Idea for re-arangin systemSettings / Kcontrol inc some KIOSK functions

"SMIT ROBERT" <[email protected]> Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:11:09 +0800
Newsgroups gmane.comp.kde.kiosk
Message-ID <D6721B9E6052C84C9BC35C281E6C9C9BF44E05@SGSINSMBS01.ad4.ad.alcatel.com>
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

--===============1738807712==
Content-class: urn:content-classes:message
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
	boundary="----_=_NextPart_001_01C9191A.ABDAC050"

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

------_=_NextPart_001_01C9191A.ABDAC050
Content-Type: text/plain;
	charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hi I'm a bit of newbie still especially when it comes to KDE development
But I'm looking into getting involved and so have started learning a bit
of QT and C++.

Enough about me  . . . =20

I have a suggestion that I think might improve kiosk and system config
in KDE. I have no doubt many people are already working on bringing KDEs
system config utility up to the high KDE4 standards but I hope my
suggestion will make a difference.

I think the advanced tab should be gotten rid of (it seams ubuntu agree
with me on this). Instead the tabs at the top of the system config
window should be =3D>

*	user settings	settings that effect ONLY this users KDE desktop

This tab requires no admin rights. Settings here relate only to the
individual users settings on the KDE desktop.

*	Global settings	settings for all users

For the most part this would be a 1 for 1 match for user settings but
settings set here would apply to ALL users and disable its counter part
in user settings with a tool tip explaining why it's disabled.
Additional to these mirrored user settings would be basic KIOS settings
like disabling the addition of plasmoids, turn of or limit alt-F2 etc.
Maybe a link here could even link to the KIOSK tool for more advanced
KIOS functions.

*	System settings	Settings not related to KDE directly

These would be settings related to the underlying system. Here you would
have user admin, package management, font management, Network, printers
etc. These settings will affect all users and all desktops and would
often be OS specifics (when running on windows settings here would be
different then in Linux). Distribution tools like package management and
ubuntu's restricted drivers dialog could be linked here.

Many settings here would still need to be accessible by individual users
for changing environmental needs e.g. Display settings when plugging in
external monitors, Network changes when moving to new WiFi area, add
printers etc . . . But I would argue that these sort of dynamic settings
would be better handled by other tools like the Knetworkmanager for
dynamic Network changes or right clicking on the desktop to change
display resolution or extended desktop to external monitor. The settings
in System settings would be used when the network settings were fixed
(e.g. office desktop) and to enable/disable the dynamic tools (eg turn
off knetworkmanager or restrict changes to the default printer.).

By dividing the user settings and Global settings we would allow users
to make changes without concern about what settings might affect other
users and allow admins to have some KIOS like functions. KIOSK might be
a specialized tool but I would think many of its more basic
settings/lockdowns would be useful to desktop admins.

By separating System settings we make it easier to adapt to different
distos or even OSs while still being consistent everywhere else. In
Windows for instance this could be linked to windows control-panel
icons. In ubuntu the restricted drivers tool could be link or embedded
here. The distros package management tool could be linked here or maybe
adept embedded here instead. The idea would be that this tab would be
flexible to allow for distros to change/add what they want here.

I think this arrangement would also achieve a more clearly defined
boundary between the tabs and separate settings of different access
levels.

I would be more than willing to help with this (should anybody think
this is a good idea and someone not already be working on a better idea
:-) ) but like I said I've never done anything like this before and
would need quite a bit of guidance.

There are other areas where I think settings grouping could be more
consistent which I would also like to help fix but I think that is
enough for my 1st email to the mailing list.

Regards Robert Smit
Parramatta, Sydney Australia


------_=_NextPart_001_01C9191A.ABDAC050
Content-Type: text/html;
	charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV=3D"Content-Type" CONTENT=3D"text/html; =
charset=3Dus-ascii">
<META NAME=3D"Generator" CONTENT=3D"MS Exchange Server version =
6.5.7651.59">
<TITLE>Idea for re-arangin systemSettings / Kcontrol inc some KIOSK =
functions</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<!-- Converted from text/rtf format -->

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">Hi I'm a bit of newbie still especially when it comes to =
KDE development But I'm looking into getting involved and so have =
started learning a bit of QT and C++.</FONT></SPAN></P>

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Enough =
about me&nbsp; . . .&nbsp; </FONT></SPAN></P>

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">I have a =
suggestion that I think might improve kiosk and system config in KDE. I =
have no doubt many people are already working on bringing KDEs system =
config utility up to the high KDE4 standards but I hope my suggestion =
will make a difference.</FONT></SPAN></P>

