How can I find *.desktop files?
To the best of my knowledge, all shortcuts in the Unity Launcher have a corresponding *.desktop file. I have one shortcut (for skrooge) that doesn't have an icon. How can I find the *.desktop file corresponding to this shortcut so that I can add an icon to it?
unity launcher .desktop
add a comment |
To the best of my knowledge, all shortcuts in the Unity Launcher have a corresponding *.desktop file. I have one shortcut (for skrooge) that doesn't have an icon. How can I find the *.desktop file corresponding to this shortcut so that I can add an icon to it?
unity launcher .desktop
add a comment |
To the best of my knowledge, all shortcuts in the Unity Launcher have a corresponding *.desktop file. I have one shortcut (for skrooge) that doesn't have an icon. How can I find the *.desktop file corresponding to this shortcut so that I can add an icon to it?
unity launcher .desktop
To the best of my knowledge, all shortcuts in the Unity Launcher have a corresponding *.desktop file. I have one shortcut (for skrooge) that doesn't have an icon. How can I find the *.desktop file corresponding to this shortcut so that I can add an icon to it?
unity launcher .desktop
unity launcher .desktop
edited Oct 4 '15 at 7:43
Slothworks
342117
342117
asked Mar 30 '12 at 13:52
KovikoKoviko
6482917
6482917
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
It's probably sitting in /usr/share/applications/ but if you want to find every .desktop file on the system run this:
find / -name '*.desktop'
or
sudo updatedb
locate *.desktop
To find files with "skrooge" in their path or name, add a grep to the command:
locate *.desktop | grep -iR "skrooge"
19
locate -i "*skrooge*.desktop". Though there's mainly three places unity will look for desktop files.~/.local/share/applications,/usr/local/share/applicationsand/usr/share/applications. If there are desktop files for the same command in multiple places, it'll use the left-most of the three I listed.
– geirha
Mar 30 '12 at 14:32
Showed up as/usr/share/applications/kde4/skrooge.desktop. Thanks. :)
– Koviko
Mar 30 '12 at 15:08
add a comment |
The system stores the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications/. Unfortunately, if you open that folder in nautilus the .desktop files appears with the icon specified in the file and with the file name called out within the file. You also won't be allowed to edit these files by clicking on them and selecting edit.
To edit these files, you need to open that folder within a terminal window. Doing an ls command will show all the .desktop files with their actual names. When you locate the .desktop you wish to change, run gksudo gedit {file-name}.desktop.
It's normal practice to keep any .desktop files you create or edit in your home folder ~/.local/share/applications.
Running from the terminal can be handier for some, but it is also possible to drag from nautilus into gedit or another text editor.
– Jon Hanna
May 1 '14 at 21:40
what's the point of the directory "~/.local/share/applications"? Files there don't seem to be used, not I cannot add them as "shortcut" to Unity.
– Malachiasz
Feb 8 '15 at 15:14
2
@Malachiasz Actually, the *.desktop files from~/.local/share/applicationsare reloaded when session restarts. So, log out and log back in. Note that these are specific to that user.
– akshay2000
Mar 21 '15 at 7:11
I also found this Q&A here on site useful: How to force Unity reload ~/.local/share/applications/
– hakre
Sep 18 '17 at 18:19
add a comment |
Some additional details to supplement the other answers:
Typically, .desktop files for packages will be located in /usr/share/applications.
If you want, you could copy one to ~/.local/share/applications and edit it there without needing sudo. Items in ~/.local/share/applications will override matching items in /usr/share/applications and /usr/local/share/applications, but are only visible to your user.
Alternatively, you could place an edited copy in /usr/local/share/applications where it will override any in /usr/share/applications while also being visible to the entire system.
Note that you should not edit the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications directly; any changes you make will be automatically overwritten when the application is updated by the package manager.
Extracted from here
+1, most complete answer out of all of them
– Jon Bentley
Feb 19 at 0:22
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
It's probably sitting in /usr/share/applications/ but if you want to find every .desktop file on the system run this:
find / -name '*.desktop'
or
sudo updatedb
locate *.desktop
To find files with "skrooge" in their path or name, add a grep to the command:
locate *.desktop | grep -iR "skrooge"
19
locate -i "*skrooge*.desktop". Though there's mainly three places unity will look for desktop files.~/.local/share/applications,/usr/local/share/applicationsand/usr/share/applications. If there are desktop files for the same command in multiple places, it'll use the left-most of the three I listed.
