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diff --git a/doc/quickstart/index.docbook b/doc/quickstart/index.docbook new file mode 100644 index 000000000..7828c7121 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/quickstart/index.docbook @@ -0,0 +1,1340 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" ?> +<!DOCTYPE book PUBLIC "-//KDE//DTD DocBook XML V4.2-Based Variant V1.1//EN" +"dtd/kdex.dtd" [ + <!ENTITY kappname "&kde; Quick Start Guide"> + <!ENTITY package "kdebase"> + <!ENTITY % addindex "IGNORE"> + <!ENTITY % English "INCLUDE" > <!-- change language only here --> +]> + +<book lang="&language;"> +<bookinfo> + +<title>An Introduction to &kde;</title> + +<authorgroup> + +<author> +<surname>The &kde; Team</surname> +</author> +<!-- TRANS:ROLES_OF_TRANSLATORS --> +</authorgroup> + +<date>2004-08-28</date> +<releaseinfo>3.00.00</releaseinfo> + +<copyright> +<year>1999</year><year>2000</year><year>2001</year><year>2002</year> +<holder>The &kde; Team</holder> +</copyright> + +<legalnotice>&FDLNotice;</legalnotice> + +<abstract> +<para>An introduction to the K Desktop Environment</para> +<para>Quick Start Guide to &kde;</para></abstract> + +<keywordset> +<keyword>KDE</keyword> +<keyword>quick start</keyword> +<keyword>introduction</keyword> +</keywordset> +</bookinfo> + +<chapter id="introduction"> +<title>Introduction</title> + +<para> +This document is a brief introduction to the K Desktop Environment. It +will familiarize you with some of the basic features of &kde;. +</para> + +<para> +This guide is far from covering all aspects of the K Desktop or even most +of them. It will only describe some of the most basic ways to accomplish a few +of the most common tasks. +</para> + +<para> +We assume that you are already familiar with at least one graphical +user interface, for example <trademark>CDE</trademark>, +<trademark>Geos</trademark>, <trademark>GEM</trademark>, &NeXTSTEP;, +&Mac;, <trademark>OS/2</trademark> or &Microsoft; &Windows;. So we +will not explain the usage of the mouse or the keyboard but +concentrate on hopefully more interesting things. +</para> + +</chapter> + +<chapter id="an-overview-of-kde"> +<title>An Overview of &kde;</title> + +<para> +This section is for users who prefer to learn by exploring and want +only a brief orientation to get started. Later sections provide a more +thorough introduction to the environment, with helpful hints and +shortcuts. If you are impatient to get started, skim this section, go +play for a bit, then come back and peruse the other sections of this +guide as needed. +</para> + +<note> +<para> +&kde; provides a highly configurable desktop environment. This +overview assumes that you are using the default environment. +</para> +</note> + +<sect1 id="the-kde-desktop"> +<title>The &kde; Desktop</title> + +<para>A typical &kde; desktop consists of several parts:</para> + +<itemizedlist> +<listitem> +<para>A <interface>panel</interface> at the bottom of the screen, used +to start applications and switch between desktops. Among other things, it +contains the &kmenu;, a large &kicon; +which displays a menu of applications to start when clicked. +</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para> +A <interface>taskbar</interface>, by default embedded in the panel, used +to switch between and manage currently running applications. Click on an +application on the taskbar to switch to the application. +</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para> +The <interface>desktop</interface> itself, on which frequently used +files and folders may be placed. &kde; provides multiple desktops, +each of which has its own windows. Click on the numbered buttons on +the panel to switch between desktops. +</para> +</listitem> +</itemizedlist> + +</sect1> + +<sect1 id="ready-set-go"> +<title>Ready, Set, Go!</title> + +<para>Here are a few quick tips to get you up and running.</para> + +<itemizedlist> +<listitem> +<para> +To start an application, click on the &kicon; button on +the panel (called the <link linkend="starter">&kmenu;</link>) +and choose an item from the menu. +</para> +</listitem> +<listitem> +<para> +Click the icon that looks like a picture of a house on +the panel to access the files in your home folder using +&konqueror;, &kde;'s File Manager utility. +</para> +</listitem> +<listitem> +<para>Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>K menu</guimenu> +<guisubmenu>System</guisubmenu> +<guimenuitem>Konsole</guimenuitem></menuchoice> to get a &UNIX; +command prompt, or press <keycombo action="simul">&Alt; +<keycap>F2</keycap></keycombo> to get a mini command prompt window to +execute a single command. +</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para> +Choose the <menuchoice><guimenuitem>Control Center</guimenuitem> +</menuchoice>item on the &kmenu; +to configure &kde;. +</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para> +Press <keycombo action="simul">&Alt;<keycap>Tab</keycap></keycombo> to +switch between applications and <keycombo +action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>Tab</keycap></keycombo> to switch between +desktops using the keyboard. +</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para> +Use the &RMB; mouse button to access context menus for the panel, +desktop, and most &kde; applications. +</para> +</listitem> +</itemizedlist> + +</sect1> +</chapter> + +<chapter id="launching-applications"> +<title>Launching Applications</title> + +<sect1 id="starter"> +<title>Using the &kmenu; and the Panel</title> + +<para> +At the bottom of the screen you will find the desktop panel, which is called +&kicker;. You use the panel to launch applications. Have a look at the +button on the left with a large &kicon;. +</para> + +<para> +This button is called the &kmenu;. It has +a small arrow on the top to indicate that it will pop up a menu if you +click on it. Just do it! The popup offers you easy access to all &kde; +applications installed on your computer system. +</para> + +<sect2> +<title>Customizing &kicker;</title> + +<!