Nautilus description versus /usr/share/applications file directory

Question

When using Nautilus and I navigate to the /usr/share/applications directory I get a listing of the meta data that is extracted from all of the .desktop files that live in that directory.

So the file in my example called "Oracle Java 7 Runtime" in Nautilus translates to the file JB-java.desktop which I took a wild guess at. In Nautilus the properties dialog does not reveal the name of that file, so its a hit and miss approach to get the file name.

Is there a better way? Short of looking for the string "Oracle Java 7 Runtime" in all of the files in the directory which is a bit clumsy.

Answer 1

The reply by @green7 is OK if you like the terminal.

However, this can be done directly from Nautilus, although it requires a script.

1. I have written the script for you. I don't know how to attach a script to this answer, so please download it from my file area.
2. Save this file to the following folder:
   ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts
   This means the folder nautilus-scripts within .gnome2 inside your home folder. Note the . in front of .gnome2; this means it is a hidden file, and you need to press Ctrl+H within Nautilus to be able to see it. If the nautilus-scripts folder doesn't exist, create it.
3. Once you have saved the script there, you need to make it executable. Right-click the file in Nautilus, select Properties > Permissions > Allow executing file as program > Close.
4. Finally, you have to close Nautilus and re-open it (you may have to log out and in again, although I don't think you do).

Now, to use the script, use Nautilus to find those desktop files again. Select one or more of them > right-click > Scripts > Show .desktop name.

An example is shown below.

.

Answer 2

I wrote a script to do so:

#! /bin/bash
# is: Inline file search script
# Save as: /usr/bin/is and mark executable

filename="$1"
echo -n "Enter the command name: "
commandName=""
while [ -z "$commandName" ];
do
read commandName
done

exec $commandName $filename 

To add auto-completion to the script:

# Save as: /etc/bash/completion.d/is

_is()
{
  local cur prev opts
    COMPREPLY=()
    cur="${COMP_WORDS[COMP_CWORD]}"
    prev="${COMP_WORDS[COMP_CWORD-1]}"

    if [[ ${cur} == * ]]; then
        COMPREPLY=( $(find ./ -maxdepth 1 -iname "*${cur}*" | cut -d '/' -f 2) ) 
        return 0
    fi
}
complete -F _is is

It is an inline file search utility.

Suppose you’re in a directory having a lot of files. You want to search for a file but you remember it’s name only in bits and pieces.

For example, if you just remember oracle, all you have to do is:

• Browse to the directory

cd /path/to/the/directory

• Type the following and press TAB:

is oracle

• It will show you the list of all the files having oracle in their names.
• You can then modify the argument and press TAB to select a particular file.
• Then press Enter to select a program to open that file.