The K Desktop Environment

3.5. The Settings Menu

Settings->Show Toolbar

When checked, this displays a movable toolbar containing buttons used to initiate frequently used commands. When unchecked the toolbar is hidden.

Settings->Show Statusbar

When checked, this displays a small bar at the bottom of the editor containing information about the status of the current document. When unchecked the statusbar is hidden.

Settings->Show Path

When checked, this displays the path (its location in the file system) of the current document. When unchecked the path is hidden.

Settings->Configure Key Bindings

This command opens a dialog box whereby the key bindings may be changed. A display window at the top of the dialog box shows the list of commands available. Below the display are three radio buttons. The user may choose between No Key, Default Key, and Custom Key. (Note that a set of radio buttons only allows the selection of one of the offered items - in the way that buttons on a car radio only offer the selection of one preset station. Also, the Default Key selection is only available for those commands that actually have a 'default' shortcut.) Selecting the Default Key option activates the three check boxes and key button at the bottom of the dialog. The user may then select a combination of key combinations for the command in question by means of the check boxes and key button. For example, with the About KDE command selected in the display window, the user could select Ctrl and Alt, click on the key button, and then press the K key on the keyboard. This would mean that anytime he or she held down the Ctrl and Alt buttons and pressed K (while using KWrite) the About KDE display box would be called.

Settings->Configure Toolbars

This will open the dialog whereby the toolbar configuration may be changed. The user can choose which shortcut buttons should appear on the toolbar, as well as whether and where any text should appear with the buttons. Other choices include button (icon) size and toolbar location (top, left, right, floating, or flat.) Flat causes the toolbar to be retracted. A click on the striated grip icon will extend it for use and another click retract it again. A display window on the left lists the commands available to placed on the toolbar. A display on the right lists those commands already on the toolbar. A set of four arrow buttons between the two displays manipulates the selections. The right pointing arrow places any command selected in the left pane onto the right pane, i.e., it is added to the toolbar. The left arrow does just the opposite, removing any action selected in the right window from the toolbar. The up and down pointing arrows change the position of an action selected in the right window which changes the position of its button in the toolbar.

Settings->Preferences

This menu item opens a dialog whereby a host of different settings may be adjusted.

Settings->Configure Highlighting

Opens a dialog box allowing configuration of the syntax highlighting. The dialog is described in Section 4.6.2.

Settings->Vertical Selection

This is used to turn on or off the vertical selection feature. Vertical selection allows text to be selected by column as well as by row. In other words with this feature the user is able to select text contained in only particular contiguous columns and rows. In affect the user can select a rectangular area of text anywhere in the document.

Settings->Set Highlighting

This allows the user to choose the style of color highlighting which the editor uses to display the text The styles are selected by programming language. The font/color information is not stored with the document.

Settings->End of Line

This opens a sub-menu from which the user can select the type of 'end of line' code for KWrite to use, i.e., the accepted standard used by Unix, MacIntosh, or Ms Windows systems.