[arch-general] Why doesn't plasma-panel show open apps in 2 rows in arch?

[David C. Rankin]

On Tuesday 25 August 2009 03:00:13 am Fabian Schölzel wrote:
> 2009/8/25 David C. Rankin <drankinatty at suddenlinkmail.com>:
> >        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