tommimon / add-to-desktop

An easy way to create desktop app shortcuts in GNOME

An easy way to create desktop app shortcuts in GNOME

Overview

This simple extension tries to make easier the GNOME process to create a desktop shortcut for apps.

The idea is simple: instead of searching for the .desktop files through multiple folders let's use the application launcher that already groups all our apps.

This extension adds a new line to the app context menu in the application launcher, the new entry ('Add to Desktop') if clicked automatically creates a desktop shortcut to the app.

Dependencies

This extension needs the Desktop Icons extension (or any alternative to see Desktop icons) installed and enabled to work properly, otherwise you will not be able to see the shortcuts you are creating.

Installation

Using Extension Manager (Suggested)

• Install Extension Manager
• Open Extension Manager
• Open Browse tab
• Search for Add to Desktop
• Click Install
• Click Install again
• Enjoy

Manual Installation

• Download zip from the releases section
• Extract in a folder named [email protected]
• Add the [email protected] folder to GNOME extensions folder*
• Restart the GNOME shell**
• Open (or restart) the Extensions app (or Tweaks app)
• Enable 'Add to Desktop'
• Restart the GNOME shell again**
• Enjoy

* Default folder should be ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions/ for manually installed extensions if there isn't this directory, create it.

** Hit Alt + F2 type r and hit Enter, if you prefer you can log out instead.

Submitting a new Translation

You can improve this extension by translating it in a new language:

• First make sure the langues is not present in the list of supported languages yet
• To submit the translation you can open an Issue or a Pull Request:

1. Issue

   • Go to issue template page
   • Chose Translation Request template
   • Fill the form with the information contained in your .po file
   • Submit the form

2. Pull Request

   • Start from the translation.po template
   • All parts you must replace are marked with square brackets [...]
   • Run po-verifier.py to check your syntax
   • Submit a Pull Request containing the new file

In any case the translation will be checked as soon as possible and included in next extension release. Translations not following these guidelines will be rejected.

How does it work?

What this extension actually do is creating on your Desktop folder a copy of the original .desktop file used from the application launcher.

This approach has a downside: if your application gets updated the behavior of the .desktop file may change, I experienced app icons changing path updating, this may make your shortcut no more working properly, and you have to create a new one from zero.

add-to-desktop's Issues

Add Catalan translation

Language Name

Catalan

Language Code

ca

Plural Forms

nplurals=2; plural=(n > 1);

Username

Joan Esgleas

Email

[email protected]

Add to Desktop

Afegir a l'Escriptori

Add Polish translation

Language Name

Polish

Language Code

pl

Plural Forms

No response

Username

MateuszAM

Email

[email protected]

Add to Desktop

Dodaj do pulpitu

Add Brazilian translation

Language Name

Brazilian Portuguese

Language Code

pt_BR

Plural Forms

No response

Username

Lucas Ramos

Email

[email protected]

Add to Desktop

Adicionar a Área de Trabalho

Add to desktop shortcut not showing in search view

The [add to desktop] shortcut is not showing when typing into the search view.
It is showing only in the applications view without searching.

OS: Fedora Linux 36 (Workstation Edition)
Gnome Version: 42.3

Add Russian translation

I'm creating this issue as a response to a private email received from an user requesting this addition.

Language Data

Language name: Russian
Language code: ru
Plural Forms (optional): nplurals=3; plural=(n%10==1 && n%100!=11 ? 0 : n%10>=2 && n%10<=4 && (n%100<12 || n%100>14) ? 1 : 2);

Translator Data

Translator username: Duke Soft
Translator email:

Translation

Add to Desktop: Добавить на рабочий стол

add chinese support

System build in memu item will display correct chinese. but it alway display "add to destop" in chinese environment.

Add Turkish translation

Language Name

Turkish

Language Code

tr

Plural Forms

No response

Username

alperenisa

Email

[email protected]

Add to Desktop

Masaüstüne Ekle

Language support

How can we could add languages other than English ?

It asks root password to create shortcut

It asks root password to create shortcut

Debian 10
Gnome 3.30.2

extension luanch error

fedora 35,gnome-shell. 41.4-1.fc35

error:
Type name Gjs_add-to-desktop_tommimon_github_com_shortcutMaker_CustomIcon is already registered

No compatibility

I get the following error message when installing the extension:
"This extension is not compatible with your current GNOME version."
I am using the current ubuntu version 22.04.4 LTS and GNOME-Version 42.9.

Not working on Ubuntu 20.04

I installed it and followed all instructions, but not working at all. It appears in tweaks/extensions, but no new line in the contextual menu...

I have left the extension installed, just in case an update becomes available, as I think it's a great idea.

Software installed via flatpak, no option to add to desktop icons

Can it be compatible with flatpak software?

why use pkexec

chmod as user is good enough , and escape the sudo prompt altogether, add an option to configure it 😉

Nemo desktop support

Hi, I was wondering if this extension supports nemo-desktop. I saw nemo being mentioned in issue #9, and I was thinking if it does support it or if it's broken, since I can't see add to desktop option in either arcmenu or the original gnome menu, when using nemo desktop, instead of ding extension.

I'm on Nobara 39 using Gnome 45 and with this extensions version 11 installed trough gnome extensions website.

Add Ukrainian translation

Language Data

Language name: Ukrainian
Language code: uk
Plural Forms (optional):

Translator Data

Translator username: Tommimon
Translator email: [email protected]

Translation

Add to Desktop: додати на робочий стіл

PS: This issue was created to show an example of how to use the translation request template

Not working on GNOME 41

Error: class heritage parentMenu is not an object or null
I tried replacing "AppIconMenu" with "AppMenu" in the code. This is enough to enable/disable the extension without error (with set shell-version to 41), but it is not enough for the menu to work.

Update to GNOME 46 and 47

Please update to GNOME 46 and 47, i really need this to use the desktop icons please

The extension prevents user from moving icons in dock on PopOS 22.04

(Sorry for my poor English)
I found that It will make user to not be able to move icons in dock on PopOS 22.04 after enabling this extension.

Not working on GNOME 40

Currently GNOME 40 is not supported and I never tested Add to Desktop on it.

I received reports about this extension failing on GNOME 40.

I'll look into it and see if I can easily port this extension to the new GNOME version.

Add Spanish translation

Language Data

Language name: Spanish
Language code: es
Plural Forms (optional):

Translator Data

Translator username: ramiroaisen
Translator email: [email protected]

Translation

Add to Desktop: Añadir al Escritorio

Fill the form without changing the structure, Refer to issue #18 for an example of how to fill this template.