How to create Desktop icons, link them to programs?

[Foxti]

I am sure that some where in all of this there is a place that tells how to create new desktop icons and link them to programs but I have not yet been able to find it so I am requesting that if any one knows how to creat a desktop icon (in JWM i think) so that I can link to other applications I would most happy to get that information I am using Puppy 1.8 Thanks in advance

[rarsa]

If you mean literally 'How can I create the icon?' You can create it using MPaint and saving it as a png file.

If you mean 'How can I add an icon to the desktop' then it's even easier. Just drag the application you want to start to the desktop. that will create the icon. If you want to change the default icon, you can right click on the desktop icon and select to change it.

If you mean something else, please let me know.

[Foxti]

Thanks for the quick reply

What I am trying to do it launch an application with argument
for example I am trying to launch a vpn start the commnad is simple in a terminal window

pppd call kelbar

but I am not sure just how to set it up as a desktop Icon

Thanks for any help you can give

[rarsa]

Oh, I understand now.

You have two options depending on the complexity of what you want to do:

A) Drag the application from the Rox file manager to the desktop and then edit the properties to add the parameters.
Note: For some reason, this does not work for me so I always do B)

B) Create a script file containing the command(s) you want to execute, make it executable, drag that script file to the desktop and assign an icon.

A script file is a normal text file that starts with #/bin/sh and contains the commands as you would write them in the console.

In your case the file may contain the following

Code: Select all

#/bin/sh
pppd call kelbar

To make the file executable you can change the attribute from Rox or with the following command

Code: Select all

chmod +x <yourScriptFile>

 - for example, if your script file is called "launchvpn"

chmod +x launchvpn

[Foxti]

thanks for the reminder about the chmod that was the part I was forgetting
I did the chmod on the scripts I had already and it came right up no problem.

Now if I can figure out what I am doing wrong with my r desktop script I will be in business totaly

Thanks for the help

[GuestToo]

rox 2.4 allows you to pass arguments to an executable ... i don't think Puppy's built in rox 1.2 allows you to pass arguments

[fudgy]

here's my little workaround for Rox 1.2:
use 2 skripts:

First one is only needed to pass arguments to rxvt. Call it my-skript-remote.sh an drag it to the desktop.

#! /bin/sh
# remote for desktop-icon
rxvt -e /initrd/mnt/dev_save/PUPPY/my-script.sh
# this opens a terminal and executes my-script.sh in it.

The second skript (my-skript.sh) contains a commandline-app e.g. :

#! /bin/sh
wget -r http://www.myexamplesite.fr
sleep 5
# after 5 seconds the terminal window will be closed automatically.

fudgy