create launcher

[Les Gray]

On Sun, 1 Jul 2007 09:39:41 +1000
martin fricke <camelgrass at gmail.com> wrote:

> Why is it that when installing certain software from Synaptic it
> doesn't create a launcher on the desktop or in main menu?

It usually depends how well the program conforms to desktop standards, eg. those of freedesktop.org. To be standards compliant a package has to include files that, when read by your desktop's menu program, will create menu entries. The most common of these files are *.desktop files living in /usr/share/applications. If you look at one of these files you'll notice it specifies the command which runs the program, its icon, tooltip and so forth.

If everything is working as it should a menu entry for the program should appear next time you click on your desktop menu. If not, it can mean that the *.desktop files were installed into a non-standard location, or you are a using a buggy menu app (historically an issue with Linux), or you need to wait a while for your desktop to 'catch up', as it were (I won't bother explaining that :) ).

Sometimes, though, you may have to use your distro's menu editing tool to bring recalcitrant apps into line. You can also of course edit *.desktop files by hand to suit your preferences. It's what I do and it gives you more control over the process.
 
> 
> Example 7-Zip. When I right-click on the desktop and select "Create
> Launcher', in which directory do I find the program to point the
> launcher to?

95% or so of program executables for stuff you install from Synaptic reside in /usr/bin (for 'binary'). The remaining few will usually be in /usr/sbin ('system binaries'), /usr/local/<program directory>, or /opt/<program directory>.

> 
> Thanks for any help ;)
> Marty

You're welcome,

Les

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-- 
Les Gray <lgray at bigpond.net.au>