Konqueror 3.2

Konqueror 3.2 The Browser Challenge There have been a number of enhancements to the latest version of Konqueror, the KDE file manager and browser.We took a detailed look at this favorite tool to find out just what the new functions are and to show you how to get the best out of the new features.

BY FRANK WIEDUWILT

or the first time, the general pur- tab on the right. You can hold down the options here are Open new tab after pose Konqueror [1] browser, one of middle mouse button to move a tab. The current active page which allows for Fthe KDE core projects, has been dropdown menu, which pops up when quick access to a selected link, and Open able to benefit from cooperating with you press the right mouse button, allows as tab in existing Konqueror when URL is Apple, whose Safari browser [2] uses the you to duplicate tabs. Unfortunately, the called externally. This prevents the same code base. Open in new tab item has disappeared desktop filling up with multiple windows Many of the enhancements introduced with version 3.2, so you will need to when you read news or just click on mail by Apple developers have now found configure Konqueror to open tabs in the links while reading news. their way into the new version of Kon- background, if you want to go on using queror. The browser renders web pages this function. Dog-Ears far more quickly, with a noticeable The developers have once more decrease in display errors. Beside the Hidden Options enhanced the bookmark management in improvements under the hood, there To tell Konqueror how to handle tabs, Konqueror. You can now right click a have also been quite a few improve- call up the program settings in Settings / bookmark in the bookmark toolbar to ments with regard to the GUI and ease Configure Konqueror, and set up the Web pop-up a menu where you can add a of use. behavior. bookmark for the current page to the The options are slightly concealed. It toolbar, add a bookmark for the current Browser Tabs might be easier for users if the options page to the bookmark folder, or delete Konqueror has been capable of tabbed were accessible from a dialog box as is the selected bookmark or bookmark browsing, the ability to display multiple the case with Mozilla. You can then tell folder. In addition to this process, you browser tabs within a single program Konqueror to Open links in new tab can use the dropdown menu to open the window, for quite a while now. In the instead of in new window box, whenever bookmark folder in the bookmark editor, latest release, a number of functions you click a link with the middle mouse where you can modify the folder. Unfor- have been introduced to facilitate button. This greatly improves the usabil- tunately, this does not seem to work if working with multiple subordinate win- ity of the desktop. you click on a bookmark folder in the dows. Clicking on Advanced options takes navigation area. The tab list below the toolbar includes you to a dialog box that gives you more The ability to double-click to store any a button for opening a new tab on the granular control over tabbed browsing tabs you have opened as bookmark fold- left, and a button for closing the current (see Figure 1). The two most important ers is a useful function which Mozilla

38 June 2004 www.linux-magazine.com Konqueror 3.2 REVIEWS

has had for quite a while now. To do so, ly updated by the provider. Figure 2 INFO select Tab / Bookmark tabs as folder... shows an active sidebar displayed as an You are prompted to type a name for the example. [1] Konqueror:http://www.konqueror.org folder. After doing so, your links will be Konqueror displays sidebars in the [2] Safari:http://www.apple.com/de/safari/ available as bookmarks. navigation area on the left of the main The Bookmark Editor has also been window; you can use buttons for access. enhanced. There is now a textbox below There are two approaches to setting up form pops up a menu where you can opt the toolbar where you can type a search a sidebar. Often, the content provider to perform a spelling check. A dialog box key with which to search the bookmarks. will have a link that points you to a suggests replacements for unknown Pressing Enter starts the search; you can script, which in turn installs the sidebar. words. Any words in a form that the pro- continue the search by pressing Enter Before adding a new tab, Konqueror gram cannot find in the dictionary are again. always asks if you want to do so. highlighted in red. Below the tree view with your book- The second approach is to click the Another of Konqueror’s configuration marks there are a number of text boxes icon in the toolbar for the navigation options allows the program to launch where you can edit the properties of the panel. Then select Add New / Web navi- more quickly. Select Settings / Configure selected bookmark, the address, descrip- gation panel. A new button appears. Konqueror…, and then click on Settings/ tion, and a comment, without needing to Right-click this button, and select Select Performance. You can check Preload an pop up a dialog box first. Bookmarks can address in the dropdown menu. You can instance after KDE startup to launch a be sorted alphabetically by folder, or col- then specify the address of the required copy of the program when you fire up lectively. The dropdown menu for the sidebar in the new dialog screen that KDE, and this saves a lot of time when bookmark folder allows you to select appears. you come to launch a copy of Konqueror. folders to be displayed in the bookmark We experienced some occasional bugs The latest Konqueror release is toolbar. when adding Netscape sidebars. Some- undoubtedly a big success. The browser There are new bookmark export fea- times Konqueror displayed nothing is extremely stable; it renders HTML tures. The Bookmark Editor can now at all, and on one occasion it simply pages quickly and with a minimum of export your collection of bookmarks to crashed while attempting to add a side- errors. Our only complaint is that, Opera and Internet Explorer formats. You bar. despite the clean-up operation, many can even create a HTML file or print out menus and dialogs are still a little over- a list of bookmarks. Miscellaneous loaded, meaning that users can take a Besides the major changes, there are a while to find the commands they are Sidebars number of minor improvements that looking for. ■ The current version of Mozilla supports enhance browsing convenience. One Netscape compatible sidebars. Sidebars important addition is the ability to spell or Web navigation panels are web pages check text entries within forms. Kon- which have been optimized for viewing queror calls KDE’s spellchecker to do in a narrow column, and are regular- this. Right-clicking a text box within a

Figure 1:The Konqueror file manager acting as a web browser with different tabs while running under Figure 2: Konqueror showing the content of a KDE 3.2. Mozilla sidebar.