Figure 6-2 shows the parts of the KDE desktop, which are described in the following subsections.
Clicking the KDE desktop with the middle mouse button causes a pop-up menu to appear; the menu lets you switch virtual desktops or rearrange the current desktop. Right-clicking the desktop causes a different pop-up menu to appear; this menu lets you create desktop shortcuts and perform a variety of other functions. The desktop includes a variety of icons and folders. The specific icons and folders that appear may vary depending on the software installed on your system and your KDE configuration.
- KDE Control Panel icon
Clicking the KDE Control Panel icon launches KDE’s Control Panel, which lets you configure your system. The functions of the KDE Control Panel resemble those of GNOME’s Start Here facility.
- Home Directory icon
The Home Directory icon enables you to view your home directory by using KDE’s file manager, Konqueror. Konqueror is described in more detail later in this chapter.
- Linux Documentation icon
Clicking the Linux Documentation icon launches KDE’s browser, Konqueror, to let you view a mirror of the Linux Documentation Project (LDP) web site. The LDP publishes many Linux-related documents including HOWTOs and mini-HOWTOs.
- www.redhat.com icon
Clicking the www.redhat.com icon launches KDE’s browser, Konqueror, to let you view Red Hat’s web site, http://www.redhat.com.
- Trash icon
Clicking the Trash icon lets you view the contents of the directory in which KDE stores files move to the Trash bin by using Konqueror. Files deleted by using Konqueror or the
rmcommand are not stored in the trash; they are immediately deleted.- Drive icons
If you have permission to mount a CD-ROM or floppy drive, your desktop includes an icon representing the drive. If you click the icon, a pop-up menu appears. The menu lets you mount the device.
KDE’s panel appears along the bottom edge of the display. The panel normally contains the main menu icon, launch icons, the pager, the task list, a clock, and a hide button. The icon that resembles a life buoy launches KDE’s help system.
Tip
Moving your mouse over an icon in the Panel displays a message informing you of the icon’s function.
- Main menu icon
As mentioned, the main menu icon features a letter K superimposed on a gear. Left-clicking the main menu presents a menu from which you can choose a variety of programs. Several of the menu items are submenus; selecting such a menu item pops up a new menu to the side of the original menu item.
- Desktop icon
The desktop icon, which is located immediately to the right of the main menu icon, hides any open windows, letting you view the desktop contents that the windows would otherwise obscure. To view the desktop, click the desktop icon. To restore the open windows, click the desktop icon a second time.
- Launch icons
The KDE panel contains a variety of launch icons. The specific icons that appear vary, depending on the applications you’ve installed and the KDE configuration. Among the icons you’re likely to see are these:
KDE Terminal icon, which launches a KDE Terminal
KDE Control Center icon, which launches the KDE Control Center used to configure KDE
KDE Help icon, which launches Konqueror to let you view help information
Home directory icon, which launches Konqueror to let you view your home directory
Konqueror icon, which launches Konqueror
KMail icon, which launches the KMail email client
- Pager
Like GNOME, KDE features a virtual desktop that’s larger than your system’s monitor. The pager lets you navigate the virtual desktop. By default, one of four virtual desktop pages is visible. The four pager buttons let you select a different desktop page. The button that shows window contents rather than a numeral indicates the page you’re currently viewing as your desktop. To view a different page, simply left-click the button that represents the desktop page you want to view.
- Task list
The task list contains a button for each active task. Clicking a task’s button raises the task’s window to the front of the screen so you can view it.
- Clock
- Screensaver icon
The screensaver icon lets you lock the console and display a screensaver. To regain access to the console, you must type your password. This function is useful when you leave your computer unattended, because it prevents unauthorized persons from using the computer during your absence.
- Logout icon
The shutdown icon enables you to conveniently shutdown your system. To log out of KDE, left-click the icon.
- Clipboard tool
The Clipboard tools lets you view the contents of KDE’s clipboard.
- Korganizer icon
The Korganizer icon launches Korganizer, a KDE application that provides a scheduler and to do list.
- Hide button
You can hide and restore KDE’s panel by left-clicking the hide button. Hiding the display is useful when you want to make as much of the screen as possible available to an application. Another way to gain more screen space is to right-click the panel and select the Size menu item, which lets you adjust the height of the panel.
Konqueror, KDE’s browser, is used to view KDE help information. As mentioned, you can launch it by clicking the icon resembling a life buoy. Konqueror can also be used to view web pages; Figure 6-3 shows Konqueror being used to view a web page.
Konqueror
is also KDE’s file manager. When you click the icon that
resembles a small house superimposed on a larger file folder,
Konqueror displays the contents of your /home
directory, as shown in Figure 6-4.
By clicking the Tree View icon at the right of Konqueror’s toolbar, you can cause Konqueror to display information in a format that resembles the familiar two-pane layout used by the Microsoft Windows Explorer and GNOME’s Nautilus. However, Konqueror uses only a single pane to display the directory tree and the files it contains. To select a directory, click it.
You can choose from among several other views by using the View icons or menu. For instance, in addition to its default mode showing files and directories as icons, Konqueror has a detailed mode that shows more information, including file size, modification time, and access modes (permissions). To change modes, click either of the two icons at the far right of Konqueror’s icon bar. The rightmost icon selects icon mode; the icon to its left selects detailed mode. Figure 6-5 shows Konqueror’s detailed mode in Tree View.
Konqueror can be used to move, copy, rename, and delete files and directories. You can perform these and other file operations in a variety of ways. To rename a file, right-click on the file’s icon and select Rename from the pop-up menu. Simply type the new name and press Enter. To delete a file, right-click on the file and select Delete from the pop-up menu. A dialog box asks you to confirm your decision. Alternatively, you can send the file to KDE’s trash can, which resembles the Windows Recycle Bin. You can retrieve files sent to the trash can, if you do so promptly. Click the trash can to view or move its contents.
You can move, copy, or delete multiple files in a single operation. Select the files by holding down the Ctrl key as you select them one at a time by right-clicking them. Alternatively, you can click and drag the cursor around a group of files. To move or copy the selected files, simply drag them to the new location. When you release the mouse, a pop-up menu lets you specify whether you want to move or copy the files.
Rather than move or copy a file, you can use the pop-up menu to create a link. Konqueror lets you click—not double-click—on a link to launch an application on the file associated with the link. Alternatively, you can right-click on the file or link and select Open With from the pop-up menu. KDE launches a dialog box that lets you specify the application that should be launched.
Similar to the MS-DOS Prompt window, the KDE terminal provides a window in which you can type shell commands and view their output. To launch KDE Terminal, you can click the KDE Terminal icon on the Panel or select System → Terminal from the KDE menu. You can open multiple KDE terminal windows if you like.
The Settings menu lets you configure the operation of KDE Terminal. For example, you may find that the default font is too large or too small for your liking. If so, select Settings → Font from the KDE terminal window. Then simply select the font size you prefer.
To exit KDE Terminal, simply type exit on the command line and press Enter. Alternatively, select Quit from the File menu.