Add java-program (Eclipse,JabRef,Maple,...) to favorites

Question

If I create a Java-desktop-file in ~/.local/share/applications I do not have the option "Add to Favorites".

I tried it with JabRef:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Terminal=false
Icon=org-jabref-jabrefmain.png
Path=/home/jkalliau/prgm/JabRef
Exec=java -jar JabRef--master--latest.jar %U
Name=JabRef
GenericName=BibTeX Editor
Comment=JabRef is an open source bibliography reference manager.
Keywords=bibtex;biblatex;latex;bibliography
Categories=Office;
StartupWMClass=org-jabref-JabRefMain
MimeType=text/x-bibtex;

and with Maple:

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Maple 2018
Type=Application
Comment=Maple 2018
Exec=/home/jkalliau/maple2018/bin/xmaple %f
Terminal=false
Icon=/home/jkalliau/maple2018/bin/Maple2018.png
GenericName=Maple
Categories=Applications;Education;Mathematics;
MimeType=application/x-maple-worksheet;

If I do the same as in How to add Eclipse to Favorites? I have the icon twice, once added to favorites and once the opened file.

Answer 1

Create a .desktop-file with the identical WM_CLASS of the opened program:

• for JabRef: org.jabref.gui.JabRefMain.desktop
• for Maple: java-lang-Thread.desktop
• for Eclipse: eclipse.desktop (according to https://unix.stackexchange.com/a/59654/241592 )
• for nemo nemo.desktop (not Files.desktop)
• for academic MatlabR2022a: MATLAB R2022a - academic use.desktop
• for Inkscape: org.inkscape.Inkscape.desktop

The WM_CLASS can be found with the command

xprop

for more details check https://unix.stackexchange.com/a/225409/241592 . Use Copy&Paste to avoid spellingmistakes.

---

Or you can also see name in the left upper corner

or in the Pop-up of the icon in the favourite-list

As suggest on https://askubuntu.com/a/1120331/676490 after creation of the .desktop-file:

• go to activities

• search the application

• Click "Add to Favorites"

Answer 2

For JabRef it is now: StartupWMClass=org.jabref.gui.MainApplication