Ubuntu how to find and launch GUI app from a terminal?
The key is how to find the program name?
Say I have "Files" window. I know that it is actually "nautilus" from previous experience.
The big question is how can I make the connection from Files to nautilus. I cannot find nautilus anywhere in the program.
Similarly, how can I launch System Monitor, or any other programs that I can easily find in the apps or search bar, but not in the terminal.
I am using 14.04, 16.04 and 18.04 all LTS if that makes a difference.
Thanks
command-line nautilus
asked Mar 12 at 19:42
MichaelEMichaelE
256
add a comment |
The key is how to find the program name?
Say I have "Files" window. I know that it is actually "nautilus" from previous experience.
The big question is how can I make the connection from Files to nautilus. I cannot find nautilus anywhere in the program.
Similarly, how can I launch System Monitor, or any other programs that I can easily find in the apps or search bar, but not in the terminal.
I am using 14.04, 16.04 and 18.04 all LTS if that makes a difference.
Thanks
command-line nautilus
asked Mar 12 at 19:42
MichaelEMichaelE
256
add a comment |
The key is how to find the program name?
Say I have "Files" window. I know that it is actually "nautilus" from previous experience.
The big question is how can I make the connection from Files to nautilus. I cannot find nautilus anywhere in the program.
Similarly, how can I launch System Monitor, or any other programs that I can easily find in the apps or search bar, but not in the terminal.
I am using 14.04, 16.04 and 18.04 all LTS if that makes a difference.
Thanks
command-line nautilus
asked Mar 12 at 19:42
MichaelEMichaelE
256
The key is how to find the program name?
Say I have "Files" window. I know that it is actually "nautilus" from previous experience.
The big question is how can I make the connection from Files to nautilus. I cannot find nautilus anywhere in the program.
Similarly, how can I launch System Monitor, or any other programs that I can easily find in the apps or search bar, but not in the terminal.
I am using 14.04, 16.04 and 18.04 all LTS if that makes a difference.
Thanks
command-line nautilus
command-line nautilus
asked Mar 12 at 19:42
MichaelEMichaelE
256
asked Mar 12 at 19:42
MichaelEMichaelE
256
asked Mar 12 at 19:42
MichaelEMichaelE
256
asked Mar 12 at 19:42
MichaelEMichaelE
256
asked Mar 12 at 19:42
MichaelEMichaelE
256
256
add a comment |
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
You can find .desktop files in /usr/share/applications.
These files contain path to the real application.
You can list these files by name with
grep 'Name=' /usr/share/applications/* > FileNames.txt
answered Mar 12 at 19:46
Pilot6Pilot6
53.5k15109198
Thanks, I can get to the folder and can see all the shortcuts, but I cannot find any .desktop files or any . files. If I check on the properties of the shortcuts I cannot find the path either. What am I missing?
– MichaelE
Mar 12 at 20:01
That's the problem that now you can't open them by click. But you cancatthem in a terminal.
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:07
Runls /usr/share/applicationsand you'll see that all that are.desktopfiles.
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:10
1
You can rungrep 'Name=' /usr/share/applications/*
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:35
1
So rungrep Name=Files /usr/share/applications/*
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:38
|
show 6 more comments
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
You can find .desktop files in /usr/share/applications.
These files contain path to the real application.
You can list these files by name with
grep 'Name=' /usr/share/applications/* > FileNames.txt
answered Mar 12 at 19:46
Pilot6Pilot6
53.5k15109198
Thanks, I can get to the folder and can see all the shortcuts, but I cannot find any .desktop files or any . files. If I check on the properties of the shortcuts I cannot find the path either. What am I missing?
– MichaelE
Mar 12 at 20:01
That's the problem that now you can't open them by click. But you cancatthem in a terminal.
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:07
Runls /usr/share/applicationsand you'll see that all that are.desktopfiles.
