Some KDE noob questions

[Kevin108]

Just installed Mint 12 KDE. I've never liked any of the other KDE 4 distros I've checked out but, as usual, the Mint team seems able to make everything better. I know basically nothing about KDE but I'd like to learn, especially as well as the KDE version of Mint 12 seems to be working.

First three questions, with more to come later:

What can I do with the transparent "This folder is empty." on my desktop?

Can I move the "New Activity" button?

Can I change the theme or window borders?

[Lendo]

I think the "This folder is empty" adds recently used stuff in it. You can shrink it or get rid of it I believe. I've only ever tested Mint KDE in a virtual box.

[il_marcello]

Just installed Mint 12 KDE. I've never liked any of the other KDE 4 distros I've checked out but, as usual, the Mint team seems able to make everything better. I know basically nothing about KDE but I'd like to learn, especially as well as the KDE version of Mint 12 seems to be working.

First three questions, with more to come later:

What can I do with the transparent "This folder is empty." on my desktop?

What you are referring to is a widget called "Folder View". It is a "viewer" for any folder on your filesystem. By default it points to your desktop folder.
In KDE, to avoid clutter on your desktop, icons are not shown as in traditional desktop environments such as gnome and in other OS' such as Windows and Macosx - hence this widget.

You can make it point to any folder you wish by hovering on it with the mouse and selecting the wrench icon that pops up on one side of the widget. You can also remove it completely by clicking on the X in the same popup. If you want to restore it at a later time just right click on the desktop, select "add widgets" and navigate to "Folder View".

Can I move the "New Activity" button?

I'm not sure about this, as the button is not there in my Mint 12 KDE.

Can I change the theme or window borders?

Start menu --> system settings --> Application appearance should be what you're looking for.

Cheers,
Marcello

[Rua]

It's also possible to use a traditional desktop without the widget but I don't remember exactly how to do it.

[andromeda.]

www.kde-look.org

http://www.google.it/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=p ... 8Q&cad=rja

Bye

[nico]

Nice tutorial, andromeda
Anyway it's written in italian , i am afraid not everyone would fully understand our language
so there's another link useful for all worldwide noobs and not :

http://userbase.kde.org/System_Settings

[strangeland]

I was able to hide the "New Activity" button, referred to as "cashew" by installing PyCashew.
Just pull up that widget menu on the bottom, and you can download a widget called PyCashew that hides the Cashew/New Activity button in the upper right hand corner of your Mint KDE desktop.