Creating desktop shortcuts in Ubuntu 11.10

In Ubuntu 11.10 creating desktop shortcuts by right clicking on desktop is not possible. So, here are your ways out:

1. GCONF-EDITOR

The standard Home, Trash, Computer & Network icons can be easily added if you have already installed gnome-panel & gconf-editor (if you have not installed, go here - http://lin-tips.blogspot.com/2011/11/getting-gnome-panel-back-on-ubuntu-1110.html)

go to Applications > Other > Advanced setting

keep the buttons ON for icons required on desktop.

2. DESKTOP SHORTCUT

If desktop shortcut for any other folder is required, the following command can be used (assuming username xyzabc):

ln -s /home/xyzabc/Documents/test ~/Desktop/test123

This will create shortcut of folder named "test" (in /home/xyzabc/Documents) at desktop and shortcut would have name test123 (can be renamed later)

3. GNOME SHORTCUT

Another way is to use old style dialog boxby using command:

gnome-desktop-item-edit ~/Desktop/ --create-new

This will open launcher dialog box as below:

Installed Ubuntu - recommended programs

Here is my list of my recommended programs on ubuntu.

update & upgrade: First we should update repositories and update the system.

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

ubuntu-restricted-extras : It includes usefull audio & video codecs, flash plugin, java etc.

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

After this you need softwares as per your choice:

Graphics:

GIMP is image editing software, just like photoshop.

kolourpaint is painting program for kids, just like mspaint but more powerfull than it.

tuxpaint is painting program for kids, kid would have fun using it.

Sound & Video:

VLC media player is a cross platform media player. Good for watching videos, with plenty of options.

Audacious is a lightweight audio player just like winamp classic versions. XMMS themes can be used with it (can be downloaded from http://gnome-look.org), copy the downloaded theme to /usr/share/audacious/skins to use themes (use sudo nautilus to get root access for copying)

Audacity is a good sound editor software, usefull if you are interested in sound editing stuff.

Rythmbox media player is good for managing songs, default is banshee media player in ubuntu 11.10 (I didn't like banshee).

Arista Transcoder is useful video converter for converting movies / video clips for various devices such as mobile phone / tablet / PC etc.

Internet:

Skype is for video & audio calls over VOIP

Chromium is a web browser just like Google chrome (actually google chrome is based on chromium, or chromium  = chrome - google). If you like google chrome you can install that also

Education:

Must have in this catagory is Gcompris. complete educational suit for children. some games require gnucap installed. So install both

Tuxmath is good for children for learning math.

If you you offline dictionary on ubuntu, Artha is a good software. It does not require Internet connection after installation.

Kstars is a planetorium software.

 

Games:

hex-a-hop : game with thinking & logics, addicting game.

hedgewars : strategy single / multi-player game. It is played turn by turn. In your turn you can shoot any one weapon on opponent.

supertuxkart : Car racing game with weapons to damage opponent's vehicles.

supertux2 : Mario like game.
Extreme Tux racer : A racing game, with you playing as penguin sliding down the snowy hills and eating fishes.
Airstrike : plane fighting single / multi-player game.
X-Moto: Motor bike game, its all about controlling. 

Getting GNOME panel back on Ubuntu 11.10

Ubuntu 11.10 comes with Unity desktop manager. Some users didn't like the default Unity desktop Manager. To get back GNOME panel run:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install gnome-panel

sudo apt-get install gconf-editor

Or you can install these packages from Ubuntu Software Center also (gnome-panel & gconf-editor). Logout and re-login with GNOME classic. The difference from GNOME 2.x is - to add, remove or move items to panel we have to use Alt key. (Alt+Right click or Alt+Left click).

Another change is no theme with minimise, maximise and close buttons at right side of window. To move minimise, maximise and close buttons to right side of window:

Open terminal, and run

gconf-editor

Now browse to apps>metacity>general, on the right pane double click on button_layout. Change the value from.

close,minimize,maximize:

to

:minimize,maximize,close

 










This will effect setting for current user only

In new version use this command:

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.wm.preferences button-layout 'menu:minimize,maximize,close'

Getting Compaq CQ62 internal speakers working

Sound does not work from the internal speakers of Cq62 laptop using Ubuntu 10.04.for getting the sound give following command and reboot:

sudo apt-get install linux-backports-modules-alsa-lucid-generic

change the settings in alsa-mixer and enjoy

Joining splitted files in lunux

1 Hjsplit files:
hjsplit(for windows) software files into small sizes which can be joined later to get original file. we can join these files on linux through command line without any software.

say we have following files in /home/user/Downloads folder

aaa.avi.001
aaa.avi.002
aaa.avi.003

we want to join these files to get aaa.avi file, go to download folder
cd Downloads

use Concatenate FILE(s) command

cat aaa.avi.001 aaa.avi.002 aaa.avi.003 > aaa.avi

it will join all these files and give output aaa.avi file

2 RAR files
**********
EDIT:
just extract the first file aaa.part1.rar, remaining files would be joined automatically.
**********
for files splitted with winrar we need software called rar, so install it

sudo apt-get install rar

say we have following files in /home/user/Downloads folder

aaa.part1.rar
aaa.part2.rar
aaa.part3.rar

we want to join these files to get aaa.avi file, go to download folder

cd Downloads

use rar command

rar x -y aaa.part1.rar

it will join all these files and give output aaa.avi file