The desktop

KDE Frequently Asked Questions
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# Chapter 6. The desktop

6.1. How do I add an application to the desktop?
6.2. How do I mount/unmount a device from the desktop?
6.3. How do I use a screensaver as background?
6.4. Where are the icons kept?
6.5. How do I change the standard menu items as non-root?
6.6. How do I use the mouse scroll wheel in KDE?
6.7. What exactly is the `Templates` folder?
6.8. Why can't I get system sound to work, like for opening windows?
6.9. How do I launch applications in a particular desktop?
6.10. I have played with the fonts section in the KDE Control Center but the fonts are still way too small. What can I do?
6.11. Is it possible to extend the Desktop Icon Menus?
6.12. Can I get rid of the Trash/Templates/Autostart icons?
6.13. Where do I save my files if I want them to appear directly on the desktop?

6.1. How do I add an application to the desktop?

This is a simple exercise: click on the desktop with the right mouse button. In the menu, select New->Program. Enter the title of the program, and it will appear on the desktop.

You might want to change the new icon's properties, so click on the program name with the right mouse button , and select Properties. In the dialog, you should at least change the program to execute and the icon. That's it.

6.2. How do I mount/unmount a device from the desktop?

There are two steps involved:

1. Make sure you are allowed to mount/unmount the device. Normally, only root is allowed to mount/unmount devices. If you are not running KDE as root (and you should not, by the way), you must set the right for users to mount a device in `/etc/fstab`. This means to add the option `user` to the options of the filesystem you want to mount.

   For example, to mount the floppy, your `/etc/fstab` should include:

        /dev/fd0   /floppy   msdos   noauto,user,sync 0 0

2. Create a `.desktop` file for the filesystem. An example for a device `.desktop` file is:

        # KDE Config File
        [KDE Desktop Entry]
        UnmountIcon=3floppy_unmount.xpm
        MountPoint=/floppy
        Icon=3floppy_mount.xpm
        Dev=/dev/fd0
        ReadOnly=0
        FSType=default
        Type=FSDevice
        Comment=Floppy Disc

6.3. How do I use a screensaver as background?

It is possible to use a screensaver instead of a background image. To do this, call any screensaver with the `-inroot` parameter, for example kswarm.kss `-inroot` &. Most screensavers will look best if you set the background color to black. However, using a screensaver as background might eat some CPU and X time....

6.4. Where are the icons kept?

The icons can be found only in `$`KDEDIR`/share/icons` or `$`HOME`/.kde/share/icons`. To use icons stored in other locations, you must either copy them into one of the above-mentioned fixed KDE locations or make symlinks.

6.5. How do I change the standard menu items as non-root?

Try changing the permission and/or ownership of the directories and files in `$`KDEDIR`/share/applnk`. Alternatively, you can create a trusted group (e.g., friends) and try chgrp `-R friends $`KDEDIR`/share/applnk`; chmod `-R g+w $`KDEDIR`/share/applnk` and make all your trusted users members of friends. Note that you would still need superuser privileges to do the above, however. If it is impossible for you to obtain root privileges, then you would have to settle for editing your personal menu.

6.6. How do I use the mouse scroll wheel in KDE?

Mouse wheel support comes with Qt™ 2.0 and above, so KDE based on that will automagically support the use of the mouse scroll wheel. If you are using an older KDE, however, in order to use the scroll wheel with KFM, KEdit, and non-KDE applications like Emacs, try getting IMWheel from http://solaris1.mysolution.com/~jcatki/imwheel/. You might also find the information in http://www.inria.fr/koala/colas/mouse-wheel-scroll/ useful.

6.7. What exactly is the `Templates` folder?

The `Templates` folder holds items that you can create easily anywhere (on the Desktop or in a file manager window) by selecting New from the context menu (right click menu) of the place you want the item to be.

You can put both files and directories in the `Templates` folder, and they will automagically appear in the New submenu. When you select them from the submenu, they are copied to the current location.

This is exactly like opening the `Templates` directory and copying the items from there directly, only it is slightly easier. By default, the `Templates` directory is populated with only `.desktop` files. These files are there to allow you to immediately begin creating devices, programs, URL links, and new MIME types, but you can put anything you want there.

6.8. Why can't I get system sound to work, like for opening windows?

System sound currently does not work on non-FreeBSD and non-Linux® systems. This is being worked on. If you use FreeBSD or Linux®, you have found a bug, so please report it.

6.9. How do I launch applications in a particular desktop?

KDE pre-1.1 and above

  KDE pre-1.1 and above comes with a program called kstart. You can use it in a `.kdelnk` (`.desktop` for KDE 2) file like this:

       Name=Netscape
       Exec=kstart "netscape" -window ".*Netscape.*" -desktop 2 -maximize
       BinaryPattern=netscape;
       Icon=netscape.xpm
       Path=
       Type=Application
       Terminal=0

  Or just run the following: kstart `"netscape" -desktop 2 -activate`.

KDE 1.0 and below

  Use a shell script to do it. The script should look something like this:

       kwmcom desktop2 (or desktop3, desktop4, whatever) netscape

  Please note that the above example has the (undesirable) effect of leaving you in desktop 2 while it is executing and also once it has finished executing.

  | On the off chance you have not used shell scripts, they are basically just text files you have run chmod `+x` on. They are the Linux® version of the DOS batch file, but, of course, better.

6.10. I have played with the fonts section in the KDE Control Center but the fonts are still way too small. What can I do?

Many users use the 75 dpi fonts as the default. If you have installed the 100 dpi fonts, make sure your `XF86Config` file has those fonts in the path before the 75 dpi fonts. Here is a step-by-step procedure on how to do it:

1. Open `/etc/Xll/XF86Config` using your favorite editor.

2. Near the top of the file is a several-row listing of fonts: type1, speedo, etc., and at the bottom there are two entries: 75dpi and 100dpi. Reverse their order. And while you are at it, move the Type 1 fonts to the bottom of the list (or somewhere below the 75 and 100 dpi fonts). That makes an improvement too!

6.11. Is it possible to extend the Desktop Icon Menus?

Yes. Just add the applnk for the required command to `$`KDEDIR`/share/applnk`, or use kmenuedit.

6.12. Can I get rid of the Trash/Templates/Autostart icons?

KDE 1.x

  Yes. Simply edit `$`KDEDIR`/bin/startkde` and replace kfm with kfm -w. If that does not work, here is another way. Add the following lines to `$`HOME`/.kde/share/config/kfmrc`:

       [Paths]
       Trash=/home/me/Trash/
       Desktop=/home/me/Desktop
       Templates=/home/me/Templates/
       Autostart=/home/me/Autostart/

  The effect is to take Trash, Templates, and Autostart and put them into your home directory instead of your `$`HOME`/Desktop` directory. You will have to restart KDE, and you may have to delete the icons from the desktop the first time. Please make sure you move anything you have in Autostart into `$`HOME`/Autostart` before deleting it from the desktop. And then you will have a nice, clean desktop with no "My Computer" sort of look.

KDE 2

  Yes. Open the KDE Control Center and select Desktop (under Look and Feel in the left hand pane, then the item General. Here you can type in new paths for these items, and KDE will automatically move them to the new location.

6.13. Where do I save my files if I want them to appear directly on the desktop?

`$`HOME`/Desktop`. You might need to refresh your desktop after you have saved your files.

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