Re: [gentoo-user] KDE 4.3.1 query

[Paul Hartman]

On Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 3:16 PM, Philip Webb <purslow@××××××××.net> wrote:
> 090917 Paul Hartman wrote:
>> On Wed, Sep 16, 2009 at 4:44 PM, Philip Webb <purslow@××××××××.net> wrote:
>>> Konsole 4.3.1 -- it seems impossible to predetermine window size;
>> It saves its size properly for me.
>> For specifying a size (not restoring the last-used size),
>> in KDE you can specify extensive window placement and geometry profiles
>> for windows by right-clicking on the titlebar
>> and choosing "Configure window behavior...".
>> I have no idea about Fluxbox.
>
> That doesn't work in Fluxbox.  It will accept 'konsole --geometry ... ',
> but that has no effect on window size; you can set a single size by hand
> in  konsolerc , but there's no apparent way to do that for profiles.
> The big attraction of Konsole 3 is that it has so many options.
> For me, it's a show-stopper & if it isn't fixed in 4.4.1 , I'll use Xterm.

You're right, I just tried and I can get the window size and position
with xterm -geometry 80x25-50+50 (for example) but --geometry
80x25-50+50 has no effect at all on Konsole. Looks like it may be a
problem with more than just Konsole:
http://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=165355

>>> Okular 4.3.1 -- usable, but no noticeable improvement on Kpdf 3.5.10 .
>> Okular does so much more than Kpdf it's not even funny.
>>   http://okular.kde.org/formats.php
>
> Yes, another day's use suggests it renders PDFs better than Kpdf
> (that's what I use it for) & it does show JPGs properly too.
> That complaint is withdrawn (tho' there's an ugly wide bar on the left side).

I think it has better support for things like PDF forms as well,
though I usually still have to use the real Adobe reader for those.

>>> Konqueror 4.3.1 -- no way to import bookmarks,
>> Konqueror has more import options than any other browser I've ever seen!
>> There are extensive "Import" and "Export" menus in the bookmarks editor.
>
> It appears you have to install another pkg to get this
> -- it's not a Gentoo dependency -- , but manually copying them works too.
> I rarely use Konqueror, but it's useful occasionally.

It is a dependency on my system. Unless you have specifically disabled
the "bookmarks" USE flag, in which case the problem would be one of
your own making. :)

From the konqueror-4.3.1.ebuild:

IUSE="+auth +bookmarks debug +handbook thumbnail"

RDEPEND="${DEPEND}
        >=kde-base/kdebase-kioslaves-${PV}:${SLOT}[kdeprefix=]
        >=kde-base/keditfiletype-${PV}:${SLOT}[kdeprefix=]
        >=kde-base/kfind-${PV}:${SLOT}[kdeprefix=]
        >=kde-base/kfmclient-${PV}:${SLOT}[kdeprefix=]
        >=kde-base/kurifilter-plugins-${PV}:${SLOT}[kdeprefix=]
        auth? ( >=kde-base/kpasswdserver-${PV}:${SLOT}[kdeprefix=] )
        bookmarks? ( >=kde-base/keditbookmarks-${PV}:${SLOT}[kdeprefix=] )
"

>>> Kmahjongg 4.3.1 -- they've abolished the grid of removed tiles !
>> According to a single google search for "kmahjongg removed tiles",
>> the primary author of Kmahjongg stated he removed that feature in 2006.
>
> No, it's present in 3.5.10 , which I'm using (I just played a game with it).
> It's another feature which has been dropped in KDE 4 ,
> like setting the size of a Konsole window when you open it (above).
> Another show-stopper, but perhaps the gods want me to get out more (smile).

Right, but in 2006 he had already moved on to KDE4 development and
removed the feature you are missing from the current version
(4.something). 3.5.10 may be the latest KDE3 version, but it's not
"The" current version. :)

>>> Gwenview 4.3.1 -- yes, an improvement on the old independent Gwenview,
>>>  esp the tree menu, but also rendering of images + thumbnails.
>> I don't use it, but it seems to do its job.
>> I prefer Geeqie because I am more used to its keyboard navigation.
>
> Gwenview 4 is a noticeable improvement.

My all-time favorite image viewer was PMView on OS/2, but there's no
Linux version... :(

>>> Krusader 2.0.0 -- my choice for heavy lifting: no noticeable change.
>> I've never tried it.
>
> It's very powerful.  The new version seems to be the same but for KDE 4 .
> I'm happy to use the CLI for everyday file management.

I'll give it a try. I normally use midnight commander but GUI can be
more convenient for some tasks.

>>> I won't comment on the aesthetics of the brave new KDE ...
>> It's different, but I like it.  It has grown on me over time.
>> KDE3 looks plain and old-fashioned now when I go back and see it.
>
> Like another respondent (and many others), I prefer "plain & old-fashioned".
> We have street cars (trams) running by the end of my street,
> as they have since 1892, which is why we have healthy neighbourhoods here,
> but go-ahead modern cities like NY & London wiped them out long ago (grin).

Well, since you're not using KDE desktop environment it doesn't affect
you anyway. :)

But in KDE4 there are still the KDE3-style window decorations such as
Keramik, Quartz and Plastik, and the same old-fashioned widget styles
like CDE and Motif. Someone can make KDE4 look very similar to KDE3 if
they want to.

I'm personally using QtCurve for KDE & GTK+ widget styles, Oxygen for
window decorations, and Oxygen for the desktop theme (I like the dark
colors).