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= Installing Plasma Active =
= Plasma Active Images =


== Live Images==
The Plasma Active team provides official Images based on Mer for some devices.
These can be used as testing base and to track progress.  


=== Balsam Professional ===
== Supported ==
[http://open-slx.de open-slx] creates regularly updated packages of Balsam Professional for Plasma Active. You can try the Live ISO from a USB stick. Download the Balsam Professional live image, which is based on openSUSE [http://download.open-slx.com/iso/11.4/ here] (use the highest version numbered iso file).


=== MeeGo Plasma Active ===
=== WeTab / ExoPC ===
[http://basyskom.com basysKom] creates regularly updated packages of Plasma Active based on MeeGo.


This image is an adaption of the public '''meego-tablet-ia32-pinetrail''' variant and it is bootable on x86 based devices like '''WeTab''', '''ExoPC''' or the '''Idea Pad'''. Login Data: User meego passwd meego; User root passwd meego
The hardware is a little outdated but you will get the most polished Plasma Active experience on this device.  


You can try the installable Live ISO from a USB stick. Download the [http://share.basyskom.com/contour/Deployment/latest-meego-plasma-active-testing.html latest demo and testing live image] ([http://share.basyskom.com/contour/Deployment/latest-meego-plasma-active-testing-checksum.html sha1]).
* [https://share.basyskom.com/plasma-active/deployment/wetab-exopc/tablet/mer/stable/basyskom-plasma-active-four-wetab-exopc-tablet-mer-release.iso Download ISO]
* [https://share.basyskom.com/plasma-active/deployment/wetab-exopc/tablet/mer/stable/basyskom-plasma-active-four-wetab-exopc-tablet-mer-release-iso.sha1 Checksum] (sha1: 51bd1ac2aea097d8e17503a92ce2781a6532491d)
* [https://share.basyskom.com/plasma-active/deployment/wetab-exopc/tablet/mer/stable/ Download Archive]


The scope of contour development is for usage on tablet devices. If you want to activate the mouse cursor eg on a netbook, start "System Settings" application and select under "Workspace Appearance/Cursor Theme" a non-empty theme.
Take a look at the installation instructions [http://community.kde.org/Plasma/Active/WeTab here].


==== Deploying a MeeGo Plasma Active ISO Image to a Flashdrive ====
== Preview ==


After you have downloaded the ISO image its a good idea to validate the image against transmission errors.
=== Nexus 7 ===
An SHA1 checksum file should be available for every image. You can do this by comparing the hash on equality between image and related checksum file via following command:


    user@host# '''sha1sum ''<image file>'''''
Even though very much already works reasonably well, there are still some glitches. So, please don’t expect a 100% working system. For detailed installation instructions, see the article on the [https://wiki.merproject.org/wiki/Community_Workspace/Tegra3/Nexus7/PA_installation Mer Wiki]


In case of an divergent output, please download the image one more time and check again.
=== Archos G9 ===
After that feel free to deploy the image to an '''not mounted''' USB flashdrive. In the following example we use the
tool 'dd' for this:


    root@host# '''dd if=''<image file>'' of=/dev/''<USB flashdrive>'' bs=1M'''
Take a look at [http://ruedigergad.com/2013/02/24/plasma-active-archos-g9-armv7hl-rootfs-tarballs/ Ruedigers Blog] for more information.


'''Please note, the usage of this tool is potential dangerous! In case of an mistaken output device, all data on it will be unrecoverable lost'''.
=== Nokia N950 ===


'''To get the correct output device for the this tool, please follow the described steps below:'''
Take a look at [http://www.osnews.com/story/25307/Nokia_N950_Running_Plasma_Active_on_Mer this OSnews article] for more information.


