Full Circle REVIEW: THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE FOR THE COMMUNITY ISSUE #59 - March 2012 WITH E17 DESKTOP

FFOORREEMMOOSSTT DDAATTAA RREECCOOVVEERRYY HOW TO RECOVER DELETED FILES

full circle magazine #59 full circle magazine is neither affiliated wit1h, nor endorsed by, Ltd. contents ^ HowTo Full Circle Opinions THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE FOR THE UBUNTU LINUX COMMUNITY Python - Part 31 p.07 My Story p.28

Linux News p.04 My Desktop p.52 LibreOffice Pt13 p.12 My Opinion p.31 Columns

Portable Linux p.15 Command & Conquer p.05 Ubuntu Games p.48 I Think... p.33

Adjust Virtual Disk Size p.17 Linux Labs p.22 Q&A p.45 Review p.35

BACK NEXT MONTH

Create Greeting Cards p.18 Ubuntu Women p.46 Closing Windows p.24 Letters p.40

The articles contained in this magazine are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. This means you can adapt, copy, distribute and transmit the articles but only under the following conditions: you must attribute the work to the original author in some way (at least a name, email or URL) and to this magazine by name ('Full Circle Magazine') and the URL www.fullcirclemagazine.org (but not attribute the article(s) in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work). If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you must distribute the resulting work under the same, similar or a compatible license. Full Circle magazine is entirely independent of Canonical, the sponsor of the Ubuntu projects, and the views and opinions in the magazine should in no way be assumed tfoulhl acivrecleCamnaognaiczainlee#nd5o9rseme2nt. contents ^ EEDDIITTOORRIIAALL

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Welcome to another issue of Full Circle!

t's March 2012, and that can mean only one thing: it's our birthday next month! It was in the showery month of April that the first issue of Full Circle was released. Expect I next month's issue to, I hope, contain free party hats and a reflective article or two. But back to this month. We've got the usual Python and LibreOffice articles, an article on making a USB stick, one on adjusting the virtual disk size in your VirtualBox machine, and an article on how to create your own greeting cards in LibreOffice. If you've ever accidentally deleted something important then you should read Charles's Linux Labs article on Foremost Full Circle Podcast for recovering deleted files. Ubuntu Games takes a bit of a detour with Riku discussing SNES Released monthly, each episode emulation, while Jennifer interviewed the makers of Tomes of Mephistopheles. For those of covers all the latest Ubuntu news, you fighting with , you might want to read My Story this month, which talks about an opinions, reviews, interviews and application called MyUnity which lets you easily configure Unity. listener feedback. The Side-Pod is a new addition, it's an extra (irregular) short-form podcast If you haven't checked out our website recently, you'll find a couple of new Special which is intended to be a branch Editions. The most recent (as I write) is from the virtualization series that we did a little of the main podcast. It's while ago, with more Special Editions from Robin in the pipeline. FCM#58 is now available somewhere to put all the general technology and non-Ubuntu stuff as an EPUB, while Jens is playing catch-up with back issues. I also want to thank all of you that doesn’t fit in the main who've subscribed to the FCM issues on Google Currents. We need over 200 subscribers per podcast. issue to appear in the Google Currents search results, and FCM#58 has over 400 subscribers. You folks are awesome! Hosts: Robin Catling Ed Hewitt All the best, and keep in touch! Dave Wilkins Ronnie [email protected] http://fullcirclemagazine.org

full circle magazine #59 3 contents ^ LLIINNUUXX NNEEWWSS

innish game developer Jukka Kokkonen, the lead Linux with PlayStation Network and Mac is pleased to coder had this to say about the App Store also generating major EPUB announce that will process: sales. In addition, supporting F be released for the Linux growing platforms like OnLive and Finally, we have mobile editions platform on April 2, 2012. Trine 2 “Linux porting of Trine 2 turned Linux have played notable part in of Full Circle on the downloads will be available via the Humble out to be mostly easier than keeping Trine 1 viable and a well- page. At the moment there are Store widget on the official expected as the game had already selling title to the day. only a couple of issues online, website http://www.trine2.com/. a working Mac OS X version, which but we're hoping to have back also used an OpenGL renderer. The Trine 2 for Linux will be issues online shortly. If you've The ”Humble Store” is a new initial OpenGL rendering port took available through any problems with the type of widget where customers less than two days, after which the http://www.trine2.com/buy/. The file/formatting, you can drop an can buy the game direct from the renderer was mostly functional, regular edition is priced at email to Jens at: developer. Currently the store sells with only bugs to iron out." $14.99/12.99 euros/11.99 pounds. [email protected] the Linux copy as well as keys for The Collector's Edition is available . Other Non-DRM versions The original Trine was released for $24.99/19.99 euros/17.99 Big thanks to Jens, Oppih and will be added next year to all in 2009 and has since sold 1.1 pounds. The Collector's Edition the beta testers for making buyers. million copies. Largest contributors includes a digital artbook and the them a reality. to the unit numbers have been original soundtrack by the ”We see Linux as a very Steam and the , acclaimed . potential platform and are glad to see more developers embracing it. New campaigns like the Humble FC Notifier Update Bundles have really paved way for The Full Circle Notifier is still at the community and 1.0.2, but the PPA has been we see it as a growing market that updated for Oneiric. FCN is a we really want to be part of. And small application that sits in your what a community it is, these guys system tray and will announce will gladly pay even extra for their issue/podcast releases, and can game and also help you fix it.” said be set to download them too! For Mikael Haveri, the Marketing more info, see the FCN Google Manager of Frozenbyte. Group: http://goo.gl/4Ob4

full circle magazine #59 4 contents ^ CCOOMMMMAANNDD && CCOONNQQUUEERR Written by Lucas Westermann TTrriivviiaalliibbrree

wo months ago I wrote On the Android device: to avoid input/output errors on the right formatting (this applies to about using SSH and QuickSSHd (as far as I mounted folder, you must have a any locale you may decide to use). Rsync. This month, I'd like remember, it's free). Once it's closing slash at the end of the path. T to introduce you all to a installed, simply check the IP The second path is the mountpoint, locale­gen ja_JP.UTF­8 trick I've recently started using for address of the device, and give it a and the -p 2222 is simply the port wirelessly syncing my android password/port. To start the server, that QuickSSHd is listening on. Code-segment: tablet, as well as outline a few hit the button that says “off” (so #!/bin/sh other useful tricks I use, which that it reads “on”). After this, copy the files to the others might find useful. folder with whichever method you LC_ALL="" LC_TIME=ja_JP.UTF­8 Specifically, how to display a On your PC: prefer. date +'%A, %­d %B%Y %H:%M' custom date in a foreign language sshfs, and a mount-point (in Conky), how to spruce up your (preferably in your home folder) As an optional final , I find You'll of course need to change Vim interface (and PS1 prompt), for the device. that my Music app does not refresh the date format into the string and a script to randomly select an after these files are added. The you'd like (thoroughly documented image for your background every A brief explanation of the only way I've found to fix this is to in the man page). 15 minutes. I realize that GNOME process: go to the , and rename can probably take care of your the copied file/folder, forcing the Vim & PS1 (Powerline) backgrounds for you, but someone I simply mount the sdcard folder tablet to re-load the information. Powerline homepage: may still find a use for it. For using sshfs, and then copy files https://github.com/Lokaltog/vim- anyone who wants an idea of the over as I would using USB (which Custom date powerline date and PS1 adjustments, check never worked very well for me and out this month's screenshot on my my TF101 Transformer I've been learning Japanese for The easiest way to install deviantart page eeePad for media files). As for how a while now, and decided to display Powerline is to use vundle. (http://lswest.deviantart.com/#/d4 to do this, see below. the date in Japanese (both for Instructions for installing Vundle se2tv) practice, and to save space). are on the page, here: Mounting can be done with: However, it was not so easily done, http://github.com/gmarik/vundle. as I use Conky for my status bar in Once you've installed it, you'll need Android sshfs [email protected]:/sdcard/ ~/tf101 ­p 2222 XMonad. My solution to this is to to add the following three lines to The things you'll need for this write the following code-segment, your .vimrc: are as follows: Just like with rsync, you need to which I call every few seconds from set specify the path after a colon, and my conkyrc. You may need to run the following command to get the rtp+=~/.vim/bundle/vundle/

full circle magazine #59 5 contents ^ COMMAND & CONQUER behind the arrow glyph to the next call vundle#rc() color, and the foreground to the Hopefully some of you will find Bundle 'Lokaltog/vim­ previous, to achieve the arrow some of these tips useful (and powerline' appearance. hopefully I've interested one or two readers into using Vim a bit After which you'll need to open Wallpaper more). If anyone has any questions, The Ubuntu Podcast covers all vim and type :InstallBundle comments, or suggestions, I can be the latest news and issues facing (requires git to install) This script, as I have it written, reached at [email protected]. Ubuntu Linux users and Free requires fluxbox to be installed (for Any emails should include “&C” or fans in general. The Once you've installed it, you'll the fbsetbg program). However, if “FCM” in the subject line, so that I show appeals to the newest user need to patch the font you're using you know of a command-line don't overlook it. Happy and the oldest coder. Our with the script found under the wallpaper setter that offers a customizing! discussions cover the folder fontpatcher (full path will be random option, feel free to replace development of Ubuntu but something like ~/.vim/bundle/vim- it. aren’t overly technical. We are powerline/fontpatcher). The lucky enough to have some readme file there will guide you The script: great guests on the show, telling through the patching. us first hand about the latest #!/bin/bash exciting developments they are Once your font is patched (and working on, in a way that we can your font-cache reloaded with the while true all understand! We also talk command fc-cache), you can add do about the Ubuntu community the final line to your .vimrc to get and what it gets up to. arrow shapes. fbsetbg ­R ~/Pictures/Hyperion/Wallpaper The show is presented by s/Guitars let members of the UK’s Ubuntu g:Powerline_symbols='fancy' sleep 15m Linux community. Because it is covered by the Ubuntu Code of If you find this to be something done Conduct it is suitable for all. you want for your prompt as well, you simply need to make sure The script runs in an infinite The show is broadcast live every you're using the patched font, and loop, calling the random command fortnight on a Tuesday evening copy the arrow from the vim line on my guitar wallpaper folder Lucas has learned all he knows from (British time) and is available for into your .bashrc prompt line, every 15 minutes. If anyone has repeatedly breaking his system, then download the following day. which I sadly can't supply, as it any adjustments (or improvements having no other option but to would require a patched font. upon the script), feel free to send discover how to fix it. You can email Lucas at: [email protected]. podcast.ubuntu-uk.org Make sure you set the background me an email about it!

full circle magazine #59 6 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Greg D. Walters BBeeggiinnnniinngg PPyytthhoonn -- PPaarrtt 3311

fter our last meeting you Here's what the GUI of our like, to give you a guide going should have a fairly good application will look like... Be sure to save often. When you forward through this section. idea of how to use Page. save the file, save it as “Searcher”. A If not, please read last Remember, Page puts the .tcl month's article. We'll continue this extension for you and when you time by creating a file list finally generate the python code, it application with a GUI. The goal will be saved in the same folder. here is to create a GUI application that will recursively walk through a Next add a frame. It should go , looking for files with a at the very top of the main frame. defined set of extensions, and Set the attributes as follows. display the output in a treeview. For this example we will look for Width: 595 In this frame, add a label. Set media files with the extensions of Height: 55 the text attribute to “Path:”. Move x position: 0 “.avi”, “.mkv”, “.mv4”, “.mp3” and y position: 0 it close to the top left of the frame. “.ogg”. As you can see, we have our In this frame, add a button. This In the same frame, add an entry This time, the text might seem a main form, an exit button, a text will be our Exit button. widget. bit terse in the design portion. All entry box with a button that will I'm going to do is give you call up an ask for directory dialog Alias: btnExit Alias: txtPath box, 5 check boxes for extension Text: Exit Text: FilePath directions for placement of Width: 266 selecting extension types, a “GO!” widgets and the required Move this close to the center of Height: 21 button to actually start the attributes and values like this... the frame or close to the frame's processing and a treeview to right side. I set mine to X 530 and Y Add a button to the right of the Widget display our output. 10. entry widget. Attribute: Value So, let's get started. Fire up Alias: btnSearchPath Create another frame. Page and create a new top Text: “...” (no quotes) I will only quote text string widget. Using the Attribute Editor when it is needed. For example for Width: 325 Add five (5) check buttons. Put set the following attributes. Height: 185 one of the buttons, the text should y position: 60 them in the following order... be set to “...”. Alias: Searcher Title: Searcher Here is what this frame will look

