Getting Started/Build/Historic/KDE4 Windows: Difference between revisions

    From KDE TechBase
    (→‎Testing your installation: add a section about startup, shutdown, and diagnosing problems)
    (minor stylistic & grammar changes)
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    === Download needed packages ===
    === Download needed packages ===
    For the first time when you run KDE-installer you'll see the welcome screen. Since it's your first launch - leave the checkbox below unchecked. Proceed to the next screen, where you are to choose the KDE4 installation directory. It can be any of your favor, e.g. C:\KDE4.<br/><br/>
    For the first time when you run KDE-installer you'll see the welcome screen. Since it's your first launch - leave the checkbox below unchecked. Proceed to the next screen, where you are to choose the KDE4 installation directory. It can be any of your favor, e.g. C:\KDE4.<br/><br/>
    On the next screen you are to define who you are - End User ot a Developer. The End user installation installs only binary packages and libraries needed to run KDE application. Developer mode provides you with the source code for all packages needed to build KDE from scratch. If you have chosen to be a Developer, then you need to decide what compiler to use - MinGW or MSVC. In End User mode there're only MSVC packages currently available.<br/><br/>
    On the next screen you are to define who you are - End User or a Developer. The End User installation installs only binary packages and libraries needed to run KDE application. Developer mode provides you with the source code for all packages needed to build KDE from scratch. If you have chosen to be a Developer, then you need to decide what compiler to use - MinGW or MSVC. In End User mode only MSVC packages are currently available.<br/><br/>
    Proceed to the next screen and there you're to choose the directory where all the downloaded packages will be stored. Let it be something like C:\KDE4-tmp or C:\KDE4-packages.<br/><br/>
    Proceed to the next screen and there choose the directory where all the downloaded packages will be stored. Let it be something like C:\KDE4-tmp or C:\KDE4-packages.<br/><br/>
    The next screen will ask you to choose the type of your connection to the internet. It's usefull when you are using proxy. If you don't use proxy, then just click 'Next'. If you are unsure of whether you're using proxy or if you have web browser configured to work with it properly - choose the second or the third option, according to your favourite web-browser. If you'd like to set all the settings manually - choose the last option and go ahead.<br/><br/>
    The next screen will ask you to choose your internet connection type, particularly whether or not you're using a proxy. If you don't use a proxy server, just click 'Next'. If you are unsure of whether you're using proxy or if you have web browser configured to work with it properly, choose the second or the third option, according to your favourite web-browser. If you'd like to set all the settings manually - choose the last option and go ahead.<br/><br/>
    When you click the 'Next' button the list of available servers will be loaded and you could choose the one, which is closer to you. Currently the list isn't very long, though.<br/><br/>
    When you click the 'Next' button the (currently, rather short) list of available servers will be loaded and you could choose the one closest to you.<br/><br/>
    If you click 'Next' again the list of all available pckages will be loaded and processed to provide you with the list of package groups that you're able to select for further installation. There short description next to each group of packages for you make your choice easier. Select the packages you need. Proceed to the next screen.<br/><br/>
    When you click 'Next' again, the list of all available pckages will be loaded and processed, providing you with the list of package groups you can select for further installation. The short description next to each group of packages should make your choice easier. Select the packages you need. Proceed to the next screen.<br/><br/>
    Here you can see all the required dependencies. Just click 'Next' to download them all.<br/><br/>
    Here you can see all the required dependencies, or software necessary to support the choices you've made. Click 'Next' to download them all.<br/><br/>
    After all the packages are downloaded they'll be unpacked and processed by the installer. The final window will tell that your KDE installation for windows is complete.<br/><br/>
    After all the packages are downloaded they'll be unpacked and processed by the installer. The final window will tell that your KDE installation for Windows is complete.<br/><br/>


    === Issues with KDE Installer for Windows ===
    === Issues with KDE Installer for Windows ===
    If something goes wrong during installation, for example a file can't be replaced because it is still in use, the installer may still report successful completion.  If you see any alert or failure message from the installer, when it completes quit and re-run it.<br>
    If something goes wrong during installation, for example a file can't be replaced because it is still in use, the installer may still report successful completion.  If you see any alert or failure message from the installer, when it completes, quit and re-run it.<br>
    If that didn't help and you think it's a bug, please report to [mailto:[email protected]]
    If that didn't help and you think it's a bug, please report to [mailto:[email protected]]


    Line 57: Line 57:
    which starts background KDE applications and services like dbus-daemon, klauncher and kded4.
    which starts background KDE applications and services like dbus-daemon, klauncher and kded4.


    The first time you save or open, another background application kioslave will start.
    The first time you save or open, another background application, kioslave, will start.


