Creating desktop shortcuts for favorite websites makes it quicker to launch them in a browser, rather than using bookmarks or typing URLs. In this post I will provide you with an easy tip to create and customize desktop shortcuts for websites in Ubuntu 11.10.
Since the Create Launcher option (in right-click menu) is not available in newer Ubuntu versions, therefore, to create a desktop launcher for your favorite website, enter the following command in the Terminal.
gnome-desktop-item-edit ~/Desktop/ --create-new
A new window will pop-up, where you will require specifying the website’s name, the command that contains the browser’s name (e.g. Firefox) and URL of your favorite website. Once the required information has been filled, click OK. (see below screenshot for guidance).
This will create a desktop shortcut (launcher) for the selected website. Using this method, you can create a number of shortcuts on the desktop, to quickly launch your most commonly visited websites.
You can even change the default browser icon of your shortcuts. To do this, go to the shortcut’s Properties via right-click menu. Now, click on the default browser icon and select an alternative image.
Below is an example of how you can use alternative icons to transform the look of your desktop shortcuts. Changing the default icon can also help you easily identify websites. For example, if you have created a shortcut for Facebook, then you can change the default icon with a Facebook image, so that you can recognize the shortcut launcher at a glance.
Note for Readers: Feel free to send in your tips and to ask for any help regarding issues that you may be facing with your operating system. I will try to help you out by replying to comments or writing a post on the topic. You can send your requests and tips at: [email protected].
