Questions tagged [.desktop]
A .desktop file is a launcher. When run, it executes a command, which usually launches an application. Use this tag if you are asking a question about using a .desktop file or about the .desktop file format in general.
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questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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Use desktop-file-install to uninstall?
I installed a desktop file using desktop-file-install now I changed my mind and I want to remove it, can I use desktop-file-edit to manage the installed desktop files?
I particularly want to use ...
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8
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0
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After screen lock, open windows jump to other monitor
(regular Ubuntu 22.04 desktop - fully updated)
After my screen locks, I always have some windows moving from one monitor to another. If I had 2 similar size monitors, it wouldn't bother me that much, ...
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1
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In Ubuntu 18.04 (GNOME desktop), a .deskotp application launcher pointing to a script doesn't run said script
Well for Unity/Ubuntu 16.04 I added a custom script to the quick launch menu by added a *.desktop file inside ~/.local/share/applications/
With content as:
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Terminal=...
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5
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answers
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Icons put in /usr/local/share/icons/hicolor/apps
I want to create a new desktop entry and a new MIME type for an app called FreeFileSync for all users.
I read that it recommends to do in directory /usr/local/share. More precisely, the app recommends ...
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How can I get a change to a .desktop file get recognized by Unity/Gnome?
Unity/Gnome does not appear to pickup changes to .desktop files automatically (in particular the "Name" and "Icon" fields).
I have found update-desktop-database, but that seems to update the MIME ...
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5
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1
answer
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how to use an image for my custom .desktop file for unity previews
When one left clicks an application, it also displays the screenshot of the desired application.
screenshot of the desired effect:
I can't find the screenshotlink=? command in the vlc.desktop ...
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4
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1
answer
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How can I make a custom desktop file for VS Code for my dock, under Ubuntu 20.04?
I want to make a launcher icon on the dock for VSCode under Ubuntu 20.04. I called it code.desktop and put it in .local/share/applications, then pinned it to the dock. However, when I click on it, I ...
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Create .url files when drag and drop from browser instead of .desktop
I used to drag-and-drop links from the browser in Windows to a folder to save them. That created files with extension .url, and the content is like:
[InternetShortcut]
URL=https://askubuntu.com/
When ...
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4
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0
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How to have two separate Chrome dock items
I'm using super+1 to access the first item on the dock/launcher, which is Google Chrome.
I want to have super+2 bound to another instance of Chrome, so that I could go between them with my keyboard.
...
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3
votes
1
answer
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Desktop file doesn't work
I'm trying to make a desktop file for vcvRack. I have the program and other files saved in ~/.Rack/. The program launches fine when I double click it or launch in from terminal using ./Rack.
The file ~...
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3
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Create a folder for all the shortcuts
My job has a certain standardization for Desktops in Windows, however we've decided to chance some of our O.S.s to Ubuntu. Herein lies the problem, in order to make the transition "as smooth as ...
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3
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.desktop WINE — open file in running program
I am using Ubuntu 18.04. I'm running a text editor under WINE and am trying to figure how to add the ability to right-click on a text file in a file manager and have it open in that text editor, or at ...
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3
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Desktop folders are auto arranged after I add/delete some folder on desktop [Ubuntu 20.04]
Since I have upgraded from Ubuntu 18.04 to 20.04 I am having this problem that Desktop folders are auto arranged whenever I add or delete some folder on desktop. Most of the times some certain folders ...
3
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518
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.local/share/applications not overriding /usr/share/applications on my Kubuntu 20.04 install
I’m having an annoying issue on my Kubuntu 20.04 install. I fail to to override a menu entry using KMenuEdit. It creates a file under “~/.local/share/applications” but it gets ignored and the original ...
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3
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Why did Firefox, Mailspring, and other applications disappear from the dock in Ubuntu 20.04?
After upgrading to Ubuntu 20.04, I noticed upon reboot that Firefox, Mailspring, and several other apps are missing from both my Ubuntu dock and the Activities launcher. I can launch them by hand, but ...
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3
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User .desktop file duplicates and hijacks system app icon in GNOME dock
I'm trying to set up a custom "Open in Emacs" .desktop file that uses the emacsclient utility to open a new buffer in an existing Emacs instance, if available, or start a new instance otherwise. In ...
