{"id":8979,"date":"2019-05-23T17:44:28","date_gmt":"2019-05-23T17:44:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/?p=8979"},"modified":"2023-10-25T07:36:18","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T07:36:18","slug":"arronax-graphical-tool-create-desktop-launcher-in-ubuntu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubuntuhandbook.org\/index.php\/2019\/05\/arronax-graphical-tool-create-desktop-launcher-in-ubuntu\/","title":{"rendered":"Arronax – Graphical Tool to Create Desktop Launcher for Your Apps in Ubuntu"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Many popular applications (e.g., PyCharm<\/i>, Blender<\/i> and even Firefox<\/i>) provide Linux tarball that include executable files can be run directly to launch the apps.<\/p>\n

However, we need to manually create app launcher, to make it possible to launch them by searching the apps from start menu (‘Activities<\/i>‘ overview). And, ‘Arronax’ is the app to do the job easily.<\/p>\n

The .desktop files<\/h3>\n

App launchers in Linux are handled by files via .desktop<\/code> extension. Each app you can see in system start menu has an associated .desktop<\/code> file in either ‘\/usr\/share\/applications<\/i>‘ or ‘.local\/share\/applications<\/i>‘ directory.<\/p>\n

For portable Linux tarball, or appimage that does not have an app launcher, user may manually create a .desktop<\/code> file in either directory to link app into system start menu.<\/p>\n

Arronax:<\/h3>\n

KDE, Cinnamon, and XFCE now have built-in utility to create desktop app launcher. But, GNOME does not!<\/p>\n

Arronax<\/a> is the simple tool started almost 10 years ago, with ability to create and edit .desktop<\/code> file.<\/p>\n

With it, user may either right-click on the executable file and select ‘Create a Starter’<\/b>, or open the app by searching from start menu (‘Activities’ overview):<\/p>\n

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For basic function, just type name to display in start menu, select executable file for ‘Command’ box, and choose an icon! Save it to the right location, and that’s all!!<\/b><\/p>\n

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All other options are optional!<\/b> Though, you may move cursor over an option to get tool-tip tells what it does, and enable it as need.<\/p>\n

Finally, click on “Save” button. In the bottom of file save dialog<\/b>, user may choose the standard location to save the .desktop<\/code> file.<\/p>\n