Asking Questions: Difference between revisions

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==General Guidelines==
==General Guidelines==


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Here are a few tips on asking questions, especially in #kde on Freenode, in a way that is more likely to get answers:
Here are a few tips on asking questions, especially in #kde on Freenode, in a way that is more likely to get answers:


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* '''Don&#039;t ask to ask, just ask''': #kde is a user support channel, so we expect your questions - go right ahead :-).
* '''Don&#039;t ask to ask, just ask''': #kde is a user support channel, so we expect your questions - go right ahead :-).


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* '''Be ready with any relevant details about your system''': What distribution (what version?), what version of KDE you&#039;re running, how you installed it and so on. You probably won&#039;t need to give all of this information straight away, but you should have it available in case someone asks.
* '''Be ready with any relevant details about your system''': What distribution (what version?), what version of KDE you&#039;re running, how you installed it and so on. You probably won&#039;t need to give all of this information straight away, but you should have it available in case someone asks.


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* '''Try to do some troubleshooting yourself before asking''': Google is your friend (entering error messages into Google often finds something useful). You should take a look at [[Troubleshooting|Troubleshooting KDE Problems]] - the advice there is probably what you&#039;ll be told in #kde anyway, so try it first :-).  
* '''Try to do some troubleshooting yourself before asking''': Google is your friend (entering error messages into Google often finds something useful). You should take a look at [[Troubleshooting|Troubleshooting KDE Problems]] - the advice there is probably what you&#039;ll be told in #kde anyway, so try it first :-).  


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* '''Also, try to make sure that the problem you&#039;re having is a problem with KDE''' and not some other component of your system (for example, a problem with X or with alsa). If possible, try an alternative, non-KDE application to see whether the problem also occurs there.  Of course, if you&#039;re not sure, please ask.
* '''Also, try to make sure that the problem you&#039;re having is a problem with KDE''' and not some other component of your system (for example, a problem with X or with alsa). If possible, try an alternative, non-KDE application to see whether the problem also occurs there.  Of course, if you&#039;re not sure, please ask.


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* '''Make sure that you have Read The Fine Manual and the [[Troubleshooting]] pages'''. Although not every question is answered there, many are. If you think that your question is a common one that others would like the answer to, try asking it on [http://forum.kde.org/ the forum]. If the discussion brings up interesting information you might also want to suggest it to [mailto:[email protected] [email protected]] with a view to getting it included on the wiki.
* '''Make sure that you have Read The Fine Manual and the [[Troubleshooting]] pages'''. Although not every question is answered there, many are. If you think that your question is a common one that others would like the answer to, try asking it on [http://forum.kde.org/ the forum]. If the discussion brings up interesting information you might also want to suggest it to [mailto:[email protected] [email protected]] with a view to getting it included on the wiki.


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* '''Be prepared to wait!''' Often, someone will notice your question a little while after you ask it, so wait around for a while after you ask. There&#039;s nothing more annoying than typing out a long answer for someone, only to realise that they left 3 minutes after asking their question!
* '''Be prepared to wait!''' Often, someone will notice your question a little while after you ask it, so wait around for a while after you ask. There&#039;s nothing more annoying than typing out a long answer for someone, only to realise that they left 3 minutes after asking their question!


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* '''If you don&#039;t get an answer on #kde, you can also try the channel for your distribution''' (eg, #suse, #kde-freebsd, etc), or an appropriate mailing list: see [http://lists.kde.org lists.kde.org] or forum.
* '''If you don&#039;t get an answer on #kde, you can also try the channel for your distribution''' (eg, #suse, #kde-freebsd, etc), or an appropriate mailing list: see [http://lists.kde.org lists.kde.org] or forum.


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* '''Above all, be patient and polite.''' Remember that the people who help are all volunteers, and could be spending their time doing other things than helping.
* '''Above all, be patient and polite.''' Remember that the people who help are all volunteers, and could be spending their time doing other things than helping.


