NAME
dex - DesktopEntry Execution
SYNOPSIS
dex [options] [DesktopEntryFile]...
DESCRIPTION
dex, DesktopEntry Execution, is a program to generate and execute DesktopEntry files of the Application type.
OPTIONS
- -h, --help
-
Show this help message and exit
- --action ACTION
-
Identifier of an "additional application action" to operate on. Also known as a quicklist/jumplist entry.
- -a, --autostart
-
Autostart programs
- -c PATH, --create PATH
-
Create a DesktopEntry file for the program at the given path. An optional second argument is used to specify the filename of the created DesktopEntry file, or specify the filename - to print the file to stdout. By default a new file is created with the .desktop file extension.
- -d, --dry-run
-
Dry run, don't execute any command
- -e ENVIRONMENT, --environment ENVIRONMENT
-
Specify the Desktop Environment an autostart should be performed for; works only in combination with --autostart
- -p PROPERTY, --property PROPERTY
-
Display DesktopEntry property value. Supported properties are: Type, Version, Name, NoDisplay, Hidden, OnlyShowIn, NotShowIn, TryExec, Exec, Path, Terminal, Actions, StartupNotify, StartupWMClass, URL. For ACTIONs, only Name and Exec are supported.
- -s SEARCHPATHS, --search-paths SEARCHPATHS
-
Colon separated list of paths to search for desktop files, overriding the default search list
- -t DIRECTORY, --target-directory DIRECTORY
-
Create files in target directory
- --term TERM
-
The terminal emulator that will be used to run the program if Terminal=true is set in the desktop file, defaults to x-terminal-emulator
- -w, --wait
-
Block until the program exits
- --test
-
Perform a self-test
- -v, --verbose
-
Verbose output
- -V, --version
-
Display version information
EXAMPLES
Perform an autostart/execute all programs in the autostart folders.
dex -a
Perform an autostart/execute all programs in the specified folders.
dex -a -s /etc/xdg/autostart/:~/.config/autostart/
Preview the programs would be executed in a regular autostart.
dex -ad
Preview the programs would be executed in a GNOME specific autostart.
dex -ad -e GNOME
Preview the value of DesktopEntry property Name.
dex -p Name htop.desktop
Create a DesktopEntry for a program in the current directory.
dex -c /usr/bin/skype
Create a DesktopEntry for a programs in autostart directory.
dex -t ~/.config/autostart -c /usr/bin/skype /usr/bin/nm-applet
Execute a single program from command line and enable verbose output.
dex -v skype.desktop
Execute a single program (with Terminal=true in the desktop file) in gnome-terminal.
dex --term gnome-terminal nvim.desktop
Execute a single program and block until it exits.
dex --wait nvim.desktop
Execute a specifified application action.
dex --action new-private-window firefox.desktop
Author
Jan Christoph Ebersbach, Johannes Löthberg