idesk-extras

How to Install and Use idesk-extras

What is idesk-extras?

idesk-extras is a package containing icons and a set-up tool for use with the idesk program. It's designed to help users get the idesk desktop up and running quickly and easily, and includes the following:

A set of icons (in 32x32 and 48x48 sizes) representing commonly used apps and tasks
A point'n'click app named idesktool that can be used to add, delete, or modify desktop icons.
Documentation - the file you're reading now, actually..

How Do I Install and Use It?

For the RPM version, install like any other RPM package, eg.
rpm -ivh packagename
and everything will go into the proper place.

If you are installing from the tarball, first unpack the archive, then:
Make a folder called /usr/share/idesk, then move the icons/ folder from the archive into it.
Next put the idesktool utility into /usr/bin (or somewhere else in your $PATH)
The documentation (this file) can go into /usr/share/doc/idesk-extras/

Usage

From the command line type in
idesktool
to start the setup/config tool. If necessary, idesktool will write a basic config. file for you. Then choose "Add a New Icon" to add icons to your desktop.
By default, any icons you create with idesktool will start idesktool from a right (double) click. The smaller 32x32 icons are probably best used with resolutions up to about 800x600, while the bigger icons are better for higher resolutions. And remember you aren't restricted to using the icons in this package, any suitable icons are OK.

Positioning the Icons

You'll notice new icons will appear somewhere near the middle of the screen. Just drag them to wherever you want - the positions will be "remembered".

One of the available options allows you to edit idesk's configuration file (~/.ideskrc). If you badly screw up this file just delete it and let idesktool re-write it. There's also an option to refresh the desktop which is handy for cleaning up any stray artifacts over the icons.

Download Packages

Get the latest packages from here.

Dependencies

Idesk-extras obviously needs iDesk, which you can get here, and also XDialog, available here.

Licensing

This package is released under the GPL, and is built using GPL'ed icons and other parts.

Suggestions, comments, flames etc? Send 'em all to me, John Murray.
Last modified Oct 8, 2004

A more-or-less complete listing of the Linux-related stuff that I've written can be found at my homepage.