The KLess Handbook

Norbert Drees, norbert@et-inf.fho-emden.de

Ralf Haferkamp, hafer@et-inf.fho-emden.de


This handbook describes KLess Version KLESSVERSION

1. Introduction

2. Installation

3. Onscreen fundamentals

4. The menu entries


1. Introduction

KLess is a small text viewer for the KDE Desktop. You can use it best in conjunction with kfm. It is also possible to run KLess from the command-line.

Using KLess at the command-line prompt:

Command-line What does it mean
% kless
or
% kless -caption "Test"
Starting Kless from the control panel is the same as if you try one of the commands at the command-line prompt.
% kless /etc/passwd
If you want to load a file from the command-line prompt, try this. Also see the chapter Loading files on the internet
% ls -laF | kless
If you want KLess to read from a pipe you have to write this at your command-line prompt.

We hope you will enjoy this text viewer.

Norbert Drees norbert@et-inf.fho-emden.de

Ralf Haferkamp, hafer@et-inf.fho-emden.de

1.1 History

This history describes the released versions of KLess.

Norbert Drees norbert@et-inf.fho-emden.de


2. Installation

2.1 How to obtain KLess

KLess is a application for the KDE project http://www.kde.org. KLess can be found on http://snoopy.et-inf.fho-emden.de/~norbert or at ftp://ftp.kde.org, the main ftp site of the KDE project. Additionally you can download RPMs, made by Troy Engel, at ftp://ftp.sonic.net/pub/users/tengel/kless.

2.2 Requirements

In order to compile KLess successfully, you need the latest versions of libkdecore, libkfm and libkfile. All required libraries as well as KLess itself can be found on ftp://ftp.kde.org.

2.3 Compilation and installation

In order to compile and install KLess on your system, type the following in the base directory of the KLess distribution:

% ./configure
% make
% make install

Since KLess uses autoconf you should have no trouble compiling it. Should you run into problems please report them to one of the authors.


3. Onscreen fundamentals

KLess is very simply to use. I am sure that if you have ever used a text viewer you will have no problems with KLess.

3.1 Drag and Drop

KLess makes use of the KDE Drag and Drop protocol. This means that you can drag and drop files from the desktop or kfm or some remote ftp site that you have open in one of kfm's windows on to KLess.

3.2 Loading files on the internet

You can open files transparently on the internet. Try the following at the command-line prompt to see an example of this.

% kless ftp://ftp.kde.org/pub/kde/Welcome.msg

3.3 Printing

KLess supports printing. Optionally you can specify the printing command of your choice.

3.4 Search dialog

The search dialog supports full key controlled searching and regular expressions (thanks to Pascal Esche).
Action Keys
start search Return or CTRL+S
find next CTRL+N
case sensitive on/off CTRL+T (Toggle)
exit search dialog CTRL+E

A search example:

The lamp indicates whether you can start a next search. If you enter a new word, change one or you toggled the 'case sensitive' switch the lamp will go out.

3.5 Work with selected text

You can save, edit or print selected text. For example try the following.

First load a file and than mark some lines with the mouse. Now choose 'Save As' from the 'File' menu and KLess will ask you 'work with selected text region ?'.


4. The menu entries

4.1 File

Load

Load a document into KLess. With the KDE file dialog you can load a local file or a file on the internet.

Try the following at 'Location': ftp://ftp.kde.org

Reload

Allows the user to reload a document.

Save As

Save the text or a selected text region.

Edit

Start your specified text editor. If there is a selected text region, the user will be asked to work with it.

Print

Print the whole document or a selected text region.

New Window

Open a new KLess window.

Close

Closes the viewer window. If the closed viewer window was the last instance open, KLess will exit.

Exit

Exits the text viewer. If you modified some Options, you will be asked to save these changes. KLess allways stores the window size on leaving.

4.2 Search

Search

Opens the search dialog.

Search next

Repeats the last search operation, if a search operation has already taken place.

4.3 Options

Tab stops

A dialog to set the tab width. Best viewed with a font like fixed ;)

Editor

Opens a dialog where you can add a command-line to start your favorite text editor.

For example: kvt -e vi

Printer

A dialog to enter the printer command-line.

For example: lpr -Plp

Font

A dialog to select the text font.

Background

A dialog to select the text background color.

Foreground

A dialog to select the text foreground color.

Save Options

Save all Options/Changes you made.

4.4 Help

About

Displays essential information about KLess. If you click onto the scrolling text, you can start/stop the scrolling.

Help

Invokes the KDE help system where the KLess help page will be displayed.