-- FIXME: To add a button, use the little arrows on kicker, not the K menu +I am not sure I agree - some distributions fade or hide the applet handles by default, but +I haven't found one yet that hides the kmenu. (JLH) --> + +<para>If you use one application or tool very often, then you may want to have even faster +access to it. In this case you can add a single application or an entire sub-menu of the +&kmenu; as a special quick-launch button on the panel. If you want to reach an application +directly via a launch button, click with the &RMB; either on a clear space on the panel or on the +&kmenu; icon. Select <menuchoice><guimenu>Panel Menu</guimenu> <guisubmenu>Add Application to Panel... +</guisubmenu></menuchoice> and then navigate to the application or menu you would like to add to +the panel.</para> + + +<para> +You can add an entire menu this way, or one of the &kicon; +button sub-menus. For example, if you have &koffice; installed and +want quick access to all the &koffice; applications, without having to +navigate through the &kmenu;, then instead of choosing an +application, click on the <guimenuitem>Add this menu</guimenuitem> menu +entry. Now you will have instant access to all the &koffice; +applications, without having to put an icon for each on the panel. +</para> + +<note> +<para> +You can move all items of the panel around with the +<guimenuitem>Move</guimenuitem> command of the context menu. Just click +with the <mousebutton>third</mousebutton> mouse button (the +<mousebutton>third</mousebutton> mouse button is normally the +<mousebutton>right</mousebutton> button, but if you have configured your +mouse differently, for example for left-handers, it might also be the +<mousebutton>left</mousebutton> one). A menu will pop up where you can +choose <guimenuitem>Move</guimenuitem>. Now move the mouse and see how +the icon follows while still staying on the panel. When you are done, +simply hit the <mousebutton>first</mousebutton> mouse button (by default +the <mousebutton>left</mousebutton> one). As you may have noticed, +there is also a menu entry <guimenuitem>Remove</guimenuitem> in case you +are tired of a certain launch button on your desktop. +</para> +</note> + +</sect2> + +<sect2> +<title>Using Context menus</title> + +<para> +This leads us to another interesting topic: in many places, you can +click the <mousebutton>right</mousebutton> mouse button to display a +<interface>context menu</interface> with choices that are applicable to +the item you clicked. It is therefore always a good idea to try out the +<mousebutton>third</mousebutton> mouse button on something, if you do +not know what to do with it. Even the background of the desktops has +such a menu! +</para> + +</sect2> + +<sect2> +<title>Other Panel features</title> + +<para> +There are other interesting things possible with the panel. One +may be important if you have a low resolution on your monitor: it is +the <quote>hide-and-show</quote> function, activated by clicking on the +small arrowed button, which is at one or both ends of the panel. +</para> + +<para> +Perhaps you just do not like the panel extending the full width of the +screen. That's easily changed! &RMB; on an empty space in the panel, +and choose <menuchoice><guimenuitem>Configure Panel...</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. In the &kcontrolcenter; +dialog that pops up, you can choose <guilabel>Length</guilabel> on +the <guilabel>Appearance</guilabel> tab, and use the slider there to set +the panel to less than 100% width. +</para> + +<para> +If you're following along, and have that dialog open anyway, then feel +free to play with all the options, and use the +<guibutton>Apply</guibutton> to see the effect they have. You can +easily reset everything to the default configuration, by simply pressing +the <guibutton>Use Defaults</guibutton> button. +</para> + +<para> +By the way, if you are not sure what a certain button does in &kde;, +just move the mouse pointer over it and wait for a short while: &kde; +has a built-in mini context help, called <quote>tool tips</quote>, which +explains the functionality of such controls in a few words. +</para> + + +</sect2> +</sect1> + +<sect1 id="want-command-line-back"> +<title>But I want my command line back!