Using this module, you can configure the KDE graphical login manager. You can change how the login screen looks, who has access using the login manager and who can shutdown the computer
In order to organize all of these options, this module is divided into 5 sections (Appearance, Font, Background, Users, Sessions)
You switch between the sections using the tabs at the top of the window.
 | If you are not currently logged in as a superuser, you will need to click the Modify Button. Once you selected, you will be asked for a superuser password. Entering a correct password will allow you to modify the settings of this module. |
From this page you can change the visual appearance of KDM.
The greeting string is the title of the login screen. If the string contains the word HOSTNAME it will be translated to the domainless name of the machine KDM is installed on.
You can then choose to show either the current system time or a logo in the login box. Make your choice in the radio buttons labled Logo area.
KDM logo is the image which will be shown on the login window. If you do not specify a logo the default $(KDEDIR)/share/apps/kdm/pics/kdelogo.xpm will be displayed.
To change the logo you can:
Drop an image file on the image button.
Click on the image button an select a new image from the image chooser dialog.
As the style of the user interface is selected on a per user basis you can also select which style should be used initially by KDM. You can choose between Motif or Windows style.
Below that, you have two dropdown boxes to choose the language and the country for your login box.
From this section of the module you can change the fonts used in the login window.
You can select three different font styles from the drop down box (Greeting, Fail, Standard) When you click on the "Change font" button a dialog appears from which you can select the new characteristics for the font style..
The "Greeting" font is the font used for the title (Greeting String).
The "Fail" font is used when a login fails.
The "Standard" font is used all other places in the login window.
An example of each font can be seen in the Example Box.
Here you can change the desktop background which will be displayed when a user logs in. You can have a single color or an image as a background. If you have an image as background and select center the selected background color will be used around the image if it isn't large enough to cover the entire desktop.
The background colors and effects are controlled by the options on the tab labeled Background and you select a background image and its placement from the options on the tab labeled Wallpaper.
To change the default background color(s) simply click either of the color bottons and select a new color.
The dropdown box above the color buttons provides you with several different blend effects. Choose one from the list, and it will be previewed on the small monitor at the top of the window. Your choices are:
By choosing this mode, you select one color (using the color button labeled Color 1), and the entire background is covered with this one color.
By choosing this mode, you select two colors (using both color buttons).
You then select a pattern by clicking Setup. This opens a new dialog window, which gives you the opportunity to Select a pattern. Simply click once on the pattern of your choice, then click on OK, and KDE will render the pattern you selected using the two colors you selected. For more on patterns, see the section Background: Adding, Removing and Modifying Patterns.
By selecting this option, you can have KDE use an external program to determine the background. This can be any program of your choosing. For more information on this option, see the section entitled Background: Using an external program.
By choosing this mode, you select two colors (using both color buttons). KDE will then start with the color selected by Color 1 on the left edge of the screen, and slowly transform into the color selected by Color 2 by the time it gets to the right edge of the screen.
By choosing this mode, you select two colors (using both color buttons). KDE will then start with the color selected by "Color 1" on the top edge of the screen, and slowly transform into the color selected by "Color 2" as it moves to the bottom of the screen.
By choosing this mode, you select two colors (using both color buttons). KDE will then start with the color selected by "Color 1" in each corner of the screen, and slowly transform into the color selected by "Color 2" as it moves to the center of the screen.
By choosing this mode, you select two colors (using both color buttons). KDE will then start with the color selected by "Color 1" in each corner of the screen, and slowly transform into the color selected by "Color 2" as it moves to the center of the screen. The "shape" of this gradient is different then the pyramid gradient.
By choosing this mode, you select two colors (using both color buttons). KDE will then start with the color selected by "Color 2" in the center of the screen, and slowly transform into the color selected by "Color 1" as it moves to the edges, in an elliptical pattern.
The setup button is only needed for if you select Background program or Patterns. In these instances, another window will appear to configure the specifics.
Wallpaper
To select a new background image first, click on the Wallpapers tab, then you can either select an image from the drop-down list labled Wallpaper or select Browse... and select an image file from a file selector.
