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---+!! KDE4 FAQ

The default desktop/windowsmanager in *OpenSUSE 11.3* is *KDE4*. [[LinuxUpdate113][Update to OpenSUSE 11.3]]

%X% *PLEASE NOTE:* 

In case you *run KDE4 for the first time* and you have updated from KDE3, it can make sense *to start from scratch* and clean up all your old KDE settings (see the first point below) 

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---++ How to clean up your KDE settings
To (re-)move your old KDE settings *rename* your KDE settings folders in your home directory. Start a konsole/terminal and type:

<verbatim>
mv ~/.kde  ~/.kde.`date +%F`
mv ~/.kde4 ~/.kde4.`date +%F`
</verbatim>

Now *logout and login again*. KDE4 will start with the default settings.


---++ What's new in KDE4?

   * The new *Plasma Desktop* ([[http://userbase.kde.org/Glossary#Plasma][link]]) with *Panel* ([[http://userbase.kde.org/Glossary#Panel][link]]), *Widgets* ([[http://userbase.kde.org/Glossary#Widget][link]]) and *Activity* ([[http://userbase.kde.org/Glossary#Activities][link]]). Click on the upper right corner (*Tool Box*) of your desktop to configure
   * The new *Panel* (replaces kicker). Click on the very right side of the panel to configure (*Panel Tool Box*)
   * The new *Pager* showing your virtual desktops. Right click on the Pager to configure
   * <img src="%ATTACHURLPATH%/kde4_desktop_labeled_small.png" alt="kde4_desktop_labeled_small.png" width='530' height='303' />

   * ==dolphin== is the new *File Manager* (replaces konqueror as file manager)
   * ==okular== is the new universal *Document Viewer* (based on kdpf and replaces kpdf, kdvi and kghostview)
   * ==gwenview== is the new *Image Viewer* (replaces kview and kuickshow)
   * ==systemsettings== for configuring KDE4 (replaces kcontrol of KDE3)

---++ What's the Plasma Desktop?
The Plasma Desktop is the name of the default workspace (desktop interface) for KDE4 (like Aqua for Macintosh). It includes the Desktop (configured as *Activity*) and the *Panel* (taskbar). Plasma's main components are *Widgets*.


---++ What are Widgets?
Widgets are small applications (applets) that live on the desktop. Widgets can take on a variety of functions, ranging from displaying your desktop folder, showing a clock, displaying your plugged in devices, etc.


---++ What's an Activity in KDE4?
An Activity in KDE4 is sets of *widgets* that have their own *wallpaper*. 


---++ I don't see the cool desktop effects of KDE4?
On a konsole start the program ==systemsettings==. Or from the KDE menu choose *Configure Desktop*. Choose from Look & Feel %M% *Desktop* %M% *Desktop Effects* and check the box *Enable desktop effects*. To activate more effects go to the tab *All Effects*. 


---++ KDE4 seems to be slow?
On a konsole start the program ==systemsettings==. Or from the KDE menu choose *Configure Desktop*. Choose from Look & Feel %M% *Desktop* %M% *Desktop Effects*.  Usually I disable the effects related to the windows minimization (slow redesign) and move (transparence), but if your system is very old, disable Desktop Effects completely.


---++ Change how the icons are displayed on your desktop
Right click on your desktop. From the menu choose *Folder View Activity Settings* %M% Select *Activity* %M% As activity type choose *Folder View* %M% Press Apply. %BR%
You can now close the Desktop Folder on your desktop by right clicking on it and choose *Remove this Folder View*. Now the icons are placed on the desktop like in KDE3.

---++ How to change the desktop background?
Right click on your desktop. From the menu choose *Folder View Activity Settings* %M% Select *Wallpaper* and change your desktop background.


---++ How can I have different backgrounds on my virtual desktops?
The background (wallpaper) of a desktop is defined by its *Activity Settings*. In order to have different backgrounds, you need to define for each of your virtual desktop a separate Activity. Right click on the *Pager* and choose *Configure Virtual Desktops...*. Check the box *Different activity for each desktop*. Now on each virtual desktop configure its activity by clicking on the upper right corner on the *Tool Box* or by right clicking on the desktop. Select *Folder View Activity Settings* and choose a wallpaper.