</title> + +<para> +Just calm down, there is nothing to fear. &kde; does not want to take your +beloved (and sometimes very effective) command line away from you. You can move +your files with the desktop, but you can also use the &UNIX; commands you are +accustomed to. In fact,&kde; puts command line power at your fingertips, +in perhaps some surprising places. +</para> + +<para> +&kde; provides a very sophisticated command line window called +&konsole;. Choose <menuchoice><guimenu>K menu</guimenu> +<guisubmenu>System</guisubmenu> +<guimenuitem>Konsole</guimenuitem></menuchoice> to start it. This may +be something you want on your panel: luckily it's already there in the +default configuration! +</para> + +<para> +Sometimes, you only want to enter one command on the command line. In +these cases, you do not need a full-blown terminal. Just hit +<keycombo>&Alt;<keycap>F2</keycap></keycombo> and you get a +small command line where you can enter one command. The command line +window will disappear afterwards, but it remembers your command. +</para> + +<para> +When you pop up this window (which we call +<application>minicli</application> by the way) and hit the <keycap>Up +arrow</keycap>, you can browse through all the commands you have +previously entered. Also, you can enter &URL;s in +<application>minicli</application> to open a &konqueror; window with +the specified &URL;. +</para> + +<para> +&konqueror; and the editor &kate; can both display terminal windows, +which behave just like &konsole;. In &konqueror;, you can turn this +on with the menu choice +<menuchoice><guimenu>Window</guimenu><guimenuitem>Show Terminal +Emulator</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. The embedded terminal will display +at the bottom of your &konqueror; window, and the really clever thing +is that it will follow your clicks in the file manager view, changing +folder as you do. In &kate; you can display a terminal with the +menu choice <menuchoice><guimenu>Settings</guimenu><guimenuitem>Show +Console</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. +</para> + +<tip> +<para> +To display a &UNIX; man page, enter +<userinput><command>man:</command><replaceable>command</replaceable></userinput> +in <application>minicli</application>, where <replaceable>command</replaceable> +is the name of a &UNIX; command. +</para> +</tip> + +<tip> +<para> +To search for a word or words on the Google search engine, you can try entering +<userinput><command>gg:</command><replaceable>word or +words</replaceable></userinput>. There are a whole lot more of these +shortcut commands, and you can even add your own! Take a look in +&kcontrolcenter;, in the tab <menuchoice><guilabel>Web Browsing</guilabel> + <guilabel>Enhanced Browsing</guilabel></menuchoice>. +</para> +</tip> + +<para> +Finally, there's a way to have your command line always available, no +matter what you're doing - add one to your &kicker; panel! +</para> + +<para>Simply &RMB; click on an empty space in the panel and choose +<menuchoice><guilabel>Add Applet to Panel...</guilabel></menuchoice>. In the dialog that appears, +scroll down until you see the <guilabel>Run Command</guilabel> list item. Select +it with the &LMB; and click <guilabel>Add to Panel</guilabel>. This will embed a mini-cli +directly into your panel, complete with command history.</para> + +<para> +So, in conclusion, the command line is never far from view when you're +using &kde;. +</para> + +</sect1> +</chapter> + +<chapter id="working-with-windows"> +<title>Working with Windows</title> + +<para> +If you have not already done so, start an application using the <link +linkend="starter">&kmenu;</link>; say, +<guimenuitem>Find Files</guimenuitem>. +</para> + +<sect1 id="window-what-now"> +<title>A window! What now?</title> + +<para> +Well, usually people work <emphasis>inside</emphasis> windows, but +sometimes you may want to manipulate windows. Here's a quick overview +of some of the most common window related functions: +</para> + +<variablelist> +<varlistentry> +<term>Move a window</term> +<listitem> +<para> +Drag the window's title bar, or hold the &Alt; key down +and drag anywhere in the window. +</para> +</listitem> +</varlistentry> + +<varlistentry> +<term>Resize a window:</term> +<listitem> +<para> +Drag the window's border, or hold the &Alt; key down and drag with the +&RMB; anywhere in the window. +</para> +</listitem> +</varlistentry> + +<varlistentry> +<term>Maximize a window</term> +<listitem> +<para> +Click the maximize button in the titlebar (in the default decoration it +is the square, next to the X) to make the window fill the screen, or if +the window is already maximized, to shrink it back to its original +size. Clicking with the &MMB; maximizes the window vertically, and with +the &RMB;, horizontally. +</para> +</listitem> +</varlistentry> + +<varlistentry> +<term>Iconify a window</term> +<listitem> +<para> +Click the <guilabel>Minimize</guilabel> button in the titlebar (next to <guilabel>Maximize</guilabel>) +to hide the window. Restore it by clicking on the window's icon in the +taskbar. +</para> +</listitem> +</varlistentry> + +<varlistentry> +<term>Switch between windows</term> +<listitem> +<para> +Aside from the usual mouse click to switch to another window, +you can use <keycombo action="simul">&Alt; +<keycap>Tab</keycap></keycombo> to switch windows. See below for more +techniques. +</para> +</listitem> +</varlistentry> +</variablelist> + +<sect2> +<title>Titlebar buttons</title> + +<para> +&kde; windows have some pretty standard buttons on their titlebars which +give you fast access to some common operations. The default button +layout looks like this: +</para> + +<itemizedlist> +<title>On the left side:</title> +<listitem> +<para> +A <guilabel>Menu</guilabel> button. This usually shows a mini icon for the application. Click +on it to get a window operations menu. Shortcut: <keycombo +action="simul">&Alt;<keycap>F3</keycap></keycombo> opens the window +menu. +</para> +</listitem> + +</itemizedlist> + +<itemizedlist> +<title>On the right side:</title> +<listitem> +<para> +A <guilabel>Minimise</guilabel> button. +</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para> +A <guilabel>Maximize</guilabel> button. +</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para> +A <guilabel>Close</guilabel> button. This closes the