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">I think =
the advanced tab should be gotten rid of (it seams ubuntu agree with me =
on this). Instead the tabs at the top of the system config window should =
be =3D&gt;</FONT></SPAN></P>

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Symbol">&#183;<FONT FACE=3D"Courier =
New">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"> <FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">user settings&nbsp;&nbsp; settings that effect ONLY this =
users KDE desktop<BR>
<BR>
This tab requires no admin rights. Settings here relate only to the =
individual users settings on the KDE desktop.<BR>
</FONT></SPAN></P>

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Symbol">&#183;<FONT FACE=3D"Courier =
New">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></FONT> <FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">Global settings settings for all users<BR>
<BR>
For the most part this would be a 1 for 1 match for user settings but =
settings set here would apply to ALL users and disable its counter part =
in user settings with a tool tip explaining why it's disabled. =
Additional to these mirrored user settings would be basic KIOS settings =
like disabling the addition of plasmoids, turn of or limit alt-F2 etc. =
Maybe a link here could even link to the KIOSK tool for more advanced =
KIOS functions.<BR>
</FONT></SPAN></P>

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Symbol">&#183;<FONT FACE=3D"Courier =
New">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT></FONT> <FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">System settings Settings not related to KDE directly<BR>
<BR>
These would be settings related to the underlying system. Here you would =
have user admin, package management, font management, Network, printers =
etc. These settings will affect all users and all desktops =
and</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"> <FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">would often</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial"> be OS specifics (when =
running on windows settings here would be different then in Linux). =
Distribution tools like package management and ubuntu's restricted =
drivers dialog could be linked here.<BR>
<BR>
Many settings here would still need to be accessible by individual users =
for changing environmental needs e.g. Display settings when plugging in =
external monitors, Network changes when moving to new WiFi area, add =
printers etc . . . But I would argue that these sort of dynamic settings =
would be better handled by other tools like the Knetworkmanager for =
dynamic Network changes or right clicking on the desktop to change =
display resolution or extended desktop to external monitor. The settings =
in System settings would be used when the network settings were fixed =
(e.g. office desktop) and to enable/disable the dynamic tools (eg turn =
off knetworkmanager or restrict changes to the default =
printer.).</FONT></SPAN></P>

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN></P>

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">By =
dividing the user settings and Global settings we would allow users to =
make changes without concern about what settings might affect other =
users and allow admins to have some KIOS like functions. KIOSK might be =
a specialized tool but I would think many of its more</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"> =
<FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">basic</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial"> =
settings</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">/lockdowns</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial"> would be useful to desktop admins.</FONT></SPAN></P>

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">By =
separating System settings we make it easier to adapt to different =
distos or even OSs</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial"> while still being consistent everyw</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">h</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">ere else</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">. In Windows for instance =
this could be linked to windows control-panel icons. In ubuntu the =
restricted drivers tool could be link or embedded here. The distros =
package management tool could be linked here or maybe adept embedded =
here instead. The idea would be that this tab would be flexible to allow =
for distros to change/add what they want here.</FONT></SPAN></P>

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">I think this arrangement would also achieve a more =
clearly defined boundary between the tabs and separate settings of =
different access levels.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN></P>

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">I</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial"> would be</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"> <FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">more than</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"> <FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">willing to help with this</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"> =
<FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">(should anybody think this is a good idea =
and someone not already be working on a better idea :-) =
)</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"> <FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">but like I said I've never done anything like this before =
and would need quite a bit of guidance</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN></P>

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">There are other areas where I think settings grouping =
could be more consistent which I would also like to help fix but I think =
that is enough for my 1</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><SUP><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">st</FONT></SUP></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial"></FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"> <FONT SIZE=3D2 =
FACE=3D"Arial">email to the mailing list.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN></P>

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-us"></SPAN><A NAME=3D""><SPAN LANG=3D"en-us"><FONT =
COLOR=3D"#000080" SIZE=3D2 FACE=3D"Arial">Regards Robert =
Smit</FONT></SPAN></A></P>

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT =
FACE=3D"FuturaA Bk BT">Parramatta, Sydney</FONT></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"><FONT FACE=3D"FuturaA Bk BT"> =
Australia</FONT></SPAN></P>

<P DIR=3DLTR><SPAN LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN><SPAN =
LANG=3D"en-au"></SPAN></P>

</BODY>
</HTML>
------_=_NextPart_001_01C9191A.ABDAC050--

--===============1738807712==
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Disposition: inline

_______________________________________________
kde-kiosk mailing list
[email protected]
https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-kiosk

--===============1738807712==--