1.3. Personalizing Your Desktop

Use the System Settings applet[1] to customize your desktop features (see Figure 1.6, “KDE System Settings”). Configurable features are grouped into categories, for example to change the screen resolution click on Display inside the Computer Administration category.

Figure 1.6. KDE System Settings

KDE System Settings

1.3.1. Changing Your Desktop's Appearance

Figure 1.7. Changing KDE's Color Scheme

Changing KDE's Color Scheme

Click on Appearance inside the Look & Feel category, then on the Colors section (see Figure 1.7, “Changing KDE's Color Scheme”). In the Scheme tab the Color Scheme list has predefined color schemes, select the one you like and click Apply.

You can also define custom color schemes: Open the Colors tab, select the item you want to change from the list and click the color button. Then, choose the color you like and click OK to apply it.

Once you have customized your color scheme, open the Scheme tab again and click on Save to store your color scheme for later use. Fill its name and click OK. Clicking Remove removes 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 button carefully.

Figure 1.8. Changing KDE's Background Wallpaper

Changing KDE's Background Wallpaper

To change the desktop background right click on an empty place in the desktop and choose Desktop Settings. Select the Image option in the first pulldown list; then choose a picture in the Picture pulldown list or click the disk icon to browse for your own pictures. Configure other settings to your liking and click on OK to accept.

1.3.2. Customizing Your Panel

KDE's panel is highly customizable. All features, from the panel's position to its appearance and the icons it has, can be set up to better suit your preferences. Right click on the panel and choose Panel Settings from the menu[2]. The panel settings window (see Figure 1.9, “Panel Settings Window”) appears near the panel. Drag the panel settings window and drop it at the desired edge to move the panel from the bottom edge to a different edge.

Figure 1.9. Panel Settings Window

Panel Settings Window

The panel adjusts its size dynamically to fit its contents. Use the sliders to set the relative position (the gray one in the middle), and minimum (green, pointing up) and maximum (blue, pointing up) sizes the panel can have.

You can also enrich the panel with the applets or plasmoids you use most frequently to have them handy. Click on the Add Widgets button in the panel settings window, select the one you want then click on Add Widget. In the example (see Figure 1.10, “Adding a Battery Monitor to the Panel”) we add a battery monitor. Click on the red minus icon to remove an existing widget.

Figure 1.10. Adding a Battery Monitor to the Panel

Adding a Battery Monitor to the Panel

With the Panel Settings window open, hover the mouse over a widget and a move emblem appears, click on the widget, move it to its desired location, and click again to place it there.



[1] The System Settings applet replaces the KDE Control Center present in previous Mandriva Linux versions.

[2] If the panel has its widgets locked, you will have to unlock them first, select Unlock Widgets from the menu that pops up.