– geirha
Mar 30 '12 at 14:32
Showed up as/usr/share/applications/kde4/skrooge.desktop. Thanks. :)
– Koviko
Mar 30 '12 at 15:08
add a comment |
It's probably sitting in /usr/share/applications/ but if you want to find every .desktop file on the system run this:
find / -name '*.desktop'
or
sudo updatedb
locate *.desktop
To find files with "skrooge" in their path or name, add a grep to the command:
locate *.desktop | grep -iR "skrooge"
19
locate -i "*skrooge*.desktop". Though there's mainly three places unity will look for desktop files.~/.local/share/applications,/usr/local/share/applicationsand/usr/share/applications. If there are desktop files for the same command in multiple places, it'll use the left-most of the three I listed.
– geirha
Mar 30 '12 at 14:32
Showed up as/usr/share/applications/kde4/skrooge.desktop. Thanks. :)
– Koviko
Mar 30 '12 at 15:08
add a comment |
It's probably sitting in /usr/share/applications/ but if you want to find every .desktop file on the system run this:
find / -name '*.desktop'
or
sudo updatedb
locate *.desktop
To find files with "skrooge" in their path or name, add a grep to the command:
locate *.desktop | grep -iR "skrooge"
It's probably sitting in /usr/share/applications/ but if you want to find every .desktop file on the system run this:
find / -name '*.desktop'
or
sudo updatedb
locate *.desktop
To find files with "skrooge" in their path or name, add a grep to the command:
locate *.desktop | grep -iR "skrooge"
edited Mar 22 '13 at 16:57
8128
24.9k21101137
24.9k21101137
answered Mar 30 '12 at 13:56
Oli♦Oli
223k89566766
223k89566766
19
locate -i "*skrooge*.desktop". Though there's mainly three places unity will look for desktop files.~/.local/share/applications,/usr/local/share/applicationsand/usr/share/applications. If there are desktop files for the same command in multiple places, it'll use the left-most of the three I listed.
– geirha
Mar 30 '12 at 14:32
Showed up as/usr/share/applications/kde4/skrooge.desktop. Thanks. :)
– Koviko
Mar 30 '12 at 15:08
add a comment |
19
locate -i "*skrooge*.desktop". Though there's mainly three places unity will look for desktop files.~/.local/share/applications,/usr/local/share/applicationsand/usr/share/applications. If there are desktop files for the same command in multiple places, it'll use the left-most of the three I listed.
– geirha
Mar 30 '12 at 14:32
Showed up as/usr/share/applications/kde4/skrooge.desktop. Thanks. :)
– Koviko
Mar 30 '12 at 15:08
19
19
locate -i "*skrooge*.desktop". Though there's mainly three places unity will look for desktop files. ~/.local/share/applications, /usr/local/share/applications and /usr/share/applications. If there are desktop files for the same command in multiple places, it'll use the left-most of the three I listed.– geirha
Mar 30 '12 at 14:32
locate -i "*skrooge*.desktop". Though there's mainly three places unity will look for desktop files. ~/.local/share/applications, /usr/local/share/applications and /usr/share/applications. If there are desktop files for the same command in multiple places, it'll use the left-most of the three I listed.– geirha
Mar 30 '12 at 14:32
Showed up as
/usr/share/applications/kde4/skrooge.desktop. Thanks. :)– Koviko
Mar 30 '12 at 15:08
Showed up as
/usr/share/applications/kde4/skrooge.desktop. Thanks. :)– Koviko
Mar 30 '12 at 15:08
add a comment |
The system stores the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications/. Unfortunately, if you open that folder in nautilus the .desktop files appears with the icon specified in the file and with the file name called out within the file. You also won't be allowed to edit these files by clicking on them and selecting edit.
To edit these files, you need to open that folder within a terminal window. Doing an ls command will show all the .desktop files with their actual names. When you locate the .desktop you wish to change, run gksudo gedit {file-name}.desktop.
It's normal practice to keep any .desktop files you create or edit in your home folder ~/.local/share/applications.
Running from the terminal can be handier for some, but it is also possible to drag from nautilus into gedit or another text editor.
– Jon Hanna
May 1 '14 at 21:40
what's the point of the directory "~/.local/share/applications"? Files there don't seem to be used, not I cannot add them as "shortcut" to Unity.
