Trouble creating desktop launcher file [SOLVED]

[YFZdude]

Pi Model or other hardware: x86
RetroPie Version Used: 4.7.14
Built From: Manual install on Lubuntu 20.04 LTS
USB Devices connected: Wireless Keyboard, Logitech F710
Controller used: Logitech F710
File: All
Emulator: ALL
How to replicate the problem:

I am trying to create a .desktop file for launching emulation station instead of opening a terminal window each time. Here is the content of my file:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Emulation Station
Comment = Launches the Emulation Station environment for retro gaming.
Exec=/usr/bin/emulationstation
Terminal=True

It launches ES just fine, but when I try to launch any game / emulator, it flashes out to the desktop and then back to the ES menu. I also notice that I don't see a terminal window in the background like I do when I already have the terminal open and type the emulationstation command manually.

What am I missing?

Thanks in advance.

[YFZdude]

So I was able to find a workaround...

I changed the line to

Exec=/usr/bin/qterminal -e emulationstation

So now essentially I am launching a terminal window with my shortcut and having it auto execute the emulationstation command.
I'm still curious if any GNU/Linux wizards know why the original method was not working. Either way it is working now.

EDIT: For anyone else who uses this solution, you may need to find out where your terminal application is and substitute it in the line above.
I found mine by typing whereis qterminal since I already knew the name of my terminal program.

[mitu]

@yfzdude said in Trouble creating desktop launcher file [SOLVED]:

I'm still curious if any GNU/Linux wizards know why the original method was not working. Either way it is working now.

Because runcommand needs a terminal to show the launch menu, launching ES directly would break this. On Debian and friends, you can use x-terminal-emulator as the terminal starting command, which would be expanded to one of the installed terminal emulators.