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Icon for linux application

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  • Joe von HabsburgJ Joe von Habsburg

    @Christian-Ehrlicher said in Icon for linux application:

    This should work the way you did it.

    I did something wrong probably.

    @Christian-Ehrlicher said in Icon for linux application:

    Do you see that rc.exe is executed during compilation?

    I see only that icon : image.png

    I didn't quite understand what you meant. Are you referring to my application as rx.exe? If so, and by compilation you mean build and run, I don't see it.

    @Christian-Ehrlicher said in Icon for linux application:

    It should create a .res file which then gets linked into the resulting executable

    When I look in the build folder, I don't see any files with a .res extension. Do I need to build it differently?

    Christian EhrlicherC Online
    Christian EhrlicherC Online
    Christian Ehrlicher
    Lifetime Qt Champion
    wrote on last edited by
    #15

    @Joe-von-Habsburg said in Icon for linux application:

    I didn't quite understand what you meant

    When you compile the application in QtCreator you see what/how the compiler is invoked. There you see a lot of output and one of them should be the invocation of rc.exe. You need to clean the build dir before or at least modify the rc file so it gets recompiled.

    Qt Online Installer direct download: https://download.qt.io/official_releases/online_installers/
    Visit the Qt Academy at https://academy.qt.io/catalog

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    0
    • Joe von HabsburgJ Offline
      Joe von HabsburgJ Offline
      Joe von Habsburg
      wrote on last edited by
      #16

      I looked at the "Compile Output" window and, it is finished succesfully. I could not see about icon or rc.exe.

      [15/15 10.2/sec] Linking CXX executable MyApp
      16:28:18: The command "/home/x/Qt/Tools/CMake/bin/cmake --build /home/x/Desktop/MyApp/build --target all" finished successfully.
      

      I want to ask again, is rc.exe my app or different thing ? If different thing how can I add to my app, and why should I add ?
      I clear cmake configuration, I run cmake, I clean and rebuild. Still icon does not exist.

      I've worked this hard on Qt in Ubuntu before. I apologize if I did anything wrong.

      Christian EhrlicherC 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • Joe von HabsburgJ Joe von Habsburg

        I looked at the "Compile Output" window and, it is finished succesfully. I could not see about icon or rc.exe.

        [15/15 10.2/sec] Linking CXX executable MyApp
        16:28:18: The command "/home/x/Qt/Tools/CMake/bin/cmake --build /home/x/Desktop/MyApp/build --target all" finished successfully.
        

        I want to ask again, is rc.exe my app or different thing ? If different thing how can I add to my app, and why should I add ?
        I clear cmake configuration, I run cmake, I clean and rebuild. Still icon does not exist.

        I've worked this hard on Qt in Ubuntu before. I apologize if I did anything wrong.

        Christian EhrlicherC Online
        Christian EhrlicherC Online
        Christian Ehrlicher
        Lifetime Qt Champion
        wrote on last edited by
        #17

        @Joe-von-Habsburg said in Icon for linux application:

        I've worked this hard on Qt in Ubuntu before

        You're aware that the rc application icon is for windows??? Please read the full thread.

        Qt Online Installer direct download: https://download.qt.io/official_releases/online_installers/
        Visit the Qt Academy at https://academy.qt.io/catalog

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        • Joe von HabsburgJ Offline
          Joe von HabsburgJ Offline
          Joe von Habsburg
          wrote on last edited by
          #18

          Ok, I am sorry, I read : https://forum.qt.io/topic/102167/how-to-add-qt-application-icon-in-ubuntu
          I need both of them also, .destop file and QMainWindow::setWindowIcon().

          I create icon.destop file and add resouces.qrc and add also to build folder.
          My file :

          [Desktop Entry]
          Version=1.0
          Type=Application
          Name=MyApp
          Icon=Resources/icon/icon.png
          Exec=MyApp
          Comment=MyApp Application
          Categories=Application
          Terminal=false
          

          I could not see any thing.
          And QMainWindow::setWindowIcon(). not work.
          a6acd848-c7f7-4f4b-a406-417ba4fe9b6a-image.png

          I checked, is icon null, it is return false. icon is not null.

          MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent)
              : QMainWindow(parent)
              , ui(new Ui::MainWindow)
          {
              ui->setupUi(this);
              QIcon ic(":/Resources/icon/icon.png");
              qDebug() << "ic.isNull" << ic.isNull(); // return false
              QMainWindow::setWindowIcon(QIcon(":/Resources/icon/icon.png"));
          }
          

          Did I create .destop file correct location ?

          JonBJ 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • Joe von HabsburgJ Joe von Habsburg

            Ok, I am sorry, I read : https://forum.qt.io/topic/102167/how-to-add-qt-application-icon-in-ubuntu
            I need both of them also, .destop file and QMainWindow::setWindowIcon().