full circle magazine #59 7 contents ^ HOWTO - BEGINNING PYTHON 31 x Width: 565 Next create another function generated in your favorite editor. x x Height: 265 x x called btnGoClick. Remember to Let's start off by examining what add a passed parameter of “p1”. Page created for us. I placed mine around X 0 Y 250. The three check buttons on the Leave the “pass” statement. We'll You might have to resize your main change that later. At the top of the file is our left are for video files and the two form to have the entire frame on the right are for audio files. We standard python header and a show. Within this frame, add a Finally, add another function single import statement to import will deal with the three on the left Scrolledtreeview widget. first, then the two on the right. called “btnSearchPath”. Again, the sys library. Next is some rather leave the pass statement. confusing (at first glance) code. Width: 550 Alias: chkAVI Height: 254 This basically looks at the version Text: “.avi” (no quotes) X Position: 10 Lastly, we need to bind the of python you are trying to run the Variable: VchkAVI Y Position: 10 buttons to the functions we just application in and then to import created. the correct versions of the tkinter Alias: chkMKV There. We've designed our GUI. Text: “.mkv” (no quotes) libraries. Unless you are using Variable: VchkMKV Now all that is left to do is create Right-click on the exit button python 3.x, you can basically ignore our function list and bind the we created, select Bind. A large the last two. Alias: chkMV4 functions to our buttons. Text: “.mv4” (no quotes) box will pop up. Click on the New Variable: VchkMV4 binding button, Click on Button-1 We'll be modifying the 2.x code In the Function list window, click and change the word “TODO” in portion to import other tkinter Alias: chkMP3 the New button (the far left the right text entry box to modules in a few moments. Text: “.mp3” (no quotes) button). This brings up the new Variable: VchkMP3 “btnExitClick”. Do NOT include the function editor. Change the text in parens () here. Next is the “vp_start_gui()” Alias: chkOGG the Function entry box from “py: routine. This is the program's main Text: “.ogg” (no quotes) xxx” to “py:btnExitClick()”. In the Bind the GO button to routine. This sets up our gui, sets Variable: VchkOGG arguments entry box type “p1”. In btnGoClick and the “...” button to the variables we need, and then the bottom multiline entry box, btnSearchPathClick. calls the tkinter main loop. You Finally, in this frame add a change the text to: button somewhere below the five might notice the line “w = None” Save your GUI and generate the below this. It is not indented and it check boxes and somewhat def btnExitClick(p1): centered within the frame. python code. isn't supposed to be. sys.exit() Alias: btnGo Now all we have left is to create Next are two routines Text: GO! Notice that this is not indented. the code that “glues” the GUI (create_Searcher and Page will do that for us when it together. destroy_Searcher) that are used to Now add one more frame below creates the python file. replace the main loop routine if we our last frame. Open up the code we just are calling this application as a

full circle magazine #59 8 contents ^ HOWTO - BEGINNING PYTHON 31 library. We don't need to worry Two more classes are created LoadDataGrid() about these. for us that hold the code to global exts, FileList support the scrolled tree view. We This is the routine that will be Next is the “set_Tk_var” don't have to change any of this. It exts = [] called when the user clicks the routine. We define the tkinter was all created by Page for us. “GO!” button. We call a routine FileList=[] variables used that need to be set called “BuildExts” which creates up before we create the widgets. Now let's go back to the top of the list of the extensions that the Here we create two global You might recognize these as the the code and start modifying. user has selected. Then we get the variables (exts and FileList) that text variable for the FilePath entry path that the user has selected will be accessed later on in our widget and the variables for our We need to import a few more from the AskDirectory dialog and code. Both are lists. “exts” is a list check boxes. The next three library modules, so under the assign that to the fp variable. We of the extensions that the user routines here are the functions we “import sys” statement, add... then create a tuple from the selects from the GUI. “FileList" created using the function editor extension list, which is needed holds a list of lists of the matching and an “init()” function. import os when we check for files. We then files found when we do our search. call a routine called “Walkit”, We'll use that to populate the Run the program now. Notice from os.path import join, passing the target directory and getsize, exists treeview widget. that the check buttons have grayed the extension tuple. out checks in them. We don't want Now find the section that has Since our “btnExitClick” is that in our “release” app, so we'll Finally we call a routine called the line “py2 = True”. As we said already done for us by Page, we'll create some code to clear them “LoadDataGrid”. before, this is the section that deal with the “btnGoClick” routine. before the form is displayed to the deals with the tkinter imports for Comment out the pass statement Next we need to flesh out the user. The only functioning thing Python version 2.x. Below the and add the code so it looks like “btnSearchPathClick” routine. other than the check boxes is the “import ttk”, we need to add the this... Comment out the pass statement Exit button. following to support the FileDialog and change the code to look like library. We also need to import the def btnGoClick(p1) : this... Go ahead and end the program. tkFont module. #pass def btnSearchPathClick(p1) : Now, we'll take a look at the import tkFileDialog class that actually holds the GUI BuildExts() #pass definition. That would be “class import tkFont fp = FilePath.get() Searcher”. Here is where all the path = widgets are defined and placed in Next we need to add some tkFileDialog.askdirectory() e1 = tuple(exts) our form. You should be familiar variables to the “set_Tk_var()” #**self.file_opt) with this by now. routine. At the bottom of the Walkit(fp,e1) routine, add the following lines... FilePath.set(path)

full circle magazine #59 9 contents ^ HOWTO - BEGINNING PYTHON 31 The init routine is next. Again, do this as a list. We then set the make the code look like this... VchkMV4.set('0') heading attribute for each column. def BuildExts(): We also set the column width to if VchkAVI.get() == '1': exts.append(".avi") def init(): VchkOGG.set('0') the size of this header. if VchkMKV.get() == '1': exts.append(".mkv") #pass Here, all we are doing is setting Finally we have to create the if VchkMP3.get() == '1': the variables (which automatically “LoadDataGrid” routine (next exts.append(".mp3") # Fires AFTER Widgets sets the check state in our check if VchkMV4.get() == '1': and Window are created... page, top right) which is where we exts.append(".mv4") boxes) to “0”. If you remember, load our data into the treeview. if VchkOGG.get() == '1': global treeview whenever the check box is clicked, Each row of the treeview is one exts.append(".ogg") this variable is automatically entry in the FileList list variable. BlankChecks() updated. If the variable is changed We also adjust the width of each the application. Give it a run and by our code, the check box column (again) to match the size of see how we did. Notice that if you treeview = responds as well. Now (above right) the column data. have a large number of files to go w.Scrolledtreeview1 we'll deal with the routine that through, the program looks like it's builds the list of extensions from SetupTreeview() That's it for the first blush of not responding. This is something what the user has clicked. def Walkit(musicpath,extensions): Here we create a global called rcntr = 0 Cast your memory “treeview”. We then call a routine fl = [] back to my ninth article in that will clear the gray checks from for root, dirs, files in os.walk(musicpath): FCM#35. We wrote some rcntr += 1 # This is the number of folders we have walked the check boxes, assign the code to create a catalog for file in [f for f in files if f.endswith(extensions)]: “treeview” variable to point to the fl.append(file) of MP3 files. We'll use a Scrolled treeview in our form and fl.append(root) shortened version of that call “SetupTreeview” to set the FileList.append(fl) routine (middle right). fl=[] headers for the columns. Refer back to FCM#35 if Here's the code for the you have questions about BlankChecks routine which needs def SetupTreeview(): this routine. to be next. global ColHeads ColHeads = ['Filename','Path'] def BlankChecks(): Next (bottom right) we treeview.configure(columns=ColHeads,show="headings") call the SetupTreeview for col in ColHeads: treeview.heading(col, text = col.title(), VchkAVI.set('0') routine. It's fairly command = lambda c = col: sortby(treeview, c, 0)) straightforward. We define a ## adjust the column's width to the header string VchkMKV.set('0') variable “ColHeads” with the treeview.column(col, width = headings we want in each tkFont.Font().measure(col.title())) VchkMP3.set('0') column of the treeview. We

full circle magazine #59 10 contents ^ HOWTO - BEGINNING PYTHON 31 that needs to be fixed. We'll create we walk through the def LoadDataGrid(): routines to change our cursor from busyWidgets tuple global ColHeads the default to a “watch” style and set the cursor to for c in FileList: cursor and back so when we do whatever we want. treeview.insert('','end',values=c) # adjust column's width if necessary to fit each value something that takes a long time, for ix, val in enumerate(c): the user will notice. Now put the code col_w = tkFont.Font().measure(val) shown bottom right if treeview.column(ColHeads[ix],width=None)

full circle magazine #59 11 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Elmer Perry LLiibbrreeOOffffiiccee -- PPaarrtt 1133

o far, we have covered sheets. When inserting multiple Sometimes, you need to many topics for using sheets, you have no control over 2. Deleting Sheets rearrange or copy sheets. For LibreOffice's Calc, but Calc the sheets' names. They will get example, you might want to order the default SheetX naming a multiple sheet workbook in order S has many minor operations Sometimes, you will want to convention. of predominate use, or by date. that are worth knowing. In this delete a sheet, or multiple sheets, Copying a sheet comes in handy article, I will give you my top-10 from the workbook. To delete a However, you may need to when you need to create an exact quick tips for using Calc. Most of sheet, right-click on the sheet's tab rename a sheet after it has been duplicate of the current sheet, them have to do with manipulating and select Delete from the menu, created. This is where the second thereby creating a history. When the current sheet. You can use or select Edit > Sheet > Delete and third methods apply. The you copy a sheet, you get an exact these tips in most any sheet you from the menu bar. Calc will verify second way to name a sheet is by duplicate of the sheet you copied; are working with. that you do want to delete the right-clicking the sheet's tab and however when you make changes sheet. To delete multiple sheets selecting Rename Sheet from the to the new sheet, those changes 1. Naming Sheets hold down the Ctrl key while menu. The Rename Sheet dialog are not translated to the old sheet. clicking on the tabs for the sheets will come up, and you can change For example, you can create a copy you want to delete. Use either the the name of the sheet. The third of a budget spreadsheet for each right-click or the menu method to method is simply to double-click pay period of the year and keep delete the sheets. Once again, Calc the sheets tab. This brings up the them all in one workbook. will verify that you want to delete rename Sheet dialog, where you the sheets. can change the sheet's name. Moving sheets is accomplished in one of two ways. The first NOTE: The sheet name must start 3. Move/Copy Sheets method is to drag the tab of the with a letter or digit. Then, sheet sheet to the position you want it. names can include spaces, letters, Double arrows will show the digits, underscore, and some location the sheet will occupy The default name for sheets is special characters, i.e. -, &. When when you release it. The other SheetX, where X is a number. You saving in the Microsoft Excel method is through the Move/Copy have 3 ways to name a sheet. The format, sheet names cannot Sheet dialog. You can access the first is when you create a new contain the :, \, /, ?, *, [, and ] Move/Copy dialog by right-clicking sheet, using Insert > Sheet. In the characters. If you have an invalid the tab you want to copy or move dialog, you have a choice of how character in the name, Calc will and selecting Move/Copy Sheet, or you want to name the sheet. You give you an error message. through the menu bar, Edit > Sheet can also choose to insert multiple

full circle magazine #59 12 contents ^ HOWTO - LIBREOFFICE PART 13 > Move/Copy Sheet. Under the Visual aids can often help get become a double arrow. Drag the Action section, you can select to things done quickly while working thick bar down to the position copy or move the current sheet. with a large workbook with where you want it. To split the NOTE: If you have only one sheet in multiple sheets. Color is an easy to screen vertically, do the same with the workbook, move and copy are deploy visual aid. Giving each sheet the thick bar to the right of the grayed out, and copy is selected. In tab a different color can help you horizontal scrollbar. To get a quick the Location section, you can select find it and go to it quickly. The tab horizontal and vertical split, just to move/copy the sheet to the of the current sheet is always select Window > Split. The spits are current document, to another open white, but you can still give it a shown by a thick heavy line. Each document, or to a new document. color for when it is not selected. To area of the split screen is The Insert Before section controls set the tab color of a sheet, right- To freeze a row or rows, select manipulated by the various new the placement of the move/copy. click the tab and select Tab Color the row below the row(s) you want scrollbars that appear. The sheet will move/copy to a from the menu. A color dialog will frozen by clicking on the row position before the selected sheet. pop up. Simple select the color you number, then Window > Freeze. To A special choice here is the “- move want for the tab and click OK. unfreeze the rows, select Window to end position -”. Selecting this > Freeze again. The same is done with the columns by selecting the last choice will move/copy the 5. Freeze sheet to the end of the sheet list. column letter to the right of the The Name section allows you to Row(s)/Column(s) columns you want frozen, then give the sheet a new name. Window > Freeze. Renaming your sheet is a good idea Long and wide sheets often when copying. If you do not give it require scrolling to view some of To freeze both rows and a new name, it will keep the the content in the sheet. However, columns, select the cell below the existing name and append an in many cases the first columns or rows you want frozen and to the underscore and a number, i.e. rows contain information you need right of the columns you want MySheet_2. in order to make sense of the frozen, then select Window > information. Luckily, Calc provides Freeze. 4. Color Tabs you with a way to freeze rows and columns in place. 6. Split Screen

Another way to view large To undo a split screen, grab the sheets is using the split screen. To thick heavy line and drag it up to split the screen horizontally, grab the top for a horizontal split or to the thick bar just above the vertical the right for a vertical split. To scrollbar. The mouse cursor will cancel all spits, use Window > Split.

full circle magazine #59 13 contents ^ HOWTO - LIBREOFFICE PART 13 7. Print Rows or right, up, or down). the list, select an empty cell and keyboard. You can also do this press Alt + Down Arrow on your through the menus: Edit > Delete Columns on Every Page keyboard. Content.

10. Remove Data from So, there you have it; my top-10 quick tips for LibreOffice Calc. Cells In my next article, we will continue our journey in Calc by learning how to create charts and Printing a sheet which will span graphs. multiple may require key However, the real power of the information in certain rows or fill tool come through using the Fill columns in order to help make Series. Edit > Fill > Series. The Fill sense of the data. To control how Series tool allows you to create the pages print, you can define many different types of serial whether certain rows or columns information, from numbers to repeat on each page. dates. There is also AutoFill, which uses a series of text predefined in Open format > Print Ranges > the program. Examples of the Edit. Under Rows to repeat, you AutoFill are Days of the week and can define the rows that need to months. You can define your own Sometime, you need to not just repeat on each page, i.e. to repeat AutoFill ranges in Tools > Options > change the data in a cell but the first two rows enter $1:$2. LibreOffice Calc > Short Lists. completely remove it. Removing Under Columns to repeat, you can data can be done in one fell swoop, do the same for the columns, i.e. to and you can select the type of repeat the first column type $A. 9. Selection List information that is removed. For example, you can select a group of 8. Fill Selected Cells The selection list is cells and choose to remove only a text function. The the formating, or only the text. selection list works There is also a remove all to At its most basic use, the fill only for text, and will Elmer Perry's history of working, and remove all the information from programming, computers involves an tool is a way to repeat information contain only text in a cell. To repeat the information the cell(s). You activate the Apple IIE, adding some Amiga, a from the current Remove Content dialog by generous helping of DOS and in a cell, select the cells you want Windows, a dash of , and blend column your selected selecting a cell or cells and to repeat, then Edit > Fill > (the cell is in. To activate well with Linux and Ubuntu. direction you want to fill: left, pressing the Backspace key on the

full circle magazine #59 14 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Petescan321 PPoorrttaabbllee LLiinnuuxx

urely you use Linux on your PC, why else read a Linux magazine like this one. S Although we love our own machines and have tweaked them to our liking, sometimes we have to -inevitably- use another computer. Either at the office or at a friend’s house, we have to use what they Left click the partition, and have... something non-Linux. But select Resize/Move (You may have wait, what if you could carry your to unmount it, to do this right-click own Linux distro with you! I don't the partition and select unmount). mean a live CD. How about a USB! Well this article will tell you how to solve this problem.

