Directory Entry Files

A directory entry file is a data file that provides information about a menu. The directory entry file specifies the details for the menu such as a name, a tooltip, and an icon. Directory entry files have a .directory file extension.

Directory entry files must reside in the $XDG_DATA_DIRS/desktop-directories directory. If $XDG_DATA_DIRS is not set, then the default path is /usr/share is used. This also implies that user specific directory entries may be located at $XDG_DATA_HOME/desktop-directories which is searched first. If $XDG_DATA_HOME is not set, then the default path ~/.local/share is used. Directory entries are collected from all directories in the $XDG_DATA_DIRS environment variable. Directories which appear first in $XDG_DATA_DIRS are given precedence when there are several .directory files with the same name.

The following is a sample directory entry file:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Graphics
Name[fr]=Graphisme
...
Comment=Graphics applications
Comment[fr]=Applications graphiques
...
Icon=gnome-graphics
Type=Directory
Encoding=UTF-8

Table 2.3, “Directory Entry Keys” describes the most important keys in directory entry files.