Personalizing your Desktop

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 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 let 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 color scheme.

Warning

You are not asked for confirmation before removing a color scheme. Hence 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 Configuration+KDE+LookNFeel->Background from the main menu. The Background tab is used to change background color(s): in the Mode pull-down list select among background color options ranging from Flat (“plain”, one-color background) to different kinds of gradients (“mixed” colored background).

The Wallpaper tab is used to put an image as the background: the Mode pull-down list selects whether the image will be scaled, tiled, centered, etc. The Wallpaper pull-down list lets you select among predefined background images. Click on the Browse button to select an image file of your own and a standard KDE file selection dialog will open up.

Finally, the Advanced tab is used to adjust settings such as the blending mode, the cache size for images, etc.

Tip

All desktop background settings can be applied on a per-desktop basis. Remove the check-mark from the Common Background check box and select the desktop on which you wish to apply the settings. Please note that doing so consumes more memory.

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:

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

  • 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.

  • 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 the sites you visit the most on your desktop.

Note

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

Please keep in mind that the forms you will have to fill 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 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.

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.