KDE4 minor irritants - multiple small issues.

[CJ]

After having tried a wealth of distros in the last month or so, I have to say that the PCLOS KDE4 implementation really kicks butt! So usable compared to the competition (at least from my perspective - I am not to much into eye candy, but would rather get working without problems). Kudos - much and many - to PCLOS's dev team... even after KDE4, no question this is my preferred disto!

I do have some minor issues, so if there are simple, quick solutions to these, I shall be set to go and move my main installation to KDE4. (For those that do not have quick remedies, if any, I shall open separate threads.)

1. [SOLVED] Terminal - The background under the text become transparent (the rest of the window not). Clearly not a fancy desktop effect, as sometimes the edge is not straight, or it even flickers a bit when typing. It really have the feel of a bug...

2. Amarok - how does one create a new link (in this case, a shoutcast stream) in the list on the left (as opposed to in the playlist)?

3. [SOLVED] Menu to Desktop - when right-clicking an app in the menu and 'Add to desktop', sometime - maybe some 1 out of 5 times - the app entry in the menu actually disappears from the menu.

4. Icons - I think I understand the two types of desktop icons available (i.e. plasma or window), and I can 'align to grid' those of the window (links in /home/<user>/Desktop), but those for plasma (widgets?) does not auto-align (they even move around a pixel or two over time). Can these latter not be aligned to a grid?

5. [SOLVED] krandr - does not seem to exist under KDE4 (yet?), and xrandr messes up the screen completely. (I used it for switching between single and dual monitor under KDE3.5). What does the desktop CC app actually use under the hood to switch between metamodes? (Nvidia)

5a. [SOLVED...-ish... but good enough] Desktop CC, Display - It used to have an option of forcing setting on KDE start, but not any more. The setting used in there is only applied when I click on this area (i.e. when going in to see the settings, not actually clicking on apply).
Ex: I boot up with twinview desktop spread over two monitors (3840x1200), but in the Desktop CC Display is set to one monitor only (1920x1200). This is retained, but ignored, until such time as I click on the Display -> Size & Orientation area (again, just viewing, not applying or OK'ing). This must be a bug, yes?

6. [SOLVED] Panel and spacers - The spacer bars that can be inserted, I find ugly (personal taste, sorry). Is there a way to insert proper spaces (i.e. complete blanks) between icons/widgets/links/whatever in the panel bar?

7. [SOLVED] Notification and Jobs - Honestly? Not my cup of tea at all! I especially dislike the way that file copy jobs pop up or even just hide down there, and would like the good, old modal windows back. Can something be done - even removed? Or maybe someone can convince me that I am wrong and this is actually a good thing I just haven't learn to appreciate yet...

8. [SOLVED] kwrite - Can one no longer turn off auto-backups?

9. [SOLVED...-ish... but good enough] Icons/links as superuser - Not really a KDE4 thing, but how does one add a link/widget to desktop/plasma so as to start an app as root, e.g. Dolphin? Probably simple, but I just can get a handle on it. I have tried copying the menu link for Konquoror (superuser) but whenever I start, it just comes up as normal user. What am I doing wrong?

10. [SOLVED] Side panel? - On my right hand side of the screen, from top to bottom, runs a thin, semi-transparent panel/bar. It is empty, except for a small arrow at the top (pointing upwards). I can't seem to do anything with it, apart from pressing said arrow, which make it disappear - just to have it back on the next reboot. Have I somehow, inadvertently, created a widget, and if so, how do I get rid of it?
EDIT: I have just seen that this is actually a scrollbar of all things! It starts 'centered', if that is the right word, as there is little space above and beneath the slider. When scrolling up (either manually or by clicking the top arrow), it realises that it really isn't needed and disappear. How bad is that?! Anyone on how I can get rid of the nuisance?

Ok, enough, I am sure! All these little issues's resolution would help me immensely in making the jump from 3.5 to 4, so any ideas are welcome!
(The one that really is a must for me - and I finally got working as I would like in 3.5 - is 5 and 5a, but I have a feeling this issue is going to need its own thread...)

