Chapter 2. Using KAlarm

When it is run with no command line parameters, KAlarm starts in graphical mode, and displays the current list of outstanding alarms.

Tip

All spin boxes in KAlarm have an acceleration facility. To make the value change by larger steps, hold down the Shift key while you click on the spin arrow buttons.

Alarm Types

The basic functions available from the different alarm types which KAlarm provides are:

  • Display alarms display either a text message which you type in, or the contents of a text or image file, or the textual output from a command which is run when the alarm triggers. In addition to displaying one of these items, they can also play audio files, have their text spoken, or emit a simple beep. You can also specify commands to be executed before and after the alarm message is displayed.

  • Command alarms execute either a command or a shell script which you can type in. Nothing is displayed unless an error occurs.

  • Email alarms send a email. Nothing is displayed unless an error occurs.

  • Audio alarms play an audio file. Nothing is displayed unless an error occurs.

Error Handling

If an error occurs when an alarm triggers, an error message will be displayed (unless you have previously specified not to show that type of message again).

If an execution error occurred the last time a command alarm triggered, a white on red exclamation mark is shown in the message color column. Details of the error are displayed in a tooltip if you position the cursor over that line in the alarm list. The same error indications are shown for display alarms if an execution error occurred for a pre- or post-alarm command specified in the Special Actions dialog, except that the color column is not changed to a red background.