kde on ubuntu 12.04 will not log out
 

This has been an on going problem.
I originally installed ubuntu 12.04 i386 that came with the awful unity (ie "tablet") desktop so I tried various "fixes" including installing gnome which works fine but on installing kde, which I did first, it runs without problems except for logging out or shuting down on the gui.
The best I can do from the gui is select "switch user" which gives me a "switch session" option then I can toggle betwwen gnome and kde but have to shutdown in gnome or use the cli.

Any ideas?

Do you log into the session using KDM or GDM ? ( the KDE or Gnome display managers )
That may have something to do with it .. try switching from the default at login. Hit one of the symbols on the login screen, and it should give you some options.

In KDE System Settings > System Administration > Startup and Shutdown > Session management, there is a checkbox "Offer shutdown options". Is this checked?

Thanks for your suggestions.
It behaves this way regardless of which display manager I boot into first and yes the "Offer shutdown options" checkbox is checked.
But on trying the logout from kde (nothing changed from last time I tried) it did logout! Some might point to a recalcitrant mouse, or poor click, but I have seen others complain of the same logout problem and on my kde the "switch users" from the launcher, when selected, contains a "Desktop Sessions" option in addition to the switch option. It did also contain further options to connect to "stackoverflow" and a post on howto change session on the command line! All very odd but at least it's working for now. Just don't know why.

Fred.