Ubuntu 11.10 Right Click Desktop Shortcut Option.

Ubuntu 11.10 offers no way to create desktop shortcuts with a Right Click.  Let's make it bend to our will.

1. Install gnome-panel by opening a TERMINAL window and typing the following (it'll ask for your password)
sudo apt-get install gnome-panel

2.  Once Gnome-Panel installs we need to create a Bash Script.
    a. Open gEdit (or any text editor) and type the following;
#!/bin/bash
gnome-desktop-item-edit --create-new ~/Desktop
    b.  Save the Bash file with the name Create-Launcher

3. Copy the Bash File (Create-Launcher) to the nautilus-scripts folder by opening a TERMINAL window and typing the following;
cp Create-Launcher ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts

4.  Now change the permission on our new file (Create-Launcher) so that it has Execution permission by opening a TERMINAL window and typing;
chmod +x ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/Create-Launcher

5. Move the new file to the right click/scripts section of nautilus by opening a TERMINAL window and typing;
mv ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/Create-Launcher ~/.gnome2/nautilus-scripts/"Create Launcher"

6. Done!

Now when you Right Click on a blank spot on your desktop you see a Scripts option in the menu that appears that expands to give you a Create Laucher option.

If you select the Scripts/Create Launcher option you get the standard Desktop Shortcut Creator Wizard or to you "die hard" Linux people, the Ubuntu Create Launcher Dialogue Box. 

Made the jump to 11.10 and Unity

I finally made the jump to Ubuntu 11.10 with it's Unity interface.  I don't really want the Unity Desktop and would have liked to have a built-in choice (I know I can install Gnome 3 but it would have been nice to have this choice built-in).

My reason for making this jump is simple; from everything I've read Canonical is committed to Unity and if I want to stay with Ubuntu then it's Unity or custom work every upgrade.

We are getting close to the Ubuntu's Long Term Release and it will have Unity so I'm going to give it a chance.  I have to admit that I have some dislike of Unity going into this but I think most of it is because Canonical has taken away my choice in this matter.  However Canonical and Ubuntu has been good to me over the years since I've started this blog so I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt, assume they know what their doing and give Unity a fair try.

The upgrade from 11.04 to 11.10 was painless, taking about an hour.  It booted fine and keep most everything I had under 11.04.  For some reason it decided to change my background to a Star Trek theme.  I think I had download this theme once in the past but it was too busy to use.  Since it is still too busy to use the only thing I've done so far is change the background.  I actually put some thought into this; its not Microsoft, its not Apple, and its not the Ubuntu I'm use to, so I went with something different.  I'll post more as I learn.