Gnome Shell - how to add a custom favorite app / change favorite's path?
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP up vote
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Due to a bug/glitch, I can't use Gnome Flashback for a while. I am forced to use the new Gnome Shell layout. I'm finding it a large leap back in usability. I am not able to customize it the way I can with Flashback. It tries to pretend I am on a tablet. But that's a different story.
I have 2 versions of IntelliJ IDEA installed. When I find "idea" in the screen under windows key (I guess "activities"?), only the older version is found. I can add that through context menu. However, I haven't found a way to add the newer one. Or change the old one's path. I have tried various combinations of Alt, Shift, Ctrl and Super with both mouse buttons, but none gave me the "edit" menu item to change what the icon launches.
How can I add a custom command, or how can I change the path of an existing one?
gnome 17.10 gnome-shell favorites
asked Mar 19 at 13:00
Ondra Žižka
7981924
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
Due to a bug/glitch, I can't use Gnome Flashback for a while. I am forced to use the new Gnome Shell layout. I'm finding it a large leap back in usability. I am not able to customize it the way I can with Flashback. It tries to pretend I am on a tablet. But that's a different story.
I have 2 versions of IntelliJ IDEA installed. When I find "idea" in the screen under windows key (I guess "activities"?), only the older version is found. I can add that through context menu. However, I haven't found a way to add the newer one. Or change the old one's path. I have tried various combinations of Alt, Shift, Ctrl and Super with both mouse buttons, but none gave me the "edit" menu item to change what the icon launches.
How can I add a custom command, or how can I change the path of an existing one?
gnome 17.10 gnome-shell favorites
asked Mar 19 at 13:00
Ondra Žižka
7981924
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
Due to a bug/glitch, I can't use Gnome Flashback for a while. I am forced to use the new Gnome Shell layout. I'm finding it a large leap back in usability. I am not able to customize it the way I can with Flashback. It tries to pretend I am on a tablet. But that's a different story.
I have 2 versions of IntelliJ IDEA installed. When I find "idea" in the screen under windows key (I guess "activities"?), only the older version is found. I can add that through context menu. However, I haven't found a way to add the newer one. Or change the old one's path. I have tried various combinations of Alt, Shift, Ctrl and Super with both mouse buttons, but none gave me the "edit" menu item to change what the icon launches.
How can I add a custom command, or how can I change the path of an existing one?
gnome 17.10 gnome-shell favorites
asked Mar 19 at 13:00
Ondra Žižka
7981924
Due to a bug/glitch, I can't use Gnome Flashback for a while. I am forced to use the new Gnome Shell layout. I'm finding it a large leap back in usability. I am not able to customize it the way I can with Flashback. It tries to pretend I am on a tablet. But that's a different story.
I have 2 versions of IntelliJ IDEA installed. When I find "idea" in the screen under windows key (I guess "activities"?), only the older version is found. I can add that through context menu. However, I haven't found a way to add the newer one. Or change the old one's path. I have tried various combinations of Alt, Shift, Ctrl and Super with both mouse buttons, but none gave me the "edit" menu item to change what the icon launches.
How can I add a custom command, or how can I change the path of an existing one?
gnome 17.10 gnome-shell favorites
gnome 17.10 gnome-shell favorites
asked Mar 19 at 13:00
Ondra Žižka
7981924
asked Mar 19 at 13:00
Ondra Žižka
7981924
asked Mar 19 at 13:00
Ondra Žižka
7981924
asked Mar 19 at 13:00
Ondra Žižka
7981924
asked Mar 19 at 13:00
Ondra Žižka
7981924
7981924
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
If the application appears in "Activities" overview, then it probably has an associated .desktop file either in /usr/share/applications/ or in ~/.local/share/applications/.
Look for the asociated .desktop file in those two locations. If you find it in /usr/share/applications/ first copy it to ~/.local/share/applications/. Then edit the copied file using a text editor. Look for an Exec= line inside the .desktop file. Change it to a command you prefer.
If you just want to add another command without replacing the current one, you may add a custom [Desktop Action] in the .desktop file. Then the second command will be accessible from the context menu (right-click menu). See this answer for reference.
