.desktop files no longer run when double clicked (on desktop or in file browser)

[Colin Law]

In Ubuntu 19.04 I am finding that it is not possible to run a .desktop
file on the Desktop, or in nautilus file browser, by double clicking
it.  Apparently the Gnome developers have decided that there is no
need for us to be able to this.  Searching has not yielded a
workaround other than to install a different file manager.

See https://www.linuxuprising.com/2018/05/nautilus-will-no-longer-launch-binaries.html

Colin