Shortcut bar in KDE4.4

[Ɗα√ϵς§]

I think it is only right that the default setting for KDE4 should be very basic, as close as possible to KDE3. However the stuff on tap, waiting for you to play with it is brilliant! I like to have a second panel with shortcuts to all my most-used programs on it.

Here is how you set up such a panel.

First, click on the Cashew at the top right of the screen. It's more useful than it looks.

All your windows will be minimised and a menu will appear. If you can see an option to Unlock widgets, click it. If the option is to Lock Widgets, they are unlocked already. Then click on Add Panel. A second cashew will appear, usually in the top left corner. It's quite small, and in an oblong. That oblong is actually a very empty panel. Click on the little cashew.

A grey panel will appear, just clear of one edge of the screen. In the middle of it, you can see the words "Screen Edge". Drag that button to the screen edge you want your panel, if not there already. I recommend the top of the screen. After some operations the grey panel vanishes, just click on its cashew to bring it back. Click on "More Settings" and under panel alignment, "Center". You will see some sliders you can use to make the panel wider. Drag them away from the centre and you will see the panel become a useful size.

The next stage is to put some icons on it. Open Dolphin, and navigate to /usr/share/applications. You will see a number of icons with the extension ".desktop". You will also see another folder, kde4, with more icons. To add an icon to the panel, simply drag and drop it onto the panel. It should be easy enough to work out which icons correspond to the programs you use most.

When you click on the cashew at the end, to make your big grey settings panel appear, you can change the order of your icons. You can also add spacers. When it's all set up to your liking, and with the big grey settings panel showing, click on "More Settings" and select "Auto Hide". Now whenever your mouse pointer hits that edge of the screen, up pops your shortcut panel.

Now all the debate over whether Tex should have had a deep layered menu or a long, shallow one are a thing of the past, because all your commonly-used programs are quickly on tap.

[jaydot]

thanks.  i'll give that a go.

[greywolf]

I have done this in every version of KDE I have used. I don't need some resource hungry "dock" application when all I want is a super quick way to load my 15 or so most used apps.

I tend to use widescreen monitors so I move mine to the right screen edge (vertically) and don't bother to hide it.

Also, I set up my favourites menu first, so I can get to my apps both ways - I'm just not a big fan of menus as such.

Did you know that you can right click on the menu icon, temporarily switch to the kickoff style, and just drag and drop the icons from there to the panel? Then just change the menu style back.

This sort of thing is good "usage" info for people - well done.

Greywolf.
 

[Mark342]

Instead of going to /usr/share/applications you can just use the Pc menu!
Open the menu and right-click > add to desktop any application you want.
Then hover over the icon on your desktop and a handle will appear.
Click and drag this handle onto your newly created panel.

Hint: You may be able to do this with entire menu sections.......

[Ɗα√ϵς§]

Yes there are other ways of getting the icons onto the panel. However, back in KDE4.3, dragging from the menus sometimes resulted in a crash, and if you put the icon first onto the desktop, you have to be in Folder View. The method I have outlined works in all cases and I know it's stable.

Anyway all the ways here are good.
 

[denoobifyme]

"Simply click on this, drag here, click two more layers deep, click, move, add MORE annoying cashews to a desktop you're trying to UN-clutter, and then you can START laying out your desktop the way it used to be n the good old days, you do the hokey-pokey and your turn yourself about, that's what it's all about."

The question is, how can I get my taskbar to the top of the screen, where God intended it to be?  Five paragraphs of steps in several layers is in no way an improvement over being able to drag the entire taskbar/systray combo to the top of the screen in one motion without clicking on anything.

And while we're at it, why are my hotkey options so limited?Since I don't know commands for them, I am prevented from hotkeying launchers for T-bird, FF, even the kicker menu.

[Ɗα√ϵς§]

"Simply click on this, drag here, click two more layers deep, click, move, add MORE annoying cashews to a desktop you're trying to UN-clutter, and then you can START laying out your desktop the way it used to be n the good old days, you do the hokey-pokey and your turn yourself about, that's what it's all about."

The question is, how can I get my taskbar to the top of the screen, where God intended it to be?  Five paragraphs of steps in several layers is in no way an improvement over being able to drag the entire taskbar/systray combo to the top of the screen in one motion without clicking on anything.

And while we're at it, why are my hotkey options so limited?Since I don't know commands for them, I am prevented from hotkeying launchers for T-bird, FF, even the kicker menu.

Don't you think you ought to ask questions like this in the appropriate section, not tag them on to a tip about something else, I might even consider answering them if asked less rudely, the answers aren't that difficult.

We didn't design KDE4, I don't think it's a big problem to do a one-off thing to make everything easier in the future. It took me all of five minutes.

[denoobifyme]

You're right, I should've asked the question in its own topic.

Everyone who is a fan of kde4 says things like, "once I get used to it, it's brilliant," or, as one poster said, "Damn near perfect." If one has to "get used to something," it isn't simple.

Your lengthy series of steps and layers may have taken you all of five minutes, but it took me ten minutes to read it. Clearly, you put a lot of work into it, and we should all be more appreciative of that fact.

My discomfort comes from the fact that kde4 unnecessarily REQUIRES so much more work. With kde 3.5, I could do all of that much more simply in all of one minute. The mighty Emperor KDE IV has no clothes. Enjoy the parade.

[Ɗα√ϵς§]

Fair enough. All I can say is: take the time to read it and do it. You won't be sorry. By the way, you use KDE Control Centre (Configure Your Desktop) > Computer Administration > Input Actions > Input Actions and check "KMenuEdit" to enable the shortcuts....

And yes, I agree that having to do that is unnecessarily complicated. But again you only have to do it once.

[pags]

Everyone who is a fan of kde4 says things like, "once I get used to it, it's brilliant," or, as one poster said, "darn near perfect." If one has to "get used to something," it isn't simple.

I'm not supporting, nor denouncing, KDE (nor any other DE, nor OS, etc)...

NOTHING in computers is simple.
EVERYONE had to GET USED TO what system/OS/process they're using.

User Friendly is a joke marketing ploy (or, a great comic, depending your point of view). 

Willingness to learn is valid.
Learning curve is valid (but dependent on prior knowledge).
Tips and tricks are awesome helps, in any environment.

davecs,
I just tried this, and it was relatively simple (the settings bar for the new panel kept "sliding" away from me, or closing before I was done all the steps, so I had to re-open it a few times), and I like the functionality it provides.

Thanks.