Hidden Linux : Cures for KDE Boredom (Part 2)
The dull looking toolbar at the bottom of any KDE installation is known officially as the Panel and, like most of Linux, has about a gazillion configuration options.
(Click for a full-sized image)
It's accessed by right-clicking any blank area on it and choosing Configure Panel.
Configure Panel: Gazillions of options
You can control its position, length, width, size, hiding behaviour, menus, appearance, transparency... the list seems endless. But what isn't immediately apparent is that Panel is actually just the holding bay for a selection of applications and "applets" - mini applications - that you can also tinker with.
Here, for example, is what Panel looks like with all apps and applets removed;
Not very exciting, I grant you. But what it does mean is that absolutely everything on it is under your control.
For the record, I got rid of the following default applets by right-clicking Panel and choosing Remove From Panel, Applet, All...
- Clock
- Desktop Preview and Pager
- K Menu
- System Menu
- System Tray
- Taskbar
- Trash
- Konqueror
- Konsole
- Kontact
The default applet selections are not the only possibilities. Right-click Panel, choose Add Applet to Panel, and you'll get a list of 30 or so others...
Applet choices
And choosing Add Application to Panel allows you to add any application too - or even whole menus of 'em...
There's one other thing you need to know about Panel that isn't immediately obvious; how to move stuff about. It's actually very simple...
For applets, move the cursor over the applet and an access arrow will appear either to its left...
or immediately above it...
Right-click the arrow head and you'll get a menu... (For applications, just right-click the icon itself.)
Select Move and your cursor will turn into a hand, enabling you to move your selection to any position on Panel. When you're happy with its location, lock it in place with a left click.
So what does that give us? Here's some Panel variations that incorporate last week's jazzy background image... (Click the images see 'em full size.)
* Arrangement / Size set to Tiny
* Arrangement / Size set to Normal / Length set to 70%
* Appearance / Panel Background / Image set to green_line.png
* Right-click Desktop Pager / Choose Options / Set Background to transparent
* Appearance / Panel Background / Enable transparency.
* Advanced Options / Tint set to minimum
* Everything switched off except K Menu and Trash
* With added application icons!
>> Go to Part III
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Comments
Neat, I was looking for an easy way to put the trash on the panel and this hit it on the button.
Now I just want the applet and application links to grow when you mouse over them.
Posted by: John Howell | June 28, 2007 4:54 PM
Why is this an article and how is this a cure for kde boredom? I think the panel is one of the first things people modify.
Posted by: josh | March 27, 2007 3:33 AM
First, thanks for the information, I'm an avid KDE fan and it seems like I find new information/options/etc on an almost daily basis. I did just discover what your article covered about a week ago, and I'm glad you chose to share it.
Second, in regards to the comment by Steven Eddy, You know, there are lots of newbies or even seasoned users out there that do not know all of this information, to post 'Yeah - so?': Get over yourself, just because you knew it, doesn't mean it's not helpful to someone else, Why are you posting on a KDE related article if you so fond of Gnome and don't even use KDE?. What ever happened to common courtesy. I believe the word is "troll"!
Posted by: Timinphx1 | March 26, 2007 5:27 PM
Yeah - so?
Been there, done that already.
Actually my preference is the lighter Gnome with a little transparency.
KDE always seemed too.....Windohs like for me.
Personal preference, personal opinion.
Cheers - SE
Posted by: StevenEddy | March 26, 2007 3:01 AM