---++ How to change the screensaver?
In a konsole/terminal start the program ==systemsettings==. Or from the KDE menu choose *Configure Desktop* (it's under Favorites). Choose from *Look & Feel* %M% *Desktop* and go to *Screen Saver*


---++ How to change the appearance of the mouse pointer?
On a konsole start the program ==systemsettings==. Or from the KDE menu choose *Configure Desktop* (it's under Favorites). At the bottom under *Computer Administration* click on *Keybaord & Mouse*. Choose *Mouse* and go to *Cursor Theme*. Take for example DMZ as new theme. Press Apply.


---++ How can I make a window active when moving with the mouse over it?
On a konsole start the program ==systemsettings==. Or from the KDE menu choose *Configure Desktop* (it's under Favorites). Choose from Look & Feel %M% *Window Behavior*. Select *Window Behavior* and change *Policy* to *Focus Follow Mouse* and tick the box *Raise, with the following delay*


---++ Where is the "Show Desktop" button?
Right click on the panel and choose *Panel Options* or directly *Add Widgets...*. Or on the right side of the panel click on the *Panel Tool Box* and select *Add Widgets...*. Add widget *Show Desktop* (under group: Windows and Task). Double click on the widget *Show Desktop* to put it into the panel.


---++ How to put application icons in the panel?
In the KDE menu search for the application you want to put into the panel. Instead of starting the application with a left click, right click on it and from the menu cooose *Add to Panel*. About how to move the icon inside the panel see next point.
---++ How to change the font in the konsole (terminal)?
Open a terminal (konsole). In the menu go to *Settings* %M% *Edit Current Profile...* Click on the *Appearance* tab. At the bottom choose *Edit Font...*. Select a font. For example ==Droid Sans Mono size 10 points==. Finally press Ok and Apply.


---++ How to move icons/widgets in the panel?
Right click on the panel and choose *Panel Options* and %M% choose *Panel Settings*. Or on the right side of the panel click on the *Panel Tool Box* symbol.%BR%
While the Settings window is opened, move the cursor to the icon/widget on the panel, click on it and move to the desired location and click again. Close the Panel Settings window after the move. 


---++ How to adjusting the thickness of the panel?
On the right side of the panel click on the *Panel Tool Box*. A toolbar pops up. Click the "Height" button but DO NOT RELEASE the mouse button. Now move the mouse, this causes the height of the panel to grow or shrink. 


---++ How to change the background of the panel?
On a konsole start the program ==systemsettings==. Or from the KDE menu choose *Configure Desktop* (it's under Favorites). Choose from Look & Feel %M% *Appearance*. Select *Style* and choose the *workspace* tab. Select a them for your workspace which will be applied to the panel.


---++ How to configure the pager?
The pager shows you the virtual desktops. The pager is a widget and can be added to the panel or to the desktop. To configure the pager located in the panel, right click on it and choose *Pager Settings* or *Configure Virtual Desktops*. 


---++ How to turn off the annoying system beep? 
   * Start kmix, in case you don't see a loudspeaker symbol in the panel
   * Click on the loudspeaker symbol in the panel
   * Click on Mixer %M% Settings %M% Configure Channels...
   * Look for the channel Beep and move it with the mouse to Visible channels. Press OK
   * Now in the Mixer view there should be a channel Beep. Mute the channel Beep by checking the box. Close mixer.


---++ Kile opens my !JabRef .bib file read-only?
Kile uses per default *UTF-8* as encoding. Your !JabRef .bin file may uses another encoding like ISO-8859-1. (Note: the .bib file is an ASCII file and the encoding should be defined in the second line). 
It's recommended to use *UTF-8* as encoding. To convert your .bib file, open it with !JabRef. In the menu choose %M% File %M% Database properties. As Database encoding choose UTF-8. Finally save the database in !JabRef. %BR%
Now you can open the .bib file in kile with default encoding UTF-8. %BR%
*IMPORTANT:* If you have ever open the .bib file in kile with the wrong encoding, kile will *always* open this file read-only. Either you rename the .bib file and open it with the correct encoding. Or you edit your kile settings with a normal text editor. Open ==~/.kde4/share/config/kilerc== search the entry for you file and change !ReadWrite=false to *ReadWrite=true*.


---++ How to get more help for KDE4?
In the KDE menu under *Favorites* start *Help*. Or in a konsole/terminal run the command ==khelpcenter==. %BR%
*Recommended:* Have a look at [[http://userbase.kde.org/An_introduction_to_KDE][An introduction to KDE]] hosted at the [[http://userbase.kde.org][KDE UserBase]]


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Changed by UrsBeyerle on 11 Nov 2010 - 18:34 - r19
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