Alternatively, you may create a new .desktop launcher for the second command which will appear as a separate entry in "Activities" overview. One simple example:
[Desktop Entry]
Comment=A comment to describe the application
Terminal=false
Name=Application name to be shown
Exec=command (with full path) to launch the application
Type=Application
Icon=/path/to/icon/image
If you wish to use a GUI tool to edit application launchers, you may try alacarte (aka "Main Menu"). You can install it by running
sudo apt install alacarte
answered Mar 19 at 13:05
pomsky
23k77299
Indeed, I found/usr/share/applications/jetbrains-idea.desktop. What puzzles me though - how come there is no editor for these desktop files? Or is it, just not invoked from the menus?
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:03
I havealacartealready installed. Do I need to do anything else to make the menu appear? Or is it the button with three bars in the notification area? That resembles the menu, in terms, it has a tree structure.
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:15
Not in Activities. Just the windows, icons and search bar.
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:17
@OndraŽižka Sorry, I don't get it. Have you managed to launch alacarte? If you have, then you can create a new launcher by clicking the "new item" button. You can also look for an existing launcher in the correct category and edit it. See this screenshot for reference: i.stack.imgur.com/AlruV.png
– pomsky
Mar 19 at 15:24
Ah, I see, I thoughtalacartewill appear somewhere as a widget, something like a Start button in Windows. Launching it works and I could edit the menu. However, there is no category/group which would map to the bar with icons on the left. (Sorry I lack the words for these UI parts). But at least something :)
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 17:17
 |Â
show 1 more comment
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
If the application appears in "Activities" overview, then it probably has an associated .desktop file either in /usr/share/applications/ or in ~/.local/share/applications/.
Look for the asociated .desktop file in those two locations. If you find it in /usr/share/applications/ first copy it to ~/.local/share/applications/. Then edit the copied file using a text editor. Look for an Exec= line inside the .desktop file. Change it to a command you prefer.
If you just want to add another command without replacing the current one, you may add a custom [Desktop Action] in the .desktop file. Then the second command will be accessible from the context menu (right-click menu). See this answer for reference.
Alternatively, you may create a new .desktop launcher for the second command which will appear as a separate entry in "Activities" overview. One simple example:
[Desktop Entry]
Comment=A comment to describe the application
Terminal=false
Name=Application name to be shown
Exec=command (with full path) to launch the application
Type=Application
Icon=/path/to/icon/image
If you wish to use a GUI tool to edit application launchers, you may try alacarte (aka "Main Menu"). You can install it by running
sudo apt install alacarte
answered Mar 19 at 13:05
pomsky
23k77299
Indeed, I found/usr/share/applications/jetbrains-idea.desktop. What puzzles me though - how come there is no editor for these desktop files? Or is it, just not invoked from the menus?
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:03
I havealacartealready installed. Do I need to do anything else to make the menu appear? Or is it the button with three bars in the notification area? That resembles the menu, in terms, it has a tree structure.
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:15
Not in Activities. Just the windows, icons and search bar.
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:17
@OndraŽižka Sorry, I don't get it. Have you managed to launch alacarte? If you have, then you can create a new launcher by clicking the "new item" button. You can also look for an existing launcher in the correct category and edit it. See this screenshot for reference: i.stack.imgur.com/AlruV.png
– pomsky
Mar 19 at 15:24
Ah, I see, I thoughtalacartewill appear somewhere as a widget, something like a Start button in Windows. Launching it works and I could edit the menu. However, there is no category/group which would map to the bar with icons on the left. (Sorry I lack the words for these UI parts). But at least something :)
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 17:17
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
If the application appears in "Activities" overview, then it probably has an associated .desktop file either in /usr/share/applications/ or in ~/.local/share/applications/.
Look for the asociated .desktop file in those two locations. If you find it in /usr/share/applications/ first copy it to ~/.local/share/applications/. Then edit the copied file using a text editor. Look for an Exec= line inside the .desktop file. Change it to a command you prefer.
