Disable Single-Click Opening of Files in KDE
Having switched from Ubuntu to Kubuntu recently, the first thing that irritated me beyond all reason was that single-clicking on a file or folder immediately opens the file instead of selecting it. Since I use Windows and Ubuntu on a daily basis, it's just frustrating that it works differently in KDE.
The one thing you can't complain about, however, is how nice and easy KDE's system settings are. Just open them up via the "start" menu, and find the Keyboard & Mouse icon.
Click on "Mouse" in the left hand menu, and then choose "Double-click to open files and folders - select icons on first click".
Now you can safely click on icons again!
Why this isn't the default in KDE when it is in every other operating system, I'll never know.
The Geek is the founder of How-To Geek and a geek enthusiast. When he's not coming up with great how-to articles, he's probably writing at his personal blog. This article was written on 07/3/07 and tagged with: Ubuntu
As an avid KDE user and fan, and a huge believer in the simplest way to achieve something is the best (as in: why click twice, when once does it just fine)I am always amazed at these posts about the 1 click default. (trust me, you are certainly not the first to be unhappy about this one). I guess I'm just strange, but when I install an O/S (or in Linux a new Desktop) the very first thing I do, and to me it would make sense that everyone else would do this to, is to CONFIGURE it. I know that I'm going to HATE the majority of the default settings, so the first thing that I do is trot on over to the button that starts the configuration process, so I can make the desktop "mine". Please understand, I'm simply giving my opinion, and I enjoy you blogs, and I'm certainly not trying to 'Flame' you or anything, I'm a very relaxed kind of guy. I have to agree that KDE choosing 1 click for their default setting is a tad 'odd'. I guess they were just trying to be different!! I think Kubuntu ROCKS, it's been a no brainer FOR ME, since I tried the *buntu's, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, I can't wait until October to see what KDE4 brings. I hope they don't screw up a good thing. Thanks again for you blog.
Single click for KDE is the default for usability reasons:
http://developer.kde.org/docum.....index.html
I have actually changed my Windows install over to single click to match the KDE behaviour. 9 times out of 10, I am clicking something because I want to launch/open it so it's easier/faster to just use single click instead of clicking it a second time. For those rare situations where I just want to select the icon without opening it, I just hover the mouse over top and it is selected after about one second.
It can take a little bit of practice to master it, but you will likely find that single clicking is easier and faster.
While I absolutely agree that single-click to open is very quick in some circumstances, I'm just saying that it shouldn't be the default, because the vast majority of people are used to double-clicking. It seems that the much smaller set of people that prefer single-click are the ones that should be configuring the settings.
Usability is about more than just the quickest way to do something… it's about what the user is expecting as well.
Great comments, though! I am so much happier with KDE… ubuntu is retarded in comparison to Kubuntu.
Double-click does not make much sense to me. You point, and you click. Why should you have to double click? You do not turn the door knob two times to open the door, do you?
I frequently single-click items so that I can see them in a preview pane, or so that I can select two files on the screen… when single-clicking always opens them, it doesn't work.
I think the real point is that people will like it both ways, but that the vast majority of people are used to double-clicking to open things. Seems that the interface should default to the settings that people are expecting, or at the very least there should be a small screen during setup to explain the two options to the user.
@The geek: Be default when you start KDE you can setup different options, such as Unix, KDE, OS X, or Windows mode. The Windows (and OS X too I believe) mode will set the double click automatically. However, must distributions seem to diable this wizard from playing. It isn't KDE's fault.
Jake:
That's interesting… I'll have to look into that. That would definitely be useful if you wanted to roll out KDE to a lot of regular users.
@The Geek: It's called the desktop settings wizard. Some distros have it in K Menu even if it doesn't run, such as Sabayon.
Thanks!
Jake:
I've disabled trackbacks entirely on this site. I don't find them to be very useful to the reader.
I usually only allow links if they are useful and relevant, which yours seems to be…. plus, you contributed to the discussion =)
I never understood KDE's reason for doing this. Anyways, this is a much-needed tutorial. Thank you for such a great site! You break it down better than any sites out there.
Im having a problem that i cant seem to fix.Its the single click of the mouse that is constantly opening files up?I dont want this to happen?I have uninstalled and cleaned as well as uninstalling all mouse and keyboard entrys from the device manager.Thern i have to press the power butten on cpu to power down then boot up .This sucks i cant seem to get rid of this single mouse click thingy that is not allowing me to grab and drag files around anymore?