There are two ways to create a Run . (It Linux distro on a USB flash drive. usually comes pre-installed with Before we start, make sure you Linux.) complete the process. have at least a 4GB USB stick. Let's start with the easy way, for Select your ISO and set your If you want to be more technical /Ubuntu based distros only: Reserved space to maximum. about your USB follow these steps. Select how much space you (Reserved space means you will be This is the hard way (Most distros want for saving files. Make sure the Download and install Gparted. able to save files to your USB Stick. will work, including RedHat/Fedora distro at least has 4GB for your Run Gparted and select your USB. On a 4GB USB it will give you 2GB based distros). Linux OS. of Reserved space. On an 8GB USB Right-click the partition and it will give you 4GB of Reserved Download and install Gparted. Left click on select “format to” then click on space). the Unallocated Fat32, and Apply, then wait until it Run Gparted and select your Partition, and on finishes. (You may have to unmount Click on Make Startup Disk, and USB. (Make sure your USB is the new partition it, to do this right-click the partition go fetch yourself some coffee, it formatted Fat32). button. and select unmount.) may take as long as 30 minutes to

full circle magazine #59 15 contents ^ HOWTO - PORTABLE LINUX

Select the formatting to ntfs, then click add. (If you want, you can rename your partition).

Linux distros: If you don't have Unetbootin, you can download it from Kiwi 10.08 http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/ #install. VectorLinux Bodhi Linux Click apply, and wait until it What now? Well, now you can DSL finishes. Then remove your USB, show off your USB at the office, at then reinsert the USB. school, or at your friend’s house. You can also then customize your Run UNetbootin, and select Linux distro of your choice from Petescan321 is a freelance software your ISO or choose one from the your USB... making your USB your technician, who enjoys fixing list of Linux distros. PC. computers running Windows or Debian-based Linux. He is also a Linux Click OK to proceed. Here is a list of my favorite USB and open-source supporter.

full circle magazine #59 16 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Robin Catling AAddjjuusstt VViirrttuuaall DDiisskk SSiizzee IInn VVBBooxxMMaannaaggee

t's a common problem: you run the path where your virtual disk is Also remember that you'll need to [­­autoreset on|off] VirtualBox, create a virtual stored. increase the size of your guest machine, probably with a partition on the disk, or create an [­­compact] Two important notes: additional partition in the new I dynamic disk, at your best [­­resize |­­ guess at an adequate disk size, run • Shutdown the running virtual space. In this respect, you'll need resizebyte ] it for a while, then find you're machine before you mess with the to do the work with disk utilities running out of space. disk! appropriate to your guest The --compact option can be • Backup the existing disk image, or just as if it were a used to shrink disk images, that is, You can easily expand the hard at least any volatile data, before real PC with real spinning rust remove blocks of empty space disk size in VirtualBox using the you alter it! (magnetic disks). (containing zeroes). This will shrink command: a dynamically allocated image by The command you need follows Note:.vmdk disks cannot be reducing the physical size of the VBoxManage modifyhd ­­resize this pattern: expanded by modifyhd commands. image without affecting the logical Try this command line and you'll size of the virtual disk. The --resize option allows you to VBoxManage modifyhd get the error: VBoxManage: error: change the capacity of an existing XP_newdisk.vdi ­­resize 10240 Resize harddisk operation forthis However, free space in the image; this adjusts the logical size format is not implementedyet! guest system must first be zeroed. of a virtual disk without affecting • VBoxManage is the utility suite For Windows guests, you can use the physical size. It works only for that comes with VirtualBox: You can find the manual for the sdelete tool provided by expanding the capacity of VDI and • modifyhd is the command to Oracle VirtualBox, indexed by each Microsoft; running sdelete -c in the VHD virtual disk formats, and only resize the virtualdisk topic, on the website. VBoxManage guest will zero the free disk space. dynamically allocated, not fixed • XP_new.vdi is my example disk is in Chapter 8: Under Linux, the zerofree utility size disks. But this is a way to add name; you'll need to change it to http://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ supports ext2/ext3 filesystems to more space to a virtual disk match your disk name, and don't ch08.html#vboxmanage-modifyvdi do the same. You can then compact without needing to create a new forget the .vdi suffix. Under Linux where the full syntax of the (compress) the virtual disk image. image, attach and copy all the data it's also case sensitive. command looks like this: across within a virtual machine. • --resize 10240 Next is the desired VBoxManage modifyhd Note: instructions and links relate new size for the virtual disk. That's | to the Oracle VirtualBox version This is a command-line two dashes before the word and not to the VirtualBox OSE "resize" followed by a number in [­­type application, so you need to open a normal|writethrough|immutable package contained in the official Terminal session in order to run the megabytes; 10240 being |shareable| Ubuntu repositories. command, and change directory to equivalent to 10GB. readonly|multiattach]

full circle magazine #59 17 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Peter Glaser CCrreeaattee GGrreeeettiinngg CCaarrddss IInn LLiibbrreeOOffffiiccee DDrraaww

click on any word in this section to Under View, Toolbars, make sure Click OK to apply the color. (Select The template files for this tutorial highlight all the text.) Type in your that Drawing is check-marked. It white for your area color if you can be downloaded from: message, then should be the have a black-and-white laser http://goo.gl/6mhQ7 format the default when printer.) Lines are made in a similar http://goo.gl/uehRw words. There you load the manner. Right click on the Front are a number of template. Next, box. Choose Line. Then pick the everal years ago, I created ways to format you must look Color, Style, and Width of the lines. two templates for creating the words. Start for the tab Keep the line width to .06 or less cards and posted them on by highlighting marked Layer 4. for best results. Click OK upon S the Open Office website. the text. I There are several making your selections. After While they weren't perfect, they suggest that tabs located adding color to the text area and could be used to make a relatively you use either along the lines for the Front section, you will nice looking birthday or general the Format bottom of the notice that your text has purpose card. The main portion of Menu, then template. Layer disappeared. It is actually in the the card was made in Microsoft select 4 is hidden, but layer below. The easy fix is to right- Paint, then moved over to Open Character, is next to Layout, click on the highlighted Front Office Writer. Recently, I decided Fonts.... or just Controls, section, then select Arrange. Send to revisit the greeting card, and right click on Dimension Lines, Backward will move your text attempted to make an entirely new the highlighted Layer 5. Use the above the color and lines. Click OK card in LibreOffice Draw. The text box, then arrow to the left to set this section. results are a better, more usable select Character, of the word card. Fonts. Pick a Font, a Style, and a Layout to move the tabs to the Completing the Inside of the Size. Clicking on the Font Effects right. Then click on Layer 4. After Card is done in a similar manner. Using the Card tab, then Automatic, will allow you clicking on Layer 4, select the blue There are a couple of things to to change the color of the text. The rectangle from the drawing tools. keep in mind, however. Triple- checkoff boxes below allow you to Move to the front section of the clicking will not highlight the text Load the card by double clicking add outlines and shadows. Be sure card and start at the bottom right area. Click on the area around the on it. The card will load LibreOffice to click OK to apply the changes. corner. Drag the mouse across the words in the inside text box. You Draw. Go to the front page section entire Front section. Right click and will have to start at the very top or (lower right side), and place the Changing the color of the box is select the word, Area. In this very bottom of the text, then drag cursor at either the top or bottom relatively easy. Be sure that you section choose the color that you across to highlight the text. Type of the text. Then drag across the have your Drawing toolbox open. would like for the Front of the card. your message over the highlighted text. (If you prefer, you can triple-

full circle magazine #59 18 contents ^ HOWTO - CREATE GREETING CARDS IN LIBREOFFICE DRAW text. Format the text using Format, card in half horizontally, then artwork, then right-click and copy the browser and launch LibreOffice Character as you did before. Also, vertically, to complete your card. the image. Then click on the Draw. Keep the Writer page with after you format the text, you will LibreOffice Writer tab in the the clipart open. Once a greeting have to rotate the text in both ClipArt (bottom of the screen). card is created, just click on the sections of the Inside of the Card. That will bring LibreOffice Writer artwork page. Click on a piece of To do this, highlight the text box by If you would like to spice up up in front of your browser. Paste clipart and copy it. Then click on clicking on it once. Make sure that your card even more, you can add the selected artwork onto the the Draw tab in the Taskbar, and you are on the outside of the text clip art from the Internet. I have Writer page. I like to give the paste the artwork onto your box and not on the text itself. This found that the easiest way to add Writer page a name right away, so greeting card. Be sure that you are is the area right around the text. A clipart to the cards is first create a that it is easily identified after working on Layer 4 before doing little box will surround your text. separate page in LibreOffice saving it. Notice the Writer tab at this. Move the clipart into place Right click, then select Position and Writer. On that the bottom will be and resize it. If you are using the Size. Go down to Angle and type page you can renamed. Click clipart on the inside of the card, be the number 180 for the number of paste your on the browser sure to invert the artwork. That degrees. That will flip the text box clipart. That tab in the means it has to be highlighted. vertically. When printed out, the gives you a taskbar. That will Clicking on it once will allow you to text boxes on the inside will appear place to store bring your highlight the clipart. Then right- in the correct position. Always click clipart for later browser back to click and select Flip, Vertically. Click OK to apply the changes. use. the Internet outside the clipart to set it in place. artwork. Make This will complete the inverting To complete the card, just First, Open another process. highlight the created-by section in LibreOffice selection and the lower left hand corner of the Writer. Keep it paste it onto After you have inserted various card. Click to the right of the open. Then your Writer pieces of clipart, your card is ready words, Created by. Next enter your open your web artwork page. to print. name. At this point you should save browser and do Continue doing your card. The card is very basic at a search for free this until you ClipArt Sites: this point. It contains only text web art. I have built up a boxes and some colored located a site small artwork http://www.openclipart.org backgrounds and lines. You can add called All Free collection. I http://www.clker.com symbols from the Drawing tools Clipart at: http://www.allfree- choose clipart that can be used for section like stars and symbol clipart.com/. There are a number of birthdays, holidays, and other shapes if you desire. If you are websites that allow an individual to special occasions. Be sure to save using a black-and-white printer, you download free artwork and use it your art collection. may want to print off your card. free-of-charge. Select a piece of After you print the card, fold the Using the clipart is simple. Close

full circle magazine #59 19 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Ronnie Tucker WWrriittee FFoorr FFuullll CCiirrccllee MMaaggaazziinnee

Guidelines If you are writing a review, REVIEWS please follow the guidelines shown he single rule for an here. Games/Applications article is that it must When reviewing games/applications please state clearly: somehow be linked to For a more detailed list of the style rules and common pitfalls Ubuntu or one of the • title of the game T please refer to: many derivatives of Ubuntu • who makes the game https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuMa (Kubuntu, , , etc). • is it free, or a paid download? gazine/Style - in short: US spelling, • where to get it from (give download/homepage URL) no l33t speak and no smilies. Write your article in whichever • is it Linux native, or did you use ? software you choose. I would • your marks out of five When you are ready to submit recommend LibreOffice, but • a summary with positive and negative points PLEASE SPELL AND GRAMMAR your article please email it to: CHECK IT! [email protected] Hardware If you can't write articles, but When reviewing hardware please state clearly: Writing hang out in , send us interesting forum threads that • make and model of the hardware There is no word limit for we could print. • what category would you put this hardware into? articles, but be advised that long • any glitches that you may have had while using the hardware? articles may be split across several Non-English Writers • easy to get the hardware working in Linux? issues. In your article, please place • did you have to use Windows drivers? where you would like a particular • marks out of five If your native language is not image to be. Please do not use any • a summary with positive and negative points formatting in your document. English, don't worry. Write your article, and one of the proof- readers will read it for you and Images correct any grammatical or spelling errors. Not only are you helping the You don't need to be an expert to write an Images should be no wider than magazine and the community, but article - write about the games, applications 800 pixels, in JPG format, and use we'll help you with your English! low compression. and hardware that you use every day.

