Author Topic: KDE ZUI (Zoom User Intrerface)  (Read 1306 times)

Offline Georgetoon

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KDE ZUI (Zoom User Intrerface)
« on: February 01, 2010, 01:27:43 PM »
This month's PCLinuxOS Magazine has a terrific article on KDE 4.  
 
The article also has a link to a great video showing the KDE ZUI in action.

Here's my question...after viewing this video is it still necessary to have Pager in place for multiple desktops? Looks like if you set up different desktop activities and place a plasmoid activity bar (desktop switcher) on each desktop, there's no need for the Pager.  

« Last Edit: February 01, 2010, 08:51:01 PM by georgetoon »
Toonfully,

Mark
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Offline Georgetoon

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Re: KDE ZUI (Zoom User Intrerface)
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2010, 08:54:53 PM »
Well, I'm still trying to figure this out. Pager and the Activity Bar do not agree as to which desktop will be viewed. I'm not sure both should be on at the same time. 

Plus, I'm not sure I have all the controls for ZUI.  There's no 2X setting and I don't always get a large red "X: to remove desktops in ZUI.

Do Pager a+nd ZUI conflict with each other?  Is there a way to reset all this?
Toonfully,

Mark
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Lenovo 14" ThinkPad Edge (0578F5U) with Core i3 Processor(i3-370M) 2.40 GHz 4GB RAM
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Desktop Icy Dock system with AMD PHENOM X4 QUADCORE 9650 2.3GHZ 4MB L1 , ‎NVidia GEFORCE 9400GT 1GB 2X DVI PCIE graphics card, 22" Chimei monitor.

Offline Archie

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Re: KDE ZUI (Zoom User Intrerface)
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2010, 01:36:59 AM »
Call me old-fashioned, Mark but I prefer the multiple desktop with pager setup (similar to how one would set it up on KDE 3.5) than KDE4's desktop activities. I still get lost in the zoom in and out on those. At times I can't get back to the first activity. Well, I would try those again as the plasma workspace get a bit more mature.
Since 2006 | LiCo 401868 | Bare Metal | What is necessary is never unwise. --Sarek, 2258.42


Offline Georgetoon

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Re: KDE ZUI (Zoom User Intrerface)
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2010, 08:54:22 AM »
Call me old-fashioned, Mark but I prefer the multiple desktop with pager setup (similar to how one would set it up on KDE 3.5) than KDE4's desktop activities. I still get lost in the zoom in and out on those. At times I can't get back to the first activity. Well, I would try those again as the plasma workspace get a bit more mature.

Archie,

I'm not against the ZUI.  I think it has some advantages. I'm just trying to figure out if it's integrated with Pager in some way or if they are independent or one another. 

Plus, from the video link I posted, it appears I don't have all the controls in ZUI.  I'm not getting a button to dop a 2X zoom.  I'm alos not getting an option on each desktop to remove them.  This would the large red "X" I mentioned before.

it could be I'm simply missing a file of some sort that needs to be downloaded from the repository.  It could also be that this is a previous version of Plasma than the one in the video.

That being said, I like the KDE4 desktop and Plasma a lot!  I'm finding it a lot easier to organize and find files.  Plus, my desktop has a lot less clutter. And, if I choose, I can simply move to another desktop a and have new plasmoids, folders, icons, etc. 

I'm just having a bit of a problem getting ZUI to do what I want it to do.  It's not a major problem, just a minor nuisance.  I'm still searching the web for information to clarify the situation.


Toonfully,

Mark
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Offline Georgetoon

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Re: KDE ZUI (Zoom User Intrerface)
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2010, 09:12:54 AM »
I just posted my question in the KDE forums.  I'll post back here if I get an answer.:)
Toonfully,

Mark
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Offline Georgetoon

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Re: KDE ZUI (Zoom User Intrerface)
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2010, 05:29:13 PM »
the folks on the KDE forum were quite nice and pateint with me.:)

The answer to my ZUI question can be found in this thread:

http://forum.kde.org/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=85569#p146324

Hans gives a god explanation of it in this coment:

http://forum.kde.org/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=85569#p146326

As you can see from my posts, I think I was making it more difficult that it is.:) :-[

Still trying to figure out why I'm not seeing all tools in ZUI.
Toonfully,

Mark
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Lenovo 14" ThinkPad Edge (0578F5U) with Core i3 Processor(i3-370M) 2.40 GHz 4GB RAM
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Offline Was_Just19

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Re: KDE ZUI (Zoom User Intrerface)
« Reply #6 on: February 02, 2010, 06:33:41 PM »
Well hopefully when you grok it you can enlighten some more of us who are still struggling with the concepts of Desktops and activities and how their functions overlap in use - having read the explanations linked to.

Why would one have a preference for multiple desktops rather than one desktop and multiple activities?  and other related questions ...   :D

Offline Rudge

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Re: KDE ZUI (Zoom User Intrerface)
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2010, 06:40:55 PM »
Mark, keep this up! You are going to be the resident expert on KDE4 soon.

I am still on your good side right?   ;D ;D


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Offline Georgetoon

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Re: KDE ZUI (Zoom User Intrerface)
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2010, 08:16:12 AM »
Right now, I have things set up as four virtual desktops with a different activity on each.  This method works for me.  Using the ZUI is easy, but a bit confusing, only because I'm not sure of all the moves.  But I'll continue to explore it.  Information, tutorials, etc. will surface.:)
Toonfully,

Mark
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Acer Aspire 9300 Laptop
Desktop Icy Dock system with AMD PHENOM X4 QUADCORE 9650 2.3GHZ 4MB L1 , ‎NVidia GEFORCE 9400GT 1GB 2X DVI PCIE graphics card, 22" Chimei monitor.

Offline Archie

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Re: KDE ZUI (Zoom User Intrerface)
« Reply #9 on: February 03, 2010, 10:33:06 PM »
I read the referred thread which was quite helpful and informative. I would also continue to explore ZUI and the plasma workspace (not so much as to be a KDE expert) but it drives my curiosity. I also noticed that there will be changes on this respects on KDE 4.5. I sincerely hope that the KDE devs iron out the kinks and make the plasma workspace truly functional.
Since 2006 | LiCo 401868 | Bare Metal | What is necessary is never unwise. --Sarek, 2258.42


Offline Georgetoon

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Re: KDE ZUI (Zoom User Intrerface)
« Reply #10 on: February 04, 2010, 12:23:26 PM »
I read the referred thread which was quite helpful and informative. I would also continue to explore ZUI and the plasma workspace (not so much as to be a KDE expert) but it drives my curiosity. I also noticed that there will be changes on this respects on KDE 4.5. I sincerely hope that the KDE devs iron out the kinks and make the plasma workspace truly functional.

Yes, in the thread in the KDE forums where I was asking my questions, a developer responded with:

Quote
Just for the sake of keeping you up to date - ZUI will be replaced with something else in 4.5 (we hope it will be finished for 4.5)

It'll be interesting to see how this feature gets streamlined/refined/replaced.:)
Toonfully,

Mark
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Lenovo 14" ThinkPad Edge (0578F5U) with Core i3 Processor(i3-370M) 2.40 GHz 4GB RAM
Acer Aspire 9300 Laptop
Desktop Icy Dock system with AMD PHENOM X4 QUADCORE 9650 2.3GHZ 4MB L1 , ‎NVidia GEFORCE 9400GT 1GB 2X DVI PCIE graphics card, 22" Chimei monitor.