---
name: "desktop-file-install"
section: "8"
platform: "linux"
package: "desktop-file-utils"
version: "0.15-2"
release: "Debian 6.0 (Squeeze)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/desktop-file-install/8"
---

# desktop-file-install(8)

install a desktop file to the applications directory

## NAME

desktop-file-install - install a desktop file to the applications directory

## SYNOPSIS

**desktop-file-install** *\[options\] file*

## DESCRIPTION

**desktop-file-install** installs a specified .desktop file to the applications directory, optionally munging it a bit in transit.

## OPTIONS

- **--dir** *path*

  **Specify the directory where files should be installed.**

- **--vendor** *vendor*

  **Add a vendor prefix to the desktop file. If the file already has this** **prefix, nothing happens.**

- **--add-category** *category*

  **Add a category to the Categories field.**

- **--remove-category** *category*

  **Remove a category from the Categories field.**

- **--add-only-show-in** *product*

  **Add a product name to the OnlyShowIn field.**

- **--remove-only-show-in** *product*

  **Remove a product name from the OnlyShowIn field.**

- **--delete-original**

  **Delete the source desktop file, leaving only the target** **file. Effectively "renames" a desktop file.**

- **-m, --mode** *mode*

  **Set the given permissions on the destination file.**

- **--copy-name-to-generic-name**

  **Copy the contents of the Name field to the GenericName** **field.**

- **--copy-generic-name-to-name**

  **Copy the contents of the GenericName field to the Name** **field.**

- **--remove-key** *key*

  **Remove a specific key from the desktop file.**

- **-h, --help**

  **Show summary of options.**

- **--usage**

  **Display brief usage message.**

- **-v, --version**

  **Show version of program.**

## SEE ALSO

**The Free Desktop .desktop file specification at www.freedesktop.org.**

## AUTHOR

**This manual page was written by Ross Burton \<ross@burtonini.com\>, for** **the Debian GNU/Linux system (but may be used by others).**