Configuring 3D Desktop Effects

Configuring desktop effects (Xgl) for your KDE desktop is as simple as a few clicks in YaST and the KDE control center (Personal Settings).

Figure 2.2. 3D Desktop Effects on KDE

3D Desktop Effects on KDE

To find out whether your hardware supports desktop effects and to prepare for the configuration, proceed as follows:

  1. Install the following packages with YaST: compiz-kde, xgl, xgl-hardware-list, and compiz.

  2. Check whether your hardware supports desktop effects at all by reviewing the /etc/X11/xgl-hardware-list file.

  3. Download and install missing drivers if needed by following the vendor's instructions.

To enable 3D desktop effects on your desktop, proceed as follows:

  1. Start YaST from the main menu or by pressing Alt+F2 and entering yast.

  2. In YaST, select System+/etc/sysconfig Editor.

  3. In the list on the left, unfold the Desktop+Display manager entries.

  4. Select the DISPLAYMANAGER_XSERVER entry and set its value to Xgl.

  5. Click Finish to apply the changes.

  6. Reboot your machine.

    Desktop effects should now be available to you.

These are the most prominent features available to you when using desktop effects and their default keyboard shortcuts:

[Tip]Configuring Desktop Effects

Use the gnome-xgl-settings utility to select the type of desktop effects to run, configure keyboard shortcuts, and perform other fine-tuning related to the desktop effects. Run the gnome-xgl-settings command in a terminal window or the Run Command prompt.

To disable desktop effects in a running session, proceed as follows:

  1. Open the KDE control center and select KDE Components+Session Manager.

  2. In the Advanced group, set Preferred Window Manager to kwin.

  3. Apply your settings and leave the module.

To disable desktop effects permanently, proceed as follows:

  1. Start YaST.

  2. Select System+/etc/sysconfig Editor.

  3. In the list on the left, unfold the Desktop+Display manager entries.

  4. Select the DISPLAYMANAGER_XSERVER entry and set its value to Xorg.

  5. Click Finish to apply the changes.

  6. Reboot your machine.