If you just want to add another command without replacing the current one, you may add a custom [Desktop Action] in the .desktop file. Then the second command will be accessible from the context menu (right-click menu). See this answer for reference.
Alternatively, you may create a new .desktop launcher for the second command which will appear as a separate entry in "Activities" overview. One simple example:
[Desktop Entry]
Comment=A comment to describe the application
Terminal=false
Name=Application name to be shown
Exec=command (with full path) to launch the application
Type=Application
Icon=/path/to/icon/image
If you wish to use a GUI tool to edit application launchers, you may try alacarte (aka "Main Menu"). You can install it by running
sudo apt install alacarte
answered Mar 19 at 13:05
pomsky
23k77299
Indeed, I found/usr/share/applications/jetbrains-idea.desktop. What puzzles me though - how come there is no editor for these desktop files? Or is it, just not invoked from the menus?
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:03
I havealacartealready installed. Do I need to do anything else to make the menu appear? Or is it the button with three bars in the notification area? That resembles the menu, in terms, it has a tree structure.
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:15
Not in Activities. Just the windows, icons and search bar.
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:17
@OndraŽižka Sorry, I don't get it. Have you managed to launch alacarte? If you have, then you can create a new launcher by clicking the "new item" button. You can also look for an existing launcher in the correct category and edit it. See this screenshot for reference: i.stack.imgur.com/AlruV.png
– pomsky
Mar 19 at 15:24
Ah, I see, I thoughtalacartewill appear somewhere as a widget, something like a Start button in Windows. Launching it works and I could edit the menu. However, there is no category/group which would map to the bar with icons on the left. (Sorry I lack the words for these UI parts). But at least something :)
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 17:17
 |Â
show 1 more comment
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
up vote
1
down vote
accepted
If the application appears in "Activities" overview, then it probably has an associated .desktop file either in /usr/share/applications/ or in ~/.local/share/applications/.
Look for the asociated .desktop file in those two locations. If you find it in /usr/share/applications/ first copy it to ~/.local/share/applications/. Then edit the copied file using a text editor. Look for an Exec= line inside the .desktop file. Change it to a command you prefer.
If you just want to add another command without replacing the current one, you may add a custom [Desktop Action] in the .desktop file. Then the second command will be accessible from the context menu (right-click menu). See this answer for reference.
Alternatively, you may create a new .desktop launcher for the second command which will appear as a separate entry in "Activities" overview. One simple example:
[Desktop Entry]
Comment=A comment to describe the application
Terminal=false
Name=Application name to be shown
Exec=command (with full path) to launch the application
Type=Application
Icon=/path/to/icon/image
If you wish to use a GUI tool to edit application launchers, you may try alacarte (aka "Main Menu"). You can install it by running
sudo apt install alacarte
answered Mar 19 at 13:05
pomsky
23k77299
If the application appears in "Activities" overview, then it probably has an associated .desktop file either in /usr/share/applications/ or in ~/.local/share/applications/.
Look for the asociated .desktop file in those two locations. If you find it in /usr/share/applications/ first copy it to ~/.local/share/applications/. Then edit the copied file using a text editor. Look for an Exec= line inside the .desktop file. Change it to a command you prefer.
If you just want to add another command without replacing the current one, you may add a custom [Desktop Action] in the .desktop file. Then the second command will be accessible from the context menu (right-click menu). See this answer for reference.
Alternatively, you may create a new .desktop launcher for the second command which will appear as a separate entry in "Activities" overview. One simple example:
[Desktop Entry]
Comment=A comment to describe the application
Terminal=false
Name=Application name to be shown
Exec=command (with full path) to launch the application
Type=Application
Icon=/path/to/icon/image
If you wish to use a GUI tool to edit application launchers, you may try alacarte (aka "Main Menu"). You can install it by running
sudo apt install alacarte
answered Mar 19 at 13:05
pomsky
23k77299
edited Mar 19 at 15:06
answered Mar 19 at 13:05
pomsky
23k77299
answered Mar 19 at 13:05
pomsky
23k77299
answered Mar 19 at 13:05
pomsky
23k77299
23k77299
Indeed, I found/usr/share/applications/jetbrains-idea.desktop. What puzzles me though - how come there is no editor for these desktop files? Or is it, just not invoked from the menus?