Much obliged to anyone taking the time...
Cheers!
CJ

[CJ]

7 Right click on system tray, choose System Tray Settings>>Information and disable "File transfers and other jobs. The old way will be back. (My preference too  )

Brilliant, you are a trooper! Thanks!

8 Open Kwrite>>Settings>>Configure Editor>>Open/Save>>Advanced>>Backup on save. Disable the "Local files" box.

Wow, I have been there so many times, how can I have missed that?! Thanks a lot!

Two down, eight to go... 

Cheers!
CJ

[dobbs]

8 Open Kwrite>>Settings>>Configure Editor>>Open/Save>>Advanced>>Backup on save. Disable the "Local files" box.

Thanks for this tip, dubigrasu. This one has bugged me....

[CJ]

5 For Krandr install "kdebase4-workspace" from Synaptic

Done! Thanks for that, helps me a lot. I have thrown it into autostart, so let's see if that will actually force the last chosen resolution on KDE start... Will let you know how it goes when I reboot next time.

I did :
Click on Menu>>>System>>File tools>>Konqueror Super user mode. Right click on it >>Add to Desktop.

I did that (for konquorer) - that was actually one of the actions that somehow deleted it from the menu itself (as per pt. 3)!
For unrelated reasons, the desktop icon got deleted (ok, ok, my own faul-up), and then it was gone. Trying to create a shortcut in the desktop folder with the exact same command (dbus-launch konqueror --profile filemanagement) will start konquorer but not as root (pt. 9).
But that's for konquorer - how about if I want to do the same for, say, dolphin as superuser (pt. 9)? (You have already answered that you do not specifically know, so don't worry.)

For open folders as root you can install "DoAsRoot" ...
( not exactly what you asked for...)

Done! And no, not exactly, but a pretty decent work-around, so thanks a bundle!

Also you can right click on desktop choose "run command" enter the app's name, click on the small wrench bellow and choose to run it as another user (root).
( again, not exactly what you want)

And again, still a pretty good tip, so ta once more!

Two more down - six to go... Thank you for your time and help, not bad for a weekend's quiet hacking.

Cheers!
CJ

[CJ]

5 For Krandr install "kdebase4-workspace" from Synaptic

Done! Thanks for that, helps me a lot. I have thrown it into autostart, so let's see if that will actually force the last chosen resolution on KDE start... Will let you know how it goes when I reboot next time.

It actually works, and it does force the 'default' resolution over the first metamode in xorg. Only regret is that the KDE desktop comes up first, then and only then does it switch to the default resolution (i.e. a bit of flickering at the very start of the desktop load). The old 'force settings on KDE start' actually did it before, so no flickering. Still, it is definitely usable, so thank you once again - not perfect, but a  bucket load better than nothing!

Anybody wants to chime in with the remaining issues? Come on, I know you want it! 

Cheers!
CJ

[CJ]

I am impressed! So all the helpful solutions came from a non-KDE4 user?! 

I am nearly there. Of course, there are still issues, the above notwithstanding, but I hope to be ready - as ready as can be - when the new image comes out.

Cheers!
CJ

[Bald Brick]

6. Panel and spacers - The spacer bars that can be inserted, I find ugly (personal taste, sorry). Is there a way to insert proper spaces (i.e. complete blanks) between icons/widgets/links/whatever in the panel bar?

I've tried to replicate this problem, but the fact is that no matter what I do I can't get my spacers to be anything but complete blanks. I've tried changing the theme not only for the panel but for every imaginable desktop element, and the spacers remain just spaces.

The attached pictures show part of my panel with two different themes, and in both cases with two narrow spacers.


[attachment deleted by admin]

[CJ]

Blackbird, that is indeed weird... it points to something being amiss with my particular install... either that, or there is more than one type of spacer?
From the panel, I Unlock Widgets, then right-click my way to Panel Options -> Panel Settings; from there, I simply click on the Spacer button, then drag and resize it to where I want it; re-lock widgets, and this is what I get (see pic).