full circle magazine #59 20 contents ^ https://spideroak.com

full circle magazine #59 21 contents ^ LLIINNUUXX LLAABB Foremost For Data Recovery Written by Charles McColm Foremost For Data Recovery

ou know that sinking mount or boot the drive you’re sudo chown charm.charm output showing information about mypendrive.img feeling that happens recovering from. The more the what is being recovered. Foremost when you realize you just medium is accessed the greater the can take a long time to recover Foremost recovers a lot of deleted a bunch of chance of data loss. Before diving data, particularly if you're trying to Y different types of data ranging important files you really needed. in to recovering data, we make a recover from a large hard drive full from AOL .art files to audio .wav It's a terrible feeling - and often backup of the original medium. of data. Verbose mode (shown files. Another tool photorec (part followed by worry, panic and One of the main principles of data below) is nice since it gives an idea of the testdisk package), actually repeated “why did I just do that?” recovery is to work with a copy of of what's being recovered. recognizes many more, but Stealing a cue from Douglas the original medium rather than Foremost can work with Adams; “don't panic.” There is hope the medium itself. The -q switch sets Foremost to unmounted drives and with image for deleted files even if the media run considerably faster by files. Foremost needs a path to has been reformatted. Foremost Another important principle is searching only the start of each save data to. This path should not can also recover corrupted files, to back up to a medium that isn’t sector. The large -Q switch be on the original medium (or you but it doesn’t fix corruption. the original medium (obviously you suppresses most error messages. don’t want to corrupt the drive would overwrite data). The -o switch specifies the while trying to recover data from directory to recover to. Within this Foremost is a data recovery tool mkdir ~/recovery originally written by Kris Kendall it!). The drive you back up to should recovery folder, Foremost creates have enough free space to hold an a folder for each type of file being and Jesse Kornblum, special agents Now let's recover some and image of the entire drive (with the recovered. In this instance pdf/ and for the United States Air Force png files: Office of Special Investigations. It lost files). In this example, we'll png/ folders are created along with was picked up and modified by Nick recover data from a 1GB flash drive foremost ­vqQ ­o recovery/ ­t an audit.txt file showing the same Mikus as part of his master's thesis to a system with an 80GB hard pdf,png ­i mypendrive.img verbose output we saw earlier. and is now available in the Ubuntu drive. We begin by making that universe repositories. With the working image of the flash drive: The -v switch enables The -t switch specifies the types universe repositories enabled, Foremost's verbose mode. Without of files to recover. To specify installing Foremost is a simple sudo dd if=/dev/sdb1 the -v switch, Foremost displays multiple file types separate each of=mypendrive.img matter: asterisks as it processes. The -v file type with a comma. Lastly the -i switch gives us nice formatted switch indicates which image or sudo ­get install foremost Next, we need to give the user ownership of the image file we just A word of caution before created. In this case the username 441: 00702752.png 233 KB 359809024 (800 x 480) and group are called charm: 442: 00703392.png 177 KB 360136704 (1024 x 640) proceeding any further - do not 443: 00703776.png 239 KB 360333312 (640 x 360)

full circle magazine #59 22 contents ^ LINUX LAB - FOREMOST FOR DATA RECOVERY device to recover from (again, it's In the above example, Foremost best to use an image file rather creates a directory with a name than working with the original starting with recovery and ending CCOODDEEWWOORRDD device). with the datetimestamp (3:29pm Every number in the codewords grid is 'code' for a letter of the here): alphabet. At the end you should have a different letter in each Foremost can recover erased numbered box, and a word in English in each of the horizontal files, files from formatted drives, recovery_Sun_Mar_11_15_29_42_ and vertical runs on the codeword grid. even files that have been lost over 2012 multiple formats. In one case we Foremost is a great tool for were able to recover dozens of files recovering images, documents, from a hard drive formatted for movies, and other types of files. ext3 which were clearly graphic Because it can work with files from a previous Windows unmounted file systems, it comes installation. in handy where other tools require a mounted partition. Of course the Foremost can also recover usual “back up your data” lecture partial files using the -a switch applies to any conversation about which writes all headers, skipping data recovery, particularly since error detection of corrupted files. there have been a number of great Corrupted files, images in backup articles in past issues of particular, are files where part of Full Circle Magazine. the data has already been overwritten. In the case of images, Now, at least there’s one more the corruption is obvious - often option when you get that sinking only part of the image is recovered feeling that you’ve just deleted - followed by banding. something you really meant to keep. Another handy Foremost switch is -T. It creates a timestamped directory name. If you plan on running Foremost multiple times Charles is a step-father, husband, and the -T switch will create a directory Linux fan who runs a not-for-profit name with the timestamp. For computer refurbishing project. When Solutions are on the second last page. example: not breaking hardware/servers he puzzles are copyright, and kindly provided by, maintains a blog at foremost ­vqQT ­o recovery/ The Puzzle Club - www.thepuzzleclub.com ­t pdf,png ­i mypendrive.img http://www.charlesmccolm.com/.

full circle magazine #59 23 contents ^ CCLLOOSSIINNGG WWIINNDDOOWWSS TTaasskk MMaannaaggeerr same is true with Linux task Written by: managers, but thankfully Linux has Ronnie Tucker (KDE) a more reliable way of closing down Jan Mussche (Gnome) troublesome applications, so if Elizabeth Krumbach () you’re careful you can easily close Mark Boyajian (LXDE) down an application without David Tigue (Unity) freezing your entire system. The task manager can also give you performance information such as graphs which come in handy. clicking Name, CPU %, Memory, etc. Stopping an application can be done by clicking its name then The Kubuntu task manager clicking the ‘End Process’ button at equivalent is the KDE System the top of the window. Again, be Monitor and can be found in K > The Windows task manager can careful of what you’re ending. Applications > System > System be quickly accessed by right clicking You’ll notice that some processes Monitor. the task bar and choosing ‘Task will have the username ‘root’ or Manager’ and a process can then be your username. This is who started In the Process Table tab it lists closed by clicking the name in the that process. In short, if root all the processes running on your list of processes and clicking the started it, leave it alone! ‘End Process’ button at the bottom system. You can sort the list by of the window.

DISCLAIMER: Be very careful of indows task manager what you kill in your task manager can be both a as it could potentially shut down blessing and a curse. your system, losing your unsaved On one side it can information. I doubt you’ll be able W to do any permanent physical quickly and conveniently let you close down problem applications, damage to your system, but but on the other, it can bring your beware! entire system to its knees. The

full circle magazine #59 24 contents ^ CLOSING WINDOWS various ways. Just click on the column head to choose on which In the system monitor you see column the processes have to be the actual CPU usage, used amount sorted. I often use CPU, after of memory and the network clicking this column twice you see history in a graph. This can be the processes which use the CPU useful when you experience a slow most, on top of the list. For each system. Just have a look to see column you can choose if you want how much CPU is used, how much the sorting order to be ascending of your memory and also the swap or descending by just clicking the memory is in use, which could be same column head again. an indication that you are trying to do too much with your system. If On this tab you can End so, then switch back to the hardware: which OS do you use processes which are not doing processes list to find out which The System Load tab will show (obviously Ubuntu, in my case what they are supposed to do. Just process eats all CPU power. you a real-time graph of how your 11.04), which hardware (amount of click the name of the process and system is coping with all the memory and what type of click the “End Process” button. If The last tab shows you the size processes currently loaded. processors) and the system status. this does not work you can also of your disk(s) and partitions, the right-click the process and choose amount you use and what is still It is possible to add more The second shows running Kill Process. This is, however, a way free and it tells you which file- information to the KDE System processes. Which processes are which should be avoided as much system you use (in my case ext4). Monitor, but I like to keep my shown (yours, active or all) as possible, since strange things monitor like me, simple. depends on a setting in menu View. could happen, depending on the Lubuntu (LXDE) The processes can be sorted in process you try to kill. Gnome-Shell Lubuntu keeps to its “less is more” philosophy by providing a In Gnome-Shell the System simple but effective task manager Monitor can be found in menu application called LXTask. As with System > Administration > System most things in Lubuntu, you open Monitor. It’s a program with 4 tabs. the Task Manager from the main Each tab shows different menu; select System Tools > Task information about your computer. Manager.

The first tab shows general info By default, you will get a about your systems software and “detailed” view displaying only

full circle magazine #59 25 contents ^ CLOSING WINDOWS you can always install it in Lubuntu using the . And, of course, you always have immediate access to the terminal which puts the full power of the Linux command line at your fingertips. “Top” is the command- line task manager which uses few resources.

Xubuntu (XFCE)

You can find the XFCE Task Manager (xfce4-taskmanager) by going to the Mouse menu > System > Task Manager. the window: CPU Usage (on the process, then you can select Kill; By default you will get a basic “user” tasks (services). The view left) and Memory usage (on the however, as mentioned above, this view of services running, but you can be altered by clicking on View right). The latter is displayed is the “method of last resort” can list all processes by clicking on in the main menu; you can choose without showing cache, but this because it could have unintended Preferences and selecting “Show to display: “user” tasks, “root” can be changed in the View menu if side-effects on other running all processes.” Through this tasks, and “other” tasks, in any you wish. processes. Preferences menu you can also combination. Also note the “more To take control of a process When you are finished toggle the precision with which it details” button in the lower left listed in the Task Manager, right- monitoring and/or manipulating tracks CPU (rather than full corner of the Task Manager click the desired task to get an your tasks, clicking the “Quit” percentages, it can go to the 2nd window. This button is “on” by actions menu. Using this menu you button in the lower right-hand decimal place), full command line default, displaying 9 columns of can Stop, Continue, Terminate, or corner of the Task Manager view and adjust the refresh rate in data (as shown). Deselecting this Kill the task (you can also change window will close the Task several increments from 500ms to button will limit the number of its priority). These options appear Manager. 10s (default is 750ms). columns to 4: Command, CPU%, in order of severity: If you Stop a RSS (Resident Set Size), and PID. process, then you can start it again NOTE: If you have the system You can sort processes by any of by selecting Continue. If you want resources and you want the the columns in descending or The only “graphs” displayed in to “end” the process completely, additional functionality provided ascending order by clicking on the Lubuntu’s Task Manager are the then select Terminate. If selecting by the Gnome System Monitor (as title of the column. The two bar graphs shown at the top of Terminate fails to “end” the described for Gnome Shell), then

full circle magazine #59 26 contents ^ CLOSING WINDOWS will appear with a “System application by typing ‘htop’ at the Monitor” label underneath it. Click command prompt. The application the icon and the app will open. will open showing you all the Now you can click on the processes processes running on the system. tab to see all processes running on You can use the arrow keys to your system. Be very careful when navigate to certain processes. using this to close applications. What I like to do first is hit the ‘U’ Another way to close applications key and then use the arrows to that I would like to mention is select my user. With my user name “xkill”. If you have an app that is highlighted I then hit enter and frozen or unresponsive then use htop will only show the processes xkill to get rid of it. All you have to being run by my user. Then you can do is hit the Alt+F2 key hit the ‘k’ key which stands for kill combination and it will pop open a and then use the arrow keys to dash-like window where you can highlight the process you want to type in applications you would like kill. Once the process is highlighted to run. When it does open simply just hit the ‘Enter’ key and it will kill can change the process to from Preferences also allows you to type in “xkill” and an icon the application. Please be careful, “Very low” through “Very high.” adjust the columns you wish to see, resembling a gear with the label of even when only showing your allowing you to add the PPID “xkill” below it will show up. Click user's processes you can still risk When you are finished with Task (Parent Process ID), State, Virtual the icon and your mouse pointer losing unsaved data by killing Manager you’ll want to click on the Bytes, UID and Priority, all of which will turn in to an ‘X’. Now that the certain applications. If you are “Quit” button, if you simply close it are sortable. mouse pointer is an ‘X’ all you need unsure about an application, a by pressing on the “x” at the top of to do is click on the application that general rule of thumb is DO NOT the window it will simply minimize At the top of the Task Manager, is frozen. The application will be KILL IT. to your panel. next to the Preferences button, killed immediately and you can you also have a built-in CPU and continue working. Another Next month we’ll look at RAM monitor, which will give you Unity application that some like to use selecting/changing sound the percentage as a number if you (including myself) is called htop. It devices, sound volume/mute, and hover over them. In Unity, just like with Gnome- is an ncurses based command line recording inputs. In order to manipulate a task, Shell you will use the “System tool. Don’t get scared, it’s easy to you right click to get a menu which Monitor” application. The easiest use. First you’ll have to install it. offers options to: Stop, Kill, way to open the application is by Open the command line by clicking Terminate or “Priority” which will clicking the “Dash” button and ‘Ctrl+Alt+T’ then type ‘sudo apt-get show a sub menu of priorities you typing in “system monitor”, an icon install htop’, once it is done installing you can run the

full circle magazine #59 27 contents ^ MMYY SSTTOORRYY Written by the MyUnity team

ecently, the adoption of the first thing I do is reduce the font. Unity (a new desktop On 11 I do not like it, it's too large. I management system) by try but can not findthe font Canonical has led many manager. Didthey move it R somewhere I'm saying. But it's not users to complain about the inability to customize it. In fact, you there. Natty in there! can manipulate Unity via: CCSM, Fabio: You can do it. From gconfyou Ubuntu Tweak, -editor, editor- can do everything: font, launcher, . themes, icons, everything. Davide: Sure I can do it, but that's Some months ago up popped not the point: I expect to finda another program: MyUnity. In little system tool that allows me to do it time it has become appreciated by with ease. Gconfis not exactly the users due to two ingredients: most user-friendly, do not you think? simplicity and aesthetics. Fabio: Mah. I do not know, in my opinion is not necessary but sooner We talked to the two main orlater, Canonical will do anything. developers of the tool to see the Davide: But in the meantime there is idea behind MyUnity and what nothing. Put yourselfin the shoes of plans they have for the future. someone who has neverseen Ubuntu. Thursday, October 27, Fabio: Ok, I will think. in journals and blogs that 2011 The Birth Of MyUnity After uploading to the network, encouraged us to improve the a word of mouth among users and characteristics of this simple UIELinux, a LUG in Italy, usually During the following Saturday with hundreds of link hits every configurator. takes place on Thursday evenings and Sunday Fabio writes the code hour, everyone wants to configure over a beer and bowls full of that will be version 1, Davide Unity. On the recommendation of popcorn at the pub Mapaleo designed the aesthetic part of the Paolo Sammicheli (Ubuntu), and Savignano: GUI and Sergio creates the logo In the beginning we got advice bringing Andrea Colangelo (Ubuntu and icon. and suggestions from individuals, MOTU) into the team, the Davide: .. finishedinstalling Ubuntu, and various articles that appeared project begins and

full circle magazine #59 28 contents ^ MY STORY starts to take shape in a much more Why has it succeeded? structured and uniform way. Davide was right, users wanted the freedom to manipulate Unity. The structure of the source is We like to think that the simplicity, modified to meet the strict criteria immediacy and visual impact have of the packages. in part contributed to the success.

