Ubuntu - Right way to craft a .desktop entry for the AppImage

Ubuntu - Right way to craft a .desktop entry for the AppImage - Printable Version

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+---- Thread: Ubuntu - Right way to craft a .desktop entry for the AppImage (/Thread-Ubuntu-Right-way-to-craft-a-desktop-entry-for-the-AppImage)

Ubuntu - Right way to craft a .desktop entry for the AppImage - ExplodingCabbage - 11-18-2025

Background: I've downloaded GIMP-3.0.6-x86_64.AppImage onto my Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS box, then created a .local/share/applications/GIMP.desktop file with the following content...

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Name=GIMP
Exec=/home/mark/Applications/GIMP-3.0.6-x86_64.AppImage
Icon=/home/mark/.local/share/GIMP.png
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Graphics;

... and then pinned it to the left sidebar (the "dash") searching for it in the app launcher, right-clicking it, and clicking "Pin to Dash".

It... sort of works. I see the icon in my sidebar:

[Image: BpAd6NW.jpeg]

And when I click on that icon, GIMP opens. But GNOME doesn't seem to understand that the newly opened window is associated with the GIMP program whose sidebar shortcut I just clicked on. Instead, it creates a new, temporary shortcut, with a generic gear icon, in the bottom section of the dash:

[Image: SmVwbcQ.jpeg]

This behaviour differs from other AppImage-based applications I've created .desktop files for. For instance, if I open multiple windows of Zed, I see three orange dots next to my Zed icon in my sidebar, and I can right-click on the sidebar icon and go to "All Windows" to see all the open Zed windows I have open:

[Image: 8mD9TsS.jpeg]

How - if at all - can I likewise make my open GIMP window be represented by an orange dot next to my pinned GIMP shortcut, instead of by adding a new shortcut with a gear icon? Is the reason this doesn't work that I have done something wrong in crafting my .desktop file, or is GIMP missing some kind of feature that's needed for it to properly integrate with the GNOME dock in the way other programs do.

RE: Ubuntu - Right way to craft a .desktop entry for the AppImage - rich2005 - 11-18-2025

I use KDE (kubuntu 24.04 / Gimp 3.0.6 appimage) so obviously some differences. I can not see anything really wrong with your .desktop file. Just for comparison this is mine.

Code:

[Desktop Entry]

Comment=

Exec=/media/rich/DATA1/portable/gimp3/GIMP-3.0.6-x86_64.AppImage

Icon=/home/rich/icons/gimp.png

Name=Gimp-3.0

NoDisplay=false

Path=

StartupNotify=true

Terminal=false

TerminalOptions=

Type=Application

X-KDE-SubstituteUID=false

X-KDE-Username=

A long shot - do you have this folder ~/.local/share/appimagekit/ and what does it contain? A zero length text file (title only) no_desktopintegration prevents an appimage making a desktop file.

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