window. Shortcut: <keycombo +action="simul">&Alt;<keycap>F4</keycap></keycombo>. +</para> +</listitem> +</itemizedlist> + +</sect2> + +<sect2> +<title>Switching between windows</title> + +<para> +Now that we know how to deal with windows, we encourage you to open +some other windows using the panel, since we will now discuss how to +switch between different windows. Since this is such a common +activity, &kde; offers several ways to do it; pick your favorite! +</para> + +<para> +Many window systems require you to click the mouse in another window +to begin using it. This is &kde;'s default behavior, termed +<quote>Click To Focus</quote> focus policy. But you can also configure +your desktop in a way that moving the mouse pointer on to a window will +activate it. This is called <quote>Focus Follows Mouse</quote>. If you +select this policy using the <link linkend="configure">&kde; Control +Center</link>, the window under the mouse pointer is always the active +one. It does not necessarily come to the front automatically, but you +can still click on to the titlebar or the border of a window or, a +&kde; special, you can use the &Alt; key and click the &MMB; +anywhere on the window to raise it. +</para> + +<para> +Here are some other methods to switch windows: +</para> + +<itemizedlist> +<listitem> +<para> +Pick a window from the <emphasis>window list</emphasis> menu. To open +the menu, click the &MMB; on +an empty area of the desktop, or click the icon with several windows +on the panel, or finally click the up arrow at the left hand end of +the taskbar in the panel. +</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para> +Hold down the &Alt; key and press <keycap>Tab</keycap> to cycle through +the windows. +</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para> +Use the taskbar (see below). +</para> +</listitem> +</itemizedlist> + +</sect2> +</sect1> + +<sect1 id="using-taskbar"> +<title>Using the Taskbar</title> + +<para> +The <interface>taskbar</interface> displays a list of small icons, one +for each window on the desktop. In the default &kde; setup the taskbar +is located inside the panel, but it can also be located at the top or +the bottom of the screen. </para> + +<para> +The taskbar is very powerful. In the default configuration, if you +have more than one window from the same application open, they will be +<quote>grouped</quote>, so that you see one icon per application in +the taskbar.</para> + +<para>A simple &LMB; +click on the taskbar button will pop up a list of the open windows for +that application and you can choose the window you want to +use. Choosing one of these entries with the +<mousebutton>left</mousebutton> will bring you to the selected +window immediately. Click on a taskbar entry with the +<mousebutton>right</mousebutton> and you will see a menu allowing you +to operate on all the windows grouped under that icon, or each window +individually.</para> + +<para> +You can choose to see all the windows on all the desktops in your +taskbar, no matter which desktop you are currently viewing, or to only +see the icons for the desktop you are looking at. You can also choose +to ungroup the icons, so that each open window will have its own icon +in the taskbar. These and many more options are available simply by +right clicking on the taskbar handle (the small textured bar at the +left hand side) and choosing <guimenuitem>Configure Taskbar...</guimenuitem>. +</para> + +<para> +The icons on the taskbar resize themselves to make room for +applications, so you can fit many more applications than you might +think. Making the panel wider will let the taskbar icons take on a row +and column layout, but they will still resize to fit more icons. +</para> + +</sect1> + +<sect1 id="using-v-desktops"> +<title>Using Virtual Desktops</title> + +<para> +Now, what was that <quote>sticky</quote> thing? +</para> + +<para> +It may happen that you have more windows open than space on your +desktop. In this case you have three possibilities: +</para> + +<orderedlist> +<listitem> +<para> +Leave all windows open (cluttered desktop) +</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para> +Iconify those windows which you do not need at present and use +the taskbar or <keycombo action="simul">&Alt; +<keycap>Tab</keycap></keycombo> to switch between them +(still a bit confusing and much work!) +</para> +</listitem> + +<listitem> +<para> +Recommended: Do what a real operating system does if there is not enough +physical memory: Use virtual memory, in this case virtual desktops. +</para> +</listitem> +</orderedlist> + +<para> +The third option is the way to go! &kde; can handle several different desktops, +each with its own windows. The default configuration provides four +desktops. You can switch between the virtual desktops easily with a +click on one of the desktop buttons on the panel. Also <keycombo +action="simul">&Ctrl;<keycap>F1...F4</keycap></keycombo> will send you +to the corresponding desktop immediately, or <keycombo +action="simul">&Ctrl; <keycap>Tab</keycap></keycombo> will cycle through +the desktops. +</para> + +<para> +Virtual desktops are very nice. But sometimes you want a window to be +present on <emphasis>every</emphasis> desktop. This could be, for example, +a small chat window, an alarm clock or whatever. In this case you can +use the above mentioned <quote>sticky</quote> button which will pin the +window on the background so that it will appear on every virtual +desktop. +</para> + +<para> +The sticky button can also be used to move a window from one virtual +desktop to another one: push the sticky pin on the window, switch to a +different desktop, and release the pin by pushing it again. You can +achieve the same result by using the context popup menu of the +window's entry in the taskbar (menu item <guimenuitem>To Current +Desktop</guimenuitem>) or the <guimenuitem>To Desktop</guimenuitem> +option on the window operations menu. +</para> + +</sect1> +</chapter> + +<chapter id="managing-your-files"> +<title>Managing your files</title> + +<!