I’ve been spending some time recently in KDE 4.4.x. It seems with each new release it gets more and more polished, and I want to thank the dev team for their hard work. Some of the oddities that I find in KDE though, I think, are based on my familiarity to GNOME. This post outlines how to change the Run Command Keybinding (ALT-F2) to match that of GNOME-Do (Super-Space). This gives you basically what GNOME-Do does (granted not quite the same, but good enough for quick-launching apps), without installing GNOME-Do and its dependencies.
System Settings – Global Keyboard Shortcuts
- To quickly get to the System Settings and the Global Keyboard Shortcuts configuration, use the Run Command interface by pressing ALT-F2 and enter “Global Keyboard Shortcuts”.
- In the drop-down menu labeled “KDE Component”, select “Run Command Interface”.
- Select “Run Command” in the Action (left) column.
- Click the “Custom” box.
- Click the input box to the right of “Custom” and press the key combination “Super-Space” (Super is the Windows Key).
- Click Apply.
General Usage
I admit that the Run Command interface doesn’t give all of the same options as GNOME-Do, but it does do quite a bit. You can, of course, quickly launch applications. You can switch between applications (type the name of a currently running app, and select it. It’ll switch focus, or switch to the desktop running that app). Do you have any suggestions on how to use the Run Command interface for more efficient desktop usage?
Conclusion
If you’re trying out KDE and want your transition to be a little smoother, try changing some of the little things to make you feel more at home. Changing this keybinding, for those used to GNOME-Do, is just one small step along the way.
This doesn’t *give* the Run Command dialog any of the properties of Gnome-Do, it already had those shared properties. Your tip just changes the keybinding. Wouldn’t it have been better to sell this post as:
“You can use the Run Command dialog to perform some of the same functions as Gnome-Do, by pressing Alt-F2. If you’ve used Gnome-Do in the past, you can also change the keybinding to Super-Space to make it more familiar.”
I use the Run Command dialog all the time, as my main linux machine is in the living room attached to the TV, and using a mouse is often tricky from the sofa. The Alt-F2 keybinding is just fine for me, particularly as the neigbouring Alt-F1 combination opens the Gnome menu for accessing programs whose commands I might have forgotten.
Awesome tip; thanks! Just what I was looking for!
I really like this post. It solves my problem. I am used to GNOME-Do but now I have switched to KDE and the difference in this keybiddings make me unhappy but you saved me with this solution. Thank you.
By the way, try changing the interface of the Run Command to make it Task oriented. It will be like GNOME-Do.
Very helpful, I had the same situation and desire!
GNOME Do allows you to quickly search for many objects present in your GNOME desktop environment (applications, Evolution contacts, Firefox bookmarks, files, artists and albums in Rhythmbox, Pidgin buddies) and perform commonly used commands on those objects (Run, Open, Email, Chat, Play, etc.).