I’m new to KDE Plasma (and Linux in general) and decided on this new machine I’ll try to do away with my old habit of cluttering the desktop with endless shortcuts. To this end, I put shortcuts to applications in a folder view widget instead. I learned that:
Dragging an application from the application launcher to the desktop and double clicking it on the desktop works great.
Dragging an application from the application launcher to the panel and single clicking it on the panel works great.
Dragging an application from the application launcher to a folder and double clicking it in the folder doesn’t launch the application, but instead brings up a window titled “plasmashell” reading “What do you wish to do with this file?” with options. Clicking “Execute” launches the file.
So it feels much nicer when the application link is on the panel or desktop. Is there a reason it doesn’t function the same way when its in a folder? Am I going about this all wrong? I could answer “do not ask again” on the pop-up, but I like it asking when I’m double clicking a bash script. I’m just trying to get the hang of what a good workflow here is. I guess I could just use the application launcher more…
Try using the ‘shortcut’ option instead of the ‘copy’ one when dragging. I think for security, *.desktop files outside the standard locations cause the prompt. Creating a shortcut doesn’t.
This is Plasma 6, so I am guessing you are still on the old Plasma 5. I think the ‘Do no ask again’ here is per-file, or it is on Plasma 6. I can’t recall if it acts the same in Plasma 5. In this case, using the Shortcut method, you won’t get a prompt to begin with.
Testing in Plasma 5.27, things appear to work the same as they do in Plasma 6, so I can’t say if your Plasma version’s “Don’t ask again” works the same, or is a blanket option for desktop files or not. My memory is not that great.
Please be aware that, the Application Launcher is –
configurable;
organised on a “What do you want to to today” scheme which uses a set of application groups defined by a standard which I can’t quickly find right now;
a keyword searcher.
You could also take a look at KRunner – <KRunner>.
KDE Plasma applications also have a tendency to have some nice “let’s get some work done today” features included –
For example: “Dolphin” – hit the F4 key and, a terminal CLI area appears at the bottom of the current Dolphin window – hit <Shift+F4> and, a Konsole window will appear, with a CLI prompt located at the directory Dolphin is inspecting.
Yes, KDE Plasma allows desktop shortcuts but, it is continually developing new ideas to enable alternative means for fast and effective methods to “get the job done”.
If you want to explore the possibilities of a 3 dimensional workspace «actually more than 3 dimensions … », take a look at the possibilities of multiple Desktop instances <Taskbar> (which may be configured to change between desktops as if each desktop was on the side of a 3-dimensional cube – assuming that you have [only] 6 desktops configured ) plus: “Activities” – <Activities> …
For each Desktop, you can create a number of pre-defined activities – which you select via the <Meta+Tab> keyboard key shortcut. – «The key “Meta” is often the “Windows” key on your keyboard.»
You can view the Activities as being another dimension associated with the 2 dimensions on your screen displaying the current Desktop.
the application launcher is pretty useful but there are various versions you can try, if you right click on it and choose show alternatives.
my work flow favors the application menu version where a favorites bar is prominently configured and i have the meta key set to open the application menu so i can get to it quickly from either the keyboard or the mouse.
i keep my main workflow apps pinned to the icons only task bar and keep my utilities favorites in the application menu for quick access (along with my most used power controls like logout, reboot, shutdown)
there is also a quicklaunch widget you can keep on the desktop or add to a panel that gives you access much like the pinned apps on the taskbar… just drag the apps you want to have access into the widget and place it wherever is convenient for you.
Sorry I forgot to post my system info, I’m using:
Operating System: Fedora Linux 41
KDE Plasma Version: 6.3.4
KDE Frameworks Version: 6.12.0
Qt Version: 6.8.2
Kernel Version: 6.13.9-200.fc41.x86_64 (64-bit)
Graphics Platform: Wayland
When I drag an application it prompts me to either “copy here” or “link here” and I usually choose link. The links for me look like your “system monitor” in the screenshot. The links work as I described in my first post.
When I try “copy here” instead, I get inconsistent results. Some applications look like your “system settings” and once I select “continue” they work similar to the links (that is, they work flawlessly on the desktop but bring up the prompt every time in other folders). For other applications, I see a link icon even though I copied it and upon running I get “The desktop entry file [my file name] has no Type=… entry.” even though linking to the desktop file works. For me, the “don’t ask again” seems to be a blanket option for all plasmashells launched anywhere.
Thanks, I’ve read through the KDE plasma docs a bit before getting into it, I’ll read through those again now. Thanks for the tips!
I’ll look into these options and the widget you mention, thanks!
I’m noticing now I get to mark answers as solution, I’ll try to do that tonight when I have time to mess around with the suggestions here.
On 5-ish, of all options ( copy, move or link) only the move one asks what you wanna do with it. Only once. Goes for all kinds of app launchers. Linking is ok-ish, but depending on the icon theme, the link icon and italic font can be…nah.
I’ll just start using the application launcher and put my favorite apps and scripts in the “favorites” section, as that seems to work the way I want. I’ll also look more into “Activities” and multiple desktop instances, though it’ll take me a while to get the hang of those options. Thank you all!
) plus: “Activities” – <