;1. Remove all mobile flashdrives from your host system.
=== VirtualBox ===
;2. Call the command below and note the output.
    user@host# '''cat /proc/partitions'''


    major minor  #blocks  name
When running Plasma Active in a virtual machine, consider that performance will not be as good as when it runs naively on the devices it has been designed for. For testing, we strongly recommend running Plasma Active on a device. The following limitations need consideration when using a virtual machine instead of a real device:
      8    0    3000000  sda
* Performance, especially graphics, boot and application startup might be reduced
      8    1    2999998  sda1
* Advanced visual effects might not be available or work correctly in the virtual machine. This can lead to degradation of certain features, performance, visual effects and possibly stability
* User interfaces designed for touch-screens often work less efficiently for mouse and keyboard based input methods, or feel less natural.


;3. Plug the Flashdrive for deploying into the host system.
;4. Call the following command and note the output again.
    user@host# '''cat /proc/partitions'''


    major minor  #blocks  name
For detailed installation instructions, see this [http://community.kde.org/Plasma/Active/VirtualBox installation manual].
      8    0    30000000 sda
      8    1    29999998 sda1
      8    16    3872256 '''sdb'''
      8    17    594944 sdb1
;5. In this example the correct dd parameter is '''sdb''' in the position of '''<USB flashdrive>'''.


==== Deploying a MeeGo Plasma Active ISO Image to VirtualBox ====
= Downstream Plasma Active =


Before you can starte the image via '''VirtualBox''', please configure the virtual device
Some distributions provide Images with Plasma Active for x86 Systems.
like below.


VirtualBox OSE Manager
== Kubuntu Active ==
  Settings
  ├── General
  │  └── Basic
  │      ├── Name --> e.g. Plasma-contour
  │      ├── Operating System --> Linux
  │      └── Version --> Linux 2.6
  ├── System
  │  ├── Motherboard
  │  │  ├── Boot Order
  │  │  │  ├── CD/DVD-ROM
  │  │  │  └── Hard Disk
  │  │  └── Base Memory --> 1024MB
  │  └── Processor
  │      └── Enable PAE/NX
  ├── Display
  │  └── Video
  │      ├── Video Memory --> 128 MB
  │      └── Enable 3D Acceleration
  └── Storage
      ├── IDE Controller
      │  └── IDE Secondary Master
      │      └── Set up the virtual CD/DVD drive
      │          └── <ISO image>
      └── SATA Controller
          └── Hard Disk
              └── Set up the virtual hard disk
                  ├── Dynamically expanding storage
                  └── Virtual Size --> 8.00 GB


'''Please note, only live image since ''2011-07-20-10-50-meego-plasma-contour-in-progress-USB-live.iso''
Current stable release of a Kubuntu remix with Plasma Active is available at
''' are runable via VirtualBox'''.


Please note, if you like to install our live image to an VirtualBox hard drive,
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/kubuntu-active/releases/13.04/release/
you have to remove the live image form the virtual CD/DVD-ROM after installation.
This will be done after '''Power off the machine''' via VirtualBox OSE Manager.


  Settings
Daily unstable images of a Kubuntu Active are at
  └── System
      └── Motherboard
          └── Boot Order
              ├── CD/DVD-ROM --> disable
              └── Hard Disk


==== Booting the Live Image on a WeTab/ExoPC ====
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/kubuntu-active/daily-live/  


1. Plug the flashdrive to the WeTab/ExoPC.
You can burn image to CD (e.g. with k3b) or USB (e.g. with usb-creator-kde)


2. Get the WeTab/ExoPC running.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto#Kubuntu


3. Press the power (top left underside) + softtouch (top left upperside) button till reboot.
It includes an installer '''ubiquity'''.


4. Choose inside the boot menu via softtouch button the installation or live mode
== openSUSE ==
''(short tab to switch entry, long tab to choose)''.


== Installation on openSUSE ==
PlasmaActive has been packaged for opensuse in the KDE:Active OBS Repository.
Mind that it is ALPHA Quality. The apps that come with a Mer-based image might not be available and there may be bugs. Feel free to report (and fix) them or improve the packaging process. Help will be welcome!


