Applications not showing up in Gnome 3 Activities > Search after .desktop configuration file created
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I usually place my local *.desktop files in ~/.local/share/applications. Since very recently they do not show up anymore when I search for them after pressing SUPER key. They are all startable from the terminal though.
What can I do to make those programs accessible again from the dashboard?
The system is ubuntu bionic on gnome3.
gnome .desktop activities-overview
edited Jun 3 at 12:57
Broadsworde
695720
asked Jun 2 at 17:05
ukos
478114
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
I usually place my local *.desktop files in ~/.local/share/applications. Since very recently they do not show up anymore when I search for them after pressing SUPER key. They are all startable from the terminal though.
What can I do to make those programs accessible again from the dashboard?
The system is ubuntu bionic on gnome3.
gnome .desktop activities-overview
edited Jun 3 at 12:57
Broadsworde
695720
asked Jun 2 at 17:05
ukos
478114
As you, with 18.04, I put my *.desktop files in~/.local/share/applicationsand they are shown in gnome program list. My *.desktop files are not executable, just 'valid' desktop files...
– cmak.fr
Jun 2 at 17:37
Could you provide the content of a.desktopfile which doesn't show up in Activities overview.
– pomsky
Jun 2 at 17:38
I think trusting it via nautilus double click was needed. ty
– ukos
Jun 2 at 22:32
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
I usually place my local *.desktop files in ~/.local/share/applications. Since very recently they do not show up anymore when I search for them after pressing SUPER key. They are all startable from the terminal though.
What can I do to make those programs accessible again from the dashboard?
The system is ubuntu bionic on gnome3.
gnome .desktop activities-overview
edited Jun 3 at 12:57
Broadsworde
695720
asked Jun 2 at 17:05
ukos
478114
I usually place my local *.desktop files in ~/.local/share/applications. Since very recently they do not show up anymore when I search for them after pressing SUPER key. They are all startable from the terminal though.
What can I do to make those programs accessible again from the dashboard?
The system is ubuntu bionic on gnome3.
gnome .desktop activities-overview
edited Jun 3 at 12:57
Broadsworde
695720
asked Jun 2 at 17:05
ukos
478114
edited Jun 3 at 12:57
Broadsworde
695720
edited Jun 3 at 12:57
Broadsworde
695720
edited Jun 3 at 12:57
Broadsworde
695720
695720
asked Jun 2 at 17:05
ukos
478114
asked Jun 2 at 17:05
ukos
478114
asked Jun 2 at 17:05
ukos
478114
478114
As you, with 18.04, I put my *.desktop files in~/.local/share/applicationsand they are shown in gnome program list. My *.desktop files are not executable, just 'valid' desktop files...
– cmak.fr
Jun 2 at 17:37
Could you provide the content of a.desktopfile which doesn't show up in Activities overview.
– pomsky
Jun 2 at 17:38
I think trusting it via nautilus double click was needed. ty
– ukos
Jun 2 at 22:32
add a comment |Â
As you, with 18.04, I put my *.desktop files in~/.local/share/applicationsand they are shown in gnome program list. My *.desktop files are not executable, just 'valid' desktop files...
– cmak.fr
Jun 2 at 17:37
Could you provide the content of a.desktopfile which doesn't show up in Activities overview.
– pomsky
Jun 2 at 17:38
I think trusting it via nautilus double click was needed. ty
– ukos
Jun 2 at 22:32
As you, with 18.04, I put my *.desktop files in
~/.local/share/applications and they are shown in gnome program list. My *.desktop files are not executable, just 'valid' desktop files...– cmak.fr
Jun 2 at 17:37
As you, with 18.04, I put my *.desktop files in
~/.local/share/applications and they are shown in gnome program list. My *.desktop files are not executable, just 'valid' desktop files...– cmak.fr
Jun 2 at 17:37
Could you provide the content of a
.desktop file which doesn't show up in Activities overview.– pomsky
Jun 2 at 17:38
Could you provide the content of a
.desktop file which doesn't show up in Activities overview.– pomsky
Jun 2 at 17:38
I think trusting it via nautilus double click was needed. ty
– ukos
Jun 2 at 22:32
I think trusting it via nautilus double click was needed. ty
– ukos
Jun 2 at 22:32
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
If you've created a new Desktop Entry configuration file and the new application/link/directory doesn't show up in Activities search, your .desktop file is not configured, saved or located correctly.
Desktop Entry configuration files must be:
Saved as UTF-8
Saved in either;~/.local/share/applications (single user: /home/$USERNAME/.local/share/applications)
or/usr/share/applications (all users)
Contain the correct information
For applications the following minimal key=value pairs;
Type=application
Name=name of application
Exec=absolute path to application
By way of example, I downloaded the latest generic Firefox (firefox-60.0.1) to a USB drive and extracted it there.
I then created the following working minimal Desktop Entry configuration file called usb-firefox.desktop in folder ~/.local/share/applications;
[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Name=USB Firefox
Exec=/media/user/usbDrive/firefox/firefox
Icon=/media/user/usbDrive/firefox/browser/chrome/icons/default/default128.png
Terminal=false
Gnome desktop entry specification from the developers can be found here.
answered Jun 2 at 17:30
Broadsworde
695720
1
works with~/.local/share/applicationstoo
– cmak.fr
Jun 2 at 17:37
No desktop file in /usr/share/applications is set as executable nor do any that are added have to be.
