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I'm trying to create a .desktop file which opens a file, either inside a Vim server named "VIM" if it exists, or otherwise using the normal Vim .desktop file. This is what I have so far: [Desktop...
#5: Post edited
by
Michael
·
2025-04-10T17:14:05Z (15 days ago)
Add prettyprint language. Mark filenames.
how to use %F in a file URI in a .desktop file
I'm trying to create a .desktop file which opens a file, either inside a Vim server named "VIM" if it exists, or otherwise using the normal Vim .desktop file.- This is what I have so far:
```- [Desktop Entry]
- Name=Vim Remote
- GenericName=Text Editor
- Comment=Edit text files
- TryExec=vim
- Exec=sh -c "if vim --serverlist | grep -q VIM; then vim --remote %F; else gtk-launch vim file:%F; fi"
- Terminal=false
- Type=Application
- Icon=gvim
- StartupNotify=false
- ```
- The first part (`vim --remote %F`) works, but the second (`gtk-launch vim file:%F`) does not. When the Vim server is not available, a blank Vim window is opened, without loading the file. I believe the `gtk-launch` syntax is correct because if I try using a hard-coded file name instead of `%F`, the file is loaded properly.
- How do I fix the issue? Does `%F` not expand properly when it's next to `:`?
- I'm trying to create a *.desktop* file which opens a file, either inside a Vim server named "VIM" if it exists, or otherwise using the normal Vim *.desktop* file.
- This is what I have so far:
- ```ini
- [Desktop Entry]
- Name=Vim Remote
- GenericName=Text Editor
- Comment=Edit text files
- TryExec=vim
- Exec=sh -c "if vim --serverlist | grep -q VIM; then vim --remote %F; else gtk-launch vim file:%F; fi"
- Terminal=false
- Type=Application
- Icon=gvim
- StartupNotify=false
- ```
- The first part (`vim --remote %F`) works, but the second (`gtk-launch vim file:%F`) does not. When the Vim server is not available, a blank Vim window is opened, without loading the file. I believe the `gtk-launch` syntax is correct because if I try using a hard-coded file name instead of `%F`, the file is loaded properly.
- How do I fix the issue? Does `%F` not expand properly when it's next to `:`?
#4: Post edited
by
Karl Knechtel
·
2025-04-04T09:54:52Z (22 days ago)
improve clarity and conciseness
how to use %F in a file URI in a .desktop file
I'm trying to create a .desktop file which opens a file, either inside a Vim server named "VIM" if that server exists, or otherwise using the normal Vim .desktop file.My .desktop file is below.- ```
- [Desktop Entry]
- Name=Vim Remote
- GenericName=Text Editor
- Comment=Edit text files
- TryExec=vim
- Exec=sh -c "if vim --serverlist | grep -q VIM; then vim --remote %F; else gtk-launch vim file:%F; fi"
- Terminal=false
- Type=Application
- Icon=gvim
- StartupNotify=false
- ```
The first part (`vim --remote %F`) works, but the second (`gtk-launch vim file:%F`) does not.The second part will open a new Vim window, but without any file opened.I'm guessing the problem is due to `:` and `%F` being next to each other, which causes `%F` to not be expanded properly.I believe the gtk-launch function is set up correctly because if I hardcode a specific file in place of `%F`, that file will successfully open in a new Vim window.Does anyone know how to solve this?
- I'm trying to create a .desktop file which opens a file, either inside a Vim server named "VIM" if it exists, or otherwise using the normal Vim .desktop file.
- This is what I have so far:
- ```
- [Desktop Entry]
- Name=Vim Remote
- GenericName=Text Editor
- Comment=Edit text files
- TryExec=vim
- Exec=sh -c "if vim --serverlist | grep -q VIM; then vim --remote %F; else gtk-launch vim file:%F; fi"
- Terminal=false
- Type=Application
- Icon=gvim
- StartupNotify=false
- ```
- The first part (`vim --remote %F`) works, but the second (`gtk-launch vim file:%F`) does not. When the Vim server is not available, a blank Vim window is opened, without loading the file. I believe the `gtk-launch` syntax is correct because if I try using a hard-coded file name instead of `%F`, the file is loaded properly.
- How do I fix the issue? Does `%F` not expand properly when it's next to `:`?
#3: Post edited
by
Trevor
·
2024-11-22T00:16:03Z (5 months ago)
- I'm trying to create a .desktop file which opens a file, either inside a Vim server named "VIM" if that server exists, or otherwise using the normal Vim .desktop file.
- My .desktop file is below.
- ```
- [Desktop Entry]
- Name=Vim Remote
- GenericName=Text Editor
- Comment=Edit text files
- TryExec=vim
- Exec=sh -c "if vim --serverlist | grep -q VIM; then vim --remote %F; else gtk-launch vim file:%F; fi"
- Terminal=false
- Type=Application
- Icon=gvim
- StartupNotify=false
- ```
- The first part (`vim --remote %F`) works, but the second (`gtk-launch vim file:%F`) does not.
- The second part will open a new Vim window, but without any file opened.
- I'm guessing the problem is due to `:` and `%F` being next to each other, which causes `%F` to not be expanded properly.
- I believe the gtk-launch function is set up correctly because if I hardcode a specific file in place of `%F`, that file will successfully open in a new Vim window.
Does anyone know the solution?
- I'm trying to create a .desktop file which opens a file, either inside a Vim server named "VIM" if that server exists, or otherwise using the normal Vim .desktop file.
- My .desktop file is below.
- ```
- [Desktop Entry]
- Name=Vim Remote
- GenericName=Text Editor
- Comment=Edit text files
- TryExec=vim
- Exec=sh -c "if vim --serverlist | grep -q VIM; then vim --remote %F; else gtk-launch vim file:%F; fi"
- Terminal=false
- Type=Application
- Icon=gvim
- StartupNotify=false
- ```
- The first part (`vim --remote %F`) works, but the second (`gtk-launch vim file:%F`) does not.
- The second part will open a new Vim window, but without any file opened.
- I'm guessing the problem is due to `:` and `%F` being next to each other, which causes `%F` to not be expanded properly.
- I believe the gtk-launch function is set up correctly because if I hardcode a specific file in place of `%F`, that file will successfully open in a new Vim window.
- Does anyone know how to solve this?
#2: Post edited
by
Trevor
·
2024-11-22T00:14:54Z (5 months ago)
how to use `%F` in a file URI in a .desktop file
- how to use %F in a file URI in a .desktop file
#1: Initial revision
by
Trevor
·
2024-11-22T00:14:41Z (5 months ago)
how to use `%F` in a file URI in a .desktop file
I'm trying to create a .desktop file which opens a file, either inside a Vim server named "VIM" if that server exists, or otherwise using the normal Vim .desktop file. My .desktop file is below. ``` [Desktop Entry] Name=Vim Remote GenericName=Text Editor Comment=Edit text files TryExec=vim Exec=sh -c "if vim --serverlist | grep -q VIM; then vim --remote %F; else gtk-launch vim file:%F; fi" Terminal=false Type=Application Icon=gvim StartupNotify=false ``` The first part (`vim --remote %F`) works, but the second (`gtk-launch vim file:%F`) does not. The second part will open a new Vim window, but without any file opened. I'm guessing the problem is due to `:` and `%F` being next to each other, which causes `%F` to not be expanded properly. I believe the gtk-launch function is set up correctly because if I hardcode a specific file in place of `%F`, that file will successfully open in a new Vim window. Does anyone know the solution?