If you use KDE 2.0, you may want to add an icon for some non-KDE program. kappfinder can do this for some more popular programs, less popular programs must be added by hand. This howto explains both methods.

Using kappfinder to Locate Popular Apps

kappfinder can automatically find most popular non-KDE applications in KDE 2.0.

You can run it by going to K Menu -> Utilities -> Legacy App Import.

Click Search. It will take a few seconds, and try to locate popular apps on your system.

They should then appear in the K Menu, alongside all of your KDE apps.

If none appear, try running ksycoca in a terminal window.

ksycoca is a cache of KDE menu items (and other data) very similar to the "Desktop File" in Mac OS. Running ksyscoca rebuilds this cache, and tells the apps about any changes or additions.

Adding Obscure Apps

kappfinder only works with older popular X11 apps, it doesn't find some of the newest, console or more obsure X11 apps. You need to add these by hand.

Open up a Konsole. Change Directory to ~/.kde/share/applnk:

cd ~/.kde/share/applink

Decide where this app belongs from these selections:

• Applications
• Graphics
• Internet
• Multimedia
• System
• Editors
• Office
• Utilities
• Games
• Settings

  Create the directory for the type you want. If you get an error saying it already exists, it's okay to ignore, it just means kappfinder or you already created a third party app icon of that type.

  aarthur@cowsandcorn:~/.kde/share/applnk$ mkdir Games
  mkdir: cannot create directory `Games': File exists

  Go into that directory.

  Open up your favorite text editior.

  Create a file similar to this (except replace it with your own apps' info):

  [Desktop Entry]
  Exec=xbrat
  Icon=xbrat.xpm
  Type=Application
  Name=XBrat
  Comment=XBrat Game - Get Those Brats
  

  When you are done, save it in the ~/.kde/share/applnk// as programname.desktop.

  Make sure to replace Games and programname with the correct one.

  Run ksycoca, so all of your KDE programs get the updated menu info.