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3
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0
answers
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Ubuntu 16.04 custom application not launching after creating .desktop file
I hope I have a straight forward question that I am just not able to resolve because I am so inexperienced.
I am running Ubuntu 16.04 and want to use the astronomical image viewer sao-ds9. I tried to ...
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3
votes
1
answer
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Execute a desktop shortcut to a jar file on Ubuntu 18.04
I need to run a .desktop file as an admin but I have issues achieving this. I am working with this .desktop file
#!/usr/bin/env xdg-open
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Some Application
Exec="/...
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3
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"Unable to make the service xyz executable, aborting execution"
I am trying to integrate Peazip portable into my KDE desktop.
I have extracted peazip portable in a path in my home directory.
I added a symbolic link to the executable by running:
sudo ln -s /home/...
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3
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0
answers
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Run .desktop file at startup (and follow its Icon= specification)
I want to run a script at startup that would use a custom icon that should appear in Plank dock.
For that I have created a .desktop file in ~/.local/share/applications that runs the script (see all ...
user47206
3
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Desktop file not working
I installed visual studio code from a tar file in /opt/ . So I had to make a desktop file for the application as shown below
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Visual Studio Code
MimeType=text/...
3
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answers
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How to make Lubuntu run smoother on old hardware?
I've installed Lubuntu today and noticed that the performance of it on my computer even after that distro being so lightweight is a bit heavy on my system. It has all those animations when you open ...
3
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After login Desktop not showing 16.04
I am using Ubuntu 16.04 and I have installed Kali linux tools on top of that using Katoolin, after restarting I can enter the password but desktop showing blank no icons. I used below command but it ...
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Where are SVG launcher icons automatically loaded from?
I have created several desktop shortcuts for VirtualBox machines (VBMs) on my 15.04 Ubuntu OS. I've noticed that desktop files in /usr/share/applications and ~/.local/share/applications usually have ...
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3
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Which hidden files in the /home/user folder control the desktop?
The background story:
The other day my (L)ubuntu offered me to upgrade from 12.04 LTS to 14.04 LTS, which I gladly accepted. At the end of the evening, I started the update out of the update manager, ...
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3
votes
1
answer
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.desktop file in xsessions folder not autorunning
I was setting up a kiosk per this tutorial http://www.instructables.com/id/Setting-Up-Ubuntu-as-a-Kiosk-Web-Appliance/?ALLSTEPS
I have hit a problem with the kiosk.desktop file since it is not ...
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2
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0
answers
597
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The databases in /usr/share/applications cannot be updated
I m trying to perform File association to register my custom file extension for my application(ex: if I do xdg-open myFile.myExtension, it should launch my app). I m following this link to do it.
I ...
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2
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433
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How to make icon show in xfce panel for python script?
This appears to be the same question as How to add launcher icon for python script? but the solution given there doesn't seem to work for me. I have an executable tkinter script for which I have made ...
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2
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answers
76
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Why I can't change position of this application icon in the launcher? I can't move from last icon position
I have installed STS (Spring Tool Suite) IDE on Ubuntu 20.04 and I am finding the following problem with the icon in the launcher.
The problem is that executing this application, it correctly start ...
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2
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84
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Drag Highlighting On the Desktop Is not Calibrated Right In 21.04
I don't think that it is possible for me to screenshot an example of this (please let me know if there is a better way), as the mouse doesn't seem to show up in screenshots. But essentially what is ...
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2
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My custom .desktop file doesn't show in the applications menu
I have created my own .desktop file by copying an existing one
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Arduino IDE
GenericName=Arduino IDE
Comment=Open-source electronics prototyping platform
Exec="...
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2
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answers
658
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Desktop launcher - Could not find the program
I recently installed an application which I will use quite a lot, but it didn't come with a desktop launcher. I'm using Kubuntu 20.04 and I created the following paraview.desktop file in /home/myname/....
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2
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484
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Spyder Desktop entry does not work
I have an installation of Spyder via anaconda on Ubuntu 18.04 and also on Linux Mint 20. In both cases I don't get an entry in the launcher, even if I copy the spyder.desktop file that came with the ...
