Ubuntu – How to install an application manually into the Application list

11.04launcherunity

I am trying to install ZendStudio 8 (Eclipse based) on 11.04 and am kinda stuck at the part were I can get it into the Applications list.

ZendStudio prior to version 8 came with a magic .bin which installed it all no problems, but now it simply comes as a folder all set up to be run as-is. I have copied this folder to /opt/ZendStudio, and I can launch the program using /opt/ZendStudio/ZendStudio but in the Unity Launcher it shows up with a grey box and a big Question Mark as it's icon.

However, I'd like it to be show up in the Applications list so I can search for it and load it like a normal application.

I also want to Pin it to the launcher so it stays there the whole time, and I tried this with running it directly but it didn't work and it didn't load up the application icon.

Any ideas how I can finish the install so it is in my menus etc?

Best Answer

Try this (from a terminal):

  1. Create a new .desktop file:

    gedit ~/.local/share/applications/zend-studio.desktop

  2. Add the following to that file:

    [Desktop Entry]
Name=Zend Studio 8
Exec=/opt/ZendStudio/ZendStudio
Icon=/path/to/icon
Terminal=false
Type=Application
StartupNotify=true

    For Icon=/path/to/icon: you'll likely find the icon somewhere in /opt/ZendStudio.

  3. Save it and make that file executable:

    chmod +x ~/.local/share/applications/zend-studio.desktop

  4. Now browse to that file in Nautilus, double-click to start and then try to pin it to the launcher.

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