Ade Malsasa Akbar contact
Senior author, Open Source enthusiast.
Monday, February 22, 2021 at 13:07

Kubuntu computer users benefit from its full featured file manager and desktop. Here's my personal collection of tips & tricks on Kubuntu you might find them useful -- as I use and teach it daily for years. You will be able to do everything easily and easier, like bulk conversion as well as managing files more efficiently plus some others. Now let's go and enjoy!
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The Basics


- KDE
Kubuntu's user interface, the K in Kubuntu name, formerly means Kool Desktop Environment.

- Dolphin:
Kubuntu's file manager, you access folders & disk drives with it.

- Konsole:
Kubuntu's terminal, you command with it.


1. File Manager Split


Press F3. You can compare two different folders in one window side by side.

2. File Manager's Konsole


Press F4. You can open an integrated Terminal right within Dolphin without opening a separate one -- automatically following wherever you are in the filesystem. Excellent feature both for teaching and working currently exclusive for KDE users only.

(Picture of Dolphin with F3, F4, and F11 features all enabled simultaneously)

3. Bulk Image Resizer+Converter


Right-click several pictures and Convert them at once or Resize as you wish, easily and quickly. Excellent feature exists only for KDE users today. Extremely useful for graphic designers and alike. Read the guide here.

4. Additional Info View


Press F11. You can see file preview & properties on the right panel. Very useful for example if you have wide screen.

5. Tooltips Preview


Useful for previewing between images quickly in zoom. Enable it from the menu Settings > Configure Dolphin > General > Show Tooltips > OK.

6. Bulk Renaming


Use KRename to change name of multiple files at once. As its name suggests, KRename is a part of KDE and Kubuntu. Very useful for those who often work with thousands of files. Read the guide here.

7. Android File Transfers & More


On Kubuntu, right-click and send to Android -- and vice versa -- on Android, hold tap and share to Kubuntu desktop. You can transfer multiple files at any time with as many devices as you want. This works with wifi connection (no internet required). Excellently useful for daily use, for example, to transfer photos. The name of this feature is KDE Connect. Read the guide here.

8. Drag and Drop Pictures


You can drag and drop pictures right from the appearing notification or the image viewer Gwenview to anywhere. This convenient feature means you can send them quickly to Telegram. I benefit from this as a teacher.

8. Quick Access


Like magic, press some keys and computer does exactly a thing you want -- that is fully supported on Kubuntu. You can make custom shortcut keys to open a certain feature, program, or command -- or combination of them. You can also create new and edit existing start menu items. To do so, go to System Settings > Shortcuts to associate keys with commands you want -- and right-click start menu > Edit to change its items.

10. Quick Kill Programs


There are several ways to quickly kill hanged program. These are useful for troubleshootings:

- Press Ctrl+Esc then find program name then right-click and Kill
- Press Alt+F2 then type xkill then Enter then click the Skull cursor on an app
- Open Konsole and type killall firefox to force close Firefox, just change firefox with other program's name

11. Money Currency Check


Press Alt+F2 and type 1 USD in IDR to convert one dollar to Indonesia's Rupiah. Just change the IDR to JPY, CNY, or MYR for Japan's, China's, or Malaysia's currency respectively. This requires internet access.

12. 3D Cube Desktop


Useful for entertainment and inviting people to use same OS like yours. Enable it under System Settings > Desktop Effects > Cube > change the shortcut key to Win+S or anything else you like > Apply > play it.  Like example below when a student shows his Kubuntu to me via a Jitsi meeting.


That's all. I hope you enjoy it!


This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.