Hello Linux Geeksters.
In this article I will show you how to create application launchers on Ubuntu 13.04 Raring Ringtail, Ubuntu 12.10 Quantal Quetzal and Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin.
To create an application launcher and add it to Unity in Ubuntu, do this:
Install Gnome-Panel:
$ sudo apt-get install --no-install-recommends gnome-panel
After installing gnome-panel, do this, to create an application launcher in /usr/share/applications:
$ sudo gnome-desktop-item-edit /usr/share/applications/ --create-new
Next, you will get a small window where you need to fill in the type, name, command and comment for the launcher.
As an example, I prefered creating a launcher for uTorrent.
In the Type field, choose Application for applications having graphical user interfaces and Application in terminal for apps with no gui (like vim, for example).
In the name field, type the Application’s name.
In the command field, type in the full path to the file you want to launch.
The commend field is optional, so you can leave it blank.
To set an icon for the launcher, click on the small box in the left of the name field and browse for the icon you prefer.
To add the launcher in the Unity Panel, just type the launcher’s name in the Unity Dash, and drag and drop it in the Unity Panel.