    These background KDE applications and services remain running after you close KDE applications.  If you want you can shut them down by running <tt>kdeinit4 --terminate</tt> from a command prompt.
    These background KDE applications and services remain running after you close KDE applications.  If you want you can shut them down by running <tt>kdeinit4 --terminate</tt> from a command prompt.


    You can run <tt>kdeinit4 --list</tt> from a command prompt to see what processes are running, and it has other useful options.
    You can run <tt>kdeinit4 --list</tt> from a command prompt to see what processes are running. <tt>kdeinit4</tt> has other useful options documented elsewhere.


    == Fine-tuning ==
    == Fine-tuning ==
    ===Set Oxygen style for widgets===
    ===Set Oxygen style for widgets===
    The default KDE widget style on Windows is the native one. You already have Oxygen style installed (which is a plugin library %KDEROOT%\lib\kde4\plugins\styles\oxygen.dll), so it can be used as well. To set it for a single user:
    The default KDE widget style on Windows is the native one. The Oxygen style installs with basic KDE installation (as a plugin library %KDEROOT%\lib\kde4\plugins\styles\oxygen.dll), so it can be used as well. To set it for a single user:
    #edit <tt>%APPDATA%\.kde\share\config\kdeglobals</tt> (<b>for versions older than 4.0.85 use <tt>%USERPROFILE%\.kde\share\config\kdeglobals</tt></b>) with any text editor (e.g. kwrite) Note: `cd %UserPROFILE%` will change to the right directory, effectively telling you what %UserPROFILE% expands to, such as "C:\Documents and Settings\mark"
    #edit <tt>%APPDATA%\.kde\share\config\kdeglobals</tt> (<b>for versions older than 4.0.85 use <tt>%USERPROFILE%\.kde\share\config\kdeglobals</tt></b>) with any text editor (e.g. kwrite) Note: `cd %UserPROFILE%` will change to the right directory, effectively telling you what %UserPROFILE% expands to, such as "C:\Documents and Settings\mark"
    #locate the General section (a line containing the text "[General]"). If there is no General section, create one.
    #locate the General section (a line containing the text "[General]"). If there is no General section, create one.
    #Within the General section ([General]), edit the line containing <tt>widgetStyle=....</tt> so that it reads <tt>widgetStyle=oxygen</tt>.  If there is no such <tt>widgetStyle=...</tt> line, create it.
    #Within the General section ([General]), edit the line containing <tt>widgetStyle=....</tt> so that it reads <tt>widgetStyle=oxygen</tt>.  If there is no such <tt>widgetStyle=...</tt> line, create it.
    Newly started applications should be displayed with Oxygen style now.
    Newly started applications should be displayed with the Oxygen style now.


    ===Set Tahoma (WIndows default font) for widgets===
    ===Set Tahoma (Windows default font) for widgets===
    To set it for a single user:
    To set it for a single user:
    #edit <tt>%APPDATA%\.kde\share\config\kdeglobals</tt> (<b>for versions older than 4.0.85 use <tt>%USERPROFILE%\.kde\share\config\kdeglobals</tt></b>) with any text editor (e.g. kwrite) Note: `cd %UserPROFILE%` will change to the right directory, effectively telling you what %UserPROFILE% expands to, such as "C:\Documents and Settings\mark"
    #edit <tt>%APPDATA%\.kde\share\config\kdeglobals</tt> (<b>for versions older than 4.0.85 use <tt>%USERPROFILE%\.kde\share\config\kdeglobals</tt></b>) with any text editor (e.g. kwrite) Note: `cd %UserPROFILE%` will change to the right directory, effectively telling you what %UserPROFILE% expands to, such as "C:\Documents and Settings\mark"
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    Country=**<br>
    Country=**<br>
    Language=**</tt><br><br>
    Language=**</tt><br><br>
    Replace ** with your lowercase [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-1_alpha-2 alpha-2 country code], e.g. pl for Poland, of course you need to install your  language localization package.
    Replace ** with your lowercase [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-1_alpha-2 alpha-2 country code], e.g. pl for Poland; of course, you need to install your  language localization package.
    ===Change native/KDE file dialogs===
    ===Change native/KDE file dialogs===
    To chose native or KDE file dialog:
    To chose native or KDE file dialog:
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    * Full-text search in khelpcenter does not work because Perl scripts are disabled.
    * Full-text search in khelpcenter does not work because Perl scripts are disabled.
    * Many applications have a generic icon in Windows Explorer.
    * Many applications have a generic icon in Windows Explorer.
    * Multimedia support should work, although video support might be missing(from the backend)
    * Multimedia support should work, although video support might be missing (from the backend)


    General notes:
    General notes:
    * There are many other KDE programs that are not part of KDE 4.0.0 and are not currently packaged for MS Windows.
    * There are many other KDE programs that are not part of KDE 4.0.0 and are not currently packaged for MS Windows.
    * By design, KDE-windows does not provide the full-blown KDE desktop, a preview on the plasma shell replacement will be available in 4.1.2 - Nevertheless this does not rely on kwin/X11 which means that desktop effects are not available
    * By design, KDE-windows does not provide the full-blown KDE desktop, a preview on the plasma shell replacement will be available in 4.1.2 - Nevertheless this does not rely on kwin/X11 which means that desktop effects are not available
    * Some KDE programs use UNIX-specific features, such as konsole's use of pseudo-terminals, and thus are difficult(read: currently impossible) to port to MS Windows.
    * Some KDE programs use UNIX-specific features, such as konsole's use of pseudo-terminals, and thus are difficult (read: currently impossible) to port to MS Windows.


