[PLUG] How to create an icon to execute freecad

[Ben Koenig]

Since when does Ubuntu not include a .desktop file for a GUI program?

Not a big deal since creating a launcher is easy, but searching
packages.ubuntu.org for freecad in 18.04, suggests that it does indeed
include a launcher

from https://packages.ubuntu.com/bionic/amd64/freecad/filelist:

/usr/share/applications/freecad.desktop


Don't mind me, just pondering why you aren't seeing the icon.

-Ben


On Sun, Nov 3, 2019 at 9:36 PM Denis Heidtmann <denis.heidtmann at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Thanks.  Your approach got me to asking Ubuntu for desktop file creation.
> I managed to get it done.
>
> On Sun, Nov 3, 2019 at 7:55 PM Michael Barnes <barnmichael at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > On Sun, Nov 3, 2019 at 6:43 PM Denis Heidtmann <
> denis.heidtmann at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > I am using freecad.  As installed via a package from Ubuntu it has no
> > icon
> > > for gui execution.  It would be a minor convenience if I could create
> > > such.  As it is now I launch a terminal, type "freecad" and I am off
> and
> > > running.  I thought I could just go to /usr/bin/freecad, create a link,
> > and
> > > be done.  But /usr/bin/freecad is a link to a link to a link to who
> knows
> > > what.  None of that chain permits a link.
> > >
> > > So how about a batch file to do what I do by typing in a terminal?
> Well
> > it
> > > has been a few years since I have messed with bash.  I have created an
> > > executable script file names FCad.sh and a link thereto.  The script
> > > contains just the command "freecad".  The link opens the script in
> gedit.
> > > I expect that everybody reading this is saying "well, duh!"
> > >
> > > So how do I do what I want?  There is an additional desire: When I
> > execute
> > > the command "freecad" from a terminal, error messages generated during
> > the
> > > running of freecad show up in the terminal.  Those messages can be
> > useful.
> > > So I would like those messages to be available when I run freecad from
> my
> > > link.
> > >
> > > Is there a simple way to get what I want, or should I be content to
> > launch
> > > freecad from a terminal?
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > -Denis
> > >
> >
> > I'm not much of a purist or expert programmer. When I have an executable
> I
> > want to launch from the desktop, I open a terminal and go into ~/Desktop
> > and look at the various .desktop files. I then copy one to another file
> > like new.program.desktop and edit it with the information on the new
> > program. Save it, make it executable by all, close your terminal and it
> > should be on the desktop. double click and away you go.
> >
> > I'm sure there will be a dozen responses saying how stupid of idea that
> is,
> > but I've been doing it for years and it works for me.
> >
> > HTH,
> > Michael
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