X11: Gave up on 'konsole', switched to 'urxvt'

I finally gave up on 'konsole' and switched to 'urxvt', which in openSUSE 12.3 is in the 'rxvt-unicode' package.

Here is the command line I finally came up with:

urxvt -fn 'xft:Droid Sans Mono:size=12' -bg black -fg 'Antique White' \
+sb -geometry 1280x1024 -e screen -D -R

I put this in an RXVT.desktop file in ~/Desktop:

[Desktop Entry]
Comment[en_US]=
Comment=
Exec=urxvt -fn 'xft:Droid Sans Mono:size=12' -bg black -fg 'Antique White' +sb -geometry 1280x1024 -e screen -D -R
GenericName[en_US]=
GenericName=
Icon=konsole-linux32
MimeType=
Name[en_US]=RXVT
Name=RXVT
Path=
StartupNotify=true
Terminal=false
TerminalOptions=
Type=Application
X-DBUS-ServiceName=
X-DBUS-StartupType=
X-KDE-SubstituteUID=false
X-KDE-Username=

KDE: session notes

A "session" in KDE is taken to mean a particular configuration of screens, desktops, windows and programs running within them.

Typically, I set up KDE so that "On login" it "Restores a manually saved session". This setting is available from "Configure desktop" (watch out - this is something entirely different from "Desktop settings" or "Default desktop settings").

In "Configure desktop", click on "Startup and Shutdown" and then on the left side click on "Session Management". There, you will see the setting "Restore manually saved session". This is what you want if you want KDE to start with the same session every time.

Now, to manually save your session, just set up all your screens, desktops, windows, and running programs the way you want them, then go to "Leave" (like you want to turn off the computer), and then click on "Save Session". Voila!

KDE: notes on 'konsole'

The 'konsole' application is KDE's 'xterm'. It's a nice little app, but there are some caveats to be aware of.

First caveat: If you get the idea that you'd like to set up a session with some tabs and then "save" it, so you can make it the default -- well, forget it. That functionality has not been implemented yet. I would suggest using 'screen' to do multiple tabs, instead. It is a fully configurable, mature tool. Unlike 'konsole', it also has the advantage of ubiquity -- you can use it on (practically) any box you happen to be at.

Second caveat: By default, 'konsole' will send notifications like "Bell in session 1" or "Silence in session 2" -- and these notifications can be annoying. I don't know exactly how to deal with them, but I do recommend going to "Settings -> Configure shortcuts". Once there, search for "notifications" and get rid of any/all active shortcuts relating to notifications.

Third caveat: If you accidentally hit CTRL-SHIFT-), the terminal will be split horizontally into two identical views, with no obvious way to get back to the standard view. The solution to this conundrum is CTRL-SHIFT-X or "View -> Split View -> Close Active"

openSUSE, KDE: where are the control panels

openSUSE 12.2 and KDE make a great combination. But finding the "control panels" (or "system settings", or whatever you prefer to call them) can be a bit challenging for beginners. In recent versions of KDE, they go by the name "Configure Desktop". Here's a foolproof way to find that:

1. hit ALT F2 (equivalent of Microsoft Windows XP "Run program")
2. after noticing the "windowlet" (small pop-up window) that opens top and center as a result of performing step 1, type "configure desktop" into it
3. notice that the "Configure Desktop" program is found and its icon is displayed, then press ENTER

KDE: How to search for files using Nepomuk/Strigi

I heard that KDE has this great thing called "Nepomuk" for searching files (both by name and by contents). But at first there didn't seem to be any obvious way to use it. So I dug in and found out.

KDE: How to add application launchers to Folder View plasmoid

When I installed openSUSE 12.2 with KDE, it automatically created a Folder View plasmoid on my desktop (linked to ~/Desktop with certain application launchers. I was able to delete launchers I didn't need, but I couldn't figure out how to add new ones.

When I right-clicked on an application's icon and chose "Add to desktop", an individual plasmoid was created on the desktop for running that application. But it wasn't possible to move it into the Folder View plasmoid, which is where I wanted it.

I also tried "Create New -> Link to application", which created a blank object. In the properties of that object, I changed the command for running it. That created a working laucher, but without any icon. I found I could (also from within Properties of the launcher) click on the "question mark" icon and change it to the application's icon.

"There has to be an easier way," I thought. And there is. I found it at Plasma – Desktop Icons in KDE 4.2. There, under "Example 1. Favorite applications", there are instructions for creating a new Folder View. Since I already had by default that in openSUSE 12.2, I read on:

Now you can add applications, for example by drag and drop from the application launcher. When you drop the icon, you’ll probably see a list with different options. “Copy here” should do just fine, since you only copy the .desktop file of the application. “Link here” also works. If you don’t want to see the list, hold down ctrl when you drag the icons.

!!! It really was that simple. !!!