KDE4 Dashboard: what is it?

Llama · 2009-06-22 09:49:42

Hi,

Google says that it's a concept borrowed from MacOSX. It's a widget intended for managing other desktop widgets. Apart from that, I found no clue. How am I supposed to use it?

sand_man · 2009-06-22 10:07:17

I believe the Dashboard is more or less the classic "Desktop". It's merely the background which is a plceholder for widgets like a clock a panel or folder view.

Llama · 2009-06-22 10:18:53

sand_man wrote:

I believe the Dashboard is more or less the classic "Desktop". It's merely the background which is a plceholder for widgets like a clock a panel or folder view.

It isn't very enlightening : I've got a folder view and things on my desktop 'as is'. They already live on some kind of background, don't they?

Xabre · 2009-06-22 11:02:58

Well, open few windows, then press Ctrl+F12, and see what sand_man ment

There are three basic containers for widgets in plasma: desktop, panel and dashboard.
In earlier KDE4 versions plasma-dashboard only copied applets from current desktop activity and puts them in front of kwin, but in 4.3 it can have it's own desktop independant set of applets, something like quickacces for widgets....

toad · 2009-06-22 15:17:49

Yep, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. One can explain all there is. But going on from the folder view on the desktop - have a few windows open and call up the dashboard for any given activity. You will now see the widgets for that activity. Change the activity and the widgets change.

I have three different activities, one for my system, one for fun and a file activity. The dashboards vary accordingly.

Hope that makes sense, but see first sentence

Llama · 2009-07-03 11:43:02

Xabre wrote:

Well, open few windows, then press Ctrl+F12, and see what sand_man ment

I see my good ole desktop, blackened and dysfunctional; unresponsive blue thingie "Widget Dashboard" up; nothing else. I'd like to hear, in general terms, what kind of useful functionality the whole thing is supposed to bring up. Meanwhile I'm just chasing a black cat in a dark room, which isn't probably a cat in the first place.

toad · 2009-07-03 12:47:27

If it ain't a cat it prolly don't meow - sounds as though your setup is borked. Normally do a show desktop - right click on desktop - add widgets - drag widget onto dashboard - Bob's the proverbial.

BTW, which good ole desktop, blackened and dysfunctional? What is your KDE?

Llama · 2009-07-03 13:27:46

toad wrote:

BTW, which good ole desktop, blackened and dysfunctional? What is your KDE?

vanilla KDE(4), up to date. Otherwise functional.

toad · 2009-07-03 13:33:39

Same here, but I think the root of your problem is the dysfunctional desktop. You may also want to go through some KDE documentation on their website - it ain't bad. Perhaps it'll help you get your KDE up and running.

Llama · 2009-07-03 14:00:05

toad wrote:

Same here, but I think the root of your problem is the dysfunctional desktop. You may also want to go through some KDE documentation on their website - it ain't bad. Perhaps it'll help you get your KDE up and running.

My KDE is obviously up and running. No, I don't want to go through all the docs - it's effects, after all . Moreover, I still suspect it's a general lack of understanding. For instance: I've probably got just one activity: the default. Is it critical?

toad · 2009-07-03 14:08:36

Is it critical? Well, no. But the best allegory is probably that of the cave by Plato

Arch Linux

#1 2009-06-22 09:49:42

KDE4 Dashboard: what is it?

#2 2009-06-22 10:07:17

Re: KDE4 Dashboard: what is it?

#3 2009-06-22 10:18:53

Re: KDE4 Dashboard: what is it?

#4 2009-06-22 11:02:58

Re: KDE4 Dashboard: what is it?

#5 2009-06-22 15:17:49

Re: KDE4 Dashboard: what is it?

#6 2009-07-03 11:43:02

Re: KDE4 Dashboard: what is it?

#7 2009-07-03 12:47:27

Re: KDE4 Dashboard: what is it?

#8 2009-07-03 13:27:46

Re: KDE4 Dashboard: what is it?

#9 2009-07-03 13:33:39

Re: KDE4 Dashboard: what is it?

#10 2009-07-03 14:00:05

Re: KDE4 Dashboard: what is it?

#11 2009-07-03 14:08:36

Re: KDE4 Dashboard: what is it?

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