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The key is how to find the program name?

Say I have "Files" window. I know that it is actually "nautilus" from previous experience.

The big question is how can I make the connection from Files to nautilus. I cannot find nautilus anywhere in the program.

Similarly, how can I launch System Monitor, or any other programs that I can easily find in the apps or search bar, but not in the terminal.

I am using 14.04, 16.04 and 18.04 all LTS if that makes a difference.

Thanks

1 Answer 1

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You can find .desktop files in /usr/share/applications.

These files contain path to the real application.

You can list these files by name with

grep 'Name=' /usr/share/applications/* > FileNames.txt
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  • Thanks, I can get to the folder and can see all the shortcuts, but I cannot find any .desktop files or any . files. If I check on the properties of the shortcuts I cannot find the path either. What am I missing?
    – MichaelE
    Mar 12, 2019 at 20:01
  • That's the problem that now you can't open them by click. But you can cat them in a terminal.
    – Pilot6
    Mar 12, 2019 at 20:07
  • Run ls /usr/share/applications and you'll see that all that are .desktop files.
    – Pilot6
    Mar 12, 2019 at 20:10
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    You can run grep 'Name=' /usr/share/applications/*
    – Pilot6
    Mar 12, 2019 at 20:35
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    So run grep Name=Files /usr/share/applications/*
    – Pilot6
    Mar 12, 2019 at 20:38

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