adding programs to GNOME menu

[deleeuw]

Hey all,
I think this should be simple: how does one add programs to the GNOME menu?


Thx

[DSwain]

Running Gnome 2.x? I wrote a little thing on my blog on how to do this, but since I can't link directly to it, I'll just give you the shake down of it. I hate to say it, but it's actually a little more annoying than you may have hoped haha.

What you have to do is create a .desktop file for the application you're dealing with. These files are located in /usr/share/applications/ where you can read a few if you need some examples. The file is just an XML file, and it looks something like this. I'll use this gaim.desktop file that I wrote as an example:

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Categories=Application;Network;
Exec=gaim
Icon=gaim.png
StartupNotify=true
Terminal=false
Type=Application

Name=Gaim IM
GenericName=Internet Messenger
Comment=Send instant messages over multiple protocols

Essentially what you have to do is identify the particular information which your application falls under. In this instance, the Category is Apps/Network but obviously mileage will vary. Your icon should be a file located somewhere within the folders which the applications are installed in. Exec is just the binary to execute (it can be a script too: I've done that) and the rest is pretty much straightforward too. Once you write this info out, save the file as application.desktop into /usr/share/applications/ and then restart the panel (or you may not have to do that even) and you should have your icon.

It's kind of annoying to go through with, but once you get a good model going and get the idea of it, it's real easy to write them up real quick. Ask if I didn't make myself too clear, and here's some more information to check out about it: http://www.gnome.org/start/2.0/menuediting.html

[deleeuw]

Cool! Thanks, I'll try that.

[deleeuw]

Sorry, but maybe I asked the wrong thing. Here's specificicall what I want to do:
copy the text editor (gedit) onto the main menu (its currently in my Tools subdirectory).

Sorry for the confusion

[Syche]

You could use something like Alacarte (http://www.realistanew.com/projects/alacarte/) to edit your menu easily.

Many distros carry it now, or atleast an older version 'Smeg'.

[DSwain]

Sorry, but maybe I asked the wrong thing. Here's specificicall what I want to do:
copy the text editor (gedit) onto the main menu (its currently in my Tools subdirectory).

Sorry for the confusion

In that case, I believe what you can do is go into the /usr/share/applications/ directory, find the entry for gedit (or Text Editor as it is for me) and then change categories to just Applications instead of say Applications;Tools. I think those would be the results you are looking for.

You could also try Alacarte. I tried a menu editor like that once, but it was not very good. I never used Alacarte though, and it does look much better, so it may very well be worth a swing.

[deleeuw]

Forgive me for seeming stupid, but how do you change the catagory??

[DSwain]

Well, basically when you're writing the entry, you simply change the part which says "Category:". In particular, change this:
Categories=Application;Network;
To this:
Categories=Application;
And I believe this will work as you want it to.

If this doesn't work, maybe trying something like Alacarte would be a better solution.

[Calipso]

you could try SMEG the menu editor.
You will have to install it seperately because its not included with GNOME by default but it shouldnt be too much trouble if you use your distributions package manager.

[NighttimePunk]

where exactly do u enter comands, open the cmd line then check open in terminal or just open a terminal, this really confuses me. im affraid ill command it down the drain!!!