-- NB Deliberate use of 'directory' rather than 'folder', since we're talking --> +<!-- about folders on disk --> +<para> +A common metaphor of graphical desktops is the use of folders to +represent folders on your hard disk. Folders contain files and +other folders. A &kde; application called &konqueror;, the K File +Manager, uses this metaphor to help you manage your files. +</para> + +<sect1 id="using-konqueror"> +<title>Using &konqueror;</title> + +<para> +The first time you start &kde;, a window with lots of icons in it +appears. This is a &konqueror; window displaying the files in your +home folder (the area where your personal files are stored). The +pathname of the folder is displayed under the window's tool bar. If +you do not see such a window now, click the icon on the panel that +looks like a folder with a picture of a house. +</para> + +<para> +To open a file or folder, simply click it once with the &LMB;. +You can also choose +<menuchoice><guimenu>Window</guimenu><guimenuitem>Show +Navigation Panel</guimenuitem></menuchoice> from the menu to display the folder +hierarchy for more direct navigation. Or you can edit the path +displayed under the toolbar to get to a specific folder quickly. +</para> + +<sect2> +<title>Opening Files</title> + +<para> +&kde; comes with a set of applications to view and edit files of many +common types, and when you click a file containing, say, a document +or image, &konqueror; will start the appropriate application to +display the file. If it does not know what application to start to open +a file you clicked, &konqueror; will prompt you for the name of the +application to run, and when you have chosen, &konqueror; will offer +to remember your choice for the next time you open a file of that type. +</para> + +<note> +<para> +&konqueror; uses MIME types to associate +files with applications. +</para> +</note> + +</sect2> + +<sect2> +<title>Dragging and Dropping Icons</title> + +<para> +To copy or move a file, simply drag its icon to the desktop, to +another &konqueror; window, or to a folder icon. When you release the +button, &konqueror; displays a menu to allow you to choose to copy, +move, or create a link to the file. +</para> + +<note> +<para> +Note that if you choose to create a link, &kde; creates a &UNIX; +symbolic link (not a hard link), so if you move or delete the original +file, the link will be broken. +</para> +</note> + +<para> +Most &kde; applications also support drag and drop operations: you can +drag an icon on to a window of a running application, or on to an icon of +an application that is not started, to have the application open the +file. Try it! +</para> + +</sect2> + +<sect2> +<title>Setting File Properties</title> + +<para> +To change file properties, such as its name and permissions, &RMB; +click the icon and choose <guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> from +the menu. +</para> + +</sect2> +</sect1> + +<sect1 id="archives-and-networks"> +<title>Working with Archives and Networks</title> + +<para> +In the recent past, you needed special software to access files on the +Internet. Not any more! +</para> + +<para> +&kde; supports a technology called <quote>Network Transparent +Access</quote> (<acronym>NTA</acronym>) which allows you to work with +files on the other side of the world as easily as those on your local +hard disk.</para> + +<para> +For example, to access files on an &FTP; server, just choose +<menuchoice><guimenu>Location</guimenu><guimenuitem>Open +Location</guimenuitem></menuchoice> from a &konqueror; menu, and enter +the <acronym>URL</acronym> of an &FTP; server. You can drag and drop +files to and from the folders on the server just as if they were on +your local disk. You'll even be able to open files on the &FTP; server +without having to manually copy them to your local disk (&kde; does it for you +when necessary). +</para> + +<note> +<para> +Note that &konqueror; uses anonymous &FTP; access, which may restrict +your access to files on the &FTP; server. If you have an account on +the server, you can supply your user <abbrev>ID</abbrev> as part of +the <acronym>URL</acronym>, like this: +<userinput><command>ftp://</command><parameter>userid</parameter>@<parameter>server</parameter>/<parameter>folder</parameter></userinput> +</para> + +<para> +&konqueror; will prompt you for your password, and if the login +succeeds, you will have full access to your files on the server. +</para> +</note> + +<para> +If you are used to the +<trademark><application>WinZip</application></trademark> utility on +&Microsoft; &Windows;, then you will be happy to hear that &kde; can +look into tar archives, too. It treats such archives just like a +normal folder, and you can browse into the archive, open files, &etc; In +general, accessing files on the Internet and in archives should look +and feel just like accessing files on your local disk, except for +delays imposed by the network and extracting the archive. +</para> +</sect1> + +<sect1 id="using-templates"> +<title>Using Templates to access Applications and