On Tuesday 25 August 2009 03:00:13 am Fabian Schölzel wrote: > 2009/8/25 David C. Rankin <drankinatty@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>: > > Is there a hidden setting for this, or is it just in the next > > 4.3.00-xyz package to be released? > > I'm at work, but if i remember correctly, theres is a setting for > allowing it to make rows, and theres a checkbox to force this. > *searching* Yep, here you go. [1] > > Cheers, > Fabian > > [1] http://docs.kde.org/stable/de/kdebase-workspace/plasma/panel.html > Thanks Fabian: http://docs.kde.org/stable/en/kdebase-workspace/plasma/panel.html I found the setting and it now works like a champ! <rant on> But, this is just another classic example of what I *hate* about kde4. There is nothing obvious, intuitive or readily apparent about this and many of the other multitude of hidden kde4 settings (much less where and how you find them). For a year, in response to many kde3 user complaints about seemingly non- sensical changes and funky inefficient two-handed keyboard shotcuts, the standard kde dev answer was "it's this way because kde4 is being changed to be much easier and intuitive for the new user, especially those coming from windows." Malarkey! I have heard those weasel word kind of answers before -- ("We have the evidence. Iraq has weapons of mass destruction being prepared in mobile chemical weapons labs, .. blah, blah, blah...") Same type of candor associated with those statements as well. Like I said, I finally got to the taskbar properties, but if you have 5-6 apps open, to get to the settings you have to right-click exactly on the ( 1 pixel ) wide vertical line between two open application icons on the taskbar to have the menu option available. Seems like it would make a whole lot more sense just to include taskbar settings as a link in the "Panel Settings" menu. But no -- that would be too obvious and too easy for new users (or old ones trying to find the settings). KDE4 is full of this kinds of "stuff". Take trying to "Zoom In" after you have used "Zoom Out" in the cashew menu. Do you think after zooming out there would be a simple "Zoom In" feature in the plasma menu? Silly you... No, you have to search through the manuals or pick through the keyboard shortcuts to find another arcane two-handed key combination to back out what you just did with the "Zoom In" menu item. When your stuck wondering if you will every get your desktop back to a readable size, try the intuiting combination ' ALT + SHIFT + D + "+" '. That excellent, well thought out, new user friendly, user interface design -- really, I promise -- it's not just some: "we didn't think it through before hand, forgot to include a "Zoom In" feature, and had to go down the keyboard shortcut list and just pick a key combination that wasn't already taken because we were already out of time thingy-- I promise..." <rant off> OK, I feel better now :-) I do really like KDE4, but this kind of nonsense will drive a seasoned user batty and a new user nuts. Any of you kde devs reading? ... take note. -- David C. Rankin, J.D.,P.E. Rankin Law Firm, PLLC 510 Ochiltree Street Nacogdoches, Texas 75961 Telephone: (936) 715-9333 Facsimile: (936) 715-9339 www.rankinlawfirm.com
