[SOLVED] Linux Mint 18.1 KDE edition: Icons not showing on desktop

[22e18]

Hello, I have just installed Linux Mint 18.1 KDE edition, and I can't seem to be able to find how to have files show on desktop: my desktop folder contains files but none of them show on the actual desktop. I've spent quite some time searching the internet for a solution but everything I could find points to the Type tab in Desktop Settings, which in my case simply isn't there (only tabs showing are Wallpaper, Mouse Actions and Tweaks).

I'm quite the newbie, so thank you very much for any help

System information:
System: Host: 22e18-K56CM Kernel: 4.4.0-72-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
Desktop: KDE Plasma 5.8.5 (Qt 5.6.1) Distro: Linux Mint 18.1 Serena
Machine: System: ASUSTeK (portable) product: K56CM v: 1.0
Mobo: ASUSTeK model: K56CM v: 1.0 Bios: American Megatrends v: K56CM.209 date: 11/19/2012
CPU: Dual core Intel Core i7-3537U (-HT-MCP-) cache: 4096 KB
flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 9976
clock speeds: max: 3100 MHz 1: 2277 MHz 2: 2727 MHz 3: 2084 MHz 4: 1676 MHz
Graphics: Card-1: Intel 3rd Gen Core processor Graphics Controller bus-ID: 00:02.0
Card-2: NVIDIA GF108M [GeForce GT 635M] bus-ID: 01:00.0
Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) FAILED: nouveau
Resolution: 1366x768@60.04hz
GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Ivybridge Mobile GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 11.2.0 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio: Card Intel 7 Series/C210 Series Family High Definition Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.4.0-72-generic
Network: Card-1: Qualcomm Atheros AR9485 Wireless Network Adapter driver: ath9k bus-ID: 03:00.0
IF: wlp3s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Card-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: d000 bus-ID: 04:00.2
IF: enp4s0f2 state: down mac: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: 1006.2GB (3.9% used) ID-1: /dev/sda model: Hitachi_HTS54757 size: 750.2GB
ID-2: /dev/sdb model: SAMSUNG_SSD_PM83 size: 256.1GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 19G used: 7.7G (44%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
ID-2: /home size: 311G used: 15G (5%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda4
ID-3: swap-1 size: 16.38GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda3
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 54.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 41.0
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: 2300
Info: Processes: 220 Uptime: 4:57 Memory: 1643.7/7869.3MB Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.3.461) inxi: 2.2.35

[lmuserx4849]

Hello, I have just installed Linux Mint 18.1 KDE edition, and I can't seem to be able to find how to have files show on desktop: my desktop folder contains files but none of them show on the actual desktop. I've spent quite some time searching the internet for a solution but everything I could find points to the Type tab in Desktop Settings, which in my case simply isn't there (only tabs showing are Wallpaper, Mouse Actions and Tweaks).
...

If you right-click your desktop and select "Configure Desktop", the first option panel is "Wallpaper", and the first option on that panel is a dropdown textbox labeled "Layout". The "Layout" option probably contains "Desktop". Change it to "Folder", click "Apply" and you will see the items in your Desktop folder on your desktop. If "Layout" is grayed out (disabled), it is because widgets are locked. Right-click your desktop again and select "Unlock Widgets". Be sure to lock them again by right-clicking your desktop and clicking "Lock Widgets".

In KDE 4, there was a 1/2 circle with a swoosh image. It was normally located in the upper-right corner. It was called the Cashew (probably because the swoosh image looked like a cashew). In KDE 5, the Cashew has been replaced by the Hamburger. It is a square with 3 lines, and also usually located in the upper-right corner. All the right-clicking above can be replaced by clicking the Hamburger and selecting "Unlock Widgets" or "Configure Desktop".

KDE has a documentation system, called "Help Center". You can get to it multiple ways: Help button, Help Menu -> Help Center Handbook, the main menu/application launcher (search for help). In the "Contents" on the left, expand and look for "Plasma Manual", expand "Using Plasma", click on "The Desktop" or "Folder View". The body of the documentation is located on the right. There is a "Prev" and "Next" button at the top and bottom to navigate the doc. The manuals are also located online.

[22e18]

Thank you so very much for the detailed answer