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iotc247 · Xplorer Joined: 11 Mar 2004 Posts: 35 Location: Florida

When i install some programs i dont get an icon in the launch menu anywhere..

Ko Bros · Xendrosian Joined: 28 Mar 2003 Posts: 1357

cseg · Xandrosian Joined: 17 Nov 2002 Posts: 240

Nguyen · Xplorer Joined: 02 Apr 2004 Posts: 28

When iotc247 said he/she didn't get an icon, I think he/she meant that the programs didn't show up at all in the Launch menu. I have the same problem. I installed FireFox, Word, and Excel. None of them shows up in Launch.

GregA · Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2004 10:00 am Post subject:

From "harold" on 31 Dec 2003:

1. open up a terminal window and enter "dpkg -L packagename | less". This will give you a list of everything installed by the package and where on your hard drive it went,

2. Documentation for all packages is located in /usr/share/doc/,

From "shimage" on 26 Feb 2004:

3. binaries go into "bin" directories

4. libraries (think dlls) into "lib" directories,

5. most of the things you might want to edit are either in /etc (for config files) or /usr/share,

6. user specific files (config files like .bashrc, for instance, but other things like your crossover/wine windows stuff too) will be found in your home directory (look for files that begin with a '.')

Once you know where/what files were distributed, you can use right click on the desktop to create a shortcut, or use the menu manager as previously suggested in this thread to create your preferred method of executing these programs. Yes, this still isn't as clean as windows, but for programs that don't have an installer wrapper or script around them as most windows programs do now - - this is the best option. (Usually though XN will create a launch bookmark - not sure why it doesn't for all installs).

arctos · Xplorer Joined: 19 Feb 2005 Posts: 11

Is there any way to get the icons specific to that application as well? (instead of using generic system icons for example)

mike80808 · Posted: Sun Feb 20, 2005 11:57 am Post subject:

Only if the person packaging the application for you provides them.

You can click on the icon in the menu editor and select from icons provided as part of your desktop "theme", but there is an option to go browsing for icons.

Without knowing what you installed, there's no way for us to help you communicate back to that packager that they should get help to add icons and menus for KDE desktops.

Just about every application you use was written by volunteers. Not all of them are or have available simultaneously, people who are good coders, technical writers, artists, or packaging specialists. Add to that some very different packaging and distribution structures, and it should come to you as no surprise that only the more popular applications have gotten the resources for all of those areas of talent.

So what did you install and where did you get it from?
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petercj · Xplorer Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 5

Hi all

I am new to Linux and have loaded up xandros 3 deluxe, all was going well until I tried to install Opera - the browser - I have got it on the system but I am not able to create a shortcut on the desktop.

I have right clicked on Launch and opened the menu editor but can't get anywhere with this.

I did try and create a link but a message said something like IDK or KDE was running and wouldn't allow it?

Thanks for any help.

Peter

jimallyn · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 12:24 am Post subject: Re: xandros

petercj · Xplorer Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 5

Hi Jim

Thanks for your reply... I'm not sure I downloaded Opera to the right destination at the beginning... I'm using the windows style desktop... I was expecting the download to land on the desktop as with windows and to install it from there...but...lol...not to be!

So one issue may be that I don't have Opera in the right folder to start with... having said that, I did right click on the desktop yesterday (before posting on the forum) and went down the "create shortcut" road, I got a round icon on desktop with a blue cross on it (which I believe is the crossover system) when I click on that icon I get the mesage: "KDEinit could not launch'/disks/c/Program Files/Opera7/opera.exe'

If I go to Launch>applications>Internet... there is no sign of Opera

However, if I go to the 'run' command I can launch Opera

I'm sure that I did download the Linux version of Opera.

So I'm really puzzled about the structure of Linux - I have Suse pro 9.1 and hit similar problems about 6 months ago and so gave up on Suse. I was hoping xandros would have a straightforward installation structure like windows does.

I am very grateful for your help on this. Is there a straightforward way I can use to download and install programs with a desktop icon? Maybe if I add something to the basic structure of xandros?

Maybe its me, but I often find that the explanations and instructions on using Linux use a language and terms that is esoteric and so the explanations make good sense when you know how Linux works - a bit of a catch-22! I have to admit that I know very little about o/s architecture - I know my way around windows as an end user pretty well and that's about it.

Is it question of learning a few basics about Xandros in order to to use it for the net, office applications, etc, or is there a lot more required to use Xandros for these purposes? I would appreciate your opinion on this.

Thanks again for any advice

Peter

Monster_user · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 10:15 am Post subject:

I think the problem might be that you've uinstalled the version of Opera, for Xandros 2.

It will install an icon in Xandros 2, but not in Xandros 3. I don't think any programs are allowed to create a desktop icon. Unfortuantely, missing icons is a common issue in Linux. Its up to the packager to create an icon, and not everyone does it. Xandros has taken it upon themselves to ensure that the official packages have icons.

Try this. Right-Click the Desktop -> Create -> Shortcut... -> Then choose Program. In the next view, type in /usr/bin/opera, and click next.

When the icon appears on the Desktop, right-click it, and then click on the icon in the properties dialog box. Then click on an icon, and type ope, or opera.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To get it in the start menu use the Administrator File Manager, and browse to '/usr/share/applications/'. This is the folder for the Launch menu icons.

Copy your Opera icon from the desktop, into the folder. Right-Click it, and open it with the Text Editor, or type kwrite, and press enter.

Scroll down to the bottom, and type this string.

Categories=Application;Network

That tells it which menu in the Start menu to be put. In this case, Network is "Internet".
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jimallyn · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 11:51 am Post subject:

petercj · Xplorer Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 5

Hi...
... and thanks to both of you for your replies... unfortunately I don't have a clue about Xandros networks... any help would be gratefully received....

I'm pretty sure I downloaded a Linux version of Opera, but are you saying there is a special Xandros version too?

Peter

jimallyn · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 6:55 pm Post subject:

davidalun · Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 7:02 pm Post subject:

Peter,
you can download a Xandros version of Opera from
http://www.opera.com/download/

It may start Xandros Networks by itself after it finished downloading (mine did), if not, open XN from your desktop of launchmenu.

In XN go to the first tab at the top of the page and in the dropdown list you'll see an option to install a deb file. Navigate to where you downloaded the opera file and tell it to install. You'll be asked to confirm and to supply the root password. XN will do all the rest.

Some installs put the app in the launch list and/or on the desktop. I can't remember if Opera did to be honest. For any app that doesn't, right click on the desktop and have it make a shortcut to an app. Put the name of the app in the box and just follow the instructions.

To change an icon, right click on the shortcut and bring up the properties. Left click on the displayed icon and you can browse for a replacement.

Hope this helps,

Dave
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Xandos 1, 2, 3, 4 ... and now PCLOS.