– Malachiasz
Feb 8 '15 at 15:14
2
@Malachiasz Actually, the *.desktop files from~/.local/share/applicationsare reloaded when session restarts. So, log out and log back in. Note that these are specific to that user.
– akshay2000
Mar 21 '15 at 7:11
I also found this Q&A here on site useful: How to force Unity reload ~/.local/share/applications/
– hakre
Sep 18 '17 at 18:19
add a comment |
The system stores the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications/. Unfortunately, if you open that folder in nautilus the .desktop files appears with the icon specified in the file and with the file name called out within the file. You also won't be allowed to edit these files by clicking on them and selecting edit.
To edit these files, you need to open that folder within a terminal window. Doing an ls command will show all the .desktop files with their actual names. When you locate the .desktop you wish to change, run gksudo gedit {file-name}.desktop.
It's normal practice to keep any .desktop files you create or edit in your home folder ~/.local/share/applications.
Running from the terminal can be handier for some, but it is also possible to drag from nautilus into gedit or another text editor.
– Jon Hanna
May 1 '14 at 21:40
what's the point of the directory "~/.local/share/applications"? Files there don't seem to be used, not I cannot add them as "shortcut" to Unity.
– Malachiasz
Feb 8 '15 at 15:14
2
@Malachiasz Actually, the *.desktop files from~/.local/share/applicationsare reloaded when session restarts. So, log out and log back in. Note that these are specific to that user.
– akshay2000
Mar 21 '15 at 7:11
I also found this Q&A here on site useful: How to force Unity reload ~/.local/share/applications/
– hakre
Sep 18 '17 at 18:19
add a comment |
The system stores the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications/. Unfortunately, if you open that folder in nautilus the .desktop files appears with the icon specified in the file and with the file name called out within the file. You also won't be allowed to edit these files by clicking on them and selecting edit.
To edit these files, you need to open that folder within a terminal window. Doing an ls command will show all the .desktop files with their actual names. When you locate the .desktop you wish to change, run gksudo gedit {file-name}.desktop.
It's normal practice to keep any .desktop files you create or edit in your home folder ~/.local/share/applications.
The system stores the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications/. Unfortunately, if you open that folder in nautilus the .desktop files appears with the icon specified in the file and with the file name called out within the file. You also won't be allowed to edit these files by clicking on them and selecting edit.
To edit these files, you need to open that folder within a terminal window. Doing an ls command will show all the .desktop files with their actual names. When you locate the .desktop you wish to change, run gksudo gedit {file-name}.desktop.
It's normal practice to keep any .desktop files you create or edit in your home folder ~/.local/share/applications.
edited Mar 31 '12 at 4:35
jokerdino♦
32.8k21120187
32.8k21120187
answered Mar 31 '12 at 4:18
fragosfragos
2,68721623
2,68721623
Running from the terminal can be handier for some, but it is also possible to drag from nautilus into gedit or another text editor.
– Jon Hanna
May 1 '14 at 21:40
what's the point of the directory "~/.local/share/applications"? Files there don't seem to be used, not I cannot add them as "shortcut" to Unity.
– Malachiasz
Feb 8 '15 at 15:14
2
@Malachiasz Actually, the *.desktop files from~/.local/share/applicationsare reloaded when session restarts. So, log out and log back in. Note that these are specific to that user.
– akshay2000
Mar 21 '15 at 7:11
I also found this Q&A here on site useful: How to force Unity reload ~/.local/share/applications/
– hakre
Sep 18 '17 at 18:19
add a comment |
Running from the terminal can be handier for some, but it is also possible to drag from nautilus into gedit or another text editor.
– Jon Hanna
May 1 '14 at 21:40
what's the point of the directory "~/.local/share/applications"? Files there don't seem to be used, not I cannot add them as "shortcut" to Unity.
– Malachiasz
Feb 8 '15 at 15:14
2
@Malachiasz Actually, the *.desktop files from~/.local/share/applicationsare reloaded when session restarts. So, log out and log back in. Note that these are specific to that user.
– akshay2000
Mar 21 '15 at 7:11
I also found this Q&A here on site useful: How to force Unity reload ~/.local/share/applications/
– hakre
Sep 18 '17 at 18:19
Running from the terminal can be handier for some, but it is also possible to drag from nautilus into gedit or another text editor.