In order to install the latest development snapshots on openSUSE 11.4, you have to add two repositories to your system. These update kdelibs and kde-runtime to a patched 4.7 which contains additions in QML bindings and improvements needed to run the development version for Plasma Active. If you would like to try it in a virtual machine, we recommend Virtualbox, which provides accelerated graphics capable of "desktop effects".
It can be installed as follows:


Important: this procedure '''will upgrade your KDE installation''' to snapshots of 4.7, replacing any KDE packages you have installed. Some versions of these packages, for example kdepim4 and kdepim4-runtime, are built for a mobile target and the desktop versions of their apps '''will not run properly'''. Running a newer version of KDE may update users' configuration files in a way that is '''not backward-compatible with previous versions''' of the applications, so it is advised to use a development installation or backup your KDE configuration.  If you don't know how to do this, '''stay with the Live image'''.
zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/Active/openSUSE_Factory PA


=== Installation Recipe ===
zypper ref && zypper install plasma-mobile declarative-plasmoids  bodega-client
==== Preparation ====
As you are going to install packages from a different source, or so-called "vendor", you can make your life easier by telling zypper to automatically resolve packages across vendors. In /etc/zypp/zypp.conf, change the following line


solver.allowVendorChange = false
If the Maliit onscreen keyboard is wanted, additionally install maliit-framework maliit-plugins maliit-inputcontext-qt4


to
Only i586 has been tested. To run PA4 the preferred method is to create a .xinitrc file in the home directory and add a line saying 'startactive'. Then a call to 'startx' will bring it up.


solver.allowVendorChange = true
There currently is an issue with plasma-desktop beeing started automatically so the file '/usr/share/autostart/plasma-desktop.desktop' needs to be (re)moved before running PlasmaActive.


Currently openSuse dosen't recognise the concept of tablets so it configures the network incorectly. To change it to use NetworkManager, launch YAST, select "Network Settings" and under "Global Options" change the setting to "User Controlled with NetworkManager". You can then enable wireless and configure it as normal.
There is also a LiveCD available at http://susestudio.com/a/GzMWEV/activesuse


==== Repository Setup ====
= Get started after install =
Register KDE:Unstable:SC and KDE:Active repositories:
<nowiki>
zypper addrepo --refresh \
  http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/Release:/47/openSUSE_11.4 kr47
zypper addrepo --refresh \
    http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/Active/openSUSE_11.4/ plasma-active
</nowiki>


Increase KDE:Active packages' priority relative to KDE:Release:47, because the git snapshot versioning is otherwise lower than those in KDE:Release:47, and we want the KDE:Active versions that are built with Active-specific options:
[http://community.kde.org/Plasma/Active/Info Suggestions, FAQ, additional information]
<nowiki>
zypper modifyrepo --priority 90 plasma-active
</nowiki>
 
==== Package Installation ====
Update all packages to the latest versions, trust the keys for the repos.  NOTE: if you have other additional repositories than these registered in your system, YOU are responsible for making sure they are compatible.
<nowiki>
zypper dist-upgrade
</nowiki>
The default kernel in 11.4 doesn't correctly support the touchscreen in the exopc so you should install the newer kernel from the active repository:
<nowiki>
zypper in plasma-active:kernel-desktop  plasma-active:kernel-desktop-base
</nowiki>
For some reason GRUB isn't always updated to make the new kernel the default when installing this new kernel, so check in YAST, System, Boot Loader
 
Finally, install the Plasma Active specific packages:
<nowiki>
zypper install plasma-contour-config </nowiki>
 
This will install and setup the Plasma Active shell, which is contained in the plasma-mobile package (plasma-mobile has different sets of QML user interfaces per UI profile). zypper will ask you to accept the key. It will also suggests vendor changes for some packages. Accept these options.
 
=== Running Plasma Active ===
If you have installed the plasma-tablet-config package, your system will automatically start into Plasma Active. Just make sure you have autologin enabled in Yast and restart your system.
 