– doug
Jun 2 at 22:21
can you mention that you have to trust the desktop file using nautilus?
– ukos
Jun 7 at 16:09
@ukos, after testing further, with a generic version of Firefox on USB, a Bash script and Tor, I didn't come across that trust step again, so I don't believe it's required if configuration is correct. If you can share the Desktop Entry file that you were using that wasn't showing up until you trusted via Nautilus I can take a look and see if I can replicate on my machine.
– Broadsworde
Jun 7 at 16:29
@Broadsworde it was probably some magic from within nautilus that updated to the correct path in my desktop file.
– ukos
Jul 1 at 13:47
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
If you've created a new Desktop Entry configuration file and the new application/link/directory doesn't show up in Activities search, your .desktop file is not configured, saved or located correctly.
Desktop Entry configuration files must be:
Saved as UTF-8
Saved in either;~/.local/share/applications (single user: /home/$USERNAME/.local/share/applications)
or/usr/share/applications (all users)
Contain the correct information
For applications the following minimal key=value pairs;
Type=application
Name=name of application
Exec=absolute path to application
By way of example, I downloaded the latest generic Firefox (firefox-60.0.1) to a USB drive and extracted it there.
I then created the following working minimal Desktop Entry configuration file called usb-firefox.desktop in folder ~/.local/share/applications;
[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Name=USB Firefox
Exec=/media/user/usbDrive/firefox/firefox
Icon=/media/user/usbDrive/firefox/browser/chrome/icons/default/default128.png
Terminal=false
Gnome desktop entry specification from the developers can be found here.
answered Jun 2 at 17:30
Broadsworde
695720
1
works with~/.local/share/applicationstoo
– cmak.fr
Jun 2 at 17:37
No desktop file in /usr/share/applications is set as executable nor do any that are added have to be.
– doug
Jun 2 at 22:21
can you mention that you have to trust the desktop file using nautilus?
– ukos
Jun 7 at 16:09
@ukos, after testing further, with a generic version of Firefox on USB, a Bash script and Tor, I didn't come across that trust step again, so I don't believe it's required if configuration is correct. If you can share the Desktop Entry file that you were using that wasn't showing up until you trusted via Nautilus I can take a look and see if I can replicate on my machine.
– Broadsworde
Jun 7 at 16:29
@Broadsworde it was probably some magic from within nautilus that updated to the correct path in my desktop file.
– ukos
Jul 1 at 13:47
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
If you've created a new Desktop Entry configuration file and the new application/link/directory doesn't show up in Activities search, your .desktop file is not configured, saved or located correctly.
Desktop Entry configuration files must be:
Saved as UTF-8
Saved in either;~/.local/share/applications (single user: /home/$USERNAME/.local/share/applications)
or/usr/share/applications (all users)
Contain the correct information
For applications the following minimal key=value pairs;
Type=application
Name=name of application
Exec=absolute path to application
By way of example, I downloaded the latest generic Firefox (firefox-60.0.1) to a USB drive and extracted it there.
I then created the following working minimal Desktop Entry configuration file called usb-firefox.desktop in folder ~/.local/share/applications;
[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Name=USB Firefox
Exec=/media/user/usbDrive/firefox/firefox
Icon=/media/user/usbDrive/firefox/browser/chrome/icons/default/default128.png
Terminal=false
Gnome desktop entry specification from the developers can be found here.
answered Jun 2 at 17:30
Broadsworde
695720
1
works with~/.local/share/applicationstoo
– cmak.fr
Jun 2 at 17:37
No desktop file in /usr/share/applications is set as executable nor do any that are added have to be.
– doug
Jun 2 at 22:21
can you mention that you have to trust the desktop file using nautilus?
– ukos
Jun 7 at 16:09
@ukos, after testing further, with a generic version of Firefox on USB, a Bash script and Tor, I didn't come across that trust step again, so I don't believe it's required if configuration is correct. If you can share the Desktop Entry file that you were using that wasn't showing up until you trusted via Nautilus I can take a look and see if I can replicate on my machine.
– Broadsworde
Jun 7 at 16:29
@Broadsworde it was probably some magic from within nautilus that updated to the correct path in my desktop file.
– ukos
Jul 1 at 13:47
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
If you've created a new Desktop Entry configuration file and the new application/link/directory doesn't show up in Activities search, your .desktop file is not configured, saved or located correctly.
Desktop Entry configuration files must be:
Saved as UTF-8
Saved in either;~/.local/share/applications (single user: /home/$USERNAME/.local/share/applications)
or/usr/share/applications (all users)
Contain the correct information
For applications the following minimal key=value pairs;
Type=application
Name=name of application
Exec=absolute path to application
By way of example, I downloaded the latest generic Firefox (firefox-60.0.1) to a USB drive and extracted it there.
