Name

Use this text box to specify the name of the launcher. You can use the Advanced tab to add translations of the name. This name is the name that appears when you add the launcher to a menu or to the desktop.

Generic name

Use this text box to specify the class of application to which the launcher belongs. For example, you might type Text Editor in this text box for a gedit launcher. You can use the Advanced tab to add translations of the generic name.

Comment

Use this text box to specify a short description of the launcher. The comment is displayed as a tooltip when you point to the launcher icon on the panel. You can use the Advanced tabbed section to add translations of the comment.

Command

Use this field to specify a command to execute when you click on the launcher. For sample commands, see the next section.

Type

Use this drop-down combination box to specify the type of launcher. Select from the following:

• Application: Select this option to create a launcher that starts an application.

• Link: Select this option to create a launcher that links to a URI.

Icon

Choose an icon to represent the launcher. To choose an icon, click on the No Icon button. An icon selector dialog is displayed. Choose an icon from the dialog. Alternatively, to choose an icon from another directory, click Browse. When you choose an icon, click OK.

Run in terminal

Select this option to run the application or command in a terminal window. Choose this option for an application or command that does not create a window in which to run.

Try this before using

Enter a command here to check before starting the launcher. If the command is executable and is in your path, the launcher appears on the panel.

Documentation

Enter the path to the help file for the launcher. If you enter a path in this field, a Help on launcher-name Application menu item is displayed on the popup menu for the launcher.

First field

Enter the two-letter code for the language for which you want to add a translation.

Second field

Enter the translation of the Name of the launcher.

Third field

Enter the translation of the Generic name of the launcher.

Fourth field

Enter the translation for the Comment for the launcher.

gedit

Starts the gedit text editor application.

gedit /user123/loremipsum.txt

Opens the file /user123/loremipsum.txt in the gedit text editor application.

nautilus /user123/Projects

Opens the folder /user123/Projects in a file object window.

http://www.gnome.org

Opens the GNOME website in your default browser.

ftp://ftp.gnome.org

Opens the GNOME FTP site in your default browser.

%f

A single file name, even if multiple files are selected. The system reading the desktop entry should recognize that the program in question cannot handle multiple file arguments, and it should should probably spawn and execute multiple copies of a program for each selected file if the program is not able to handle additional file arguments. If files are not on the local file system (i.e. are on HTTP or FTP locations), the files will be copied to the local file system and %f will be expanded to point at the temporary file. Used for programs that do not understand the URL syntax.

%F

A list of files. Use for apps that can open several local files at once.

%u

A single URL.

%U

A list of URLs.

%d

Directory containing the file that would be passed in a %f field.

%D

List of directories containing the files that would be passed in to a %F field.

%n

A single filename (without path).

%N

A list of filenames (without paths).

%i

The Icon field of the desktop entry expanded as two parameters, first --icon and then the contents of the Icon field. Should not expand as any parameters if the Icon field is empty or missing.

%c

The translated Name field associated with the desktop entry.

%k

The location of the desktop file as either a URI (if for example gotten from the vfolder system) or a local filename or empty if no location is known.

%v

The name of the Device entry in the desktop file.