– Jon Hanna
May 1 '14 at 21:40
Running from the terminal can be handier for some, but it is also possible to drag from nautilus into gedit or another text editor.
– Jon Hanna
May 1 '14 at 21:40
what's the point of the directory "~/.local/share/applications"? Files there don't seem to be used, not I cannot add them as "shortcut" to Unity.
– Malachiasz
Feb 8 '15 at 15:14
what's the point of the directory "~/.local/share/applications"? Files there don't seem to be used, not I cannot add them as "shortcut" to Unity.
– Malachiasz
Feb 8 '15 at 15:14
2
2
@Malachiasz Actually, the *.desktop files from
~/.local/share/applications are reloaded when session restarts. So, log out and log back in. Note that these are specific to that user.– akshay2000
Mar 21 '15 at 7:11
@Malachiasz Actually, the *.desktop files from
~/.local/share/applications are reloaded when session restarts. So, log out and log back in. Note that these are specific to that user.– akshay2000
Mar 21 '15 at 7:11
I also found this Q&A here on site useful: How to force Unity reload ~/.local/share/applications/
– hakre
Sep 18 '17 at 18:19
I also found this Q&A here on site useful: How to force Unity reload ~/.local/share/applications/
– hakre
Sep 18 '17 at 18:19
add a comment |
Some additional details to supplement the other answers:
Typically, .desktop files for packages will be located in /usr/share/applications.
If you want, you could copy one to ~/.local/share/applications and edit it there without needing sudo. Items in ~/.local/share/applications will override matching items in /usr/share/applications and /usr/local/share/applications, but are only visible to your user.
Alternatively, you could place an edited copy in /usr/local/share/applications where it will override any in /usr/share/applications while also being visible to the entire system.
Note that you should not edit the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications directly; any changes you make will be automatically overwritten when the application is updated by the package manager.
Extracted from here
+1, most complete answer out of all of them
– Jon Bentley
Feb 19 at 0:22
add a comment |
Some additional details to supplement the other answers:
Typically, .desktop files for packages will be located in /usr/share/applications.
If you want, you could copy one to ~/.local/share/applications and edit it there without needing sudo. Items in ~/.local/share/applications will override matching items in /usr/share/applications and /usr/local/share/applications, but are only visible to your user.
Alternatively, you could place an edited copy in /usr/local/share/applications where it will override any in /usr/share/applications while also being visible to the entire system.
Note that you should not edit the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications directly; any changes you make will be automatically overwritten when the application is updated by the package manager.
Extracted from here
+1, most complete answer out of all of them
– Jon Bentley
Feb 19 at 0:22
add a comment |
Some additional details to supplement the other answers:
Typically, .desktop files for packages will be located in /usr/share/applications.
If you want, you could copy one to ~/.local/share/applications and edit it there without needing sudo. Items in ~/.local/share/applications will override matching items in /usr/share/applications and /usr/local/share/applications, but are only visible to your user.
Alternatively, you could place an edited copy in /usr/local/share/applications where it will override any in /usr/share/applications while also being visible to the entire system.
Note that you should not edit the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications directly; any changes you make will be automatically overwritten when the application is updated by the package manager.
Extracted from here
Some additional details to supplement the other answers:
Typically, .desktop files for packages will be located in /usr/share/applications.
If you want, you could copy one to ~/.local/share/applications and edit it there without needing sudo. Items in ~/.local/share/applications will override matching items in /usr/share/applications and /usr/local/share/applications, but are only visible to your user.
Alternatively, you could place an edited copy in /usr/local/share/applications where it will override any in /usr/share/applications while also being visible to the entire system.
Note that you should not edit the .desktop files in /usr/share/applications directly; any changes you make will be automatically overwritten when the application is updated by the package manager.
Extracted from here
edited Feb 11 at 22:12
Kevin Bowen
14.6k155970
14.6k155970
answered Nov 21 '18 at 15:50
Sopalajo de ArrierezSopalajo de Arrierez
3932718
3932718
+1, most complete answer out of all of them
– Jon Bentley
Feb 19 at 0:22
add a comment |
+1, most complete answer out of all of them
– Jon Bentley
Feb 19 at 0:22
+1, most complete answer out of all of them
– Jon Bentley
Feb 19 at 0:22
+1, most complete answer out of all of them
– Jon Bentley
Feb 19 at 0:22
add a comment |
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