Meanwhile, Davide and Sergio Why have you written in Gambas? continue to modify the GUI and The reason is fundamental and bake in version 2.0 on December unavoidable, as Davide and I both 10: In the blogosphere you multiply know this language very well . the positive comments. The speed with which you can With the arrival of Precise create applications, however, is (12.04) and the new version of considerable and this choice has no Unity, the code undergoes a influence on the success. significant modification enriched with additional setting possibilities. MyUnity compared to Ubuntu With the help of Stefano "Teo" Tweak, what do you think? Teodorani and his precious script, MyUnity is a tool designed to we can also manage themes and configure the Unity environment icons. and nothing else, with the utmost serious trouble. fill this gap by creating a tool for simplicity. Any modification occurs Ubuntu ad-hoc so be it. I do not see Davide certainly can not think of in a user space, thus avoiding MyUnity and Ubuntu Tweak are the problem, and that's the beauty using the GUI of 2.0 and 3.0, so disrupting the system. Restoring two very different applications. of free software: everyone can do MyUnity is forked while Andrea the default settings to run any test something better (or worse) for asked Canonical for a chance to put is easy and safe. These days more configutation the community. the tool in the official records. tools are appearing, are you Ubuntu Tweak is a very afraid that they might exceed the What can we expect from future With the release of version 3, powerful tool. It offers many popularity of MyUnity? versions? Davide also created the official settings and manipulations at a low In 3.1, which will be released soon, website of the project which level, but not all users understand MyUnity is an exchange of opinions we have solved a number of bugs includes pictures and comments, or know what to do. When you that was born at the bar in front of including the recognition of while Marco "Markuz" Sgarzi deals drive a car you know how powerful a good beer. All'nizio was more of a Unity2d. We believe there is still with translation into English. the accelerator can be and must be challenge, because there was no considerable room for used correctly, otherwise there is such thing. If Canonical chooses to maneuvering the various settings

full circle magazine #59 29 contents ^ MY STORY 1166xx1166 SSUUDDOOKKUU

Numbers 0 to 9 and letters A to F are to be filled into the 16x16 grid so that every row, every column, and every 4x4 box contains 0 to 9 and A - F.

developer that can be added. But it is [email protected] essential to balance the ability of www.uielinux.org making changes with the ease of Sergio Gridelli (Italy) Graphic use. You should not feel displaced developer or distressed, but understand [email protected] immediately what to do to get the www.uielinux.org desired result. The simpler the GUI, ANDREA COLANGELO (Italy) the less need there is for Package maintainer instruction manuals. [email protected] www.andreacolangelo.com Current version: 3.1 STEFANO Teodorani (Italy) bash http://www.uielinux.org/myunity script consultant https://launchpad.net/~myunity [email protected] www.uielinux.org Team: MARCO Sgarzi (Italy) Web site FABIO Colinelli (Italy) Core translator developer Solutions are on the second last page. [email protected] [email protected] www.uielinux.org www.ubuntu-it.org Puzzles are copyright, and kindly provided by, DAVIDE Pedrelli (Italy) GUI The Puzzle Club - www.thepuzzleclub.com

full circle magazine #59 30 contents ^ MMYY OOPPIINNIIOONN Written by Chandra

n 2008, I was still using a 20 year old DOS computer (!) - Then, Unity arrived! I’ll just say when it became obvious I two things about that. To me, Unity I couldn’t go on without is a real nightmare. It is also a connecting to the web. I bought solution for which there was no one of the very first problem. So, I switched to because it was funny and cheap. Xubuntu. It is very simple, very Linux was one of the reasons for intuitive, faster, and very easy to the low price, and I knew nothing configure. Since it uses about this strange thing. But I libraries, applications are discovered that it was possible to welcome. Xubuntu is now the only buy a computer without paying distro I use. what I call the “Microsoft tax”, so to speak. I added an external Oh, by the way, what do I use? CD/DVD rewriter. Very simple but powerful things: and Thunderbird, Abiword, The original distro was and . On a second level, Xandros... not a very good one in eog as an image-viewer, epdf as a fact. The possibilities were very pdf-viewer, Xsane as a , limited, and I rapidly looked for GIMP, MPlayer, devede, (if something else. The problem was you want to know more about to find a distro working out-of-the these programs, please refer to box on an EeePC, and it was not eeedebian, and , and I documentation. Everything was not the ubuntu-on-line- easy in those days. I started with finally switched to Ubuntu 8.10 on yet working out-of-the box : e.g. documentation). I also use ubuntu-eee (an Ubuntu 8.04 fork my - and on my new the WiFi LED or the volume control products such as , baobab, which became ). The desktop computer too (I bought a on the netbook, but I succeeded in mousepad, gnome-disk-utility, main problem was the kernel: “naked” Nyos 50 not to pay the fixing those little problems. Within hardinfo, ntp, wipe, clonezilla... ubuntu-eee was using a specific “tax”). a year and a half, I definitely kernel and it was not possible to dropped out everything that was And now, what is important to easily upgrade it when a new In the meantime, I was gradually coming from Microsoft, and my me? First of all, I do not have to Ubuntu version was available. I discovering Linux - thanks to configuration was OK regarding adapt myself to the distro. The tried livesessions of eeedora, forums, magazines, and on-line- what I wanted to do with it. distro must be able to adapt to me.

full circle magazine #59 31 contents ^ MY OPINION I must be able to control precisely First, upgrading should be as I don’t exactly get the same thing. I same as the one I get with the what I need, and to remove all that simple as updating. And it’s not. use a single ext4 partition, and no previous possibility. Pieces of the is not necessary to me. That is why I During the very long upgrading swap, and I have tried four old version are not completely don’t use , process, I generally am asked to different ways to switch to a new removed. which is just a pleasant catalogue choose either the new version of version. to look at. It’s not precise enough. an unknown configuration file or to 4 - I use two partitions : / and a It does not allow me to completely keep the old one. I don’t know 1 - I use the very long upgrading separate /home partition and I remove unused packages, that is to everything about Ubuntu, so I process. It generally takes at least then make a complete fresh install say to also remove configuration know nothing about the four hours time to upgrade, fix which keeps my home directory. files. I added deborphan in consequences of the choice and I what no more works and remove But I have to remove what is not , which allows me to don’t know what to do. I generally the unusefull things which have necessary to me. That’s what I’ll do remove orphan packages. I also choose at random. After the been added. There is also another with Xubuntu 12.04 LTS. removed about forty or fifty non- process, I discover applications problem in this process. Some new useful things. For example, dummy have been added. For example, I features are not available. For So, the ideal upgrading process packages or things like splx - since chose mousepad and eog. Why example, I had to manually switch doesn’t exist. Anyway, the good my printer is not a Samsung printer. install , pidgin (which I don’t from grub-legacy to grub-pc in new is that facing problems is an This is important because my use) and ristretto, that I had karmic. opportunity to learn something netbook has only a 4GB SSD. previously removed ? and to grow up. And of course, I go 2 - I make a fresh install, which is on with Xubuntu, the best distro I must be able to completely Second, all that was working the best way to get the real new for me. personalise the desktop so that before should work after. And all version. But I have to re- everything is located where it has my personal choices in the personalise everything. And it to be, and behaves the way I want. different preferences and takes a very very long time. Fortunately, Linux allows any user configuration files should stay to modify little things in unchanged. After upgrading, things 3 - I make a fresh install WITHOUT configuration files. For example, I have disappeared, such as certain formatting the old ext4 partition, changed the 3600 seconds random icons. Other things simply don’t which keeps my /home directory. sleep time to 10 seconds in work any more. For example, ADSL But the result is not exactly the /etc/cron.daily/apt. Otherwise, connection, from Jaunty to Karmic. when I start my computer, it may I had to add sun-java-plugin after take more than half an hour before upgrading to Lucid because I am told about available updates. icedtea-plugin was unable to display websites which it did Upgrading to new versions is a before. real problem which bothers me. Third, depending on how I do it,

full circle magazine #59 32 contents ^ Last month's question was: II TTHHIINNKK...... What turns you to/from a distro?

What turns you away from a distro? Room for customization and not unable to use it because of lacking open. I like to be able to chose And what turns you to a distro? many required reboots wifi driver, Kubuntu worked fine easily what will be on my toolbar. I User friendly, configurable, good like the menu of applications to be Unwanted and silly changes like community, it just works organized by category. I like to be A which is Unity able to drag-and-drop between ugly and does not match the way I Good language support, possibility Gnome 2 was fine and I think posts in Thunderbird – not possible work. to work fast and effective, easy to Gnome 3 should be OK. Everything in Unity. I like my iPod to be Boot speed, configurability. use on my screen is much too big. I recognized by GTKpod when I plug don’t like launching/switching it in. I like the weather to be in Repositories with not much that I Easy to install and no futzing with buttons like in Windows 7 and French at the top of the control want in them, and no repo for that drivers - audio, video, printer, Unity. I don’t like having to type in panel, even though I live in distro (e.g OpenSUSE) wacom. It should fully work the name of an application in a Quebec. I like to be able to erase Everything working out of the box together. Recent upgrade went search field. I don’t like configuring the history of recently opened through three distros to find one -fusion, which is totally applications. I’m a pretty No or poor drivers for my that just worked. incomprehensible. I don’t like the knowledgeable user and I don’t hardware; changing default app It works perfectly after install. No big icons all over my desktop. mind getting my hands dirty, but content; over-ambitious desktop wandering through forums to get Matureness and features are there’s a minimum that a GUI audio to work; no tracing obscure lacking. distribution should allow you to do Quick boot; non-alignment to a issues in video, no desktop GUI I like thin tool bars with small easily. I’m using Mint LMDE while particular problem (e.g., to music issues. IT JUST WORKS. Am I there buttons. I like distinctive buttons waiting for Gnome production); constant yet? Nope. Closer than on some that tell me which applications are 3 and Gnome shell. improvement, particularly in the other distros. kernel This month I'd like to pose the question: When the upgrade changes, or Lack of application updates and removes all the things I liked in the delayed security fixes. first place Ubuntu 12.04 will be released on the Strong leadership team and When it has all the apps that I want 26th of April. Will you be upgrading? enthusiastic community support. - without forcing anything I don’t want, on me To give your tuppence worth go to: http://goo.gl/Ms7jI Many default apps for the same purpose being installed and having Hardware drivers, I tried to install Closing date for this question is Sunday 08th April 2012. strange settings Debian on my laptop and was

full circle magazine #59 33 contents ^ full circle magazine #59 34 contents ^ RREEVVIIEEWW Written by Art Schreckengost BBooddhhii LLiinnuuxx

hose watching the e17 is at home in either setting. the ill-fated gOS venture of 2007- stigma still lingers. Of note, Distrowatch page hit Base code is somewhere around 08 or OpenGEU from 2009, both of Synaptic still lists e16 although it's listings have probably 25MB (Gnome and KDE are 10 which took a powder after not advisable to consider using it. T noticed an oddly named times that amount) with Bodhi's relatively short runs? Even entry that stayed in the top 25 for version undoubtedly being more moonOS defected to Gnome after Although there may be others, I a good chunk of 2011. Called due to eye candy and tweaking. version 3, thereby abandoning e17. know of just one OS other than Bodhi (current version is 1.3.0) it Bodhi that is Ubuntu and e17 not only made this level in just over As options go, Enlightenment This is unfortunate, since e17 based, and that's ExLight from a year of release (for all versions) never really caught on, and was holds promise as a highly Sweden (don't bother looking, it but managed to do so using overshadowed by others in the customizable shell, but an early, doesn't rate mention at Enlightenment 17 (e17) as a “light”category such as Xfce or unreliable e16 version left a bad Distrowatch). desktop shell. LXDE . Anybody care to remember taste with many users, and the The Basics What is e17? Bodhi is not quite as foreign as Enlightenment is a desktop the name may indicate. Properly shell, much like Gnome and KDE, pronounced Bo-Dee (not Bod-Hi or that has been in development for Bod-He as I thought) it hails from nearly 15 years. I've worked with the States, and the lead developer just two versions, 16 and the is Jeff Hoogland. The name is current 17, the latter having been Sanskrit for enlightenment, in various alpha/beta stages for the appropriate given the shell. past 5 or so years (if you want to be technical, e17 is really 16.999 but Unlike other distributions that what's .001 among friends?). change base code as Canonical does, Bodhi has always used 32-bit Although initial development Lucid Lynx (10.04 LTS) and has a focused on low base spec downloaded image of roughly computers, current testing is 375MB. geared to multi-core processors with higher RAM counts, although No other way to say it, but Bodhi is minimalistic and included

