[SOLVED] Icon launcher?

[stealth]

Trying to learn something. What is a file that ends with .desktop is that what you would point a desktop icon to in order to launch a program? I know what I want to do and I may have everything I need but I just don't know what to look for.

I have a shell script that I downloaded that launches itself as a cool GUI app on the desktop. It has two executable files both with the same name but one has the .desktop at the end. Presently the only way I know how to launch the app is from the shell.

I apologies if this is something simple to do. I haven't tried this before. I don't even know if I am asking the right question. I tried to Google but I am probably using the wrong search words.

[Old-Polack]

Trying to learn something. What is a file that ends with .desktop is that what you would point a desktop icon to in order to launch a program? I know what I want to do and I may have everything I need but I just don't know what to look for.

I have a shell script that I downloaded that launches itself as a cool GUI app on the desktop. It has two executable files both with the same name but one has the .desktop at the end. Presently the only way I know how to launch the app is from the shell.

I apologies if this is something simple to do. I haven't tried this before. I don't even know if I am asking the right question. I tried to Google but I am probably using the wrong search words.

A .desktop file is a desktop icon. You don't point anything to it, you click it to launch the application.

[stealth]

Okay?, so how do I get it to show up on the desktop or on the task bar so I can click it?

[Old-Polack]

Okay?, so how do I get it to show up on the desktop or on the task bar so I can click it?

Specifically, which .desktop file do you want on your desktop?

[stealth]

Referring back to my OP the actual app is not in the repo and does not get installed as an rpm or even complied from source. It is a downloaded zip that contains a lot of files and folders all contained in one folder in my home folder. There is a shell script that launches the app which seems to be running a series of java files. The app is called The Brain it has a lot of open source licenses and copyrights.

The script is named TheBrain and there is also TheBrain.desktop. I guess that is the file that represents the desktop icon.

This app is a really cool graphical database. It would be easier to show it than to explain it.

[gseaman]

A .desktop file is actually a text file that tells your desktop environment where to find the icon, and how to start a specific program. You can place the desktop file at ~/Desktop/TheBrain.desktop or put the desktop file in /usr/share/applications/, and create a link at ~/Desktop/. If you choose a different location for your program what is stated in the desktop file, you will have to edit it first to make sure all of the information is correct for your installation.

Galen

[stealth]

Thank you that helps. I understand better. Sense this app is not listed in synaptic because it is all contained in the one folder from the zip file how would I put it in the menu found under the PC icon in the bottom left corner of the screen or more to my liking how to put it on the task bar where the PC icon and my other icons are located?

Also where is the information stored about the icons that are on the task bar at the bottom of the screen? ~/.kde4 ?

[Old-Polack]

Thank you that helps. I understand better. Sense this app is not listed in synaptic because it is all contained in the one folder from the zip file how would I put it in the menu found under the PC icon in the bottom left corner of the screen or more to my liking how to put it on the task bar where the PC icon and my other icons are located?

Also where is the information stored about the icons that are on the task bar at the bottom of the screen? ~/.kde4 ?

I create my own panel icon by first creating a menu entry using the Edit Applications option, seen by right clicking on the PC panel icon, with the widgets unlocked. Then with the widgets still unlocked, I right clicked the icon in the menu, and selected Add to Panel.

[stealth]

THANK YOU! Old-Polack you just made my day. I learned something very useful.