Score:1

Ubuntu

How to set environment variables in desktop launcher (in UBUNTU)

Fuchsi

10/13/23, 1:43 PM

How can I correctly set the following environment variables in a .desktop launcher file?

To fix a problem with Davinci Resolve Studio it is necessary for my setup to set these two environment variables:

__NV_PRIME_RENDER_OFFLOAD=1 
__GLX_VENDOR_LIBRARY_NAME=nvidia

Via the terminal I can launch Davinci Resolve Studio now with the following line successfully:

__NV_PRIME_RENDER_OFFLOAD=1 __GLX_VENDOR_LIBRARY_NAME=nvidia /opt/resolve/bin/resolve

And I try to note these in the .desktop launcher like the following with no effect (see line 8, "Exec=..."). What do I have to alter in this .desktop file to get this working? I tried with and without the "env" command at the beginning so far.

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Name=DaVinci Resolve
GenericName=DaVinci Resolve
Comment=Revolutionary new tools for editing, visual effects, color correction, and professional audio post-production, all in a single application!
Path=/opt/resolve/
Exec=env __NV_PRIME_RENDER_OFFLOAD=1 __GLX_VENDOR_LIBRARY_NAME=nvidia /opt/resolve/bin/resolve %u
Terminal=false
MimeType=application/x-resolveproj;
Icon=/opt/resolve/graphics/DV_Resolve.png
StartupNotify=true
Name[en_US]=DaVinci Resolve

The parameters are exemplary here. I wonder what is missing here to get this working via a launcher.

461

1 + 11

nvidia

launcher

davinci-resolve

vanadium

10/13/23, 6:32 PM

The way you post it should work. Maybe you have another .desktop file that masks this one? Try placing it in ~/.local/share/applications

Fuchsi

10/13/23, 6:51 PM

Thanks @vanadium. After moving the file from the desktop to this directory it works!

Fuchsi

10/14/23, 8:34 AM

Thanks @karel, I have seen that before, but this more general guide did not help me solve this problem.

karel

10/14/23, 8:55 AM

Your comment "After moving the file from the desktop to this directory it works!" is the same as written in the accepted answer to [How can I create launchers on my desktop?](https://askubuntu.com/q/64222/) so how could it not be a duplicate of that question?

Fuchsi

10/14/23, 1:53 PM

I see what you mean, if there is another post explaining how to add these enviromental parameters to the Exec line of the .desktop file, I would not mind to mark this question as a duplicate. Because this was my question initially. Somebody looking for these parameters would not find the answer in this previous question, would they?

Fuchsi

10/14/23, 1:56 PM

I will update my question and hightlight the solution. The Davinci Resolve installer put this .desktop file on the Desktop itself. So the problem is not obvious.

ubfan1

10/14/23, 4:01 PM

I found that selecting Performance Mode in the Nvidia settings/profiles allowed running my CUDA samples without the environment variables you use for Resolve. The mode seems to switch which GPU is considered "primary".

Fuchsi

10/16/23, 6:13 PM

Thanks @ubfan1! This makes sense in this case, too. I prefer the adaptive mode to save battery on my laptop in general.

Artur Meinild

10/20/23, 7:17 AM

Does this answer your question? [How can I create launchers on my desktop?](https://askubuntu.com/questions/64222/how-can-i-create-launchers-on-my-desktop)

Fuchsi

10/20/23, 1:40 PM

@ArturMeinild, we had this question before. [This is](https://askubuntu.com/questions/1435236/how-to-set-environment-variables-in-desktop-launcher-in-ubuntu?noredirect=1#comment2501838_1435236) how I answered.

Yerong Li

3/28/24, 10:10 PM

Actually when I add an evironmental variable, the icon does not work any more, does anyone knows how to fix this? https://askubuntu.com/questions/1461097/adding-an-enviromental-variable-in-desktop-icon-fails-the-desktop-icon

Score:1

Ubuntu

Fuchsi

10/16/23, 6:09 PM

As suggested by @vanadium I just had to move this .desktop file to ~/.local/share/applications.

See also this post for more information: How can I create launchers on my desktop?

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