full circle magazine #59 35 contents ^ REVIEW: BODHI LINUX programs are limited to the addition, it's well designed and routine that merit attention. browser (with private browsing), visually appealing. Then you have to pick a scheme LXTerminal, PCManFM (file Two choices must be made prior from a palette of several, all of manager), Leafpad (akin to MS Whether or not they meant to, to a complete boot, with the first which are artistically pleasant, so Notepad) and Synaptic Package Bodhi developers have better being a profile, what you might call just click on one since any choice Manager. The original Bodhi Enlightenment tutorials on their a desktop layout. These range from these two areas can easily be release, 0.1.6, came with Firefox 4 website than the Enlightenment from Bare (wallpaper and nothing changed later. beta but that was discontinued, website itself (check it out at else) to Compositing (a modified possibly to save space although the www.enlightenment.org). Compiz code for e17). In between, The last stumbling block extra 40MB or so would still leave you'll see offerings for laptops, involves default backlight settings plenty of leftover room on a CD. Installation desktops, netbooks and tablets, that are pegged to dark, for lack of with each showing specific a better description. This requires Website Normally I don't elaborate on engineering and design traits. a trip to the settings menu, kind of live mode since it's the usual There isn't a bad choice in the hard when the screen resembles After years of reviewing OS CD/DVD spin and grind, but Bodhi group, although Bare dispenses NYC during a blackout (have a light websites I've pretty much got the has a couple of additions to the with everything but a background nearby). My previous e17 tests pattern down. Usually a home and may be too light for most. didn't exhibit this characteristic so I page, another to highlight the can only assume it's a Bodhi tweak. developers and sell paraphernalia and, finally, one that offers the Even with all this, live mode actual download. Occasionally a boot times averaged 2 minutes; forum or FAQ page is thrown in but however, continued use of this most information is often stale and mode is a bear since any changes it has become obvious developers made will disappear when the are phoning it in (the thrill is gone, power does. Those desiring baby). portability are advised to visit www.pendrivelinux.com for info on But www.bodhilinux.com is the creating persistent USB drives (i.e. rarity in the bunch, with drives that retain changes). comprehensive and relevant information, additional program So it was full installation, but offerings that rival many there is a pleasant surprise in this repositories, tutorials aplenty and option. Care to guess how long it well staffed forums with questions takes – 30, 45 or 60 minutes? often answered in minutes. In

full circle magazine #59 36 contents ^ REVIEW: BODHI LINUX How about 8? You read right, 8 the first desktop, that's sort of to spend time just to get the menu menu disappear off the screen minutes. Resetting backlight difficult since so many choices are map memorized. Once deciphered when scrolling. settings and 50MB updates took a offered; however, some attributes it becomes second nature. couple more, so I was out all of 15 are the same no matter what, and As for the right mouse button, minutes, tops. Quite impressive those I'll discuss. For example, changing backlight it's active only when used on given that previous tests with e17 settings requires 7 to 8 clicks or shelves, modules or gadgets and based distros never produced such You can quit looking for desktop mouse movements and is hardly then only to reset or choose stellar times. icons. There are none, nor does intuitive. Most newbies will options for those areas; however, if e17 allow for them. No trashcan or undoubtedly be overwhelmed the programs are added to favorites, The only other issue is a final home folder icons, nor is there first time. right-clicking an empty desktop screen hang. When all is said and anything for attached external area will produce a menu of those. done, the CD ejects but the final drives or cards. You'll have to As for main menu access, you splash screen (nicely designed with access these via the home folder have two choices, the first of which In essence, plan on taking some small green leaves cascading left to off the main menu. is to click the Enlightenment or time to learn these procedures. right) refuses to close. Let it do Bodhi button found in the left the leaf dance for a couple minutes Instead, e17 uses shelves (a.k.a. corner of most shelves (except for Operational Efficiency and then hit enter. It never hangs docks), modules and gadgets. the Bare design – it has no shelves). again. Shelves can be placed anywhere This opens a Gnome-like menu. E17 is fast. Amazingly, along the borders, and you can blazingly, blindingly fast. Without If you're wondering, Bodhi takes install several. Modules and The second option is to left-click a doubt the fastest desktop shell roughly 2GB off your hard drive gadgets can then be inserted into an empty desktop area, but make I've ever used. Programs to post-install. these shelves (such as iBar, a sure you're not too close to the attention within a few seconds. module that allows for program right side of your screen. E17 LibreOffice Writer opens within 5 Desktop Design icons to be dragged and dropped). menus are limited to right-hand seconds and Gimp is ready to use cascading and being too close to within 10. Either of these Even with entering user ID and An unfortunate aspect of e17, the edge will cause it to disappear programs in Gnome or KDE would password, cold boot times are a and possibly one of the reasons it into cyberspace. Move to the left take 3 to 5 times longer to open on respectable 30 seconds or less. never became as popular as Gnome to alleviate that issue. my system. Those familiar with Fedora 12 will or KDE, is that the protocol for recognize the blue bar that creeps adding, deleting or modifying any One other peculiarity of the e17 Even more surprising is that from left to right on the screen to of these areas can be menu design is that the main menu resource usage rarely peaked indicate boot progress (no boot overwhelming for the uninitiated. is not static in left-click mode, that above 20% and settings could dip music, though). Settings under the main menu have is, both the main and secondary as low as 2% at idle. roughly 14 categories, that open to menus cascade up and down when As much as I'd like to describe expose nearly 80 subcategories. scrolling through program listings, Hardware acceptance was Hardly intuitive, and most will have so it's possible to have the main

full circle magazine #59 37 contents ^ REVIEW: BODHI LINUX exemplary, with no downloads Educational, Web Development, necessary, an oddity given that Online Media, Icon Sets and GTK usually 1 or 2 are necessary with Themes are also highlighted along Gnome or KDE. Wireless, video and with service packs, Internet audio were operational from first specifics, graphics, kernel boot, and I was happy to not see upgrades, multimedia, that aggravating “AMD Enlightenment modules and Unsupported Hardware” pop-up. assorted extras. About the only thing missing is a printer driver set, but that can be Although some apps are added (read below for that). repeated in various categories, this all adds up to a whopping 2.5GB +/- Wish I could give kudos for larger than the initial Bodhi battery consumption and installation uses on the hard drive. generated heat but Bodhi is no better than Gnome or KDE Not only do your have programs counterparts in this category, galore but you'll see options to rather odd given that resource install or download them. "Install" usage is so low. downloads and installs chosen programs, with little user Reader, , Firefox, , intervention, but is designed to be Adding Programs programs – apt-get, modified apt- Handbrake, , LibreOffice, used by Midori or Firefox browsers get, the website or Synaptic. , Openshot, Qalculate, (the files have .bod extensions). Bodhi is purposely light, so Of these, the website is my Pidgin, Printing, , users can make their own program recommended first stop. , Simple Scan, "Download" is not browser additions, and believe me when I Thunderbird, Transmission, VLC, specific since it merely parks files state you probably will. Midori is a Midori defaults to the Bodhi Xchat and Filelight. in the Home folder for retrieval mediocre browser and LeafPad is website. Go to AppCenter under Pratibha (“light, splendour, later. equally dismal as a text editor. the Resources heading and you'll intelligence) is 157MB and packs Since e17 is neutral it will accept see a boatload of program choices Claws, DeadBeef, ePDFView, While this is simple enough, both Gnome and KDE programs, including the Nikhila and Pratibha ePhoto, , Light Office using Synaptic and/or apt-get can but there is a protocol that must be packages. (Abiword plus a couple others), present difficulties. E17 has no followed and is stressed at the Pinta, Qalculate, VLC, Xchat and problem accepting Gnome and KDE Bodhi website. Nikhila (Sanskrit for “whole, Xfburn. programs but it does find related entire, all, complete) is 530MB and Specific packages for Audio, dependencies and “recommended” There are four ways of adding includes Mirage, Adobe PDF Image, Scientific Publishing, files hard to digest, and both

full circle magazine #59 38 contents ^ REVIEW: BODHI LINUX techniques load them by the Final Analysis designed, and the website is bushel. I learned to use these package second to none. managers as a means of spotting E17 is an odd choice for a This is where the modified apt- programs of interest and then desktop shell but not a bad one in All things considered, Bodhi is a get comes into play. The usual using the modified terminal the long run. It's fast and, for the stellar choice for those looking to command line would be “sudo apt- command to actually install them. most part, reliable. Play by the start with a minimal system, and get install” along with the program rules, add programs properly and build it up with what they like. name, but developers recommend What happens if you don't you'll have no problems. There is nothing to indicate it can't you use a different approach with follow this protocol? As I be a daily user. “sudo apt-get install –no-install- discovered, you may notice I did have the usual snafus with recommends” with the program programs start to slow down, e17 disappearing shelves and the odd I'd give Bodhi 4 out of 5 stars name. This effectively halts those may occasionally crash and login gadget or two that failed to always with a drop of one only because it extra, unnecessary dependencies options may change to include work, but that's life. I've had the has a learning curve that may (this technique is also mentioned Gnome and KDE desktops (they are same issues with Gnome, KDE and confuse some, and a desktop shell on the Ubuntu website). bare-bones Openbox versions with Windows. Nothing is perfect, even with a few quirks that necessitates wallpaper and zero else). the much-vaunted OS X has its caution when performing some Does it work? Both Synaptic issues. actions, such as adding programs. and apt-get attempted to retrieve While slow programs are a 660MB of files when I downloaded problem, an e17 crash is a perverse As a comparison I installed Xfce , a LaTeX processor, but using blessing of sorts and is the polar as a login option, and was the modified apt-get command opposite of a Windows BSOD. somewhat surprised to see it used reduced that figure to just 80MB Shelves, modules and gadgets all double the resources, and and it works perfectly. So, yes, it disappear along with the capability programs were noticeably slower does work. of shutting down except by to respond. While I didn't have to pushing the power button, but watch for Gnome or KDE While you can add Ailurus, programs still work and open dependency snafus, continued Ubuntu Software Center or Ubuntu documents can be saved without usage became laborious compared Tweak as package managers, they any loss. In fact, I once went over to e17. can be used only as root (which an hour with a crashed desktop and means the added menu entries are lost nothing (the only oddity is that Truthfully, I went into this for show only) necessitating a the left click menu still works to review biased concerning terminal sudo command (ailurus, open programs but it can't be used Enlightenment's past issues and software-center or ubuntu-tweak to shut down or log out – that part knew they would get in the way; preceded by sudo), but the risk of of the menu vanishes). however, I must admit Bodhi is including yet unnecessary files will really impressive. It's fast and well still be there.

full circle magazine #59 39 contents ^ Every month we like to publish some of the emails we receive. If you would like to submit a letter for publication, compliment or complaint, please email it to: LLEETTTTEERRSS [email protected]. PLEASE NOTE: some letters may be edited for space.

Full Circle its inception, and like the way it is extensively for travelling. I have a presented. I have DVD's with lifetime map upgrade subscription, Join us on: must admit that, when Unity almost all FCM editions. Just the but - guess what - I can update the and gnome 3 came out, I last few haven't been burned yet. Garmin device only through goo.gl/FRTMl wasn't really enthused about Windows (or a Mac). either OS. I "cut my teeth" on Don't get discouraged. We're facebook.com/fullcircle I still out here, some may wander I use Evernote extensively - I magazine Ubuntu (circa 2005) and had used it once in a while, but will probably have it on my phone and tablet until about 1 1/2 years ago - when I twitter.com/#!/fullcirclemag switched to Mint. Just liked their come back to one of the many (both Android), but I have to use presentation and ease-of-use. *buntus. Nixnote on my main PC - the linkedin.com/company/full- Nixnote team are doing a great circle-magazine Tom L job, but the program just isn't as When Unity came out, I just ubuntuforums.org/forum slick or nice looking as the couldn't like it. I tried the new Mint, display.php?f=270 which was nice, but didn't give me Windows version. I have used it the control or visual confirmation, with Wine, and it works, but is so Windows, but I do know that it's I.E. when just glancing down at the slow that it's relatively unusable. Windows 7 not easy to get them to do it menu bar I knew what apps were Evernote responded to my queries consistently and with much running even if I was running 4 have been using Ubuntu as my by saying that they weren't a big functionality with Ubuntu. The desktops. main computer's OS for some enough company to make versions DLNA servers I have tried with years now, but still find it for all the minor OSs. Ubuntu are flaky and difficult to In December with all the necessary to run Windows 7 in I I have an excellent Android use at best, and just don't work at changes, I have come back almost a virtual machine, which I hate all at worst. Perhaps a good article "Full Circle" (pardon the pun) to doing. Admittedly, I use Windows tablet - the Asus Transformer. But I about successfully setting this up Kubuntu. for far fewer things as time goes can't get it to talk to my PC. Why? would be good? by, but I can't just get rid of the Because Asus supplies connection It is fast, I can customise it as I final few! All the big stuff is now software only for Windows PCs or I remain solidly committed to am used to, and it is reliable. Can't covered more than adequately by Macs. I can, of course, get around using Linux - I do prefer it for many wait for the LTS version to come Linux - it's now the small items that, but it's still annoying. things, and each version is better out. Then I am set once again with which are used alongside hardware than the previous one. I have a the *buntu family. peripherals which cause the I have a DLNA TV and Bluray Home Server also with music and problem. For instance, I have a player. I don't actually know how photos on it which also runs I have been reading FCM since Garmin satnav which I use easily they will interface with Ubuntu, having originally run

full circle magazine #59 40 contents ^ LETTERS Windows Home Server, and I would connection and their actual computers less and out, might I be so bold as to never go back to that. processing is a great idea, but what less. suggest that the odd picture here about the many users who need and there may not be such a bad Mike Anderson the system only for emails, some Google Currents, as far as I'm thing [done! - Ed]. Totally writing and spreadsheets, some aware, isn't yet available in the UK, understand why they were left out, games, and for pictures and videos. however, a quick Google search for however, the majority of readers What about the open door to social 'Google Current APK' brings up probably have a decent broadband An Old Hand engineering (facebook, twitter, etc) how and where to download it speed, so would be able to which most do not want. If they from. Be sure to have 'Unknown download the latest version over am an old hand at operating want it, install what they need. Sources - Allow installation of non- WiFi at home, and then have FCM systems, over 50 years in the Security needs to be seriously Market applications' ticked. to hand wherever they go. field. But forget the past! A reviewed. It is amazing what I can Currents will then download and new year and some very learn about any person by Internet happily install itself. Bryan I sleuthing. The old bank security worthwhile work has been given to you. Core Linux, Ubuntu, Linux question of your mother’s maiden While the Currents version of Mint, and so many other distros of name is now a joke - don't even FCM is very good, and nicely laid Linux. need ancestry.com for that...