    === Package status and contents ===
    === Package status and contents ===

    Revision as of 06:58, 20 November 2008


    Projects/KDE_on_Windows/Installation


    Note
    Perhaps actual developers should summarize status of KDE4 on Windows here, while we encourage users to describe their experiences on the Talk page?


    KDE Installer for Windows

    You can use this installer to download and install the various binary packages that you need to run KDE applications on MS Windows. KDE is free and open source so you can build all the applications "from scratch" from their source code; but as a convenience for others, volunteers create these precompiled packages and make them available on the Internet.

    Disclaimer These are early days for KDE4 on Windows, some programs work better than others and some fail to run altogether.

    If you experience any problems please have a look into our mailing list.

    You can also use the KDE Installer for Windows to install source code and the packages that you need to build KDE4 on Windows (although if you are building KDE4 on Windows you may prefer to use the emerge system to build KDE and its requirements from latest source); see Getting Started/Build/KDE4/Windows.

    Summary of Steps

    • Visit http://www.winkde.org/pub/kde/ports/win32/installer/
    • Download and save the latest version to a directory, e.g. C:\KDE4
    • Run the installer, download what you need (see Download needed packages below).
    • Add a KDEDIRS environment variable (Start > Control Panel > System > Advanced > Environment Variables, click [New] User variable and create Variable name KDEDIRS with Variable value the directory where you installed KDE4, e.g. C:\KDE4).
    • Add your lib directory and your bin directory to your Windows %PATH%. (Start > Control Panel > System > Advanced > Environment Variables, double-click the Path System Variable and add "%KDEDIRS%\lib;%KDEDIRS%\bin" to your path separated by semicolon.)
    • If you don't have Visual Studio 2005 installed, download and install the "Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)" [1]
    • Try running a Qt application in the bin directory, such as linguist.exe
    • If that works, try running a KDE application such as kwrite.exe.

    Download needed packages

    For the first time when you run KDE-installer you'll see the welcome screen. Since it's your first launch - leave the checkbox below unchecked. Proceed to the next screen, where you are to choose the KDE4 installation directory. It can be any of your favor, e.g. C:\KDE4.

    On the next screen you are to define who you are - End User or a Developer. The End User installation installs only binary packages and libraries needed to run KDE application. Developer mode provides you with the source code for all packages needed to build KDE from scratch. If you have chosen to be a Developer, then you need to decide what compiler to use - MinGW or MSVC. In End User mode only MSVC packages are currently available.

    Proceed to the next screen and there choose the directory where all the downloaded packages will be stored. Let it be something like C:\KDE4-tmp or C:\KDE4-packages.

    The next screen will ask you to choose your internet connection type, particularly whether or not you're using a proxy. If you don't use a proxy server, just click 'Next'. If you are unsure of whether you're using proxy or if you have web browser configured to work with it properly, choose the second or the third option, according to your favourite web-browser. If you'd like to set all the settings manually - choose the last option and go ahead.

    When you click the 'Next' button the (currently, rather short) list of available servers will be loaded and you could choose the one closest to you.

    When you click 'Next' again, the list of all available pckages will be loaded and processed, providing you with the list of package groups you can select for further installation. The short description next to each group of packages should make your choice easier. Select the packages you need. Proceed to the next screen.

    Here you can see all the required dependencies, or software necessary to support the choices you've made. Click 'Next' to download them all.

    After all the packages are downloaded they'll be unpacked and processed by the installer. The final window will tell that your KDE installation for Windows is complete.

    Issues with KDE Installer for Windows

    If something goes wrong during installation, for example a file can't be replaced because it is still in use, the installer may still report successful completion. If you see any alert or failure message from the installer, when it completes, quit and re-run it.
    If that didn't help and you think it's a bug, please report to [2]

    Testing your installation

    Navigate to the bin directory.

    See if you can run the Qt program assistant.exe. Qt programs have fewer dependencies than a full-blown KDE application.

    If that works, try running a simple KDE application, such as lskat.exe from the kdegames package.

    Look into your start menu: there will be a new entry KDE 4.XX.XX Release. Below that folder you can find all the apps you installed.