Devices</title> + +<para> +In &kde; it's easy to put icons on the panel or the desktop to access +your applications. It's just as easy to add icons to access other +items of interest. &kde; has templates for shortcuts to: +</para> + +<itemizedlist> +<listitem> +<para> +Applications +</para> +</listitem> +<listitem> +<para> +Printers +</para> +</listitem> +<listitem> +<para> +Mountable Devices (⪚ floppy drives) +</para> +</listitem> +<listitem> +<para> +Internet resources (⪚ <acronym>WWW</acronym> documents, &FTP; +folders) +</para> +</listitem> +<listitem> +<para> +Documents for some of &kde;'s &koffice; applications. +</para> +</listitem> +</itemizedlist> + +<para> +You can add any of these items to the desktop by &RMB; clicking where +you want the icon, and choosing <guisubmenu>Create New</guisubmenu> +and selecting the item you want to link to. +</para> + +<para> +Nearly every item in the &kmenu;, on the desktop, and on +the panel refers to a <literal role="extension">.desktop</literal> +file on disk. The <literal role="extension">.desktop</literal> file +specifies what icon to display, as well as specific information about +what the icon represents (an application, device, or +<acronym>URL</acronym>). You can drag any <literal +role="extension">.desktop</literal> file to the panel to create a +quick-launch button. +</para> + +<!-- +<sect2> +<title>Setting up printers</title> + +<para> +You can create icons for your printers so that you can print a file by +dragging it to a printer icon. Here's how: +</para> + +<procedure> +<step><para>Open the Templates folder located on the desktop. </para></step> +<step><para>Drag the Program icon in the folder to the desktop. Choose +<guimenuitem>Copy</guimenuitem> from the menu that appears when you drop the +icon.</para></step> +<step><para><mousebutton>Right</mousebutton> click the new icon, and choose +<guimenuitem>Properties</guimenuitem> from the context menu.</para></step> +<step><para>On the <guilabel>General</guilabel> tab, change the name to +<filename>Printer.kdelnk</filename>.</para></step> +<step><para>On the <guilabel>Execute</guilabel> tab, enter the following in the +first <guilabel>Execute</guilabel> field:</para> +<screen><command>lpr <option>%f</option></command></screen> +<note><para>This example assumes that you print using the <command>lpr</command> +command. If you use a different command, enter the one you +use.</para></note></step> +<step><para>Still in the <guilabel>Execute</guilabel> tab, click the icon that +looks like a <guiicon>cog</guiicon>, and select the <guiicon>Printer</guiicon> icon from the list that appears.</para></step> +</procedure> + +<para>Now you should be able to drag a file to the Printer icon and have it +printed on your default printer.</para> +</sect2> + +--> + +<sect2> +<title>Mounting devices</title> + +<para> +&UNIX; provides access to storage devices other than the primary +<hardware>hard disk</hardware> through a process called +<emphasis>mounting</emphasis>. &kde; uses <literal +role="extension">.desktop</literal> files to allow you to easily +mount, unmount, and access files on secondary storage devices such as +<hardware>floppy</hardware> drives and &cdrom; drives. +</para> + +<para> +As an example, here are the steps needed to create an icon to access +files on a floppy disk: +</para> + +<note> +<para> +Many systems require you to be logged in as <systemitem +class="username">root</systemitem> to mount and unmount devices. +</para> +</note> + +<procedure> +<step> +<para><mousebutton>Right</mousebutton> click on the desktop and choose +<menuchoice><guisubmenu>Create +New</guisubmenu><guisubmenu>Device</guisubmenu> +<guimenuitem>Floppy Device...</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. +</para> +</step> +<step> +<para> +On the <guilabel>General</guilabel> tab of the resulting dialog, change +the name to whatever you like, in the text box at the top. +</para> +</step> + +<step> +<para> +On the <guilabel>Device</guilabel> tab, enter <filename +class="devicefile">/dev/fd0</filename> (or the path to the floppy device +as it is named on your system) as the <guilabel>Device</guilabel>. +</para> +</step> +<step> +<para> +You can add a <guilabel>Mount Point</guilabel> here too. This should be +an existing folder, but empty. Common mount points are <filename +class="directory">/mnt/floppy</filename> or <filename +class="directory">/floppy</filename>, but you can just as easily have floppy +disks mounted on <filename class="directory">~/mydisk</filename> if you +want. +</para> +</step> +<step> +<para> +Click the <guilabel>Unmounted Icon</guilabel> and select the picture +of a floppy disk without the green light. +</para> +</step> +<step> +<para> +Once you're happy with your choices, choose <guibutton>OK</guibutton> +and you are finished! +</para> +</step> +</procedure> + +<para> +Now, place a properly formatted floppy in the drive and click the +<guiicon>Floppy</guiicon> icon to have &kde; mount the floppy drive and display +the files on the disk. Before removing the disk from the drive, &RMB; +click the <guiicon>Floppy</guiicon> icon and choose +<guimenuitem>Unmount</guimenuitem> from the menu. +</para> + +</sect2> +</sect1> +</chapter> + +<chapter id="configure"> +<title>Configuring your desktop</title> + +<para> +If you do not like something about the way the desktop looks or +operates, you can probably change it. &kde; is very configurable and you +can change almost every aspect of the appearance and the behavior of +your desktop. Unlike many other &UNIX; desktop environments, you