By default in openSuse, Nepomuk is not enabled. Contour uses Nepomuk so you should enable it and strigi in System Settings Desktop Search. You will also probably want to in the Power section modify the profiles to set the device to go to sleep when the button on the back is pressed.
 
From a full Plasma Desktop (or Netbook) user experience, you can also switch at runtime to Plasma Active as follows (as user logged into the the X11 session):
<nowiki>
# Quit your plasma session
kquitapp plasma-desktop
or
kquitapp plasma-netbook
 
# Start Plasma Active
plasma-device
 
# It is also possible to run Plasma Active in a window,
# this is useful for testing purposes:
plasma-device --nodesktop
</nowiki>
 
=== Installation of Plasma Active from sources ===
 
While the recommended way to test Plasma Active is with the above recipe using the binary packages, it is possible to build Plasma Active from the source repository, who wants to try the bleeding edge repository can build plasma-mobile from sources.
The recommended way is to follow the usual kde from sources [http://techbase.kde.org/Getting_Started build instructions]. It is also possible to use the binary kde packages as a base.
 
It is necessary to install some packages (and their dependencies) to have a working development environment:
<nowiki>
sudo zypper install gcc gcc-c++ git cmake, kdelibs-devel
</nowiki>
 
Now clone the plasma mobile source repository and build:
<nowiki>
git clone git://anongit.kde.org/plasma-mobile
 
cd plasma-mobile
 
mkdir build
 
cd build
 
cmake .. -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr
 
make
 
sudo make install
</nowiki>
 
=== Installing Additional Software ===
 
There are a few KDE projects that have created touch friendly versions of their applications already. These versions are included in the plasma-active repository. Currently, these are:
 
* Calligra Active - Install package calligra-active
* Kontact Touch - Install package kontact
 
In addition, some applications already work quite well together with active. The following is a list of applications that work ok on a touchscreen:
 
* Okular - For viewing documents.
* Marble - Virtual globe, includes routing support.
* Bangarang - Media player, uses Nepomuk for listing media.
* Dolphin - File manager.
 
Some of these applications, like Bangarang, are not included in either the KDE:Release or plasma-active repositories. Instead, they can be installed from the KDE:Extra repository by adding it to zypper with the following command:
 
 
#Add KDE:Extra repository
zypper addrepo --refresh  http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/Extra/KDE_Release_47_openSUSE_11.4 kde-extra
#Install Bangarang
zypper install bangarang
 
== MeeGo ==
 
=== Installation ===
 
A repository of most of KDE components, including Plasma Active for MeeGo is at
https://build.pub.meego.com/project/show?project=Project%3AKDE%3ATrunk%3ATesting and is available for both i586 and ARM, which is added by running the following command if you are using MeeGo trunk
 
<nowiki>
zypper ar http://repo.pub.meego.com/Project:/KDE:/Trunk:/Testing/Trunk/Project:KDE:Trunk:Testing.repo
</nowiki>
 
or for MeeGo 1.2 users:
<nowiki>
zypper ar http://repo.pub.meego.com/Project:/KDE:/Trunk:/Testing/MeeGo_1.2_oss/Project:KDE:Trunk:Testing.repo
</nowiki>
 
To install the software run the following command:
 
<nowiki>
zypper install plasma-contour-config
</nowiki>
 
=== UX Launch ===
 
uxlaunch is the MeeGo component that actually launches the shell. There are two ways of switching the default MeeGo Tablet UX shell to Plasma.
 
==== Changing UX permanently ====
 
Edit /etc/sysconfig/uxlaunch and change the session key to "/usr/bin/startkde".
 
==== Dynamic UX selection at boot ====
 
Finally, to switch to using the plasma tablet UX in MeeGo, use the uxselector project, following the instructions found here: http://wiki.meego.com/MeeGo_Desktop/Changing_Desktops#UXSelect_Switcher_Tool_.28alpha.29 - edit the /etc/xdg/aard/uxselect.conf file to include the following section:
 
<nowiki>
[plasma]
 
name=Plasma Active
 
description=The Plasma Active Tablet UX
 
path=/usr/bin/startkde
</nowiki>
 
and add the text plasma text to the uxlist property in the General section.
 
