ubuntu-users Digest, Vol 49, Issue 90

[Chris Jeffries]

> > On Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:27:46 +0800
> > Chris Jeffries <chris at candm.org.uk> wrote:
> > 
> > > This problem has been touched on in a number of threads, but I'd like to
> > > ask specifically.
> > > 
> > > When I install a package (I usually use Synaptic) it sometimes adds a
> > > menu entry and sometimes does not.
> > > 
> > > If is does add a menu entry, iit does not give me a choice as to where
> > > to add it, and it does not tell me where it has added it.
> > > 
> > > Of course I can scour the menu trees until I find it, and usually, it
> > > does put it in a reasonably sensible place.
> > > 
> > > However, when it does not add it to the menu tree, I need to go find the
> > > relevant executable and add it to the menu tree myself. However,
> > > sometimes it is just not obvious which is the correct executable from
> > > amongst the many files that are usually loaded when a package is
> > > installed.
> > > 
> > 
> > Instead of going to find the executables, I go directly
> > to /usr/share/menu or /usr/share/applications and get the information I
> > need to make the menu entry. This makes finding the right file easier.
> > 
> > > MY QUESTION
> > > 
> > > Am I being totally thick, or is this a known shortcoming of the package
> > > managers. If I am being totally thick, person someone can enlighten me.
> > > If not, does anyone know if the problem has been reported and if
> > > anything s being done to fix it?
> > 
> > This is a known problem, but most bug reports are classified as
> > wishlist, since the workaround is to manually add the menu item. I
> > think attempts are made to fix apps reported as not creating menu
> > items, but only when new versions of (X), (K), Ubuntu are being
> > released.
> > 
> > good luck,
> > 

Thanks, that's a really useful tip.

Maybe when I feel the urge I will try to write something to marshal
entries between those two directories and the menu config files. Not
that I know where the actual menu config files are to be found at the
moment.

Chris.