do not +have to edit cryptic configuration files either (but you can if you +really want to!) You use the &kcontrolcenter;, a special program for +configuring your desktop. +</para> + +<sect1 id="using-kde-control"> +<title>Using the <application>&kde; Control Center</application></title> + +<para> +Launch the &kcontrolcenter; from the <link linkend="starter">&kmenu;</link>. +A window with two panes appears, displaying a list of +modules in the left pane. +</para> + +<para> +Open a module by clicking its name; a list of submodules will +appear. Then, click one of the submodule category names to edit its +configuration in the right pane. +</para> + +<para> +Changing the configuration is fairly straightforward. A help button is +available on each configuration panel to explain settings that are not +obvious. Each panel has buttons labeled <guibutton>Help</guibutton>, +<guibutton>Use Defaults</guibutton>, <guibutton>Apply</guibutton>, and +<guibutton>Reset</guibutton>, which work as follows: +</para> + +<variablelist> +<varlistentry> +<term><guibutton>Help</guibutton></term> +<listitem> +<para> +Displays a short help text in the left hand pane, including a link to a +longer manual for the module in question. +</para> +</listitem> +</varlistentry> + +<varlistentry> +<term><guibutton>Use Defaults</guibutton></term> +<listitem> +<para> +Sets all the options in the current module back to the default at the +time &kde; was installed. +</para> +</listitem> +</varlistentry> + +<varlistentry> +<term><guibutton>Apply</guibutton></term> +<listitem> +<para> +Applies the current settings in the currently open module. +</para> +</listitem> +</varlistentry> + +<varlistentry> +<term><guibutton>Reset</guibutton></term> +<listitem> +<para> +Resets the options to the state they were in when you opened the module. +If you have already used the <guibutton>Apply</guibutton> button, then +this button will reset the options to the state they were in when you +pressed <guibutton>Apply</guibutton>. +</para> +</listitem> +</varlistentry> +</variablelist> + +<note> +<para> +If you make changes on one configuration panel and move to a different module +without clicking <guibutton>OK</guibutton> or <guibutton>Apply</guibutton> +first, &kcontrolcenter; will prompt you to ask whether your changes should be applied +first. +</para> +</note> + +</sect1> + +</chapter> + +<chapter id="logging-out"> +<title>Logging out</title> + +<para> +We sincerely hope that using &kde; gives you so much fun and +pleasure that you never want to log out. But if you do, simply choose +<menuchoice><guimenu>K menu</guimenu> +<guimenuitem>Logout</guimenuitem></menuchoice>. +</para> + +<para> +There is also a logout button directly on the panel, which looks like a +small power button. Or you can press <keycombo action="simul">&Ctrl; +&Alt; <keycap>Delete</keycap></keycombo> to log out. +</para> + +<sect1 id="session-management"> +<title>Session Management</title> + +<para> +When you log out, &kde; can remember which applications you had open, as +well as where all the windows were located, so that it can open them +for you the next time you log in. This feature is termed +<emphasis>Session Management</emphasis>. &kde;-aware applications will +restore themselves to the state they were in when you logged out. For +example, &kate; remembers which files you were editing. </para> + +<para> +Non-&kde; applications do not memorize their state on logout, and +&kde; will warn you to make sure that you have saved any important +data in them when you start to log out. +</para> + +<para> +To illustrate session management, choose <menuchoice> +<guimenu>K menu</guimenu><guisubmenu>Editors</guisubmenu> +<guimenuitem>Kate</guimenuitem> </menuchoice> to start &kate;. Open +a text document to edit. Now log out and back in. You will observe +that &kate; will be restored to the exact same position on the screen, +including the right virtual desktop, and the document we left open in +&kate; before we logged out is opened again automatically. &kate; +will even remember whether you had unsaved changes to your document +before you logged out and will save them to the file you were working +on if you choose <guimenuitem>Save</guimenuitem> from the +<guimenu>File</guimenu> menu. +</para> + +</sect1> +</chapter> + +<chapter id="kde-an-exciting-journey"> +<title>&kde;, an exciting Journey</title> + +<para> +We hope you enjoyed this brief tour of the K Desktop environment and +that this unique desktop environment will help you get your work done +faster and more comfortably than ever. +</para> + +<para> +Please remember that the &kde; project is not a commercial venture, +but rather a project run by volunteers from all over the world. We +would like to invite you to join the &kde; project and become part of +this unique network of people. If you are a programmer you might +consider helping us write &kde; applications. If you are an artist or +have experience with graphic design, consider creating icons sets, +color schemes, sound schemes and logos for &kde;. If you enjoy +writing we would love for you to join our documentation project. +</para> + +<para> +As you can see there are many ways in which you can help. You are +cordially invited to join this world-wide network of people dedicated +to making &kde; the best desktop environment for any computer. Please +visit <ulink url="http://www.kde.org">www.kde.org</ulink> for more +information. +</para> + +<para> +<emphasis>Welcome aboard on this exciting journey, </emphasis> +</para> +<para> +<literal>Your &kde; Team</literal> +</para> +</chapter> + +<!