Hello,

I am using Ubuntu 20.04 (Yes, I am also registered for the Ubuntu forum, but the feedback from there is not as good....), I am new to Linux, after 30 years with Windows...

So, I managed to create a Dektop folder in GNOME UI, inside it I created shortcuts to various documents, just to reduce the clutter.

I am also using many apps (some original in the distro, some that I added myself). I created Desktop shortcuts to the most used. But, I tried to move those into another Desktop folder, it is NOT working. The files became "Dead" and no longer provide the Symlink functionality.

1) Is there a way to do this in GNOME? or
2) Is there another GUI alternative that does this? KDE?

Thanks
Alex

In KDE you can set a custom location for your desktop folder if that's what you mean. Also, it's much easier to create application launchers and symlinks at any location you choose; you just drag it from the Application Menu to any location you want. Generally, I've found long time windows users are more comfortable with KDE than Gnome.

1 members found this post helpful.

Sounds good,
1) will my existing application shortcuts will disappear from the desktop once I install KDE?
2) Once I install it, will I be prompted each time I boot, to select my GUI? I hope not.

Thanks for your help
Alex

For #1, I'm not sure as I've never done it. Most people that want a KDE version of ubuntu install kubuntu or KDE Neon. It's not entirely clear, but you seem to have organized a bunch of shortcuts in one or more directories in your home directory. When you boot into KDE, you have to configure it properly by right clicking on the desktop and selecting "Configure Desktop" from the drop down menu. In the window that comes up, there will be a button named "Layout" with two options, Folder View and Desktop. If you want shortcut icons on your desktop, select Folder View and any shortcuts in your Desktop folder will be on your desktop as icons. If you choose Desktop layout there will be no icons on the desktop.

If you have a folder that just contains a bunch of links or shortcuts to documents at various locations and you want that folder displayed on your desktop, choose Folder View in the above so you can have desktop icons. Then create a shortcut on your desktop to desired folder with all your shortcuts to those documents(note, in linux, people would normally refer to these shortcuts as links). Just locate that folder in the KDE file manager called Dolphin and drag it to the desktop and select "Link Here" from the drop down menu. If you want to create shortcuts or links to any document you can similarly just locate the document in Dolphin, open a second instance of Dolphin to the location where you want the shortcut, drag the document to that location and select "Link Here".

For #2, no. Once you select KDE Plasma the first time, that will become the default selection on subsequent boots.

The only other caution is how well KDE and Gnome will play together if you're going back and forth between the two which is what you were getting at in #1. Shortcuts created in one may not be recognized in the other and desktop layout changes in one may have unintended consequences in the other.

1 members found this post helpful.

Hello again,

Well, I took the step and installed KDE and all is good.

I was OK with shortcuts to documents being all in a folder on th edesktop, the problem I had was shortcuts on the desktop to apps. Once I created a desktop folder and tried to move those shortcuts into it - the icon went blank and the shortcut functionality dissapeard, so - they were "Dead" shortcuts.

Once I moved to KDE, which does what I wanted, I was faced with an undesired negative side effect - the GNOME Key-ring (what is KDE Wallet got "Confused" and I was unable to login to my regular websites, including this forum and others. That is resolved now.

I do have 2 more questions:

1) When the desktop goes to "Sleep", how do I disbale the password prompt after that?
2) Once I am happy with the KDE interface, can I remove GNOME to regain some hard disk space? How?

Thanks again for your time and help
Alex

Open a separate thread for either of those questions please.

1 members found this post helpful.

OK, thank you
Will do

Cheers
Alex