2. Personalizing your Desktop

2.1. Changing your Desktop's Appearance

Figure 7.3. Changing KDE's Color Scheme

Changing KDE's Color Scheme

To change the desktop color scheme choose System+Configuration+KDE+ LookNFeel ->Colors from the main menu. In the Color Scheme list are predefined color schemes. Select the one you like and click on Apply.

You can also define your custom color scheme by clicking on the element you want to change (for example, Active Window to change the active window colors) or selecting it in the Widget Color pull-down list. Once the element (widget) is selected, click on the color bar to open KDE's color selection dialog, choose the color you like and click on OK to apply it.

Clicking on Save Scheme will allow you save the color scheme for later use; you will be prompted for the scheme name, fill it and click on OK. Clicking on Remove Scheme will remove the currently selected customized color scheme, predefined color schemes cannot be removed.

[Warning]Warning

You are not asked for confirmation before removing a color scheme. Therefore use the Remove Scheme button carefully.

Figure 7.4. Changing KDE's Background Wallpaper

Changing KDE's Background Wallpaper

To change the desktop background, choose System+Configuration+KDE+ LookNFeel ->Background from the main menu. Select the background picture option in the Background section and background scaling, colors and blending in the Options section.

Click on the Advanced Options button to adjust settings such as an external program to draw the background, the cache size for images, etc.

[Tip]Tip

All desktop background settings can be applied on a per-desktop basis using the Setting for desktop pull-down list. Please note that doing so consumes more memory.

2.2. Managing Desktop Icons

Adding Icons. To add an icon on the desktop simply right-click on the desktop's background. A pull-down menu will appear in which you must choose Create New. Another menu will appear in which you must select the type of object to create on your desktop:

  • Folder creates a new folder on your desktop where you can store files.

  • File->Link to Application creates an application launcher. When you click on it, the application will run as if you called it from a menu or the command line. Use it to have quick access to the applications you use most.

  • File->Link to Location (URL) creates an icon giving you direct access to an URL (typically a web page or a web site). Use it to add icons for the sites you visit the most on your desktop.

[Note]Note

The above list is not extensive. The choices you have in the menu will depend on the software you have installed on your system.

Please bear in mind that the forms you will have to fill out to complete the icon adding operation are different for each kind of object being created. However, their options are fairly simple.

Modifying Icons. Right-click on the icon you want to modify and select Properties from the menu. You will then be able to change the title (the string displayed under the icon), the icon picture itself, and other properties of that type of object (folder, application, URL, etc.). Once you are satisfied with your settings, click on the OK button.

Removing Icons. To remove an icon, right-click on it and select Delete from the menu that pops up to delete it permanently, or Move to Trash (from where you can restore it later on). In either case, you will be asked to confirm before proceeding.

2.3. Changing Screen Resolution

Figure 7.5. Available Screen Resolutions List

Available Screen Resolutions List

Clicking on the screen resolution changer applet will show you the list of all available sizes and refresh rates for your video card and monitor combination (see Figure 7.5, “Available Screen Resolutions List”). The active screen size and refresh rate are marked with a tilde.

To change any parameter, simply select it from the list and a window will pop up asking you if you are satisfied with the settings (see Figure 7.6, “Accept New Resolution Settings?”). If you click on the Accept Configuration button, the settings will be applied immediately, otherwise the previous settings are retained.

Figure 7.6. Accept New Resolution Settings?

Accept New Resolution Settings?
[Tip]Tip

The higher the refresh rate, the steadier the image. Select the highest refresh rate possible for your video card and monitor combination to put the least strain on your eyes.

To make the settings persist between sessions, choose Configure display from the menu and make sure that both Apply settings on KDE startup and Allow tray application to change startup settings are checked, otherwise your screen resolution settings will be lost when you quit your session.