====== Create Executable and Icon for an Application ====== From time to time, one might download a fully executable app, that will launch by double clicking on it's icon but with no install process. Those applications won't appear in the "Menu > Applications" list, nor will you be able to add them to a panel. To circumvent this problem here is an example demonstrating how to [[http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/907|install sublime text]] and create a desktop icon for it. ===== Download/Extract the Application ===== Use the following address to download the latest version of Sublime Text:\\ http://www.sublimetext.com/2 Then right click on the downloaded .tar.bz2 archive and and select "extract here"... === Move to /opt and change access rights === It is of use, in the Linux environment, to put "extra" software in the /opt directory. To do this, you'll need to have admin rights: <code> > cd ~/Downloads > mv "Sublime Text 2" sublime > sudo mv sublime /opt > cd /opt > sudo chown -R root:root sublime > sudo chmod -R +r sublime </code> In some cases, the extracted directories won't bare the correct "x" (execute) options (i.e.: -rwx------). Using the above sudo chmod -R +r will only add the "read" flag for anyone but wont let group or others "open" the directories (x). As we do NOT want to change all files "x" option, but only directories, we'll use the next command: <code> > sudo find /opt/sublime -type d -exec chmod 755 {} + </code> And to set execution rights correctly on files: <code> > sudo find /opt/sublime/ -type f -perm 744 -exec chmod +x {} + </code> ===== Create Executable in /usr Path ===== <code> > sudo nano /usr/bin/sublime_text Paste: #!/bin/sh export SUBLIME_HOME="/opt/sublime" $SUBLIME_HOME/sublime_text "$*" Save the file (Ctrl+x - y) > sudo chmod 775 /usr/bin/sublime_text </code> ===== Create a Menu Icon ===== <code> > sudo nano /usr/share/applications/sublime.desktop Paste: [Desktop Entry] Encoding=UTF-8 Name=Sublime Text Comment=Sublime Text 2 Exec=sublime_text Icon=/opt/sublime/Icon/256x256/sublime_text.png Terminal=false Type=Application Categories=GNOME;GTK;Utility;TextEditor; StartupNotify=true Save the file (Ctrl+x - y) </code> You should now find the Sublime Text icon in **Menu > Accessories > Sublime Text** Alternatively if you'd like to only have the icon available for a certain user, create the .desktop file in: **~/.local/share/applications** ==== References ==== For all details regarding the options that can be used in the .desktop file, refer to [[https://specifications.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry-spec/latest/index.html|these references]]. For a list of categories, refer to the [[http://standards.freedesktop.org/menu-spec/latest/apa.html|freedesktop.org Registered Categories list]] as well as the [[http://standards.freedesktop.org/menu-spec/latest/apas02.html|additional categories]].