Plasma desktop customization guide - How to for newbies

Discussion in 'all things UNIX' started by Mrkvonic, Jul 1, 2021.

  1. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

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    Pimp my desktop: behold, a tutorial showing how to customize the Plasma desktop environment, including global theme, Plasma style, application style for native and GTK programs, color scheme and custom fonts, menu, task manager, and show desktop alternatives, panel edit, mouse click behavior, HD display scaling, wallpapers, and more. For newbies, built-in tools only, no command-line hax0rology. Have fun.

    https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/plasma-customization-guide.html


    Cheers,
    Mrk
     
  2. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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    Thanks for the great guide, and for all your hard work, Mrk. :thumb:
     
  3. Joxx

    Joxx Registered Member

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    Yes, that should be emphasized from time to time, your heavy lifting doesn't go unnoticed Mrk.
     
  4. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

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    Thank you folks!
    Mrk
     
  5. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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    Mrk, reading your guide got me re-interested in Kubuntu so I've jumped back down the rabbit hole and reinstalled Kubuntu 20.04 LTS in a dual-boot with Win10.

    Only thing I haven't been able to tweak the way I'd like is the Lock Screen. I've tried different 'Picture of the day' Wallpaper Types but when the timer reaches the 10 minutes I've set it just shows a black screen with time and date. I'm sure I'm missing something.
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2021
  6. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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    ... And so far I can only get audio through FireFox and VLC. Elisa and Brave browser are so far remaining mute.

    Edit: all sounds go through to my amp through HDMI, then on to my TV.
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2021
  7. Stupendous Man

    Stupendous Man Registered Member

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    I haven't tried the Picture of the Day for the lock screen wallpaper. I use wallpaper type 'Image' for the lock screen (a wallpaper image that I added myself) and that works nicely. I don't know why the Picture of the Day doesn't work. Do you really want a 'Picture of the Day'? If so, I hope Mrk or someone else can help you.
     
  8. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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    Hi Stupendous Man,

    It isn't a deal breaker but I would like it to work. It works perfectly on my laptop with Solus Plasma. 'Picture of the day' works fine for the desktop background in Kubuntu. It's a weird one.
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2021
  9. Stupendous Man

    Stupendous Man Registered Member

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    Thanks, Krusty,
    I understand. I hope Mrk or someone else knows what you need to make that work. Same for the audio issue that you mentioned.
    Good luck.
     
  10. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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    At least when I've set the Lock Screen to Slideshow using the included backgrounds it works fine. That will keep me happy.
     
  11. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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  12. Mrkvonic

    Mrkvonic Linux Systems Expert

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    Krusty,

    A few things:

    See if you're not missing a pulseaudio profile - I had a similar problem - but it did not manifest in say Manjaro. My guess you're missing a configuration. Have a look at this - the change will need to be slightly different, but it's of the same type possibly:
    https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/lenovo-ideapad-kubuntu-sound.html

    Lock screen - Does this always happen? Might be a bug where the utility can't download a new image if the screen is locked?

    Mrk
     
  13. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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    Thank you Mrk! I might need another coffee or three before I get too involved with the audio config.
    Yep. I haven't been able to get 'Picture of the day' to work on the Lock Screen at all yet. Slideshow works though.

    Cheers.
     
  14. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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    Well here's something either rather interesting, or bizarre depending on how you look at it:

    Firefox sound is fairly consistent and what I've found is that if I start playing a video or live stream in FF, then open Brave browser or Elisa and start a video or audio track the sound works fine. I can then stop the video on Firefox and the sound will continue on either Brave or Elisa.

    For some reason Brave and Elisa just can't send the signal, it seems, to my amp through HDMI unless the amp is receiving audio from FF.

    VLC doesn't suffer from this.
     
  15. Krusty

    Krusty Registered Member

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    I finally got around to doing some troubleshooting of my audio issue. Now that I've fed all devices straight to my TV through HDMI and have only one HDMI lead going to my amp the audio works perfectly. It worked in the other arrangement with Windows, but for some reason not so well with Kubuntu. Sound worked fine in Firefox and VLC but not in Brave browser or Elisa.

    No doubt I'll be pushing the wrong buttons on my remote control for a while now until I retrain my fingers but I can live with that. :)
     
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