover the panel.
  • Windows go below: This allows windows to go below the panel, even when maximised.

• Maximize Panel: Makes the panel fit to the screen edges, if it has been resized.

• Lock Widgets: Locks the panel and widgets in position. Also hides the toolbox.

• Remove this panel: Removes the current panel and all widgets in it.

Multiple Panels

It is also possible to have more than one panel on your desktop. This proves useful if you want to have a more flexible layout:

Screenshot showing a desktop with multiple panels: a vertical panel with an application launcher, shortcuts and a system tray and a second panel placed horizontally at the top of the screen with a task manager and a clock.

Adding a Panel

To add a new panel either click on the desktop toolbox button and select Add Panel or open the context (right click) menu on the desktop and select Add Panel from the menu.

If more than one kind of Panel is installed, you will be able to select between them to choose what sort of Panel you would prefer. By default, two Panel types are available: Default Panel, which creates a Panel containing all of the default widgets (launcher, pager, tasks, system tray, clock, etc.), and Blank Panel, which adds an empty Panel without any pre-configured widgets in it.

Locking

The panels and desktop may be locked to prevent changes being made to them. When locked, the toolbox buttons will not be shown on either the desktop or on the panels. To configure a panel, it must be unlocked, otherwise the toolbox and context menu entries to configure or add widgets are unavailable.

Locking can be done by either selecting the Lock Widgets entry in the Panel toolbox's More Settings menu or in the Panel context (right click) menu. Once locked, the Panels can be unlocked again by right clicking on either a panel or desktop and selecting Unlock Widgets from the menu that is displayed.