KUbuntu 14.10 Start Menu

[laughingblade]

Newbie alert.

Hi,

installed KUbuntu 14.10 into a VM for eval. Definitely appreciate some of the KDE features.

The default Start menu is a panel, and there's a menu item to set the "classic" start menu.

So I clicked it and I now have the classic menu...
Now since I'm a newbie I kinda expected (OK hoped) there to be an equivalent option on the classic menu to toggle back again... but there isn't I've had a dig around System Settings and can't find anything, so how do I go back to the panel menu?

Thanks!
Rich

[gnomek]

Unblock interface elements, panel settings → remove classic menu and add default menu (kickoff).

[OneLine]

Right click the K > Unlock Widgets > Switch to Classic Menu Style

Right click the K > Unlock Widgets > Switch to Application Launcher Style

[laughingblade]

@OneLine many thanks - that works for me.

[laughingblade]

@gnomek thanks for replying, I appreciate you taking the time (really).

I'm afraid I don't understand your reply at all, but I *am* 4x as confused as I was when I asked what I thought was a simple question

May I ask a couple of (rhetorical) questions by way of feedback to show where a newbie's confusion with your reply arises?

Unblock interface elements, panel settings → remove classic menu and add default menu (kickoff).

- How do I unblock interface elements?
- I now know that Panel Settings are found under Panel Options menu when I right-click the K, although Panel Options is hidden until widgets are unlocked. Where would I find panel settings without this knowledge?
- Panel Settings opens up the bottom panel with Screen Edge, Height adjustment etc, along with More Settings... none of which offer any classic or default menu options. So now I'm lost.
- What's kickoff?

Cheers!
Rich

[gnomek]

@ Oneline
stright to the point +1

@ laughingblade
Watch this

there are a lot videos on youtube about KDE, Linux and other graphic environments.

[laughingblade]

@ laughingblade
Watch this

Why?

That's a nice video, but it's 8:55 of my life I won't get back, and it didn't go anywhere near answering my original question or the questions raised by your original response. I already read the KDE manual, googled, and spent 10 minutes digging around on the desktop before I posted my question - I did try to solve it myself but what beaten by (IMHO) inconsistent UX.

So I'm new here, and new to KDE too. I'm here because I have a genuine question, and in addition I want to see if there's a community around KDE that is active and engaged.

I assume you *do* know your way around KDE, you answered my Q because you wanted to help... uh, I really don't want to get into a bust-up here, but why, *really why*, would you drive-by-misdirect me not once, but twice?

UPDATE: I found just what I wanted here: (rickroll removed) I think it's a great example of what I was talking about.

[gnomek]

So I'm new here, and new to KDE too. I'm here because I have a genuine question, and in addition I want to see if there's a community around KDE that is active and engaged.

I hope you can now say that there's a community around KDE that is active and engaged.

You could have spent less time if you had noticed that there are two application launchers in add widgets (which is also shown on this movie)
Of course removing one and adding another is a workaround but it works.

Have fun with KDE.

[laughingblade]

Dude I think either you really don't get it, or you're trying to waste more of my time with your gnomish pronunciations. Either way thread closed.

[vinnywright]

? do you still need to know how to go back to the default menu ??

VINNY

[laughingblade]

? do you still need to know how to go back to the default menu ??

VINNY

Hi Vinny. No, I'm good thx. OneLine's response was absolutely spot-on.

Learned a bit about KDE yesterday (especially the Plasma desktop stuff here), and had fun poking gnomek too (who I'm sure is good to his Mum).

Cheers
Rich

[oshunluvr]

Since you're new to KDE and playing around with the menu, you might want to try installing the "Lancelot" widget and then adding it to your panel. I find it more easily navigated and it is also more configurable than the default Kmenu. I particularly like the no-click navigation and execution function. Check it out.

BTW, got a chuckle out of your dialog with the gnome...

[laughingblade]

Since you're new to KDE and playing around with the menu, you might want to try installing the "Lancelot" widget and then adding it to your panel. I find it more easily navigated and it is also more configurable than the default Kmenu. I particularly like the no-click navigation and execution function. Check it out.

BTW, got a chuckle out of your dialog with the gnome...

Thanks for the tip!

I'm going to need some decent fonts next: the Plasma desktop is so good looking that the default fonts everywhere else are really grating...


Rich

[Shabakthanai]

Here is an image of my desktop; there are two monitors, so I included both.



For personal reasons, on the first I have a hidden panel that only appears when I place the cursor on the top of the screen, the other is fixed on top. I prefer a clean desktop, and although I have lots of stuff on mine, it is things I use all the time, like time and weather, used disk space, and download speeds. I do not have a bunch of programming Icons which are only used when opening an application and otherwise are like unnecessary images cluttering the screen, and when using the launcher you have chosen, the Kmenu launcher is much faster to locate the application you want anyway, than searching through onscreen Icons.

I place my panel on top, because it is more natural for things to drop down that up. In no time at all it becomes natural, and I have been doing it that way for over 20 years now. Notice that I changed the color of the "Kmenu" Icons and have an invisible background for my widgets and panel. It is a preference you don't have to follow, but is more attractive in my opinion, when selecting a dark background for your desktop.

The panel appears on the bottom of your screen when you first open a new Kubuntu application. Notice the little acorn on the right of the panel. Click on that acorn and options will appear.

If you want to put the panel on the top of the screen, as you see on my desktop, move the cursor over the + in the center of the menu and the cursor will change an "+". You can then drag the panel to either side of the screen or the top. If you want to resize the panel's height, place the cursor over the up/down arrows and drag until the panel is as large as you want.

By right-clicking on any of the Icons or images showing on your panel and a box will open that gives you the choice to remove or change the Icon. If you want to remove "Kmenu Classic", simply right click on the Kmenu Icon and select remove.

By selecting the "Add Widgets" options, several choices will appear. If your Operating System is the same as mine, the 4th and 5th items on the list are: 4th "the new launcher menu" and 5th "the Classic menu". Double-click on the 4th option and you will have the Start Menu you want.

Notice that I have 3 Kmenu Icons on my panels. I find it faster to make an application choice with 3 rather than one. It doesn't take long using this method to see its advantage.

If you prefer the more colorful Kmenu Icon I have chosen, right-click on the Blue Square K Icon and select "Application Launcher Settings". In the General Tab, click on the Icon, center right, and an Icon menu will appear.

The items are in alphabetical order, so you can click through them in the a,b,c order until you get to the K's and will then find the Kmenu choice I made. Otherwise, because there are so many, it can become confusing. When you select "Apply" the change is completed.

If you like your widgets and panel to have an invisible background, the only one I am aware that is completely invisible is called "Bare Naked". To obtain that application, select your Kmenu Icon>Settings>System Settings>Workspace Appearance>Desktop Themes> (then in the lower right corner of the screen) select Get New Themes.

A window will appear with a Search option. Type in Bare Naked and it should appear as one of the options in the area where Themes are offered. Select "Install" and close the application. It will now be among the choices in your System Settings Folder. When you select it there and click on apply, your widgets and panel will now include an invisible background.

I hope this is what you wanted to know. It is what I would have wanted in the way of help when I first started using Kubuntu as an Operating System. Cudos, friend.

[anika200]

This thread just won't die

Notice that I have 3 Kmenu Icons on my panels. I find it faster to make an application choice with 3 rather than one. It doesn't take long using this method to see its advantage.
Cudos, friend.

I like this idea , you could even make the icons different color/style and then if the icons where sized correctly you may be able to fit 3 launchers in the space of two even. I have not tried it.
Would you have different launchers for task categories, or only a couple apps per launcher?