KDE panel and Task Manager questions

[am2605]

Hi,

My first post here - I'm a long time Fedora / Gnome user who has recently switched to openSUSE and (back) to KDE.

I have a couple of questions to help me with the transition...

First question:

I am trying to set up a layout which has a side panel at the left, and a bottom panel.

Is there any way to keep both panels at 100% length and set my bottom panel so that it "always on top" of the side panel? Or can I only resize the side panel so it does not cover the bottom panel when it has focus?

Second question:

I've added in a few apps to the menu which I have installed myself (ie. not using zypper). Unfortunately these do not seem to give the "Show A Launcher For <application name> When It Is Not Running" in the Task Manager. Is there any way to do this? I know I can create a launcher, but this means when the program is running you get 2 icons for it, and I really only want one.

I had hoped to set the left hand side bar up to work like an OSX or Unity style dock, so I didn't want to have both the launcher and the instance of it visible. Not that I'm a Unity fan, but I do find mimicking the dock somewhat useful.

Many thanks in advance.

Andrew.

[dd@home.dk]

> My first post here - I'm a long time Fedora / Gnome user who has
> recently switched to openSUSE and (back) to KDE.

you should always say which version of openSUSE and KDE you are
using...the correct, precise answer changes with time/version

> I have a couple of questions to help me with the transition...

normally in these forums we like one question pre thread, but:

> First question:
> Is there any way to keep both panels at 100% length and set my bottom
> panel so that it "always on top" of the side panel?

not that i know of..

> Or can I only
> resize the side panel so it does not cover the bottom panel when it has
> focus?

that is the way i have mine...the amount of overlap is only the height
of the bottom panel so (here) i only loose one icon space on the side
panel....if you need more you could set a panel on on both sides

> Second question:
>
> I had hoped to set the left hand side bar up to work like an OSX or
> Unity style dock

having never seen either i can't help..

--
dd http://tinyurl.com/DD-Caveat

[am2605]

For the record I'm using openSUSE 12.1 with KDE 4.7.2

I have since discovered the package plasmoid-icon-tasks seems to do what I want in terms of a "dock".

[dd@home.dk]

On 08/26/2012 02:56 PM, am2605 wrote:
>
> For the record I'm using openSUSE 12.1 with KDE 4.7.2
>
> I have since discovered the package plasmoid-icon-tasks seems to do
> what I want in terms of a "dock".

GREAT!
i've been out of touch a few days, and now coming back i'm happy you
found an answer to your own question...(and, put the answer here so
others who google in can find it!! thanks)

--
dd