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Flame_Phoenix
Asked: 2014-01-28 09:55:03 +0800 CST

How to create a ".desktop" file? [duplicate]

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I am running Ubuntu 12.04 LTS.

I have downloaded several programs (Eclipse, Sublime Text Editor, SmartGit) and they all come in ZIP format. Once I uncompress them I can use them, but I cannot access them via the Dash Home Menu, like I explain in this thread:

In that thread the answer was in creating a XXX.desktop file, populate it with random fields, and then move that file to a specific folder.

I now want to do the same for my Eclipe and SmartGit programs (as well as to any other programs I may end up using) so now I believe I need to learn how to create an XXX.desktop file with the correct fields and the correct instructions.

Where can I find the information to do that?

unity-dash

1 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    The format of .desktop files is described in the Freedesktop Desktop Entry Specification.

    Have a look at Arronax if you want a simple GUI to create and modify .desktop files.

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