right now there's no simple way to create a shortcut to an arbitrary file, e.g. PDF or MP3. i have to create an URL link, and type file:// path manually, which is very-very annoying. it's also pretty evil that the launchers in the xfce panel are not actual desktop files, which could be drag-n-dropped to desktop or anywhere else. i can drag-n-drop launchers from desktop to the panel, but not back. please add a possibility to create shortcuts easily. you can see how it's done in mswindows: 1. drag-n-drop a file while holding Alt key will create a shortcut 2. drag-d-drop a file using right mouse button will prompt with a menu, which has an option to create shortcut 3. right click a file, Copy, then right click anywhere for a context menu, and there's an option "paste shortcut" this is one of the biggest annoyances in linux desktop for me right now, and i'm sure many users would appreciate this feature. i know that all above stuff is as bad in all the other linux DEs, so XFCE can be 1st to get it right. i don't understand why this basic feature is so underrated. i would also like to get an explanation, if there's some technical problem preventing this from being implemented.
This is an option "Make Link" in Thunar. It only available in the edit menu, but thats the proper way to create links.
hi Nick. i wasn't talking about symlinks. i was talking about desktop shortcuts -- i.e. .desktop files (or launchers, as they are frequently called). unfortunately i don't have access to xfce desktop right now, i'll write more detailed explanation and some use cases when i get home.
hi. i tried to play with thunar and panel, to remember what use cases i needed when i was using xfce before. and the main use-case that's very hard to achieve was this: create a launcher, pointing to a PDF file, in the panel. this is very hard, because 1. the regular app launcher doesn't accept PDF files 2. the uri launcher doesn't have browse button 3. the panel can't make launcher buttons from symlinks 4. in windows -- it's a 2 click operation in filemanager + drag-n-drop to panel. i filed this bug in thunar, because the file manager seems to be the sanest application to create links/launchers. even if they are going to the panel later. i'm not using xfce anymore because of many reasons, so you can ignore/delete this feature request if no one else needs this. i don't think i'll be going back any time soon.
Closing old bug.