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If your problem is with sound in KDE, you might want to first read [[Sound_Problems]].
If your problem is with sound in KDE, you might want to first read [[Sound_Problems]].


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If your question relates to development, please see [http://techbase.kde.org/Contribute this page]
If your question relates to development, please see [http://techbase.kde.org/Contribute this page]


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==Operating-System-Specific Questions==
==Operating-System-Specific Questions==


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For questions relating to the desktop use of KDE with a particular OS, you can try the above methods, but unless the question directly involves KDE or KDE/GNU/Linux you are unlikely to find the answer. '''If your question does not directly involve KDE, please do not post the question on the "normal" KDE mailing lists'''. Examples of questions that do not directly involve KDE: ''my sound card does not work''. In that case, please direct your questions at sites devoted to helping users of that system. For example, for GNU/Linux questions you may try looking at [http://www.linuxnewbie.org www.linuxnewbie.org] or [http://www.linuxnewbie.com www.linuxnewbie.com], or the [http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-linux kde-linux] mailing list mentioned above. If you are not using GNU/Linux, you might want to try the [mailto:http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-nonlinux kde-nonlinux] [mailto:[email protected]?subject=subscribe (subscribe)] mailing list. Also particularly useful are searches on your favorite search engine, such as [http://www.google.com/ Google], and searches on the [http://groups.google.com/ Usenet archives].
For questions relating to the desktop use of KDE with a particular OS, you can try the above methods, but unless the question directly involves KDE or KDE/GNU/Linux you are unlikely to find the answer. '''If your question does not directly involve KDE, please do not post the question on the "normal" KDE mailing lists'''. Examples of questions that do not directly involve KDE: ''my sound card does not work''. In that case, please direct your questions at sites devoted to helping users of that system. For example, for GNU/Linux questions you may try looking at [http://www.linuxnewbie.org www.linuxnewbie.org] or [http://www.linuxnewbie.com www.linuxnewbie.com], or the [http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-linux kde-linux] mailing list mentioned above. If you are not using GNU/Linux, you might want to try the [mailto:http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-nonlinux kde-nonlinux] [mailto:[email protected]?subject=subscribe (subscribe)] mailing list. Also particularly useful are searches on your favorite search engine, such as [http://www.google.com/ Google], and searches on the [http://groups.google.com/ Usenet archives].


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In addition, many OS distributors have their own mailing lists which can address distribution-specific issues. You can find out more about these mailing lists at your distribution's website.
In addition, many OS distributors have their own mailing lists which can address distribution-specific issues. You can find out more about these mailing lists at your distribution's website.


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If you are searching for rpms you may consider checking the ftp servers for your distribution, including the "contrib" sections, as well as more general servers such as rpmfind.net.  
If you are searching for rpms you may consider checking the ftp servers for your distribution, including the "contrib" sections, as well as more general servers such as rpmfind.net.  


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==Reporting KDE Bugs==
==Reporting KDE Bugs==


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Please report all KDE bugs and feature requests at [http://bugs.kde.org/ bugs.kde.org]. The site has a nice bug-reporting "wizard" and will permit far easier tracking of bugs than an email to a list.  
Please report all KDE bugs and feature requests at [http://bugs.kde.org/ bugs.kde.org]. The site has a nice bug-reporting "wizard" and will permit far easier tracking of bugs than an email to a list.  


