Knetworkmanager Icon & Wireless

[geezer]

I have a simple question regarding Knetworkmanager and wireless connections. I looked for a Knetworkmanager manual and failed to find any.

My question:

When I click on the Knetworkmanager tray Icon, it shows several options. One is "Enable Wireless"

On startup, the option is checked which I interpret to mean that wireless is enabled. When I click on the option the check mark disappears, which I then interpret to mean that wireless is disabled.

Are my interpretations correct?

If I am correct, It would be much clearer if, when the check mark disappeared, the option was changed to read "Wireless Disabled". A least I think it would be clearer.

Is there any way to inform Knetworkmanager to have wireless disabled on startup and by default? I haven't found any obvious manner to accomplish this.

[kjjjjshab]

Re: Knetworkmanager Icon & Wireless

http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Usa.../HIG/Check_Box

"Checking a checkbox should always "enable" an option or change the state of an option to "on". Checking a negative or disabling option is a double negative and causes confusion and errors. "

[geezer]

Re: Knetworkmanager Icon & Wireless

http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/Usa.../HIG/Check_Box

"Checking a checkbox should always "enable" an option or change the state of an option to "on". Checking a negative or disabling option is a double negative and causes confusion and errors. "

Yes, but if the option is checked it should read "Wireless Enabled" to indicate current status.

The wording is currently "Enable Wireless" which indicates an action to be taken. That is confusing.

When unchecked the wording should be changed to "Wireles Disabled" to indicate the state then.

If you are going to indicate status with the check mark, the wording should reflect the status and not indicate an action to be taken.

[kjjjjshab]

Re: Knetworkmanager Icon & Wireless

Actually geezer, my head exploded a little when thinking about this topic, but I just wanted to point you towards the official kde answer and/or the place to get it changed if you wanted to try... I wasn't really trying to defend or argue against your point. Sorry that I wasn't more clear... probably heard a baby crying in the background and had to go...

[geezer]

Re: Knetworkmanager Icon & Wireless

Actually geezer, my head exploded a little when thinking about this topic, but I just wanted to point you towards the official kde answer and/or the place to get it changed if you wanted to try... I wasn't really trying to defend or argue against your point. Sorry that I wasn't more clear... probably heard a baby crying in the background and had to go...

Think I'll pass. Looked quickly and it seems I would have to register to post or create a thread for discussion.

I stopped registering for forums since I can no longer manage all of the user names and passwords needed on the tens of forums/boards/groups I now belong to.

Joining yet another group to post about some minor wording is just not worth the effort needed in creating another account on yet another forum/board/group/etc. and managing that account information. Also, since I would not likely ever return to reply to any comments, it would likely be quickly ignored.

I had hoped that the Kubuntu forums would present a unified place for such actions. I can see now that Kubuntu is just too large for this forum to adequately do this (no criticism intended ) and joining all of the forums/boards/groups to intelligently do so is far more than I have the energy or time to do anymore.

So I will just have to learn to endure the idiosyncratic wording. I have unscrewed the antennas for the wireless connection on both the computers and the router and set the router to turn off wireless and hopefully that will suffice.

Also, I assume from the lack of any response, that the ability to have Knetworkmanager disable wireless on startup and by default does not exist like it did in previous versions.

Oh well - since most of the world seems to have migrated to wireless, I'll just have to muddle along.

[Snowhog]

Re: Knetworkmanager Icon & Wireless

Also, I assume from the lack of any response, that the ability to have Knetworkmanager disable wireless on startup and by default does not exist like it did in previous versions.

I no longer use KNM - switched to Wicd a while back - but I believe that that ability is present. In Wicd at least, I have to check the "Automatically connect to this network" on the one I want to be automatically connected to. If you don't have that checked, then if I have a cable connected to my PC/Router, that is the connection that will be used.

[kjjjjshab]

Re: Knetworkmanager Icon & Wireless

...I no longer use KNM - switched to Wicd a while back...

That's a very good point... Knetworkmanager had been broken for most users for quite some time now... it works for me finally with WPA2 networks, but a lot of users have long ago abandoned it for Wicd, which explains the general lack of interest in Knetworkmanager.

[geezer]

Re: Knetworkmanager Icon & Wireless

I used wicd on 9.04 because KNM was broken there.

When I moved to 9.10, KNM worked. So I have stuck with KNM in 9.10.

If KNM is again broken in the next version, I will again move to wicd.

I would rather stay with what is in the distro since I find that to be less hassle.

I did have a minor irritation with wicd like my irritation with the KNM wording. The wicd icon showed the ethernet plug unplugged (or plugged - forget which). When ethernet was activated the icon didn't change to show the new status. It took me awhile to adjust to the fact that the icon only signified wicd and had nothing to really do with the status. I suggested changing the icon when the status changed to the author and sent him an icon he could use for the new status and he replied that he thought it a good idea, but I don't think he ever followed through - probably too busy with other things.