nautilus "create launcher" can't create links to directories

Reasigned from launchtool to nautilus, since it's not launchtool's fault.

Confirmed in gutsy, nautilus version 1:2.19.4-0ubuntu1. The only difference is that the launcher type is named "location" instead of "link".

I changed the bug summary from "launchtool can't create links to directories" to "nautilus 'create launcher' can't create links to directories", which is more accurate according to the bug description.

you can right click on a directory and use "create a link" or drag and drop it using the middle click

@sebastien

Sure and this assumes that the user has a basic understanding of the linux file system. Even if they manage to find the proper directory path, they are left with an ugly, tiny default icon. To get the correct icon they need to click on the unlabeled "icon button" in properties (not at all obvious) and find the correct icon in some weird location like: /usr/share/icons/human/48x48.

I had to do this today to make a desktop link to my /home directory (forgot about the gconf setting). I should note that even experienced users will want to link to an area outside of their home directory (/use/local) and this is also disabled in Nautilus. Not only is this a terrible waste of mouse clicks but it definitely makes Ubuntu/Gnome seem less polished to a new user.

@sebastien

Apologies...it does work correctly but only for directories in the users home. To make any other link requires using the launcher or dropping to the cli.

I 'd like to confirm this issue for Hardy Heron. Tried to create a link my desktop to a directory in home, but on pressing the icon it gives "There is no application installed for this file type" nevertheless I had chosen not Application, but Location while creating a link.

yngens: what you're describing is a different issue, probably caused because you're making a link to "/yourdir/" instead of "file:///yourdir/".

Juan Pablo Salazar Bertín, what if the Location is not file, but folder?

In any case, even if you a creating link to file, not to folder, when you choose Location in Create Launcher it should automatically put 'file://' in the path, not requiring any user to know that he/she needs to put something else there. Leaving additional part of the path to knowledge of the user should not be default behavior.

Hmmm, I've always found it messy to create "Shortcuts" to folders using nautilus.

For example, I like to have a "shortcut" to my home folder or to "Filesystem" on the desktop...

I can middle-drag the folder there, and get a link.. or type ln -s [shortcut] [folder]
But then I have a link, so when I double click to open it will show as:
"/home/username/Desktop/[Name of Link to Homefolder]" instead of "/home/username"
Now, what I've found is that you can make a "Launcher" that points to nautilus [address of folder] then you can manually find an icon...

Which brings me to the main problem with this: The icons FFS!!
Finding an icon has got to be the worst implemented part of the GNOME DE...

all the best, hope someone has a look at this bug sometime.

ubuntu 10.10 with Nautilus 2.32.0 has this bug. Right clicking on the desktop to create a Launcher does not offer "Link" as a type, contrary to the first post on this bug (It is likely the program has changed). Rather there is the "Location" type. Choosing the Location type and browsing to a directory will not work because the user must browse to a file.

Still unfixed in Ubuntu 11.04. I can manually type the folder's path in, but the dialog doesn't allow me to select it. It's very annoying, I believe the bug should be rated higher than 'low'.

A little workaround:
1. Type the folder's path in manually ('/path/to/your/folder').
2. Instead of 'Location' select 'Application' with command like "gnome-open /path/to/your/directory" that is annoying.