Desktop Configuration

Software Installation

Installation of Linux and scripted OS configuration is described at Download Helper Files.

Desktop Configuration

For laptops and netbooks, the workspace type may default to Netbook. This is changed as follows:

• Open System Settings
• Under Workspace Appearance and Behavior, open Workspace Behavior
• Click the Workspace cashew icon
• Click the droplist next to Workspace Type: and select Desktop
• Click the Apply button in the bottom-right of the window
• Close System Settings

Add an improved system menu and multi-workspace paging as follows:

• Click the configuration cashew at the right on the menu bar
• Click + add widgets...
• Add Lancelot Launcher, remove Application Launcher
• If missing, add Pager (already installed on KUbuntu; not installed on Mint)

Clipboard and Editor Configuration

• Click the scissors on the task bar, and choose Configure Klipper....
• On the General tab, check the box labeled Synchronize contents of the clipboard and the selection.
• Open the editor Kate.
• On View ‣ Tool Views, Check all three options: Show Sidebars, Show Documents, Show Terminal.

Avoiding VIM

Change default editor in KDE with the command:

sudo update-alternatives --config editor

Change default editor when opening files in Dolphin:

• Right-click on file, choose Properties
• Click on the wrench to the right of file type
• Click on your preferred editor in the Application Preference Order list
• Click Move Up to move your preference up the list
• Click Apply, then close the properties window.

Turn on Apple Keyboard function keys

#. display current keyboard state (1=off, 2=on):

   cat /sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/fnmode

#. set keyboard state to 2 (on):

   echo 2 | sudo tee /sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/fnmode

#. make the configuration change permanent version 1 (not working on Mint 12):

   sudo touch /etc/sysfs.conf
   sudo bash < <(echo 'echo "module/hid_apple/parameters/fnmode = 2" >> /etc/sysfs.conf')

#. make configuration change permanent, version 2
#. still working on this, as it must come before "exit 0":

   sudo bash < <(echo 'echo "echo 2 > /sys/module/hid_apple/parameters/fnmode" >> /etc/rc.local')

References:

AppleKeyboard

Fixing bugs

QFileSystemWatcher messages

Messages from QFileSystemWatcher can be eliminated with:

mkdir -p ~/.config/ibus/bus