Create and edit quicklists and launchers with MenuLibre (Ubuntu Software Center)

By default, Ubuntu exposes app launchers via the Dash, where icons are located, consequently, launching an application is as simple as pressing the Super/Meta/Windows key, typing a preferred app name and pressing Enter, bundle of actions suitable to launch an application in a matter of seconds.

The launching process can be easily enhanced via quicklists, a simplistic yet full-of-potential Ubuntu bit, allowing the user/developer to push extra actions into the handiness of the Unity launcher, 1-click away entries that can harness complex commands.

MenuLibre transforms the mentioned functionalities into an as-easy-as-can-be creation process, presenting the user a clean clear interface where both creating stand-alone launchers and quicklist enhancements are supported.

Lunching MenuLibre, introduces the user to a minimalistic view with properly categorized items, meaning, clicking Accessories opens in a sub-panel user's already installed and available apps under the Accessories category (such as Calculator, Backup, Time&Date, Screenshot, etc).

A definitely interesting aspect of MenuLibre is its Nautilus-like approach of browsing through items, meaning, clicking (and thus opening) Internet, open the items related to Internet, yet clicking the Home icon returns the user to the main view (where all the categories are exposed), furthermore, Internet remains displayed on the "addressbar", clicking on the addressbar's Internet, returns the user to the Internet's expanded items, basically, an easily graspable method of accurate browsing through numerous items.

Adding a new quicklist entry is to be performed as such (Firefox is the example):

• first, locate the about-to-be-modified application by clicking on a category
• clicking on Firefox (from inside MenuLibre), opens it in a panel featuring three tabs (General Settings advanced configurations, Quicklist usable for quicklist actual creation , Editor displays the text content of its .desktop file)
• under Quicklist, clicking Add creates an editable area where Shortcut Name (merely for user's remembrance), Displayed Name (the name of the quicklist entry, when the user right-clicks on the Unity launcher's app icon) and Command (the command executed when the user clicks on the quicklist entry, consequently, its form must be accurate)
• after the fields are written, in order to make the modified quicklist visible, Show must be checked
• finally, click Save All Changes
  

MenuLibre comes with Undo the last action (reverts the last added action when creating, modifying fields) and Revert all changes to last saved state (creating 5 quicklist entries and clicking Save All Changes, saves the entries, adding extra 4 entries and clicking Revert all changes to last saved state, removes the latter 4 entries, while retaining the first 5 saved entries).

In order to immediately observe and test the modified quicklist, launch the app via the Dash; if the app is already presents on the Unity launcher, remove it from the launcher and launch it again via the Dash (to "refresh"/update its state).

Adding a stand-alone launcher (not dependent on an already existing launcher) is to be achieved by hitting the top-left Add Launcher, and following the available panels: General Settings (with support for Command, Working Directory, Categories, Run in terminal ON/OFF, Use startup notification ON/OFF, Hide from menus ON/OFF), Quicklists (support to enriche the about-to-be-created quicklist), Editor (the text contained by its .desktop file).

Adding an executable can be selected by clicking Command's open icon, that summons a dialog where the executable is to be selected/located (similarly to "regular" files), thus removing the need (in various cases) to type the executable's command.

The app name and description are editable (by clicking on them), approach followed by the provided icon (clicking on it, summon a handy dialog from where a new icon is to be selected or using a different name for the used icons, such as a specific MIME icon).

MenuLibre allows the user to easily search&locate apps via its top-right search-as-you-type search area.

Launch MenuLibre via the Dash by typing menulibre in the search area and/or via System Settings.

MenuLibre 12.07.11 is available via Ubuntu Software Center.

Worth mentioning
MenuLibre has been created as part of Ubuntu App Showdown.