Unity – Add a Static Quicklist to Open a Web Page

11.04launcherquicklistsunity

I am working on creating Unity Launcher icons for web applications. Evolution comes with quicklists so you can compose, go to calendar, etc.:

enter image description here

I want to replicate the same thing but for my gmail icon. The Unity LauncherAPI page talks about how to create static quicklists:

 X-Ayatana-Desktop-Shortcuts=Screen;Window

[Screen Shortcut Group]
Name=Take a screenshot of the whole screen
Exec=gnome-screenshot
TargetEnvironment=Unity

[Window Shortcut Group]
Name=Take a screenshot of the current window
Exec=gnome-screenshot -w
TargetEnvironment=Unity

I have the .desktop file of the Gmail shortcut, so I can edit it to add the static quicklists, my question is, what do I put in the Exec= line to have it open in my browser so I can make Compose, Contacts, and Calendar go to the right place?

(assuming I have the correct URLs, I'm more wondering about the Exec syntax)

Best Answer

If you got a URL, just open it using the default web browser:

...
X-Ayatana-Desktop-Shortcuts=Compose

[Compose Shortcut Group]
Name=Compose Mail
Exec=xdg-open 'https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#compose'
TargetEnvironment=Unity

Or if you like to use a different browser, e.g. Chromium:

Exec=chromium-browser 'https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#compose'

Chromium also allows you to open the URL in a window without toolbars:

Exec=chromium-browser --app='https://mail.google.com/mail/?shva=1#compose'

Of course this only works if you are already logged in or got a cookie. Else it will only take you to the login page.

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