I have noticed that sometimes my panel seems to act up. For instance, my digital clock has started changing size - say between 10pt and 11pt - every second or more... no seeming system and irregular intervals. Strangely, the date is untouched. With what you write, I am beginning to hope that panel issues will disappear when the 2010 fresh image is out.

Cheers!
CJ


[attachment deleted by admin]

[Bald Brick]

This problem is probably related to the theme or themes you are using, so you might try a number of other themes, at least for the panel. Unfortunately one sometimes has to restart KDE before all the changes that come with a new theme become visible -- and that I obviously didn't do.

(Spacers may be defined in /usr/share/apps/desktoptheme/<name-of-theme>/widgets/panelspacer-separator.svg or in ~/.kde4/share/apps/desktoptheme/<name-of-theme>/widgets/panelspacer-separator.svg.)

[CJ]

Unfortunately one sometimes has to restart KDE before all the changes that come with a new theme become visible -- and that I obviously didn't do.

(Spacers may be defined in /usr/share/apps/desktoptheme/<name-of-theme>/widgets/panelspacer-separator.svg or in ~/.kde4/share/apps/desktoptheme/<name-of-theme>/widgets/panelspacer-separator.svg.)

Well, it seems that you have a magic touch, for just writing about it, getting ready to do it manually, as you suggested, I decided to reboot the machine - just one last time - and lo and behold, it has gone from <grrrrr> to <a-ok>! So thanks!

One more down, only five to go!

Cheers!
CJ

[rastus]

Q2. There was some sort of bust up between shoutcast and the Amarok devs which led to shoutcast being removed from Amarok 2.2. Don't know the ins and outs of it, no doubt they each blame each other. If you download this script and install it using the Amarok script manager, does this do what you want?

[CJ]

Q2. There was some sort of bust up between shoutcast and the Amarok devs which led to shoutcast being removed from Amarok 2.2. Don't know the ins and outs of it, no doubt they each blame each other. If you download this script and install it using the Amarok script manager, does this do what you want?

Thanks for your suggestion, though this is not my problem (at least, not yet, ha). I do have access to the shoutcast stations, even though I am using Amarok 2.2.1.
My question was actually a lot simpler (at least, I think so): How do I create (save) a link to my favourite shoutcast station(s), preferably on the lest site under the shoutcast list (not as a playlist)?

Thanks for helping out all the same, much appreciated!

Cheers!
CJ#

[CJ]

10. Side panel? - On my right hand side of the screen, from top to bottom, runs a thin, semi-transparent panel/bar. It is empty, except for a small arrow at the top (pointing upwards). I can't seem to do anything with it, apart from pressing said arrow, which make it disappear - just to have it back on the next reboot. Have I somehow, inadvertently, created a widget, and if so, how do I get rid of it?
EDIT: I have just seen that this is actually a scrollbar of all things! It starts 'centered', if that is the right word, as there is little space above and beneath the slider. When scrolling up (either manually or by clicking the top arrow), it realises that it really isn't needed and disappear. How bad is that?! Anyone on how I can get rid of the nuisance?

Re. 10: This nuisance have disappeared, so hurrah!. I think it was my fiddling around with the height of the panel that did it, though I cannot be sure. At least it's gone, happy days.

So now only issues 1 through 4 remains... this is actually going well!

Cheers!
CJ

[Mark342]

#3
right click the PC icon > Menu Editor > Edit > Restore to System Menu
in order to get your menu items back.

I used to have this same problem, but it went away with the updates.
I remember getting around that problem by dragging the menu items onto the desktop and clicking "Link Here" instead.

[CJ]

#3
right click the PC icon > Menu Editor > Edit > Restore to System Menu
in order to get your menu items back.

I used to have this same problem, but it went away with the updates.
I remember getting around that problem by dragging the menu items onto the desktop and clicking "Link Here" instead.

Thank you so much for your reply. I would do that, except then all my added stuff would disappear...
But you did answer the question, nice to see that it wasn't just me.   ... and I am happy that the issue has been resolved.
From now on, though, I shall do as you suggest and drag onto desktop instead.

Wow, only 1, 2 and 4 remains! Good going, all!

Cheers!
CJ