Hi All,
I just switched my workstation to OpenSuse with KDE. With that being said, I have a couple questions I haven't been able to solve on my own by googling.

1. I can't seem to create an icon for Aptana. Aptana doesn't have an "installer", you just unzip it to a folder and then run the startup script. Well, I'd like an icon for that on my desktop but I can't figure out how for the life of me. Can't drag and drop the startup file and right clicking doesn't give any option for a shortcut or icon.

2. I have two monitors and everything displays properly, however, when I try to drag one app from one monitor to the other, when going from left to right, you can't get the app to jump over unless you get a running start and sorta let go just as it hits the limit of the left monitor, just leaving a tiny portion of the winder overlapping to the right monitor. Now you can grab the app's right most portion and drag it the rest of the way? What is up with that? Is that some setting someplace? That is extremely annoying.

Thanks for any help! I've tried switching to Linux several times but I think I can finally do it if I can figure out these two tasks! Thanks!

...Brad

bradastan wrote:1. I can't seem to create an icon for Aptana. Aptana doesn't have an "installer", you just unzip it to a folder and then run the startup script. Well, I'd like an icon for that on my desktop but I can't figure out how for the life of me. Can't drag and drop the startup file and right clicking doesn't give any option for a shortcut or icon.

assuming that your are using KDE 4.x.x, you can right-click within one of your folder widgets (or on the desktop, if it's set to 'folder view') and choose "create new -> link to application."

under "general" you can give a name to your link. leave "permissions" alone and go to "application." there you'll supply the name again, and under "command" you specify the command that starts your app. (if the app. is not in your path, you'll have to specify the full path of course.) for most applications you can leave the other fields blank.

this seems to be a bug: you can't change the link's icon when you create it. you have to save it first ("OK"), then open its "properties" again. under "general" there's either a link to change the icon (KDE 4.4.x) or, under 4.5.x, you'll have to click on the (large) icon that's displayed on the left. this should open a dialog with many available icons.

bradastan wrote:2. I have two monitors and everything displays properly, however, when I try to drag one app from one monitor to the other, when going from left to right, you can't get the app to jump over unless you get a running start and sorta let go just as it hits the limit of the left monitor, just leaving a tiny portion of the winder overlapping to the right monitor. Now you can grab the app's right most portion and drag it the rest of the way? What is up with that? Is that some setting someplace? That is extremely annoying.

i don't have multiple monitors set up right now so can't check the exact location, but under "system settings -> hardware -> display -> multiple monitors" there's a setting somewhere (checkbox) that says something like "window resistance" or similar. i've never tried this out, but i imagine this could have something to do with the problem you describe...

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phani.

What version of openSUSE, what version of KDE, what graphics card, and what graphics card driver are you using?

Thanks for the replies. I am running OpenSUSE 11.3 with KDE 4.4.4. Display adapter is an Nvidia 8400GS (VGA and DVI outputs).

The tip about "Window Resistance" worked great, thanks so much.

I had closed the desktop panel/window thingy right away because I didn't like it and now I can't figure out how to get it back so I have no panel/window in which to add an application link. When I right click on my desktop I don't have the option to create a link to an application so it must not be in "folder view".

So still trying to figure out how to create an icon on my desktop. I really like the "free" feeling I get by using Linux for my desktop OS (been running servers on it without Xwindows for 10 years) but I NEED to be able to do some basic stuff like create shortcuts to my frequently used apps.

Thanks for helping me get over the learning curve. I'm not su new to linux but almost brand new to KDE.

...Brad

the 'window thingy' you closed is meant to hold such things as shortcuts, etc. actually it displays the content of a directory on your system, by default your HOME directory. that can be changed, as can be size or sorting of the shown icons, and you can filter for certain file types only. it's quite handy.

you'll get it back by right-clicking on your desktop and, if it's not already unlocked, "unlock widgets." after unlocking widgets you right-click again (if that wasn't already the case) and choose "add widgets." this will show you a whole bunch of things you can add to your desktop. "folder view" is one of them.

you can add one or more of these folder views, re-size them, and have them display different dir.s of your system.

alternatively you can make your whole desktop act as a "folder view," so that you can drop anything on it's surface and choose to either copy, move, or create a link to the original file there. (that's who it was in KDE ver.3.) to do that you again have to right-click on the desktop itself and choose "desktop settings." on the left you'll find "activity," which should let you choose "folder view."

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phani.

To expand on what phani00 wrote: most "traditional" desktops acts as a file manager, so it makes sense that it lets you create shortcuts, folders and files on it. In KDE Plasma Desktop 4 this has changed, instead of files you have widgets on your desktop. This is a fundamental change, and once you understand it everything makes more sense.

So you want to create an icon? Then you have the following choices with the default widgets:

- Unlock you widgets and then drag icons from e.g. the application launcher or Dolphin to the desktop. If you're given different options when you drop it, choose "Icon".
Note that this icon is actually a widget, you can resize and rotate it like other widgets.

- Add Folderview to your desktop (as phani00 has described). Folderview is a widget that displays the content of a folder, and if you right click inside the widget you can choose to create new folders, files, link to applications etc.. Drag and drop to it also works (choose "Copy" if you drag from an application launcher).

- Now what if you want a Folderview widget that covers the whole desktop? No problem. The whole desktop is actually also a widget (although it isn't called that to avoid confusion). So you want to change the default desktop "widget" to Folderview, which you can do if you right click on the desktop and choose Desktop Settings -> Activity -> Type: Folder View.

Thanks so much, I'm back in business guys!

Hans wrote:To expand on what phani00 wrote: most "traditional" desktops acts as a file manager, so it makes sense that it lets you create shortcuts, folders and files on it. In KDE Plasma Desktop 4 this has changed, instead of files you have widgets on your desktop. This is a fundamental change, and once you understand it everything makes more sense.

how i wish i had i read this when i first started using kde4!

- Now what if you want a Folderview widget that covers the whole desktop? No problem. The whole desktop is actually also a widget (although it isn't called that to avoid confusion). So you want to change the default desktop "widget" to Folderview, which you can do if you right click on the desktop and choose Desktop Settings -> Activity -> Type: Folder View.

i have another thread open where my knotes are being scrambled around the two monitors at kde restart. this begs the question - is a knote a widget? if i want to sprinkle knotes all over the two monitors, should i use the "whole desktop" widget method?