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2
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Custom desktop launcher no control or link from taskbar icon
I use several self made scripts in my ubuntu 20.04 to make my life easier. I put some of them into desktop launchers.
But the vanilla-launchers (*.desktop files) have no control from the taskbar icon:
...
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2
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answers
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Hide all windows not working
When I hide all windows using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Super+D it hides some but not all of the windows. The remaining windows cannot be clicked and are visible behind the desktop.
System: Ubuntu 20....
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Ubuntu 20.04 - flash or blink of a native dekstop background or color
I've changed my desktop background in settings, but every time system is loading just before desktop shows up with my custom background there is a flash or a blink of native background or a background ...
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Always launch certain applications using dedicated graphics card?
I have Nvidia proprietary drivers installed.
In the (Ubuntu) dock or app-grid, I can right-click on an application, and select "Launch using dedicated Graphics Card".
How can I make certain ...
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2
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.desktop file execution problem
Having upgraded from 18 LTS to 20 LTS, all of my .desktop shortcut files located in folders stopping working.
Any of the files may be copied onto the desktop, and once I select "Allow Launching&...
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2
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1
answer
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KDE task bar not recognizing the .desktop file
I have Ubuntu 18.04 with Plasma 5 desktop. I'm a programmer, and I have a question about a rare situation.
I have a desktop file in ~/.local/share/applications/xapp.desktop with a content like this:...
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2
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1
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Cannot open folders from icons on desktop
I'm on Ubuntu 18.04 and noticed sometime that I cannot open any folders from the icons on my desktop anymore. The following error is given in /var/log/syslog when trying:
$ cat /var/log/syslog | tail ...
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Grouping Icons from Multiple Eclipse Installs
I have two different Eclipse installs in my Ubuntu 18.04 with different plugins I create two .desktop files:
Install A
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Eclipse Java
Type=Application
StartupNotify=true
...
2
votes
1
answer
66
views
Interactive icon / .desktop
I'm wondering if it's possible to create an interactive .desktop file.
An icon to a directory you can put on the desktop that changes when something is stored in the directory. What I want is create ...
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2
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2
answers
538
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How to pass a terminal-title to a terminal opened via desktop shortcut (.desktop)?
Is there a way to set a title to a terminal that is opend via desktop shortcut?
The perfect solution would be if the [Desktop Entry] Name=myTitle could be displayed in the title. Does anyone know if ...
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Running SSH through system suspension
I would like to have my system suspend automatically when I'm not using it. However, I would still like to be able to remote into my machine any time I need.
I keep OpenSSH-server and my Desktop ...
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2
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1
answer
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How to configure Gnome to use the icon from the .desktop file in the Dock?
I have a .desktop launcher in ~/.local/share/applications. I have specified an Icon there. This icon is visible in the "Activities launcher". But when i select it, the icon is not used in the Dock.
...
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Ubuntu 17.04 desktop not loading
I've had Ubuntu 17.04 working for a few weeks along with Windows 10 since my computer supports dual boot.
When I started my computer and tried to login the background went black and only my cursor ...
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599
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How can I add a preview image (not an icon) to a .desktop file that will show up when I select the program in the Dash?
Before I start, let me just be clear, I am NOT asking how to add an icon. When I go to the Dash, and right click on an application, it says "No image available."
How do I add an image?
Here are the ...
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1
answer
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Running a long command, split into multiple lines, in a .desktop file?
Say we have this file, start-term-tabs.sh:
gnome-terminal \
--tab --title="Term 1" \
--working-directory=/tmp \
-e "bash -i" \
--tab-with-profile=Default --title="Term 2" \
--working-...
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I seem to have two desktops running concurrently as well as over the top of each other
hope to god someone has seen this and knows wtf is going on :)
I hardly ever log directly into the machine and will generally just use X2GO to connect to it remotely.
I have not requested to install ...
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2
votes
0
answers
525
views
Script crashes when starting from .desktop file
When I execute script from terminal by hand, it runs without problems:
gksudo /path/to/module.sh
But when I use .desktop file to run script on startup:
[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Exec=gksudo /...
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