    Startup, shutdown, and diagnosing problems

    The first KDE program you run should automatically invoke kdeinit4.exe, the KDE initialisation app, which starts background KDE applications and services like dbus-daemon, klauncher and kded4.

    The first time you save or open, another background application, kioslave, will start.

    These background KDE applications and services remain running after you close KDE applications. If you want you can shut them down by running kdeinit4 --terminate from a command prompt.

    You can run kdeinit4 --list from a command prompt to see what processes are running. kdeinit4 has other useful options documented elsewhere.

    Fine-tuning

    Set Oxygen style for widgets

    The default KDE widget style on Windows is the native one. The Oxygen style installs with basic KDE installation (as a plugin library %KDEROOT%\lib\kde4\plugins\styles\oxygen.dll), so it can be used as well. To set it for a single user:

    1. edit %APPDATA%\.kde\share\config\kdeglobals (for versions older than 4.0.85 use %USERPROFILE%\.kde\share\config\kdeglobals) with any text editor (e.g. kwrite) Note: `cd %UserPROFILE%` will change to the right directory, effectively telling you what %UserPROFILE% expands to, such as "C:\Documents and Settings\mark"
    2. locate the General section (a line containing the text "[General]"). If there is no General section, create one.
    3. Within the General section ([General]), edit the line containing widgetStyle=.... so that it reads widgetStyle=oxygen. If there is no such widgetStyle=... line, create it.

    Newly started applications should be displayed with the Oxygen style now.

    Set Tahoma (Windows default font) for widgets

    To set it for a single user:

    1. edit %APPDATA%\.kde\share\config\kdeglobals (for versions older than 4.0.85 use %USERPROFILE%\.kde\share\config\kdeglobals) with any text editor (e.g. kwrite) Note: `cd %UserPROFILE%` will change to the right directory, effectively telling you what %UserPROFILE% expands to, such as "C:\Documents and Settings\mark"
    2. locate the General section (a line containing the text "[General]"). If there is no General section, create one.
    3. Within the General section ([General]), add these two lines:

    font=Tahoma
    menuFont=Tahoma

    Newly started applications should use this font now. Note: this works for any font you have installed.

    Change the mouse to Double Click

    To change the mouse to use double click:

    1. Add a new section with a line:

    [KDE]
    SingleClick=false


    Newly started applications (Dolphin and Konqueror) should use double click now.

    Change locale and country settings

    To change locale setting:

    1. Add a new section with the line:

    [Locale]
    Country=**
    Language=**


    Replace ** with your lowercase alpha-2 country code, e.g. pl for Poland; of course, you need to install your language localization package.

    Change native/KDE file dialogs

    To chose native or KDE file dialog:

    1. Add a new section with the lines:

    [KFileDialog Settings]
    Native=false


    Either set Native to true or false.

    Status

    Using kdewin-installer-gui-0.9.3.exe to install 4.1.00 packages:

    • starting a KDE program correctly starts dbus-daemon.exe
    • many games run
    • choosing File > Open correctly starts klauncher.exe, kioslave.exe and kded4.exe, and runs kbuildsycoca4.exe as needed.
    • Full-text search in khelpcenter does not work because Perl scripts are disabled.
    • Many applications have a generic icon in Windows Explorer.
    • Multimedia support should work, although video support might be missing (from the backend)

    General notes:

    • There are many other KDE programs that are not part of KDE 4.0.0 and are not currently packaged for MS Windows.
    • By design, KDE-windows does not provide the full-blown KDE desktop, a preview on the plasma shell replacement will be available in 4.1.2 - Nevertheless this does not rely on kwin/X11 which means that desktop effects are not available
    • Some KDE programs use UNIX-specific features, such as konsole's use of pseudo-terminals, and thus are difficult (read: currently impossible) to port to MS Windows.

    Package status and contents

    package status contains applications
    amarok packaged Amarok music player(Beta 1)
    Digikam packaged Photo management
    kdebase-apps packaged Konqueror, Dolphin, KWrite, folderview etc.
    kdebase-workspace packaged Plasma, Wallpapers, Solid, etc.
    kdeedu packaged Marble, Parley, KStars, KHangman, etc.
    kdegames packaged Kgoldrunner, Kpat, KMahjongg, etc.
    kdegraphics packaged Okular, kolourpaint, etc.
    kdemultimedia packaged JuK, etc.
    kdenetwork packaged Kopete, KGet, etc.
    kdepim packaged KMail, AKregator, etc.
    kdesdk packaged Kate, Umbrello, etc.
    kdetoys packaged KTeatime, etc.
    kdeutils packaged KGpg, KWallet, Okteta, etc.
    koffice packaged KWord, Krita, Karbon, etc. (Beta 1)
    ktorrent packaged the KTorrent utility