I installed Zorin on my desktop after being highly impressed by how it ran on my 10-year-old laptop. I've noticed that the OS isn't offering me the option to create desktop shortcuts. I didn't have this issue in Manjaro Linux, Linux Mint, Peppermint OS, and, for a short while, Sparky Linux.
I looked it up in the forums. Most options suggest I head to the apps menu, right-click on the app I want to create a shortcut of, and click on the "create desktop shortcut" option. The trouble is, I am not even getting that option.
Some suggestions also involved me heading into the home/usr/share/application directory or (home/local/share/application) directory and manually creating a shortcut for an app. The trouble with the former is that I have no .usr folder present, even with the hidden files viewed, and the trouble with the latter is that the .local folder does contain the application subfolder, but it is empty and contains just an empty text file.
Unlike the previous Linux-based OSs that I tried, I was a bit lazy this time and didn't bother to create partitions manually. The previously tried OSs did have .usr folders (probably because I have manually created a separate home partition).
Please help me out on this. I am really impressed by Zorin and I intend to use it as a primary OS alongside Windows 11 (which is on a separate SSD FYI).
I'm still a newcomer to Linux-based systems, please go easy on me
The /usr directory is in Root. You can locate it in the Zorin Core Nautilus File Manager by clicking "Other locations" in the left pane. Click "Computer" in the right pane. This will land you in Root.
You will have Read Only privileges unless you elevate the File Manager to root.
To do this, in terminal run
sudo -i
Enter your password. The prompt path will change to the root user path. Now launch the file manager:
nautilus
You can then navigate with read/write access.
In Zorin OS Core, when you right click an application in the app menu, what options do you see in the context menu?
If you don't see those options, which would be weird, you still have the option to drag and drop the icon from the applications overview (the icon next to the Zorin Menu) into the taskbar. It's not exactly what you're after but may be enough.
Agreed. And it may suggest that there is another issue that may cause the user headaches later. I do not recommend employing a workaround instead of a cure on this one.
Might just try a simple:
OK so I managed to access the aforementioned folder(s) in the Zorin Core Nautilus files, but the application folder contains just text files. Where do I go from there? What do I do with them if I have to create desktop shortcuts?
The common options I get are "new window", "add to favorites" and "show details". I do get some extra options based on the type of app. But I do not have the option to create desktop shortcuts for any of them.
I can add shortcuts to the taskbar (panel) with no issues. I am getting the option to add it as a favorite into the taskbar. Granted it is a workaround of sorts. But it is effectively leaving the desktop unused. I just wanna get to the bottom of this glitch and resolve it.
OK so I just noticed that changing the DE allowed me access the "Add to desktop" option. Switched to a more tradition Microsoft Windows type DE and now I'm getting the option. Strange.
It's enabled. Not sure why it is only letting me add shortcuts to desktop when the Win 11 type DE is selected. Once the desktop shortcut's created, it remains on the desktop even if I switch the DEs.
Not exactly a direct solution, but hey... at least I am able to add desktop shortcuts... for now.
When using the Gnome desktop, you need to copy the desktop file of the application from /usr/share/applications to ~/Desktop.
An icon should appear on the Desktop.
To get the correct icon, and get the application to launch, you must mark the application executable in its Properties window. (right-click on the icon, select Properties, then open Permissions Tab and check the 'allow executing file as program' box.
It allowed me to view the Zorin Menu icon right on the panel even when the GNOME DE is enabled. This effectively allows me to view installed apps and directly add icons to my desktop like I would on a traditional Microsoft Windows OS.