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----
----


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'''How to open a console'''
'''How to open a console'''


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Typically when reporting a problem in IRC or on a mailing list, your helpers will ask you to open a console. A console is a text-based window that you can use to give commands for your computer to execute. You can open a console by typing ALT_F2. An input box opens. Type
Typically when reporting a problem in IRC or on a mailing list, your helpers will ask you to open a console. A console is a text-based window that you can use to give commands for your computer to execute. You can open a console by typing ALT_F2. An input box opens. Type


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<pre>konsole</pre>
<pre>konsole</pre>


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And a console will open. If this does not work, you may not have it installed. In this case, type ALT_F2 and call
And a console will open. If this does not work, you may not have it installed. In this case, type ALT_F2 and call


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<pre>xterm</pre>
<pre>xterm</pre>




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{|style="text-align:right"
{|style="text-align:right"
|'''Back to [[Getting_Help]]'''
|'''Back to [[Getting_Help]]'''
|}
|}


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[[Category:Getting Started]]
[[Category:Getting Started]]
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Revision as of 16:31, 9 June 2010

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General Guidelines

Here are a few tips on asking questions, especially in #kde on Freenode, in a way that is more likely to get answers:

  • Don't ask to ask, just ask: #kde is a user support channel, so we expect your questions - go right ahead :-).
  • Be ready with any relevant details about your system: What distribution (what version?), what version of KDE you're running, how you installed it and so on. You probably won't need to give all of this information straight away, but you should have it available in case someone asks.
  • Try to do some troubleshooting yourself before asking: Google is your friend (entering error messages into Google often finds something useful). You should take a look at Troubleshooting KDE Problems - the advice there is probably what you'll be told in #kde anyway, so try it first :-).
  • Also, try to make sure that the problem you're having is a problem with KDE and not some other component of your system (for example, a problem with X or with alsa). If possible, try an alternative, non-KDE application to see whether the problem also occurs there. Of course, if you're not sure, please ask.
  • Make sure that you have Read The Fine Manual and the Troubleshooting pages. Although not every question is answered there, many are. If you think that your question is a common one that others would like the answer to, try asking it on the forum. If the discussion brings up interesting information you might also want to suggest it to [email protected] with a view to getting it included on the wiki.
  • Be prepared to wait! Often, someone will notice your question a little while after you ask it, so wait around for a while after you ask. There's nothing more annoying than typing out a long answer for someone, only to realise that they left 3 minutes after asking their question!
  • If you don't get an answer on #kde, you can also try the channel for your distribution (eg, #suse, #kde-freebsd, etc), or an appropriate mailing list: see lists.kde.org or forum.
  • Above all, be patient and polite. Remember that the people who help are all volunteers, and could be spending their time doing other things than helping.

If your problem is with sound in KDE, you might want to first read Sound_Problems.

If your question relates to development, please see this page

Operating-System-Specific Questions

For questions relating to the desktop use of KDE with a particular OS, you can try the above methods, but unless the question directly involves KDE or KDE/GNU/Linux you are unlikely to find the answer. If your question does not directly involve KDE, please do not post the question on the "normal" KDE mailing lists. Examples of questions that do not directly involve KDE: my sound card does not work. In that case, please direct your questions at sites devoted to helping users of that system. For example, for GNU/Linux questions you may try looking at www.linuxnewbie.org or www.linuxnewbie.com, or the kde-linux mailing list mentioned above. If you are not using GNU/Linux, you might want to try the kde-nonlinux (subscribe) mailing list. Also particularly useful are searches on your favorite search engine, such as Google, and searches on the Usenet archives.

In addition, many OS distributors have their own mailing lists which can address distribution-specific issues. You can find out more about these mailing lists at your distribution's website.

If you are searching for rpms you may consider checking the ftp servers for your distribution, including the "contrib" sections, as well as more general servers such as rpmfind.net.

Reporting KDE Bugs

Please report all KDE bugs and feature requests at bugs.kde.org. The site has a nice bug-reporting "wizard" and will permit far easier tracking of bugs than an email to a list.

How to open a console

Typically when reporting a problem in IRC or on a mailing list, your helpers will ask you to open a console. A console is a text-based window that you can use to give commands for your computer to execute. You can open a console by typing ALT_F2. An input box opens. Type 

konsole

And a console will open. If this does not work, you may not have it installed. In this case, type ALT_F2 and call 

xterm


Back to Getting_Help
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