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:10
1
You can rungrep 'Name=' /usr/share/applications/*
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:35
1
So rungrep Name=Files /usr/share/applications/*
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:38
|
show 6 more comments
You can find .desktop files in /usr/share/applications.
These files contain path to the real application.
You can list these files by name with
grep 'Name=' /usr/share/applications/* > FileNames.txt
answered Mar 12 at 19:46
Pilot6Pilot6
53.5k15109198
Thanks, I can get to the folder and can see all the shortcuts, but I cannot find any .desktop files or any . files. If I check on the properties of the shortcuts I cannot find the path either. What am I missing?
– MichaelE
Mar 12 at 20:01
That's the problem that now you can't open them by click. But you cancatthem in a terminal.
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:07
Runls /usr/share/applicationsand you'll see that all that are.desktopfiles.
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:10
1
You can rungrep 'Name=' /usr/share/applications/*
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:35
1
So rungrep Name=Files /usr/share/applications/*
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:38
|
show 6 more comments
You can find .desktop files in /usr/share/applications.
These files contain path to the real application.
You can list these files by name with
grep 'Name=' /usr/share/applications/* > FileNames.txt
answered Mar 12 at 19:46
Pilot6Pilot6
53.5k15109198
You can find .desktop files in /usr/share/applications.
These files contain path to the real application.
You can list these files by name with
grep 'Name=' /usr/share/applications/* > FileNames.txt
answered Mar 12 at 19:46
Pilot6Pilot6
53.5k15109198
edited Mar 12 at 21:11
answered Mar 12 at 19:46
Pilot6Pilot6
53.5k15109198
answered Mar 12 at 19:46
Pilot6Pilot6
53.5k15109198
answered Mar 12 at 19:46
Pilot6Pilot6
53.5k15109198
53.5k15109198
Thanks, I can get to the folder and can see all the shortcuts, but I cannot find any .desktop files or any . files. If I check on the properties of the shortcuts I cannot find the path either. What am I missing?
– MichaelE
Mar 12 at 20:01
That's the problem that now you can't open them by click. But you cancatthem in a terminal.
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:07
Runls /usr/share/applicationsand you'll see that all that are.desktopfiles.
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:10
1
You can rungrep 'Name=' /usr/share/applications/*
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:35
1
So rungrep Name=Files /usr/share/applications/*
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:38
|
show 6 more comments
Thanks, I can get to the folder and can see all the shortcuts, but I cannot find any .desktop files or any . files. If I check on the properties of the shortcuts I cannot find the path either. What am I missing?
– MichaelE
Mar 12 at 20:01
That's the problem that now you can't open them by click. But you cancatthem in a terminal.
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:07
Runls /usr/share/applicationsand you'll see that all that are.desktopfiles.
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:10
1
You can rungrep 'Name=' /usr/share/applications/*
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:35
1
So rungrep Name=Files /usr/share/applications/*
– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:38
Thanks, I can get to the folder and can see all the shortcuts, but I cannot find any .desktop files or any . files. If I check on the properties of the shortcuts I cannot find the path either. What am I missing?
– MichaelE
Mar 12 at 20:01
Thanks, I can get to the folder and can see all the shortcuts, but I cannot find any .desktop files or any . files. If I check on the properties of the shortcuts I cannot find the path either. What am I missing?
– MichaelE
Mar 12 at 20:01
That's the problem that now you can't open them by click. But you can
cat them in a terminal.– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:07
That's the problem that now you can't open them by click. But you can
cat them in a terminal.– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:07
Run
ls /usr/share/applications and you'll see that all that are .desktop files.– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:10
Run
ls /usr/share/applications and you'll see that all that are .desktop files.– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:10
1
1
You can run
grep 'Name=' /usr/share/applications/*– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:35
You can run
grep 'Name=' /usr/share/applications/*– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:35
1
1
So run
grep Name=Files /usr/share/applications/*– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:38
So run
grep Name=Files /usr/share/applications/*– Pilot6
Mar 12 at 20:38
|
show 6 more comments
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