Score:0

Move application launchers off desktop?

in flag

I have several application launchers for Steam games on my Ubuntu 20.04 desktop. It's starting to look cluttered when I do screenshares in meetings.

I'd prefer to create a sub directory of the desktop called 'games' and move all the launchers into there. However when I move them, they no longer display nice icons and are no longer launch-able.

I realize that this is because these special .desktop files are specific to the desktop.

So my question is, how do I create similar shortcuts to applications that are not .desktop launchers, that will still display the game icon and launch the game... in a directory that is not the desktop? (Similar to how Windows lets you just create a shortcut file to any application and put it anywhere.)

Tried searching this and most results talk about symlinks, but I actually need to run a command like steam steam://rungameid/897730 with a nice icon.

Thank you!

EDIT: I did add the Applications Menu Gnome extension which is accomplishing the desktop cleanup goal.

in flag
@user68186 yes I can search for them fine and launch them in other standard ways. They are 'discovered' as applications system wide. I just particularly want shortcuts in specific directories.
Score:1
cn flag

If you are using a desktop with an "actual desktop", you could always just use the Main Menu editor to make custom menu launchers like these: enter image description here(though they usually come with them)

us flag
Is this GNOME? The procedure may depend on the DE.
WU-TANG avatar
cn flag
@ArchismanPanigrahi true, this is gnome flashback... MATE desktop also uses the same process
in flag
Thanks that's pretty helpful. I had to install the editor with `sudo apt-get install alacarte`.
in flag
Actually, MenuLibre seems much better. `sudo apt-get -y install menulibre`.
WU-TANG avatar
cn flag
@Sherri forgive me.. it comes pre-installed on both of my desktops, i didn't think to include the name of the actual package (alacarte). menulibre seems to be better at chasing down icons, which is helpful.
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