-- +2004-08-27 +Removed because it probably should not be here, and it will only end up +getting out-of-date if it is (Phil) +<chapter id="advanced-topics"> +<title>Advanced Topics</title> + +<sect1 id="mime"> +<title>&MIME; Types</title> + +<para> +&kde; comes with a number of &MIME; types predefined, but you can add +your own &MIME; types by choosing +<menuchoice><guimenu>Settings</guimenu> +<guisubmenu>Configure Konqueror...</guisubmenu> +</menuchoice> and then <guilabel>File +Associations</guilabel> in a &konqueror; window. +</para> + +<para> +&kde;'s handling of &MIME; types is very powerful, and very +configurable. On the one hand, you can set a default action to be +performed when you click on a file in &konqueror;. Just as usefully, +you can add many more actions, which are then available with a &RMB; +click menu on the file in question. +</para> + + +<procedure> +<title>To link a certain file type with a particular application:</title> +<step> +<para> +Make sure the application you want to start this file type has an +entry in the &kmenu;. +</para> +</step> + +<step> +<para>In &konqueror; find or make a file with the extension you wish to +link. +</para> +</step> + +<step> +<para> +<mousebutton>Right</mousebutton> click on the file, and choose +<guimenuitem>Edit File Type</guimenuitem> from the context menu, or +choose <menuchoice><guimenu>Edit</guimenu><guimenuitem>Edit File +Type</guimenuitem></menuchoice> in &konqueror;'s menu bar. +</para> +</step> + +<step> <para> Add file masks for the application by clicking the +<guibutton>Add</guibutton> button, and entering the file pattern you +want. Remember that &UNIX; is case sensitive, so you may need to add +variations - <userinput>*.mp3</userinput> may need +<userinput>*.MP3</userinput> added as well, for example. Add as many +extensions as you like in this way. </para> </step> + +<step> +<para> +Add a description if you like. This is optional. +</para> +</step> + +<step> +<para>In the section labeled <guilabel>Application Preference +Order</guilabel>, press the <guibutton>Add</guibutton> button. A +miniature copy of the &kmenu; will +open, where you can choose the application you want files of this type +to be opened with. +</para> +</step> + +<step> +<para> +Sometimes, you may want to use a different application to open this +file type. For example, you might like to use &kate; to open text +files you wish to edit, and &kedit; for text files that you just want +to take a quick peek into. You can add more applications in the same +way as you did in the last step, and you can change the preferred +order using the <guibutton>Move Up</guibutton> and <guibutton>Move +Down</guibutton> buttons. +</para> +</step> + +<step> +<para> +If you're satisfied with your choices, you can click the +<guibutton>Apply</guibutton> button to save your changes without +closing the dialog box. This gives you the opportunity to test in the +<application>Konqueror</application> window that your file association +is correct. You can choose <guibutton>OK</guibutton> to save your +changes and close the dialog box, or <guibutton>Cancel</guibutton> if +you have changed your mind and just want to close the dialog box. +</para> +</step> +</procedure> + +<para> +Be sure to try your new association by opening a folder containing +a file of the type you just selected. Click on the file, and the +program needed to edit it should start. +</para> + +<note> +<para> +&MIME; types are a way of describing the contents of files. You may +be used to using file extensions for that purpose, and you may know +that on &UNIX; systems the file extension often bears little or no +relation to the contents of the file. On the other hand, it may be +vital - for example, some implementations of <command>gunzip</command> +will not operate on files that are not named <literal +role="extension">.gz</literal>. +</para> + +<para> +&MIME; types naturally make use of filename patterns, but not +necessarily the extensions - you can set up any filename pattern you +like. For example, if you always want to open any files relating to a +particular client with &kate;, and you make a habit of naming the files +with the client's name at the beginning so that they naturally group in +the &konqueror; window, then you can set up a filename pattern that +matches <literal>^<replaceable>clientname</replaceable>*</literal>. +Then any files that have <replaceable>clientname</replaceable> at the +beginning (the <token>^</token> character means <quote>starts with...</quote>) and +without any regard to the rest of the filename. +</para> +</note> + +</sect1> + +</chapter> +--> +<chapter id="credits"> +<title>Credits</title> +<sect1 id="authors"> +<title>Authors</title> + +<itemizedlist> +<listitem><para>Matthias Ettrich +<email>[email protected]</email></para></listitem> +<listitem><para>Kalle Dahlheimer <email>[email protected]</email></para></listitem> +<listitem><para>Torben Weiss <email>[email protected]</email></para></listitem> +<listitem><para>Bernd Wuebben <email>[email protected]</email></para></listitem> +<listitem><para>Stephen Schaub <email>[email protected]</email> - +Editor</para></listitem> +<listitem><para>Robert Williams <email>[email protected]</email> - +Editor</para></listitem> +<listitem><para>Lauri Watts <email>[email protected]</email></para></listitem> +</itemizedlist> + +<!-- TRANS:CREDIT_FOR_TRANSLATORS --> + +&underFDL; + +</sect1> +</chapter> +</book> + +<!-- +Local Variables: +mode: sgml +sgml-omittag: nil +sgml-shorttag: t +End: +--> + |