Plasma/Panels

Panels in Plasma Desktop

A Panel is a widget container which can be located on any side of the desktop. There can be multiple panels on the same side. The default layout is one panel that stretches across the entire bottom of the desktop with the following widgets: application menu, desktop pager, task manager (list of open windows), system tray and clock. At the end of the panel is a toolbox button which can be activated to access configuration options.

Configuration

The panel can then be configured by clicking on the toolbox located on the right for horizontal or bottom for vertical panel. At that point, the panel will be in configuration mode. Panel configuration may also be accessed via the context (right click) menu in the panel.

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

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

Settings

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 as possible space (flexible size), but you can also set it to a fixed size: Right click and deactivate "Set Flexible Size".
Lock Widgets: Locks the panel and widgets in position. Also hides the toolbox.

More settings -submenu

Panel Alignment: Allows the alignment of the panel to be set in three pre-set positions.
- Top
- Center
- 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.
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 proofs useful if you want to have a more flexible layout: e.g. one vertical panel for the Application Luncher, shortcuts and the System Tray and a horizontal panel for the Task Manager and the clock.

Add a Panel

To add a panel right click on the Desktop and select "Add Panel".

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 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.