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:03
I havealacartealready installed. Do I need to do anything else to make the menu appear? Or is it the button with three bars in the notification area? That resembles the menu, in terms, it has a tree structure.
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:15
Not in Activities. Just the windows, icons and search bar.
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:17
@OndraŽižka Sorry, I don't get it. Have you managed to launch alacarte? If you have, then you can create a new launcher by clicking the "new item" button. You can also look for an existing launcher in the correct category and edit it. See this screenshot for reference: i.stack.imgur.com/AlruV.png
– pomsky
Mar 19 at 15:24
Ah, I see, I thoughtalacartewill appear somewhere as a widget, something like a Start button in Windows. Launching it works and I could edit the menu. However, there is no category/group which would map to the bar with icons on the left. (Sorry I lack the words for these UI parts). But at least something :)
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 17:17
 |Â
show 1 more comment
Indeed, I found/usr/share/applications/jetbrains-idea.desktop. What puzzles me though - how come there is no editor for these desktop files? Or is it, just not invoked from the menus?
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:03
I havealacartealready installed. Do I need to do anything else to make the menu appear? Or is it the button with three bars in the notification area? That resembles the menu, in terms, it has a tree structure.
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:15
Not in Activities. Just the windows, icons and search bar.
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:17
@OndraŽižka Sorry, I don't get it. Have you managed to launch alacarte? If you have, then you can create a new launcher by clicking the "new item" button. You can also look for an existing launcher in the correct category and edit it. See this screenshot for reference: i.stack.imgur.com/AlruV.png
– pomsky
Mar 19 at 15:24
Ah, I see, I thoughtalacartewill appear somewhere as a widget, something like a Start button in Windows. Launching it works and I could edit the menu. However, there is no category/group which would map to the bar with icons on the left. (Sorry I lack the words for these UI parts). But at least something :)
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 17:17
Indeed, I found
/usr/share/applications/jetbrains-idea.desktop. What puzzles me though - how come there is no editor for these desktop files? Or is it, just not invoked from the menus?– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:03
Indeed, I found
/usr/share/applications/jetbrains-idea.desktop. What puzzles me though - how come there is no editor for these desktop files? Or is it, just not invoked from the menus?– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:03
I have
alacarte already installed. Do I need to do anything else to make the menu appear? Or is it the button with three bars in the notification area? That resembles the menu, in terms, it has a tree structure.– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:15
I have
alacarte already installed. Do I need to do anything else to make the menu appear? Or is it the button with three bars in the notification area? That resembles the menu, in terms, it has a tree structure.– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:15
Not in Activities. Just the windows, icons and search bar.
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:17
Not in Activities. Just the windows, icons and search bar.
– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 15:17
@OndraŽižka Sorry, I don't get it. Have you managed to launch alacarte? If you have, then you can create a new launcher by clicking the "new item" button. You can also look for an existing launcher in the correct category and edit it. See this screenshot for reference: i.stack.imgur.com/AlruV.png
– pomsky
Mar 19 at 15:24
@OndraŽižka Sorry, I don't get it. Have you managed to launch alacarte? If you have, then you can create a new launcher by clicking the "new item" button. You can also look for an existing launcher in the correct category and edit it. See this screenshot for reference: i.stack.imgur.com/AlruV.png
– pomsky
Mar 19 at 15:24
Ah, I see, I thought
alacarte will appear somewhere as a widget, something like a Start button in Windows. Launching it works and I could edit the menu. However, there is no category/group which would map to the bar with icons on the left. (Sorry I lack the words for these UI parts). But at least something :)– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 17:17
Ah, I see, I thought
alacarte will appear somewhere as a widget, something like a Start button in Windows. Launching it works and I could edit the menu. However, there is no category/group which would map to the bar with icons on the left. (Sorry I lack the words for these UI parts). But at least something :)– Ondra Žižka
Mar 19 at 17:17
 |Â
show 1 more comment
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