Changing what Gnome launchers do...

[Mark Knecht]

On Apr 2, 2005 10:28 AM, karlp at ourldsfamily.com <karlp at ourldsfamily.com> wrote:
> > Mark Knecht wrote:
> >> Hi,
> >>    I'm sort of surprised that there isn't some obvious (to me
> >> anyway...) gui-based way to change what a launcher on the default FC2
> >> Gnome desktop does. I right click and I can change permissions and
> >> icons, but I don't seem to be able to change the actual command it's
> >> executing.
> >
> > It's all a bit weird.  If it's a true launcher (e.g. one of the ones on
> > the menu bar), a right click on it, then selecting "Properties" should
> > pop up a box that has the name, generic name, comment and command name
> > in it.  Modify them as needed and click "Close".  That should do it.
> >
> > If you're talking about the icons on the desktop, that's all handled
> > by gconf XML files.  A reasonable about of help is available on-line:
> >
> > RedHatIcon->Help->Desktop->System Administration Guide
> >
> >>    What am I missing here? How do you do this? I see that there are
> >> files actually on the desktop that can be edited in vi. Is this the
> >> only way provided?
> >
> > No, you can use gconftool-2 to bugger things.  It's not difficult, but
> > the first few times can be downright confusing.
> 
> Okay, I have to jump in with my archaic method... I too found this very
> annoying, so I just open a gnome-terminal window, then cd .gnome-desktop
> and vi the 'offending' launcher and change the line entitled
> Exec=/path/to/command
> 
> There you go. Easy as it can be. Why can't the Properties show the command
> like KDE does? Of course, I use WindowMaker at home and work now; I like
> it's feel better. I just wish it was updated with newer than RH9
> releases... Of course that's another topic.
> 
> Karl
> 

Karl,
   Yes, this is what I was doing also. It's not so bad, really, once
you figure out that there are hidden launcher files on the desktop,
but it would be nicer if it was editable in the launcher itself.

Cheers,
Mark