I download Eclipse, uncompressed it in my home folder, launched the application, and selected to keep the application in the launcher. However, the eclipse icon is not being displayed. I'm assuming because it is not technically an installed application.
How can I add an icon for an application in the launcher (ubuntu 11.10)?
Thanks.
This is an easy way to create launcher. See:)
http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-create-desktop-launchers-in-ubuntu-11-10oneiric.html
This is simple and you should be able to make a launcher for any application using it.
This is how I automated creating launchers. This assumes you have already install gnome-panel.
Open a terminal
Either mkdir /home/"your-user-name"/bin or right click on your home folder in the file browser and make a folder named bin.
source .profile or logout and login
Open gedit and make a new file
Paste
#!/bin/sh
sudo gnome-desktop-item-edit /usr/share/applications/ --create-new
into a new gedit file
Save it under a name with no space e.g launcher-script and make it executable by either typing chmod a+x launcher-script in the terminal, or right click>properties>Permissions and click the execute box.
in terminal: sudo gnome-desktop-item-edit /usr/share/applications/ --create-new
You should have the Create Launcher gui open.
Type: Application in Terminal. This only applies this time. Most of the time it will be "Application" after this.
You can name what you wish. No spaces allowed. I called mine "Create-Launcher"
In the command field put the path to the script from step 3
/home/mike/bin/launcher-script
but you must use your user name and your file name.
Click the spring(Launcher icon) to add an icon. I made one with Gimp but there are lots of icons you could use the ones that are very generic and already installed.
Once you're finished click OK. Now you can navigate your file browser down to /usr/share/applications and you will find your new launcher. Simply drag it to your launcher bar and you are ready to go. This process puts your launchers in a place where all users can access them. All of the instructions I have found puts thing on the desktop which might be fine for some but not for me. I hope you find this helpful.
Afterthought, every time you create a new launcher you will have to enter your sudo password. This is necessary to make the new launcher accessible to all users. It will belong to root and the group will be root this way. That is the way the rest of the system comes configured. If you cd to /usr/share/applications, type ls -l and verify for yourself.
