command-lineubuntu-12.04ubuntu-unity

How to know some app's console command in unity dash?


Is it possible to see some app's console command from unity dash menu?

For example, I open the Dash via the windows key, type in some app name, it appears in the list below, and I do "something" to see how to start it from the command line.

I am asking this because I came across multiple 3rd party apps whose console command has nothing with the app name, and I was unable to figure out how to open such apps from the console.


Solution

  • Navigate to this path in a file manager: /usr/share/applications

    For example, with Nautilus you would run (in a terminal)

    nautilus /usr/share/applications 
    

    Locate your program by name (using search if required).

    Right click the file for your program. Select 'Properties'. There should be a 'Command' field which shows the command to be executed. If the program has arguments such as %U, those are file arguments passed when that program is used to open a file.