Of all those that I have tried or Jim Mechtel worked with, Ubuntu and Linux Mint stand out. I have tried to convince many other computer users to get off the Microsoft Google Currents bandwagon and enjoy a far superior system. just wanted to say a big thank you for all the hard work which I have 7 systems loaded with has gone into creating the different Linux distros (many I Google Currents and Kindle multiple boot and some versions of Full Circle Magazine. Virtualbox). Now we hit a bump in the road. The versions from Ubuntu I think this is definitely the way 10.04 and the similar Mint Linux forward, as so many people now have ventured into new concepts either have smart phones or that I think should only be optional. tablets of some sort, and probably, like myself, find themselves using

full circle magazine #59 41 contents ^ LETTERS Directory Opus local advocate.

currently use Directory Opus My experience of Linux has on Windows 7 to manage my been one of freedom and all the daily documents such as read possibilities it presents. We are my pdf's, odt, doc, free to use pretty much whatever I device we want, any way we want powerpoint, view HTML docs, display photos in Raw, Jpeg, Png, to use it, with whatever Tif, Gif. The and Nautilus distribution and/or software file managers leave me wanting packages that suit, and contribute because they are so limited in their back in whatever capacity we can. ability to do all the file After working for years in technical management duties needed daily. silos, this freedom shines very Directory Opus allows Zip/Unzip, bright. slide shows from your photos, plays music (mp3), shows videos and Flv Many of the contributions to Flash, allows setting the number of the Unity debate do not seem to windows to display photo appreciate one important factor: images/dual data display, changes small programs which do one thing each person's own unique way of does not require a person to keep the size of Icons for your photos to well, andcan link to otherprograms working with Ubuntu. I currently opening separate programs just to your taste, converts file format for which do something else well. So, for use a classic 11.04 desktop as my view or play something. You may photos. Does anyone know of a example, pressing Enterwill get you setup has evolved, due in no small just want to look rather than more powerful file manager than to Eye OfGnome, which can do full- part to the contributions in FCM, modify something and a utility like either one of the Ubuntu utilities screen slideshows ofimages. into a system that very nicely fits this is very helpful. that are packaged with Ubuntu & how I use my PC/laptop. In all my Kubuntu. I have tried Directory years, no other setup has come Brian Hartnell Opus and Power Desk a while ago anywhere near it in terms of usability. I have tried Unity a few with Wine, and found some I can’t help you out Ronnie says: Two Cents On Unity times, and found it doesn't suit me. incompatibilities in the way they with a file manager, but I think the drew the interface so I don't really That does not make me right or last time I usedDirectory Opus was am a 45-year-old career want to go that route, I would Unity wrong. It just does not work on my Amiga A500. Ah, the software developer, on a rather use a utility native to the for me. memories! sabbatical for a while, with Ubuntu/Kubuntu OS. Ubuntu needs around 3 years under my belt This is where the beauty of the a file management utility like this To a large extent, the I Gord adds: as an . Total freedom of Linux kicks in. Unity is to make daily work easier since it whole philosophy ofLinux is to have Linux/FOSS convert and a vocal just another idea in the world of

full circle magazine #59 42 contents ^ LETTERS Linux, and, if it does not suit, then current Ubuntu installation. their desired packages to be intended. I have used PCs, and you are free to chose another way. installed, they can start the queue, Macs since Macs had a handle on So, either when push comes to Here's the problem. and go get some coffee while the top. Both platforms make local shove, or I find the inclination and Ubuntu Software Center performs folder sharing pretty darn easy, time, I will go looking for a Whether you're synchronizing, all of the installations, without and my home has many computers distribution that performs at least or just singly manually selecting delay, or further user intervention. in it. Why is it always a crapshoot as well as my current setup. and installing software from the getting a Ubuntu machine to share Ubuntu Software Center, there's no 2.) when reviewing and selecting and/or connect with other Whilst the exploration of new "queue" to stack up desired software to install, the list of machines in the house. I can see all software and distributions can be packages to install. It starts software should return to the the other platforms shares but an enjoyable aspect of Linux, when installing the first package position that the user left it in, cannot connect. And I manage to you find a setup that works for you immediately, and, as other after selecting a package to install. mess up Samba every time. Sharing - and, just as importantly, your packages are selected for a folder on a MAC is super easy. hardware - you become reluctant installation, they are prepared for 3.) the user should be able to print PCs and other Macs have no to make big changes. After all, it is their turn to be installed. With each a list from the sync function, that problem accessing the folders. My what we do with the technology package selected to install, the displays software added/missing movie Linux machine (hooked up to that counts, not how we do it. whole system gets slower and from one Ubuntu installation vs the TV), and an old Netbook (linux) slower. And, if performing this another. - no go. Frustrating to say the least. Gerard Nash using the sync feature, after every Can someone give me a simple file package selection, it repaints the 4.) there should be a user pref that sharing option? The easiest thing entire screen showing the list of allows the Ubuntu Software Center would be for the Desktop Linux Software Center Sync missing packages, but positioned to be the default installation Movie player box to be available to at the top of the list, not where you device, or the original gdebi Windows PCs, Macs, and the he latest version of the left off. This requires the user to installer to be used as the default. Netbook. Both Linux machines Ubuntu Software Center, manually scroll all the way down to have the latest Ubuntu Installed found in Ubuntu 11.10, the prior position to continue Al Heynneman and updated. has an interesting new reviewing other packages. T Mike Todd feature, synchronizing between computers. This can be used in What needs to be done is to: many ways, but, primarily to Well Rounded compare two Ubuntu installations, 1.) allow the user to stop the note which software is installed or queue, and select any/all of the hile I am not a super missing from the other installation, packages they desire to install. user in the Linux and then the ability to install the That selection would get added to world, I am well various missing packages onto the the stopped queue, and, when the rounded. All puns user has finished selecting all of W full circle magazine #59 43 contents ^ If you would like to submit a puzzle for publication, please email it to: [email protected]. Solutions are on PPUUZZZZLLEESS the second last page of this issue. No peeking!

Across: 2. Very massive warehouses start off with this emulator (6) 4. Speak rapidly with word starter on a microblogging client (7) 5. Dreamy, like 11.10 (7) 8. Media center OS - is it real, or like an unicorn(9) 13. Spanish insanity for linux users in a neighbourhood, maybe? 14. A definite anteater?(7,8) 15. None confirms hides, synchronizing mechanism for (7) 16. An implementation of the S.C.U.M.M. interpreter for Linux (7)

Down: 1. Sail by turbidity for an OS for Muslims (6) 3. Painter unknown gives an OS for graphics (7) 6. Say Ubuntu, speak this language (5) 7. Jaded up, unraveled for a backup tool (4,3) 9. The Debian almquist shell or short sprint (3,4) 10. To run Linux commands on a windows system, turn back New York city and put a wig in! (6) 11. Jumpy? OS for users in Quebec (9) 12. Test total for hash sum (8) 13. They may be convex, concave, or in the Unity interface (6)

The solutions to all the puzzles are on the second last page of this issue. No peeking!

Crossword by Ilavenil Thirumavalavan

full circle magazine #59 44 contents ^ If you have Ubuntu-related questions, email them to: Q&A [email protected], and Gord will answer them in a future Q&A Please include as much information as you can about your problem. Compiled by Gord Campbell issue.

When I replaced 32-bit rip into flac? Plop Boot Manager will Install Synaptic Package Ubuntu with 64-bit, the fit on a floppy, and can Manager. Run Synaptic, Q amount of available RAM Install the flac package chain to a bootable USB and search for TVTime. decreased by 100MB with Synaptic, then open A device. A Click on the package, (went from 3.9GB in 32-bit to ripperx and hit the http://www.plop.at/en/bootmanag and select, "Lock Version." 3.8GB in 64-bit). Why? A Config button; under the ers.html mp3 tab, change the Encoder The computer's video plugin to Flac. adapter steals RAM, and What is going on with the amount increased Can I run Ubuntu with no Sun Java 6? A from 128 MB to 256 MB. hard drive at all? Q When I ran a script, it Q stopped at this line: My computer has a 250 Q Have a look at this site: GB HDD. If I look at Disk Yes, you can use a http://www.ubuntugeek. Usage Analyser, it tells mdb $(echo 'hostname') return LiveCD or a LiveUSB. You com/install-sun-java-6-in- Q site > __temp.out me the total filesystem could even install A ubuntu-11-10-using- capacity is 244 GB, but if I look at Ubuntu to a flash drive, ppa.html Mdb is the Mono A System Monitor it tells me the total and run from that. debugger, which wants is 227.3 GiB. However, it is probably better input from the keyboard. to install OpenJDK Java 7, which You have directed the 244 GB = 227 GiB. You A includes icedtea-plugin and output to a file, so you can't see can try it yourself: 227.3 I finally have TVTime openjdk-7-jre. See what it wants. x 1024 x 1024 x 1024 = working on my AMD64 http://www.futuredesktop.org A 244 GB. Marketing Q machine. However, people want the bigger number. Update Manager keeps suggesting a later version, which How can my Dell does not work for me. How can I How can I get a list of Dimension 2350 boot I'm using ripperx, but the force the system to stay with the computers on my from USB? only options that are Q currently installed version? Q network? Q offered are for mp3 and wav. How can I use this to

full circle magazine #59 45 contents ^ Q & A If you have Samba Reboot, and run Software magic key is ESC, DEL, F1, F2, or want to deal with the Unity user- installed, you can use the Update. F12. interface. They have options: command: smbtree Kubuntu 12.04, Lubuntu 12.04, A Xubuntu 12.04, or Linux Mint 13. I occasionally need to Two Tips and build something from If you don't know what to do, When I try to reduce the source (I'm sure we all Techniques plunk down $6 (or equivalent) for a Q Move forward soon! brightness on my laptop do), for whatever reason. 4 GB flash drive, download some of using System Settings, it I'd like to have these programs those versions, and see which one Q I see a lot of people who have doesn't change. show up in Unity's dash search, like tickles your fancy. The only option apps installed from the Software major problems when they are which is unacceptable, is sticking using an elderly version of Ubuntu. Open a Terminal, and Center. with an obsolete OS. enter this command: (Thanks to stinkeye in A lot of hardware has appeared the Ubuntu Forums) If since the last Long-Term Support Everything you know A release, Ubuntu 10.04. It's not you add it to xgamma ­gamma .5 (main menu), dash will realistic to expect this hardware to about drivers is wrong A be supported by an operating pick it up. You may need to install You can try different values alacarte. system which predates it. "My computer does not have than .5, to see what works for you. Internet access. Can I download Even with hardware from before drivers to my stick on an Internet I have a Toshiba Satellite then, there may be issues. For machine and then load them on the In Kubuntu 11.10, when I L645D. Whenever I hit the example, Ubuntu 10.04 (and Linux system? try to run Software power button, it previous versions) often didn't Update, I get the Q switch between built-in speakers "Where would I go for drivers Q immediately bounces message that another directly into loading Ubuntu; how and earphones properly. For many after I get the basic load to work?" package manager is running. can I boot from CD? sound adapters, the problem has been solved in later versions. Most of what you know about The magic incantation: (From the Original drivers no longer applies. However, Poster) Apparently, As this appears, we are a month it's one area where it's a lot easier pushing F2 needed to away from another Long-Term if you have an Internet connection. A begin BEFORE the power Support release, Ubuntu 12.04. I'm A going out on a limb here, and Most drivers come along with button. sudo ­­configure ­a suggest that everyone should the kernel. Let's talk about four sudo apt­get install ­f Gord adds: on other computers, the install the latest version, certainly kinds of drivers: video adapter, by mid-summer. Some people don't WiFi adapter, printer, and webcam.

