Yet another lost feature

[beckfield]

In KDE 3, the Desktop Switcher could be set so that the mouse wheel, either on the desktop or on the pager itself, would switch between the virtual desktops. I can't find this setting in KDE 4.

Is this yet another feature that has been removed, or hidden, in KDE 4? Does anyone know how to regain this convenience?

UPDATE: Ahh, found the setting (right-click Desktop, Activity Settings, Mouse Actions). So the feature is still there, it just doesn't work.

[Snowhog]

Re: Yet another lost feature

Works here, both on the pager, and on the desktop (the areas on the desktop where the mouse is must be free - no application window covering it.)

Kubuntu 10.04 w/KDE 4.4.3

[abalone]

Re: Yet another lost feature

It only works when the "desktop activity" is "Desktop", not "Folder View".

[beckfield]

Re: Yet another lost feature

It only works when the "desktop activity" is "Desktop", not "Folder View".

Well, that's the reason, then. Wonder why they did that.

[kubicle]

Re: Yet another lost feature

It only works when the "desktop activity" is "Desktop", not "Folder View".

Well, that's the reason, then. Wonder why they did that.

My guess is it's because technically the "folder view" desktop activity is like a full-screen folder view widget. When you're scrolling in the folder view activity, you're not scrolling on "empty desktop" but on a folder view widget.

Scroll desktop switch doesn't work inside a regular folder view widget on a normal desktop activity either...scrolling is used to scroll within the widget instead (when all items do not fit and there is a scroll bar)

[beckfield]

Re: Yet another lost feature

My guess is it's because technically the "folder view" desktop activity is like a full-screen folder view widget. When you're scrolling in the folder view activity, you're not scrolling on "empty desktop" but on a folder view widget.

Scroll desktop switch doesn't work inside a regular folder view widget on a normal desktop activity either...scrolling is used to scroll within the widget instead (when all items do not fit and there is a scroll bar)

That may be, but it's infuriating. The Folder View is the most similar to the way things were in KDE 3, and scroll desktop switch worked there. Regardless of whether they designed it this way, I consider this to be lost functionality (something I'm seeing a lot of in KDE 4). For my money, lost functionality is not an upgrade.

[Snowhog]

Re: Yet another lost feature

For my money, lost functionality is not an upgrade.

That the way a thing functions has changed from KDE 3.5.x to KDE 4.x.x is not 'lost functionality' - it is simply a change in the way it works. KDE 4.4.x is NOT KDE 3.5.x. If one insists on trying to make it so, well...

[toad]

Re: Yet another lost feature

@ beckfield

KDE4 is not KDE3. I reckon it is time to accept the new and be open to it. To act otherwise is to purposely frustrate yourself time and again. And mark my word, you won't be a happy bunny. Naturally, you are free to do so if you think that is the best way forward. Or, if you really think KDE4 is such a heap of mumbo-jumbo I suggest you switch to Debian Etch.

Either way, titles like those for your thread here are disrespectful and, alas, are usually caused by sheer frustration and/or ignorance of the KDE4s features. Nothing wrong with stating that something doesn't work for you, but automatically assuming that something doesn't work or has been lost is, let me be frank, plain stupid and mind bogglingly self-centred and shows a lack of willingness to explore the tools at your disposal.

[Fintan]

Re: Yet another lost feature

That may be, but it's infuriating. The Folder View is the most similar to the way things were in KDE 3, and scroll desktop switch worked there. Regardless of whether they designed it this way, I consider this to be lost functionality (something I'm seeing a lot of in KDE 4). For my money, lost functionality is not an upgrade.

If you can scroll you can click. What is all the fuss about?

[kubicle]

Re: Yet another lost feature

Regardless of whether they designed it this way, I consider this to be lost functionality (something I'm seeing a lot of in KDE 4). For my money, lost functionality is not an upgrade.

I see no universal restriction why it should have to behave as it currently does, the Folder View activity could probably be made to pass mouse actions to the desktop, you could file a wish on KDE bug tracker.

But calling it a "lost feature" when it works by default (and is more customizable than in KDE3) when you've purposefully changed your setup to behave differently is like adding a second panel and then saying your system doesn't have only one panel anymore.

[ubersoft]

Re: Yet another lost feature

I get what you guys are saying, but in beckfield's defense, I can sort of see his point as well.

Look at it this way: in KDE3 the desktop did, essentially, behave like a folder. But it also allowed the scroll wheel to behave in a way that was different from its default behavior when interacting with a folder.

KDE4, the desktop is no longer a folder by default, and when it is, it no longer allows the scroll wheel to behave in a way that is different from standard folder interactions.

In that respect, it is lost functionality. It's not a level of functionality I consider important enough to stop using KDE4 because I get a lot of other stuff I like more, but it's something I noticed as well.