How to link to executable file in ubuntu 11.10 with cairo dock?

Question

I am using ubuntu 11.10 with cairo dock in an acer aspire with core i3 2nd gen processor with intel graphics.

I downloaded a program gingkocad as a tar file, opened the package with archive manager and created a folder for the package contents.

To run the program I need to click the executable to run in terminal.

Is there a way to create a shortcut to run the executable from an icon in cairo dock ?

Please help.

Answer 1

Just drag the executable onto Cairo Dock. But don't drag it onto an already placed icon. Put it in between two icons. That's it.

Answer 2

The shortcut-icon in cairo-dock are called launchers. Cairo-dock supports drag and drop.

1. Try dragging and dropping the application executable into any space between icons already on dock. This works for a good number of applications.
2. If that fails, try this:
   • right-click on the dock, then select add>custom-launcher.
   • A new window will appear. Fill the field Launcher name with the name of your application, and 'command to run on click' with the full path to executable file.
   • Then click apply at the bottom right corner, and you should be done.

This method, however, does not provide some features such as having quicklists. To achieve quicklists:

For advanced users

• Open a editor of your choice. ( Novice users can search for 'text editor' in dash and use gedit. - gedit is the text editor that appears in Dash)
• Make a .desktop file with the required quick-lists.
  This can be used as a reference.
  And here's a nice link explaning all the options possible in a .desktop file.
  (Note: X-* options are excluded here, as they are considered non-standard)
• Save the file as <your application name>.desktop
• Drag and drop this to cairo-dock. (on space between icons)

This will always work, provided the .desktop file is made correctly.