==== Known Issues ====
 
The Meego tablet UX installs a number of files in /etc/xdg/autostart that are also executed when running Plasma Active, resulting in elements of the Meego tablet UX showing up nevertheless. Workaround is to rename/remove that folder.
 
=== Installing Additional Software ===
 
There are a few KDE projects that have created touch friendly versions of their applications already. These versions are included in the MeeGo repository. Currently, these are:
 
* Calligra Active - Install package calligra-active
* Kontact Touch - Install package kontact-touch
 
In addition, some applications already work quite well together with Active. The following is a list of applications that work ok on a touchscreen:
 
* Okular - For viewing documents.
* Marble - Virtual globe, includes routing support.
* Konsole - Support for virtual keyboard
 
=== MeeGo system image===
For a complete ready to go image of Plasma Active see [[Plasma/Active/Installation#Live_Images|Live Images]].
 
== Other Systems ==
If you have installed Plasma Active on a system not yet listed here, please add detailed installation instructions in a new section.

Latest revision as of 19:53, 16 June 2015

Plasma Active Images

The Plasma Active team provides official Images based on Mer for some devices.

Supported

WeTab / ExoPC

The hardware is a little outdated but you will get the most polished Plasma Active experience on this device.

Take a look at the installation instructions here.

Preview

Nexus 7

Even though very much already works reasonably well, there are still some glitches. So, please don’t expect a 100% working system. For detailed installation instructions, see the article on the Mer Wiki

Archos G9

Take a look at Ruedigers Blog for more information.

Nokia N950

Take a look at this OSnews article for more information.

VirtualBox

When running Plasma Active in a virtual machine, consider that performance will not be as good as when it runs naively on the devices it has been designed for. For testing, we strongly recommend running Plasma Active on a device. The following limitations need consideration when using a virtual machine instead of a real device:

  • Performance, especially graphics, boot and application startup might be reduced
  • Advanced visual effects might not be available or work correctly in the virtual machine. This can lead to degradation of certain features, performance, visual effects and possibly stability
  • User interfaces designed for touch-screens often work less efficiently for mouse and keyboard based input methods, or feel less natural.


For detailed installation instructions, see this installation manual.

Downstream Plasma Active

Some distributions provide Images with Plasma Active for x86 Systems.

Kubuntu Active

Current stable release of a Kubuntu remix with Plasma Active is available at

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/kubuntu-active/releases/13.04/release/

Daily unstable images of a Kubuntu Active are at

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/kubuntu-active/daily-live/

You can burn image to CD (e.g. with k3b) or USB (e.g. with usb-creator-kde)

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto#Kubuntu

It includes an installer ubiquity.

openSUSE

PlasmaActive has been packaged for opensuse in the KDE:Active OBS Repository. Mind that it is ALPHA Quality. The apps that come with a Mer-based image might not be available and there may be bugs. Feel free to report (and fix) them or improve the packaging process. Help will be welcome!

It can be installed as follows:

zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/Active/openSUSE_Factory PA

zypper ref && zypper install plasma-mobile declarative-plasmoids bodega-client

If the Maliit onscreen keyboard is wanted, additionally install maliit-framework maliit-plugins maliit-inputcontext-qt4

Only i586 has been tested. To run PA4 the preferred method is to create a .xinitrc file in the home directory and add a line saying 'startactive'. Then a call to 'startx' will bring it up.

There currently is an issue with plasma-desktop beeing started automatically so the file '/usr/share/autostart/plasma-desktop.desktop' needs to be (re)moved before running PlasmaActive.

There is also a LiveCD available at http://susestudio.com/a/GzMWEV/activesuse

Get started after install

Suggestions, FAQ, additional information

Retrieved from "https://community.kde.org/index.php?title=Plasma/Active/Installation&oldid=42675"