Working with Your Desktop

Contents

2.1. Starting Programs
2.2. Using Dolphin File Manager
2.3. Moving Text between Applications
2.4. Finding Data on your Computer or in the File System
2.5. Accessing Removable Media and External Devices
2.6. Using Virtual Desktops
2.7. Managing Internet Connections
2.8. Exploring the Internet
2.9. E-Mail and Scheduling
2.10. Instant Messaging
2.11. Managing Passwords
2.12. Opening or Creating Documents with OpenOffice.org
2.13. Viewing PDF Files and Other Documents
2.14. Taking Screen Shots
2.15. Displaying, Decompressing, and Creating Archives
2.16. Creating CDs or DVDs
2.17. Viewing and Managing Digital Images
2.18. Managing Your Music Collection
2.19. Troubleshooting
2.20. For More Information

The following sections give you a short introduction to the key functionalities and applications. Learn how to cope with basic and daily tasks and how small KDE utilities like a password manager or a clipboard tool can ease your life.

Starting Programs

You can start programs either from the main menu or from the command line, using the Run Command dialog or a shell. Additionally, you can start programs from the desktop or the panel by left-clicking the program icon once.

[Tip]Selecting and Starting Objects

Clicking an object once in openSUSE usually starts an action directly: a program starts, a preview of the file is displayed, or the folder is opened. To former users of Windows, this behavior may be rather unusual. If you just want to select one or several objects without any other action, press Ctrl then click the object. Conversely, alter your mouse settings in the KDE Personal Settings as described in Procedure 3.11, “Adjusting the Mouse Settings”.

Using the Main Menu

To open the main menu, click the main menu icon in the panel or press Alt+F1. The main menu consists of the following elements: a search function at the top and several tabs at the bottom, providing quick access to the key functions of the menu.

The following tabs are available:

Favorites

Shows a default selection of key programs for quick access.

Applications

Shows all applications installed on your system. The function-oriented menu structure makes it easy to find the right application for your purposes even if you do not know the application name yet. To navigate through the structure, click an entry and use the arrow icons at the right or the left to switch back and forth. To switch back to the top-level hierarchy from anywhere in the structure, just click the tab's name or icon.

Computer

Gives quick access to some places often needed, such as important system folders (home directory, network folders) and media devices. Also allows you to quickly access system information, and to change your system configuration with YaST, if necessary.

Recently Used

Lists the most recently opened programs and files. To reopen a program or file, just click the entry. To remove all recently used programs or files from the list, right-click below the relevant heading and select Clear Recent Applications or Clear Recent Documents.

Leave

Shows several options for leaving the session, such as logging out, locking the screen (access can only be regained with a password), shutting down or restarting the computer. For more information, see Section 1.3, “Leaving Your System”.

Additionally, the menu displays your login name and the hostname of your computer. This information is useful when you are logged in as a different user or to a remote computer—it always shows you which system you are currently working on.

Using KRunner

KRunner is a helper application which lets you quickly start programs. It also offers a search function for finding applications or locations. Refer to Section 2.1.3, “Searching for Programs” for more information.

Press Alt+F2 to open the input field. Type a command, for example, dolphin, and press Enter to start the application. The command to start the application is often (but not always) the application name written in lowercase.

You can also use KRunner to show current processes running on your system. To do so, start KRunner and click the Show System Activity icon. The dialog that appears also allows you to kill processes (for example, to terminate a runaway application).

KRunner's abilities can be extended by a huge number of plug-ins that provide additional functionality. For example, if the Web Shortcuts plug-in is activated, you can use the web Web shortcuts defined in Konqueror also in KRunner: send search requests directly to a search engine like Google* without opening the browser and visiting the Web sites before. For more information, refer to Section “Using Web Shortcuts” (Chapter 13, Browsing with Konqueror, ↑Application Guide).

Click the wrench symbol to explore the full range of KRunner's abilities: If the Contacts plug-in is activated, just enter the name of one of your contacts and then press Enter to open KMail and to start typing your mail.

If the relevant plug-in is activated, you can also use KRunner as a calculator or to convert units.

Searching for Programs

Both the main menu and KRunner offer a search function that lets you quickly start programs, even if you do not know the exact application name or command yet. To search for an application, start typing a command or part of the application name in the main menu Search field of the menu or the input field in the Run Command dialog. Each character you enter further narrows your search.

From the list below the input field, choose the application or object matching your query.