How to use the command 'kscreen-doctor' (with examples)

kscreen-doctor is a versatile command-line tool that is part of the KDE desktop environment. It allows users to configure, change, and manipulate display settings directly from the terminal. This utility is particularly useful for adjusting screen settings such as output information, rotation, and scaling without accessing the graphical interface. Here are some practical examples of how to use kscreen-doctor.

Use case 1: Show display output information

Code:

kscreen-doctor --outputs

Motivation:

Understanding your current display setup is essential for optimizing screen configurations and diagnosing display-related issues. Whether you’re setting up a new monitor or troubleshooting an existing one, knowing the specifics about your outputs can guide you in making informed decisions. This use case is beneficial for both casual users wanting to tweak their setup and IT professionals needing a quick overview of connected displays.

Explanation:

• kscreen-doctor: This is the command being used, part of the KDE ecosystem.
• --outputs: This flag instructs kscreen-doctor to provide detailed information about all the display outputs currently connected. This includes details such as the screen ID, resolution, refresh rate, and more.

Example output:

Output: 1 'HDMI-1' connected
	Mode: 1920x1080@60
	Position: 0, 0
	Scale: 1
	Rotation: 1
Output: 2 'HDMI-2' disconnected

Use case 2: Set the rotation of a display output with an ID of 1 to the right

Code:

kscreen-doctor output.1.rotation.right

Motivation:

Rotating a display can be essential for particular tasks, such as coding, reading documents, or working with content in portrait mode. This functionality allows a screen to be physically moved to a different orientation, with the display software adjusting accordingly. Such a command is useful in setups where screens are mounted vertically, like in some professional environments or specific personal desk setups.

Explanation:

• kscreen-doctor: The core command to manipulate screen settings.
• output.1: This indicates the specific output or screen ID that will be manipulated. “1” represents the unique identifier for the display you wish to rotate.
• rotation.right: This portion of the command sets the rotation of the specified screen/output to the right (90 degrees clockwise). This is an instruction for the software to adapt the display output to match the new physical screen orientation.

Example output:

Setting rotation of output 1 to right (90 degrees).

Use case 3: Set the scale of a display output with an ID of HDMI-2 to 2 (200%)

Code:

kscreen-doctor output.HDMI-2.scale.2

Motivation:

Adjusting screen scale is crucial for enhancing readability and usability, particularly on high-DPI (Dots Per Inch) monitors. Increasing the scale factor can make UI elements larger, aiding users with vision difficulties or those who prefer larger text and icons. This command is especially beneficial in high-resolution displays where native resolutions might be too small for practical daily use.

Explanation:

• kscreen-doctor: The command to modify display settings.
• output.HDMI-2: Specifies the target display output by its unique identifier, in this case, ‘HDMI-2’.
• scale.2: Instructs the command to scale the output of the specified screen to 200%. The integer value “2” indicates the scale factor, effectively doubling the size of images and text.

Example output:

Scaling output HDMI-2 by a factor of 2 (200%).

Conclusion:

The kscreen-doctor command is a powerful utility for users who need precise control over their screen settings using the command-line interface. By allowing operations such as retrieving output information, adjusting rotations, and scaling outputs, it enhances the flexibility of display configurations in the KDE environment. These functionalities can adapt a workstation setup swiftly to user preferences, thereby optimizing productivity.