Cannot start Eclipse from Unity Launcher

Question

I downloaded Eclipse Juno package, and extracted it to /opt directory. For installing it, I followed the steps given in this site - Ubuntu Help under the User Installation section. I created the opt_eclipse.desktop file in /usr/share/applications/ directory. Here is the content of my desktop file:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Name=Eclipse
Comment=Eclipse Integrated Development Environment
Icon=eclipse
Exec=eclipse42
Terminal=false
Categories=Development;IDE;Java;
StartupWMClass=Eclipse
X-Desktop-File-Install-Version=0.20

Then I installed the desktop file on Unity using the following command, as given in this post:

sudo desktop-file-install /usr/share/applications/opt_eclipse.desktop

Then I created the symbolic link using the below command:

sudo ln -s /opt/eclipse/eclipse /usr/local/bin/eclipse42

I also moved the icon to the pixmaps folder using the below command:

cp opt/eclipse/icon.xpm /usr/share/pixmaps/eclipse.xpm

Now, when I go to Unity, I can find the Eclipse Icon. But, when I click it, nothing happens. It doesn't get started. I'm completely new to Ubuntu. Did I miss something out there?

this link worked for me: http://askubuntu.com/a/80016 > you need to specify the correct path for icon and eclipse. — Shambhavi, Jan 13 '14 at 05:18

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 13 '13 at 19:07

2

Did you also install the jdk, it is needed for eclipse.

Enter the full path to the start-script in the Desktop-file

Exec=/path/to/ecplipse/eclipse42

if the path is noch included in your $PATH-Variable, what normally should note be if you did not by yourself.

answered Jun 13 '13 at 19:07

herrhansen

251
1
6

Do we need to give the path till the executables in the `Exec` or till the startup script? And how to see what is there in my $PATH variable. Do I need to add the path to JDK there? – Rohit Jain Jun 13 '13 at 19:09
I installed jdk using - `sudo apt-get install openjdk-7-jdk`. – Rohit Jain Jun 13 '13 at 19:10
if you install jdk by software-center/apt you do not need to add it. to show your $PATH type in terminal: `echo $PATH` – herrhansen Jun 13 '13 at 19:11
by the way, it is not needed to eclipse-path to $PATH to get eclipse running – herrhansen Jun 13 '13 at 19:12
the Exec-Path on my machine looks this way: `/home/christian/apps/eclipse/eclipse` this is the file to be called in Desktop-file – herrhansen Jun 13 '13 at 19:15
Yeah this is what I'm giving. My path is: `/opt/eclipse/eclipse` – Rohit Jain Jun 13 '13 at 19:17
Are you able to start eclipse in terminal by typing `eclipse42`? – herrhansen Jun 13 '13 at 19:22
No. Command not found. :( – Rohit Jain Jun 13 '13 at 19:24
let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/9234/discussion-between-quidage-and-rohit-jain) – herrhansen Jun 13 '13 at 19:25
Thank you so much. Seems like the problem was with symlinks. I created the symlinks to `/opt/eclipse/eclipse`, whereas I installed eclipse in my home directory. Once I changed the symlinks to `~/opt/eclipse/eclipse`, it worked. Thanks for pointing me to that direction. And now I now one more think, RED color with symlinks means - PROBLEM. :) – Rohit Jain Jun 13 '13 at 19:40

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 13 '13 at 18:57

1

I think you need JAVA Runtime Environment installed. Did you try running eclipse directly by clicking binary?

answered Jun 13 '13 at 18:57

Misery

3,474
4
27
32

I have already installed the JRE. Also, when I run eclipse directly from startup script stored in `~/bin/eclipse`, it is running. – Rohit Jain Jun 13 '13 at 19:00
It is also running from the binary. – Rohit Jain Jun 13 '13 at 19:01
So probably there's something wrong with links i think. How about giving the full path to binary file as `Exec` option? – Misery Jun 13 '13 at 19:03
Do you mean symbolic links? What might be the problem? I don't know, I just followed the steps on the other posts. – Rohit Jain Jun 13 '13 at 19:04
Try using `/opt/eclipse/eclipse` as `Exec` – Misery Jun 13 '13 at 19:05
Not working. :( – Rohit Jain Jun 13 '13 at 19:08
Please see [this post](http://askubuntu.com/questions/5172/running-a-desktop-file-in-the-terminal) and tell us if something is written in the console when you run the desktop file – Misery Jun 13 '13 at 19:14
Is our desktop file allowed to be executed? – Misery Jun 13 '13 at 19:20
I tried those steps. But when I do - `deskopen /usr/share/applications/opt_eclipse.desktop`, it says - `deskopen: command not found`. – Rohit Jain Jun 13 '13 at 19:23
Ah! My fault. I by mistake also typed a back-tick there. After changing it, it shows a prompt - `rohit@RJ:~$ /opt/eclipse/eclipse` and hangs there with cursor blinking. – Rohit Jain Jun 13 '13 at 19:27
Yes, my desktop file has permission to be executed. – Rohit Jain Jun 13 '13 at 19:29
ok, run in terminal `/opt/eclipse/eclipse` does it work? – Misery Jun 13 '13 at 19:34
1

Yes it works. Thanks @Misery. Actually, the problem was with symlinks. (As you said earlier). I wrote the solutions in the comments of first answer. Thanks for helping. :) – Rohit Jain Jun 13 '13 at 19:41

Cannot start Eclipse from Unity Launcher

2 Answers2