full circle magazine #59 46 contents ^ Q & A

For the first two, people purchased in China, and they have normally run a program called all worked for me "out of the box," "Additional Drivers," which will tell except with Ubuntu 10.10, which them if there are video or WiFi required an unusual incantation. drivers available to install. Oddly, some of the nastiest Z e r o D o w n t i m e WiFi is a special case: many driver issues are with hardware adapters are supported "out of the which was on the drawing board box," no need to install a driver. last week. Even something as Others have a driver two clicks simple as an Ethernet adapter away in Additional Drivers might not be supported until it has Below Zero is a Co-located Server Hosting specialist in the UK. (assuming an Ethernet connection been around for a few months, and to the Internet,) some need the all you can do is wait for it. (Or plug Uniquely we only provide rack space Windows driver under something in an older Ethernet adapter in the and bandwidth. This makes our service called NDISWrapper, and some will short term; they're cheap.) more reliable, more flexible, more never work. If the first two options focused and more competitively priced. don't work for you, get busy with We concentrate solely on the hosting of Google. Co-located Servers and their associated systems, within Scotland's Data Printers: when I install any Centres. recent version of Linux, I turn on my network printer and run a At the heart of our networking program called "printers," and click infrastructure is state-of-the-art BGP4 on "add." A couple of clicks later, it routing that offers optimal data scurries off to the Internet and delivery and automatic multihomed installs the appropriate driver, and failover between our outstanding the printer works. Barring that providers. Customers may rest assured approach, you go to the that we only use the highest quality of manufacturer's web site and collect bandwidth; our policy is to pay more for the best of breed providers the Linux driver, along with other and because we buy in bulk this doesn't impact our extremely required software. PITA. After a long career in the computer industry, including a stint as editor of competitive pricing. Computing Canada and Computer In my experience, webcams Dealer News, Gord is now more-or- At Below Zero we help you to achieve Zero Downtime. either work or they don't. My less retired. specialty is cheap webcams w w w. zerodowntime.co.uk

full circle magazine #59 47 contents ^ UUBBUUNNTTUU GGAAMMEESS Written by Riku Järvinen SSNNEESS EEmmuullaattoonn

i all! This month starts a As I was searching the web for have a 32-bit system) and navigate keep playing, there are plenty of series of articles on bsnes installation tutorials, I came into your Downloads folder. Install originals available on eBay and bsnes, a cross-platform up short with a single good one. bsnes with: similar web auctions. Super Nintendo Instead of compiling the source H sudo dpkg ­i bsnes_0.084­ emulator that aims for maximum code and delving into techie stuff, I After downloading, the ROMs 1_i386. accuracy with no hacks or cheats, present a workaround with .deb must be “cleaned” of additional focusing on clean code. According files that is both easy to implement copier header information (for a If all goes well, you should now to the project homepage and works like a charm. bsnes more accurate explanation, refer be able to run bsnes from Unity (http://byuu.org/bsnes), this comes version 0.84 is used since it will be to bsnes user guide Dash by typing “bsnes” and with an additional computational included in Precise 12.04 LTS. (http://byuu.org/bsnes/user-guide). selecting the application. Once strain. They say that Bsnes requires Unlike some mainstream bsnes is running, you can select at least a Core 2 Duo or an AMD To begin with, you should have a emulators, bsnes doesn’t support between Cartridge, Settings and Phenom processor to run few developer tools installed. If compressed (.zip) or Super Tools from the top panel. Now, let’s smoothly. not, paste the following into a Magicom (.smc) files. Before terminal window. Give your take a look on where to download playing games, we need to use ROMs and how to “purify” them. In this issue, bsnes installation password when prompted. snespurify, an utility included with (v. 0.84), ROM downloading and bsnes installation. Open Unity Dash cleaning, and basic features of sudo apt­get update Downloading ROMs & and type “snespurify” and select bsnes are discussed on Ubuntu ROM Cleaning the application. Choose the folder sudo apt­get install build­ you wish to scan for ROMs (most Oneiric 11.10 32-bit. A certain essential gcc­4.6 g++­4.6 familiarity with emulation is libgtk2.0­dev libqt4­dev While there are plenty of sites likely Downloads if you got the assumed, but you also can pick up to get ROMs, keep in mind that you ROMs from the web) and click this knowledge along the way. The sudo apt­get install must delete the files after 24 hours “Correct”. It should take only a libsdl1.2­dev libpulse­dev goal of these articles is to get the if you do not own the original couple of seconds to reconfigure libopenal­dev libao­dev the files. Once the process is games running well with minimal libxv­dev cartridges. In case you want to non-necessary technical overhead. finished, you can choose a game to Next, open Firefox and go to Bsnes installation: a Ubuntu Updates for Bsnes workaround with .deb (http://www.ubuntuupdates.org/p ackage/core/precise/universe/base files /bsnes). Select and download the 32-bit .deb package (assuming you

full circle magazine #59 48 contents ^ UBUNTU GAMES - SNES EMULATION play from the bsnes Cartridge menu. One of the great things is that you can modify graphics settings Some basic settings without restarting the ROM. This speeds up things considerably, because you see the effect right It is unlikely that bsnes runs away. Experiment with different perfectly “out of the box”. There Video Filters and Shaders if you are many settings to be customized want to put your machine to the and we will take a closer look at test. Filters, especially, require lots them in the next issue. However, of resources. here are some tips to get the basic functionality right. Keep in mind Introducing an USB gamepad that some settings are machine- was easy from the Input settings: it and game-specific, so adjust the worked straight out of the box. program as you see fit. All settings Once, my settings disappeared and I encourage you to visit the bsnes that are not mentioned should be zsnes (http://www.zsnes.com) I had to reconfigure the controller, homepage (http://byuu.org/bsnes). left as default. experience, I must confess that but there have been no problems bsnes does a much better job when Developer Byuu has written a great deal of in-depth information on Settings ­> Configuration ­> since. it comes to accuracy and quality of Audio: Frequency 44.1kHz, emulation. However, this comes at snes emulation as well as other Latency: 40 ms, Resamp. a hefty computational price. On my software-related topics. Hermite First Impressions desktop (E6750 Core 2 Duo, 4 GB In the next issue, I focus on Settings ­> Configuration ­> I tested bsnes with: Chrono DDR2, GeForce 8800 GTS, 320 MB more advanced bsnes settings and Advanced: Video OpenGL, Audio Trigger, Donkey Kong Country, and 1 TB HDD) there is still a PulseAudioSimple tell how to edit the configuration Lufia 2, Super Mario All-Stars, Final noticeable slow-down. I might files manually using a text editor. Settings ­> Configuration ­> Fantasy 6 and Mega Man X. As a consider upgrading the graphics Input ­> Snes: Cont. port gamer with more than 200 hours of card, although I’m not completely (define your controls) sure whether it’s causing the problem.

More information Riku Järvinen (rierjarv) is a CS major If you wish to know more, grab student from who delves into the next issue of FCM when it the Linux and Open Source gaming comes out next month. Meanwhile, world once in a while.

full circle magazine #59 49 contents ^ UUBBUUNNTTUU GGAAMMEESS Written by Jennifer Roger TToommeess ooff MMeepphhiissttoopphheelleess

ith the recent learned about the DarkPlaces decided to turn it into a action-RPG dungeon crawler with plethora of RPGs years prior to the commercial game. Although we randomly generated worlds and released for the event, and I wanted to make a had some experience in modding, dungeons. It will have fast-paced W major consoles, I standalone game using it. The role making a full commercial game was fluid combat (inspired by such old can’t help but get a little envious of art director and all-round artist a whole different story. Prophecy school games as Hexen/Heretic), a and anxious for an in-depth role was a natural choice as I come from required a lot of art assets. Since multitude of medieval and magical playing game for Linux. Luckily for an art and graphic design we didn't really know our potential, weapons, and an in-depth custom us Ubuntu gamers, the developers background. I began working on my we decided to come up with a spell system (not something you at Kot-In-Action are working on an first game titled Prophecy: Return game of smaller scale. Steel Storm see in many RPG games). Players exciting first-person RPG called of the Blademaster, and soon I was born and the rest is history. will be exploring vast dungeons in Tomes of Mephistopheles (ToM). realized I needed a coder to help search of the ancient Tomes. On his The game is currently in alpha, and me with the project. No one Tell us all about Tomes of (her) way, the player will fight a you can help fund the development wanted to help me as the project Mephistopheles. variety of monsters, look for and buy the full, DRM-free game at was in pre-production stage at that Tomes of Mephistopheles is items/gear/weapons, discover the official Kot website time. Seeing that help was not designed to be a first-person secrets, solve quests, improve his (http://tom.kot-in-action.com) or coming, I rolled up my sleeves and through . I recently had the got to coding the game myself. The pleasure of chatting with project was doing great and I Alexander Zubov, co-creator of wanted to display it at Expo. ToM as well as the 2010 hit series, However, I really wanted for it to Steel Storm. Alexander was shine, so to speak, and I asked for gracious enough to share some help once again. This time around, details on his new project and one of the most prominent coders some thoughts on what’s in store in the community, for Kot-in-Action in the near future. Clay "daemon" Cameron, offered his skills to help out Prophecy. Kot- When and how did you get in-Action team was formed, and started with Kot-in-Action the prototype of the game was put Creative Artel? together in just 3 weeks prior to Kot-in-Action Creative Artel was Quake Expo. The reception of founded in 2008, prior to the Prophecy by the Quake modding QuakeExpo 2008 virtual event. I community was warm, and we

full circle magazine #59 50 contents ^ UBUNTU GAMES - ToM INTERVIEW (her) skills, develop new spells, and new dungeons and continue These features are due in the although the potential is there. master new weapons. Players will building up their character, or take nearest future. be able to craft gear, weapons, and that character online to another Can you tell us about your spells, and use dug-out cavities as a player's world and partake in player What have you learned from plans after ToM is released? Any shelter / safe house. Dungeons and vs player combat, cooperative creating Steel Storm that you've new games or focusing on DLC? other structures are destructible questing, or possibly even help incorporated into creating ToM? We already have Steel Storm 2 via a multitude of means, and build some kind of structure Release early and iterate. No in development, along with ToM, connect with a surface or outdoor depending on what the owner of localization support (everyone so I think we are pretty much set over-world which connects to the server allows. knows English to a certain degree, for the mid-range foreseeable multiple other dungeons. and coordinating translations of future. Dungeons can also connect to each What are some upcoming, constantly changing and improving other, and if a connection does not post-alpha features to look out text is a huge overhead). No Mac Thanks again to Alexander exist, the player can dig his way for? support until release (we don't Zubov for participating. For more through. The surface and dungeon We are planing to add more have Macs, and, while the engine information on Tomes of areas will have towns and/or architectural details so the runs on Mac, testing without Mephistopheles, you can visit encampments with structures, dungeon won't look so empty. having a Mac handy has proven to http://tom.kot-in-action.com for NPCs, and various creatures to Player progress saving and be a disaster). Use social media as more screen shots, videos, and interact with. Not only that, but dungeon saving are on their way. much as possible. Reuse the game updates. characters will not be limited to a Multiplayer. More enemies, gear, resources. single world. Players can generate and weapons. Multifloor dungeons. Will there be future installments/episodes (ala Steel Storm) or DLC? Most likely we will have DLC, pre-built characters, and some unique gear and gadgets, after the game is released. It's too early to talk about future installments,

full circle magazine #59 51 contents ^ Your chance to show the world your desktop or PC. Email your screenshots and MY DESKTOP photos to: [email protected] and include a brief paragraph about your MY DESKTOP desktop, your PC's specs and any other interesting tidbits about your setup.

I use Kubuntu 11.10 with the KDE 4.7.2 desktop environment. I'm Italian and this is my desktop with my holiday's image.... I have used a couple of widgets on the desktop. You can see today. my home folder and my desktop folder both on top, easily reachable to do what needs to be done. Pictures from the last I have a laptop, Fujitsu-Siemens Amilo Li3710 with 4GB ram, holiday in the USA, a clock, an RSS widget with news from a one CPU dual core Intel Pentium t3400 2, 1.6GHz, HD 300 GB, Dutch news website, information about my disks and network and ubuntu 11.04(natty). and, very important here in Holland, the weather. The Shutdown/Restart/Log-off button completes it. I've also used Avant window navigator 0.41 and Gartoon icons from the Ubuntu repository. In the panel, I have my 4 desktops, the Task manager to see which programs are open, some launchers, and the usual Perfect! information you sometimes need. It's all very basic, but hey, that's me. Paolo Gagini

Jan Mussche

full circle magazine #59 52 contents ^ MY DESKTOP

This is my Desktop screenshot. I am running Ubuntu 10.10 The computer is a homebuilt computer from 2003. The CPU is Maverick Meerkat decorated by Ambiance Theme with an AMD Athalon 1800 XP+ and it has 2GB DDR-266 RAM in it. Faenza icons, AWN, Indicator Applet Application Menu 0.4.6, The video card is an EVGA GeForce 6200 AGP 8x card. I'm and more cool customized themes. My PC is optimized for running Ubuntu 11.10 with Unity 3D. The wallpaper is the graphic design and Internet. Kernel Linux 2.6.35-31, Gnome "Verne" wallpaper from the Fedora 16 Live CD. The theme is 2.3.2.0 Desktop Manager, and Compiz Fusion 0.82 are the "Smoke & Ice" from softpedia.com, I have the settings for the core of my amazing OS on this PC. theme showing in the Advanced Settings app. In the terminal, I used the .bashrc and .envrc from http://bodhizazen.net (under PC Specs: his Tweaks), and the message is from display-dhammapada Acer ASPIRE M1800 with Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual Core CPU (available via apt-get). E5200 @2.5 GHz 2GB DDR2-RAM, nVIDIA GeForce 7100 GPU @256 MB, 2 x Originally I was going to try and find a theme that matched the 320 GB SATA HDD & DVD. Verne wallpaper, but this looked interesting in their screenshots. For some reason, it shows up as Raleigh in the Badrus Shava Advanced Settings.

Patrick Dickey

full circle magazine #59 53 contents ^ PUZZLE SOLUTIONS O K U D U D S R 6 O 1 W X 6 E 1 D O C D R O W S S O R C

full circle magazine #59 54 contents ^ Full Circle Team

HHOOWW TTOO CCOONNTTRRIIBBUUTTEE Editor - Ronnie Tucker [email protected] Webmaster - Rob Kerfia We are always looking for new articles to include in Full Circle. For article [email protected] guidelines, ideas, and for issue translation, please see our wiki: Comms Mgr - Robert Clipsham http://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuMagazine [email protected] Please email your articles to: [email protected] Podcast - Robin Catling [email protected]

Editing & Proofreading Mike Kennedy If you would like to submit news, email it to: [email protected] Lucas Westermann Gord Campbell Send your comments or Linux experiences to: [email protected] Robert Orsino Hardware/software reviews should be sent to: [email protected] Our thanks go out to Canonical, the many translation teams around the Questions for Q&A should go to: [email protected] world and to Thorsten Wilms for the current Full Circle logo. Desktop screens should be emailed to: [email protected]

... or you can visit our forum via: www.fullcirclemagazine.org Deadline for FCM#58: Sunday 08th April 2012.

Release date for FCM#58: FULL CIRCLE NEEDS YOU! Friday 27th April 2012. A magazine isn't a magazine without articles and Full Circle is no exception. We need your Opinions, Desktops and Stories. We also need Reviews (games, apps & hardware), How-To articles (on any K/X/Ubuntu subject) and any questions, or suggestions, you may have. Send them to: [email protected]

full circle magazine #59 55 contents ^