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Username : Date : Action : Comments [ close all ]
QtMan : 03/09/02 06:48 PM : Incident created -   How do I configure the layout of the desktop icons? Specifically, how can I control the vertical and horizontal spacing of the desktop icons? I am running Mandrake Linux 8.2. Thanks
Linegod_7611 : 03/09/02 07:49 PM : Reply received -   Which Window Manager are you using? GNOME or KDE? ---- Note: If this answer resolves your problem, please remember to close this incident.
QtMan : 03/09/02 11:58 PM : More info provided -   I am using KDE
starfan : 08/09/02 11:31 AM : Reply received -   You can right click on the Desktop and Arrange Icons. I don't know if you can control the spacing. I've never seen anywhere to adjust that. You can go (from the K menu) into Configuration -> KDE -> Look and Feel -> Icons for more configuration of them, but I don't see any way to control thier spacing done by auto arranging. If this helps, please be sure to close the incident. Thanks.
QtMan : 09/09/02 06:02 PM : More info provided -   I have already tried all that. Surely there must exist configuration options as basic as the horizontal and vertical spacing between icons. With differnet resolutions and icon sizes the automatic arrangement performed is incorrect in many cases - causesing the user to do a "hand job" on icon positioning. Perhaps, someone else more knowledgable can be off assistance. Thanks for your attempt to answer the question anyway. Cheers
starfan : 09/09/02 09:52 PM : Reply received -   There has been that ability in previous versions I know. Here is an older doc on doing exactly what you want. http://www.attenza.com/elinux/step/1,,35862 131 24229 8086,00.html and this page mentions it, but it is an older version of KDE as well http://www.caldera.com/products/edesktop/usersguide/appd.html You can look in the KDE Control Center and see if you can configure it there, but I nor any of the other people I asked could find it. If they have removed that feature, then it would appear that the answer is you can't. I've looked all through the current KDE docs and that option doesn't seem to exist in any of the documentation. It is very likely that it has been hard coded in. It seems silly that they would do this, but sometimes programmers do these things. I even dug throughout all the kde dotfiles and could not find any configuration, variables or parameters relating to icon spacing. KDE is one of those programs that is almost infinitly configurable, but there are sometimes some things you cannot configure. I know it seems that this is relativly simple, and it should be. But I really don't think it can be done.
QtMan : 10/09/02 05:50 PM : More info provided -   If it existed in prior versions, and it is such a basic fearure, I can only imagine that it was left out by accident. I'm not sure who at the KDE organization to notify, but I think it would be a good idea to notify them - so that the feature can be put back in on future versions. Basic features like that might seem inconsequential, but I believe that basic features are more important than some of the more exotic features of a windowing system. Anyway, that's my 2 cents... ;) Regards
starfan : 11/09/02 12:09 AM : Reply received -   Well I do see your point. I'm sure they are well aware of it missing. I realize that it's an important feature to you. However, there are many users who don't use that feature and to some it is considered exotic. I guess it boils down to this: You have a timetable for releasing software. You have to decide what to put in and what to leave out, because sometimes it all can't go in. Sometimes tough decisions have to be made and a feature gets dropped. Sometimes some code conflicts with other code, and when you run out of time, you have to make a decision. Making quality software is tough, especially window managers. Honestly you are the first person I've ever heard that actually cares about it, but that doesn't mean there aren't more like you. You can go up to www.kde.org and check the contacts and mailing lists and ask them there. The developers are probably the best to discuss it with. If enough people complain about it, then they will likely make sure the feature is returned in a future release. Thanks and please don't forget to close when you're done.
QtMan : 11/09/02 10:19 PM : More info provided -   Ok. Thanks.
QtMan : 11/09/02 10:23 PM : Incident closed -   The problem was not solved because it is thought to be a "missing feature" for the current KDE release in Linux Mankrake 8.2.

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