Version: (using KDE 4.1.3) let the user customize SS sections so the user could d&d module X from section to section, or even create new section. Example: I would move "input actions" to "computer administration". And I would split "computer administration" to get new section "hardware". User would be able to order section not as regular/advanced, but more personal -- like used-often/used-sometimes. The second reason of this wish is that SS resembles Konqueror -- folder like feel, app launching, etc. This is very good -- but no more analogies are present. User cannot rename the module, user cannot move it. Even simple visual reordering is impossible, which feels "unnatural". So please, provide greater flexibility, so the user could customize SS to her/his needs.
I believe with the source code available it is already customisable. I agree that it should be easier to customise. I don't believe regular end users should tweak it for support reasons. How to implement customization: Each of these bars behaves like a toolbar. We just need to set them up that way, (by making make an appropriate specific to this use toolbar theme) KDE already has a way to manipulate toolbars, and we can just use that. I too would like a windows XP file like "classic" view of control panel items. I like to be able to sort by letter, and have a details view. I would also like to have more itemized items, (no grouping of keyboard and mouse--however shortcutkeys could refer to both) Please note the Microsoft screwed up Vista's control panel. Please note that the way system settings is now is nothing like the fileview in Konqueror. (remember that Konqueror is a generic wrapper for kobjects) It has buttons, and the user cannot select items. It doesn't make sense to select items... I believe that System Settings Excels in this configuration general layout. It is the best start out of XP's HTML and Vista's cruddy view. System Settings probably does not need to address this specific fileview of the control panel. We simply need to create a folder and create shortcuts to these control pannel modules in them, and set the permissions appropraitely. I believe I'll get started on on some research for you ;) Also, you have a great idea that the System Settings could be configurable, I suggest this configuration be controlled as a part of kde kiosk?) because... It is a great pain to support a user who has moved everything to non standard locations, and I would advise against making it too easy to edit the systemsettings. -- really after the user set it once they shouldn't have to set it over and overagain, so this is a low use item.
Some useful links: http://techbase.kde.org/Projects/SystemSettings http://websvn.kde.org/trunk/KDE/kdebase/workspace/systemsettings/ /usr/share/kde4/services is where settings.*.desktop are... kcmshell4 is a program that looks like it's supposed to open them. systemsettings does not take arguments... it might make sense to be able to do this: systemsettings appearance in which case we could easily create those shortcuts you were asking for. I ran a strace on systemsettings didn't help find any other executables.
Aaron, thank you very much for your comments, one remark though: > don't believe regular end users should tweak it for support reasons. Imho, end user should not be able to customize it too easily -- not, at all. Providing locked mode for SS would be sufficient I think -- user couldn't delete modules anyway. The question is how this mode should be locked/unlocked, if there is really an issue that reordering modules should be prevented, entry in rc file only, if not, even at the GUI level. It would be good to write down what kind of problems can appear --
It turns out that the qtlists are filled by querying the module files. This basically works. The user can change where the items show up by editing the module descriptions. Change the category to something else, and it should just show up where we want it to. To make the changes globally, it's probably in /usr/share , and the system admin can already do that. I haven't done it, but really it's probably just a simple text edit away. So this would be something to add to documentation for KDE KIOSK, because most users shouldn't be messing with their link to the rest of the tech support world... but there are times for an administrator to tweak stuff.
If this is implemented by KDE, it must be in Kiosk, and Kiosk must force all users that it affects to perform a full, non-incremental rebuild of the Sycoca. It must also update the module files themselves. This is a very fragile system, where if one desktop file was broken ( through even a minor one digit typo ) then a whole section of modules would completely dissapear ( including potentially whole tabs ) Breaking two desktop files would be sufficient to totally stuff the System Settings internal tree builder, and would likely causes crashes.
>so the user could d&d module X from section to section, or even create new section. Example: I would move "input actions" to "computer administration". And I would split "computer administration" to get new section "hardware". We've moved some in Plasma 5 to hopefully be more sensible. If something is in the wrong place making each and every user change it doesn't sound like the correct way to go about it.