Chapter 3. KDE in 60 Seconds (or so)
Like GNOME, KDE is an appealing and easy to configure graphical environment.
Formally called the K Desktop Environment (the K doesn't represent any word, according to the website FAQ), the goals of the KDE Project are to lessen the Linux/UNIX learning curve for many users, and to present an appealing environment for everyone. Since its foundation in October 1996 by Matthias Ettrich, KDE has garnered praise from new and seasoned Linux users alike.
Hundreds of free software developers from all over the world have worked on the KDE Project, and continue to refine and enhance the environment.
Like the chapter about the basics of GNOME (Chapter 2), this chapter will provide a quick overview of KDE fundamentals. Details, such as configuring your desktop, working with the file manager and using specific KDE tools, will be covered later in this book.
For the latest documentation on KDE, visit the project's website: http://www.kde.org.
 | If you want to use both |
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If you've got both GNOME and KDE on your system, you can often use applications from the other environment in your chosen environment. For example, you can use the Gnumeric spreadsheet application in KDE, even though the application is part of the bundled GNOME applications. |
An Overview
When you first start KDE, among the first items you'll see are:
The Desktop -- The main workspace of your environment (see Figure 3-1 for an example); the space on which you place windows for running applications, icons for starting programs, folders for programs or documents. See the section called The Desktop.
The Floppy, CD-ROM, Printer, and Trash icons -- These are links (or shortcuts) which allow you easy access to your floppy and CD-ROM drives or let you "throw away" items by dropping them into the trashcan. See the section called The Trash, Printer, and Drives.
Folders -- In the folder labeled Templates, you'll find links which you can drag to your desktop to create new desktop items. The folder called Autostart is where you can place applications which you want to start automatically whenever you log in (see the section called Folders).
The Panel -- The long bar across the bottom of the Desktop (for example, in Figure 3-1). The Panel serves as a quick launcher for applications and applets (mini-applications). See the section called The Panel.
Multiple desktops -- In the center of the Panel you'll find the Switch Desktop buttons, which show you the number of workspaces available to you. You can spread your work throughout multiple desktops, rather than crowd one desktop area with multiple applications. See the section called Multiple Desktops.
Main Menu K Icon -- Part of the Panel, at the left (see Figure 3-9 for an example), leads to launchers and submenus for included applications and applets on your Red Hat Linux system. Some applications which you install, such as StarOffice, can also be incorporated into this menu. See the section called The Main Menu K Icon.
The Taskbar -- Appearing at the top of the desktop by default (though you can change this), the Taskbar is a thin bar which shows your currently opened windows -- both minimized and on the desktop. See the section called The Taskbar.
Finding Help -- KDE includes a detailed set of help files for navigating and customizing the environment. See the section called Finding Help.
Switching Environments -- Although it's not something you'll find on your desktop, there's a utility which allows you to easily and quickly change your choice of environments. Called Switchdesk, you can use this utility to quickly and easily change from GNOME to KDE or vice-versa. See the section called Switching Environments.
Using Your Mouse
| Click once |
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Unlike GNOME, you start applications and open folders by clicking just once on the associated icon. |
Using the left mouse button selects an item to open or drag to another location. To drag the item, hold down the mouse button, and continue holding it down while dragging to the new location. Once at the desired location, release the mouse button to "drop" the item.
You can also select multiple items by holding down the cursor and dragging it over the items. Once you release the mouse button, each of the selected items will be highlighted.
If there are multiple items you want to move or copy, but they're not easily aligned for quick selection, you can highlight each item by holding down the Ctrl key while clicking once on each icon.
When you drop the files on their desired location -- such as a folder -- a menu will appear asking whether you want to Copy, Move or Link the files at the selected location.
| Make your two-button mouse act like it has three buttons |
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As with GNOME, a three-button mouse offers the greatest ease of access to menus and navigation in KDE. If you have a two-button mouse, however, and you selected three-button emulation, simply hold down both left and right mouse buttons at the same time to emulate the "middle" button of a mouse. |
Pressing the middle button of your mouse on the desktop will allow you to switch desktops by selecting desktops one through four (you can rename the desktops, as you'll learn in later in this book).
Using the right mouse button reveals a brief menu of actions which you can take. Right-clicking on the desktop shows you options such as adding desktop links -- which start applications, visit websites or open documents. You can also rescan or unclutter the desktop.
Also, among the options when you right-click on the desktop, you'll find a link to helpful documentation on using the desktop itself.
Right-clicking on a folder or application reveals a menu related to actions you can take with your selection, such as moving the item to the Trash, revising the item's properties and more.
Drag and Drop
You can drag and drop items in KDE, meaning that you can "carry" data or applications from one area of the desktop to another, "drop" items in folders or on applications, move or copy information and applications.
When you drag an item by holding down the left mouse button, then release the button over the desired location, you'll find a menu of actions you can take. You can copy the item into the location (which will preserve the original item) you can move the item to its new location, or you can create a link from the item in its new location to the original item. This last option is somewhat similar to copying; however, when you copy the item, the original item remains unchanged if you modify the copy. When you link an item, any changes you make to the item in one location are reflected in the item at its original location.
You can also drag applications, such as Netscape, from the desktop and drop them onto the Panel to use as a quick launcher. (To remove an item from the Panel, right-click on the item, and select Remove. Removing an application from the Panel will only remove the link and icon, not the actual application.)