what is desktop activity

[siddharth_univ05]

Hi guys, I'm quite new to linux and i got Kubuntu 10.04 installed. I dont get what desktop activity is.. i was playing throught the settings and you have two options..desktop activity and folder view. When i try to get some applications added to the desktop from the launcher its added as ..i guess a widget? Cos its definitely much more than creating a link (in that, you can scale rotate etc etc the icon). A simple folder or a file is not seen when in desktop activity "mode".

In folder view, i have these icon widgets as well as links..and i am able to align only the links.

So what is a desktop activity? and why am i not able to see folders and files in this "mode"?

When you right click and add an app from the launcher to the desktop..what are they called(i just call them as widget icons)? and how do i align them?

Where can i read about these? any blogs?

[siddharth_univ05]

Re: what is desktop activity

One more question...I accidently deleted my desktop panel.. how do i create a new (desktop) container panel?

[siddharth_univ05]

Re: what is desktop activity

anyone?

[dtr]

Re: what is desktop activity

Well I can't give a good explanation of the desktop activity, but to add a panel is as easy as right clicking on the desktop, (if it says unlock widgets, do that), then right click again, and click on add panel.

Or just click on the little cashew in the top right hand corner of the desktop (unlock widgets) and select add panel.

[oshunluvr]

Re: what is desktop activity

re: your second question, a search of the forum with a simple "restore panel" reveals three pages of hits.

Do yourself and all of us a favor and do your own homework before you post. I'm not trying to be a jerk or pick on but you're much more likely to get a response if you have tried to fix an issue yourself first.

Please read the "Read Before you Post" thread which you can easily get to by clicking on the ReadMe in my signature line.

In regards to your first question: The new desktop is a little confusing and hard to define. This is only my opinion and I could be totally off...

I believe "Plasma Widget" is technically correct, but Widget is common short-hand.

What we are used to calling "Desktop" is now (in KDE 4) actually Plasma Workspace. As such, you the user can control much of the behavior of your Plasma Workspace. The two primary options are "Desktop" (default) and "Folder View". What the functional differences are I can't say too much about- I use the default and like it just fine.

I believe Folder View works more like the old way (or windows way) so whatever is in your home folder (icons, subdirectories, whatever) is displayed on the desktop.

In Desktop Activity mode - only Widgets are displayed and your home directory is not. You may then add "Folder View" widgets (I use three) to your "Desktop Activity" and point them to whatever directory you wish to display. In this way, you can see folders and files as you wish and arrange them in groups because they exist within a widget on your desktop. Icon alignment works the same as before except each Folder View widget has it's own settings. For the Folder View widget, unlock widgets, hover over the Folder View widget until a side bar appears and click on the little wrench that is in the side bar. This will reveal all options for that partituclar widget. When you're satisifed with the look of things, lock the widgets and the sidebar won't appear when you hover.