The image can be displayed in six different ways:
No image is displayed. Just the background colors.
The image will be centered on the screen. The background colors will be present anywhere the image does not cover.
The image will be duplicated until it fills the entire desktop. The first image will be placed in the upper left corner of the screen, and duplicated downward and to the right.
The image will be duplicated until it fills the entire desktop. The first image will be placed in the center of the screen, and duplicated upward, downward to the right, and to the left.
The image will be placed in the center of the screen. It will be scaled to fit the desktop, but it will not change the aspect ratio of the original image. This will provide you with an image that is not distorted.
The image will be scaled to fit the desktop. It will be streched to fit all four corners.
From here you can change the way users are represented in the login window.
As you look on this window, you will see three lists (All users, selected users, and no-show users). You also see an image box, and a set of options along the right side of the window.
The first thing you must decide, is if you are going to show users or not.
If you choose to show users, then the login window will show images (which you select), of a list of users. When someone is ready to login, they select their user name/image, enter their password, and they are granted access.
If you choose not to show users, then the login window will be more traditional. Users will need to type their username, and password to gain entrance. This is the preferred way if you have many users on this terminal.
Along the right edge of the window, are two check boxes:
If "Show users" is selected, you have chosen to show images of users, instead of making them type their login name.
If "Sort users" is selected, then the list of users will be sorted alphabetically in the login window. If unchecked, users will be listed in the same order as they are on this page. If "Show users" is not checked, this has no effect.
Below the user image box, and above the "Show users" check box, is a set of two radio buttions:
Show only selected users: If this option is selected, only the users contained in the list labled "Selected Users", will be displayed in the login window. If "Show users" is not checked, this has no effect.
Show all users but no-show users: If this option is selected, all users will be listed, except those users contained in the list entitled "No show users". If "Show users" is not checked, this has no effect.
The pages contains three listboxes. The large listbox on the left shows all the users on the system which might be a genuine user.
The top rightmost listbox shows the selected users and the bottom rightmost listbox shows the users we don't want displayed in the login window.
To move a user from one listbox to another you click on the username in the listbox and selects ">>" to move the user from the leftmost box the the rightmost box or "<<" to move the user from the rightmost box to the leftmost box.
| This section of the manual only applies if "Show users" is selected. If it is not, this image box has no effect. |
Every user on the system can be represented by a image. The image for the user is kept in a file called $(KDEDIR)/share/apps/kdm/pics/users/$(USER).xpm. If the user doesn't have such a file the file $(KDEDIR)/share/apps/kdm/pics/users/default.xpm will be used instead.
To assign a new image to a user just select the user in one of the listboxes and either drop an imagefile on the image button to the right or click on the image button and select a new image from the image selector.
If no user is currently selected you will be asked if you want to change the default image.
The replacement is performed by a KFM process so if the imagefile all ready exists you will be prompted by KFM if you want to replace it. If you confirm the image will be replaced - you will NOT have to press the "Apply" button.
Allow to shutdown
Use this dropdown box to choose who is allowed to shut down:
None: No one can shutdown the computer using KDM. You must be logged in, and execute a command.
All: Everyone can shutdown the computer using KDM.
Root only: KDM requires that the root password be entered before shutting down the computer.
Console only: The user must be at this console, to shut down the computer.
Commands
Use these 3 blanks to define the exact shutdown command.
The shutdown command defaults to:
/sbin/shutdown
The restart command defaults to:
/sbin/reboot
The Console mode (which restarts the computer as a console only terminal) defaults to:
/sbin/init 3
Define which session types should be accessable from the login window.
For more information on this subject, look at /etc/X11/xdm/Xsession to find your xdm setup files. Also review the xdm man pages, especially under the SESSION PROGRAM section
To add a session, type its name in the blank entitled "New types", and click "ADD".
To remove a session, select the session from the list and click "REMOVE".
This section written by:
Mike McBride <mpmcbride7@yahoo.com>, Thomas Tanghus<tanghus@earthling.net>, and Steffen Hansen <stefh@mip.ou.dk>.