This applies for every KDE app

I can't set any global shortcut by going to
the Settings Menu > Configure Shortcuts > ...


Why?

Please check that "kglobalaccel" is running, and that "kglobalaccel" exists in /usr/bin.

It is running.

--

I opened a bug report on bugs.kde.org.
It should be a straightforward process, but has never worked (for me).

Can you please create a new user and try to reproduce there? This shouldn't occur ( and global shortcuts works here )

The same behavior with a new user.

Can you please ensure that all packages have been updated successfully on your system?

I ran Update Manager and no updates were found, so I guess everything is up to date.

"apt-get check" didn't find any broken dependences.

Can you please post a screenshot of the Configure Shortcuts dialog when it is refusing to allow you to make changes? Have you tried clicking "Custom"? Note that most shortcuts are not available globally as they have little use...

None of the fields allows a global shortcut.

When clicking Shortcut or Alternate a "submenu" appears allowing one to choose the default shortcut or a custom one. When I click on Global no such submenu appears.
The screenshot is here: http://imagebin.ca/view/J9YFyri5.html

In this case, the shortcut in question is not registered by the applications developers as a global shortcut. Please file a feature request at bugs.kde.org.

No, it's not that.
No shortcut works, regardless of the app.

So pressing Ctrl + F in KWrite or Kate doesn't work?

If so, there may be a distribution specific issue causing this.

Which specific version of KDE and Kubuntu are you using?
Have you installed anything from Backports ( or 3rd party PPA's )?
Also is this a fresh installation or an upgrade installation? ( and if so, from which version )

So pressing Ctrl + F in KWrite or Kate doesn't work?

What I meant was that I can't set any global shortcut, regardless of the action I'm trying to assign a shortcut to and regardless of the app I'm running.

I'm using Ubuntu Lucid (10.04) (a fresh installation) and the latest KDE packages from Kubuntu Team's PPA:
http://ppa.launchpad.net/kubuntu-ppa/ppa/ubuntu lucid main
I installed KDE by running:
sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop

and a little something from here:
http://ppa.launchpad.net/kubuntu-ppa/backports/ubuntu lucid main

If you open KMix > Settings > Configure Shortcuts, and set one of the Global Shortcuts as shown in my screenshot, does it work?

Please see http://imagebin.ca/view/qQCzVO3.html

If it doesn't, please file a bug report with your distribution, as this is not KDE specific.