I then created the following working minimal Desktop Entry configuration file called usb-firefox.desktop in folder ~/.local/share/applications;
[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Name=USB Firefox
Exec=/media/user/usbDrive/firefox/firefox
Icon=/media/user/usbDrive/firefox/browser/chrome/icons/default/default128.png
Terminal=false
Gnome desktop entry specification from the developers can be found here.
answered Jun 2 at 17:30
Broadsworde
695720
If you've created a new Desktop Entry configuration file and the new application/link/directory doesn't show up in Activities search, your .desktop file is not configured, saved or located correctly.
Desktop Entry configuration files must be:
Saved as UTF-8
Saved in either;~/.local/share/applications (single user: /home/$USERNAME/.local/share/applications)
or/usr/share/applications (all users)
Contain the correct information
For applications the following minimal key=value pairs;
Type=application
Name=name of application
Exec=absolute path to application
By way of example, I downloaded the latest generic Firefox (firefox-60.0.1) to a USB drive and extracted it there.
I then created the following working minimal Desktop Entry configuration file called usb-firefox.desktop in folder ~/.local/share/applications;
[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Name=USB Firefox
Exec=/media/user/usbDrive/firefox/firefox
Icon=/media/user/usbDrive/firefox/browser/chrome/icons/default/default128.png
Terminal=false
Gnome desktop entry specification from the developers can be found here.
answered Jun 2 at 17:30
Broadsworde
695720
edited Jun 7 at 17:20
answered Jun 2 at 17:30
Broadsworde
695720
answered Jun 2 at 17:30
Broadsworde
695720
answered Jun 2 at 17:30
Broadsworde
695720
695720
1
works with~/.local/share/applicationstoo
– cmak.fr
Jun 2 at 17:37
No desktop file in /usr/share/applications is set as executable nor do any that are added have to be.
– doug
Jun 2 at 22:21
can you mention that you have to trust the desktop file using nautilus?
– ukos
Jun 7 at 16:09
@ukos, after testing further, with a generic version of Firefox on USB, a Bash script and Tor, I didn't come across that trust step again, so I don't believe it's required if configuration is correct. If you can share the Desktop Entry file that you were using that wasn't showing up until you trusted via Nautilus I can take a look and see if I can replicate on my machine.
– Broadsworde
Jun 7 at 16:29
@Broadsworde it was probably some magic from within nautilus that updated to the correct path in my desktop file.
– ukos
Jul 1 at 13:47
add a comment |Â
1
works with~/.local/share/applicationstoo
– cmak.fr
Jun 2 at 17:37
No desktop file in /usr/share/applications is set as executable nor do any that are added have to be.
– doug
Jun 2 at 22:21
can you mention that you have to trust the desktop file using nautilus?
– ukos
Jun 7 at 16:09
@ukos, after testing further, with a generic version of Firefox on USB, a Bash script and Tor, I didn't come across that trust step again, so I don't believe it's required if configuration is correct. If you can share the Desktop Entry file that you were using that wasn't showing up until you trusted via Nautilus I can take a look and see if I can replicate on my machine.
– Broadsworde
Jun 7 at 16:29
@Broadsworde it was probably some magic from within nautilus that updated to the correct path in my desktop file.
– ukos
Jul 1 at 13:47
1
1
works with
~/.local/share/applications too– cmak.fr
Jun 2 at 17:37
works with
~/.local/share/applications too– cmak.fr
Jun 2 at 17:37
No desktop file in /usr/share/applications is set as executable nor do any that are added have to be.
– doug
Jun 2 at 22:21
No desktop file in /usr/share/applications is set as executable nor do any that are added have to be.
– doug
Jun 2 at 22:21
can you mention that you have to trust the desktop file using nautilus?
– ukos
Jun 7 at 16:09
can you mention that you have to trust the desktop file using nautilus?
– ukos
Jun 7 at 16:09
@ukos, after testing further, with a generic version of Firefox on USB, a Bash script and Tor, I didn't come across that trust step again, so I don't believe it's required if configuration is correct. If you can share the Desktop Entry file that you were using that wasn't showing up until you trusted via Nautilus I can take a look and see if I can replicate on my machine.
– Broadsworde
Jun 7 at 16:29
@ukos, after testing further, with a generic version of Firefox on USB, a Bash script and Tor, I didn't come across that trust step again, so I don't believe it's required if configuration is correct. If you can share the Desktop Entry file that you were using that wasn't showing up until you trusted via Nautilus I can take a look and see if I can replicate on my machine.
– Broadsworde
Jun 7 at 16:29
@Broadsworde it was probably some magic from within nautilus that updated to the correct path in my desktop file.
– ukos
Jul 1 at 13:47
@Broadsworde it was probably some magic from within nautilus that updated to the correct path in my desktop file.
– ukos
Jul 1 at 13:47
add a comment |Â
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As you, with 18.04, I put my *.desktop files in
~/.local/share/applicationsand they are shown in gnome program list. My *.desktop files are not executable, just 'valid' desktop files...– cmak.fr
Jun 2 at 17:37
Could you provide the content of a
.desktopfile which doesn't show up in Activities overview.– pomsky
Jun 2 at 17:38
I think trusting it via nautilus double click was needed. ty
– ukos
Jun 2 at 22:32