            I create icon.destop file and add resouces.qrc and add also to build folder.
            My file :

            [Desktop Entry]
            Version=1.0
            Type=Application
            Name=MyApp
            Icon=Resources/icon/icon.png
            Exec=MyApp
            Comment=MyApp Application
            Categories=Application
            Terminal=false
            

            I could not see any thing.
            And QMainWindow::setWindowIcon(). not work.
            a6acd848-c7f7-4f4b-a406-417ba4fe9b6a-image.png

            I checked, is icon null, it is return false. icon is not null.

            MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget *parent)
                : QMainWindow(parent)
                , ui(new Ui::MainWindow)
            {
                ui->setupUi(this);
                QIcon ic(":/Resources/icon/icon.png");
                qDebug() << "ic.isNull" << ic.isNull(); // return false
                QMainWindow::setWindowIcon(QIcon(":/Resources/icon/icon.png"));
            }
            

            Did I create .destop file correct location ?

            JonBJ Offline
            JonBJ Offline
            JonB
            wrote on last edited by JonB
            #19

            @Joe-von-Habsburg said in Icon for linux application:

            Icon=Resources/icon/icon.png

            QIcon ic(":/Resources/icon/icon.png");

            The first looks in the filing system for Resources/icon/icon.png, which doesn't exist. I do not think you can tell desktop to use a resource in a Qt executable, or I don't know how if you can (unless :/Resources/icon/icon.png works which I doubt). For the desktop shortcut I imagine you have to extract or copy the png file so you can point to that.

            Joe von HabsburgJ 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • JonBJ JonB

              @Joe-von-Habsburg said in Icon for linux application:

              Icon=Resources/icon/icon.png

              QIcon ic(":/Resources/icon/icon.png");

              The first looks in the filing system for Resources/icon/icon.png, which doesn't exist. I do not think you can tell desktop to use a resource in a Qt executable, or I don't know how if you can (unless :/Resources/icon/icon.png works which I doubt). For the desktop shortcut I imagine you have to extract or copy the png file so you can point to that.

              Joe von HabsburgJ Offline
              Joe von HabsburgJ Offline
              Joe von Habsburg
              wrote on last edited by
              #20

              @JonB said in Icon for linux application:

              Icon=Resources/icon/icon.png

              thay are in same directory.

              • icon.destop

              • Resources/

              I added on project location and build location. So it exists.

              @JonB said in Icon for linux application:

              I do not think you can tell desktop to use a resource in a Qt executable,

              I know what you mean. You think I'm using a file in resources.qrc, but I copied Resources/icon/icon.png to the build folder myself. So I know you can't use it from the .qrc file, it's inside the icon.desktop file.

              @JonB said in Icon for linux application:

              QIcon ic(":/Resources/icon/icon.png");

              That was for mainwindow icon. I tested for access to icon.png file or it is null, app can access to file because it returns as false for ask is it null.

              JonBJ 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • Joe von HabsburgJ Joe von Habsburg

                @JonB said in Icon for linux application:

                Icon=Resources/icon/icon.png

                thay are in same directory.

                • icon.destop

                • Resources/

                I added on project location and build location. So it exists.

                @JonB said in Icon for linux application:

                I do not think you can tell desktop to use a resource in a Qt executable,

                I know what you mean. You think I'm using a file in resources.qrc, but I copied Resources/icon/icon.png to the build folder myself. So I know you can't use it from the .qrc file, it's inside the icon.desktop file.

                @JonB said in Icon for linux application:

                QIcon ic(":/Resources/icon/icon.png");

                That was for mainwindow icon. I tested for access to icon.png file or it is null, app can access to file because it returns as false for ask is it null.

                JonBJ Offline
                JonBJ Offline
                JonB
                wrote on last edited by
                #21

                @Joe-von-Habsburg
                I do not understand your English or what you are saying.

                .qrc is not relevant, it is only used at compilation time. Ubuntu/desktop will not look for Icon=Resources/icon/icon.png as an embedded resource within your executable, nor if you specify it as any Icon=:/... like you can inside Qt code.

                Let's say your home directory is /home/joe. Copy icon.png to that directory, so /home/joe/icon.png. Specify Icon=/home/joe/icon.png in .desktop file. Try that. If that does not work then perhaps you have something wrong in your .desktop file.

                Joe von HabsburgJ 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • JonBJ JonB

                  @Joe-von-Habsburg
                  I do not understand your English or what you are saying.

                  .qrc is not relevant, it is only used at compilation time. Ubuntu/desktop will not look for Icon=Resources/icon/icon.png as an embedded resource within your executable, nor if you specify it as any Icon=:/... like you can inside Qt code.

                  Let's say your home directory is /home/joe. Copy icon.png to that directory, so /home/joe/icon.png. Specify Icon=/home/joe/icon.png in .desktop file. Try that. If that does not work then perhaps you have something wrong in your .desktop file.

                  Joe von HabsburgJ Offline
                  Joe von HabsburgJ Offline
                  Joe von Habsburg
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #22

                  @JonB said in Icon for linux application:

                  I do not understand your English or what you are saying.

                  Sorry for that.

                  @JonB said in Icon for linux application:

                  Let's say your home directory is /home/joe. Copy icon.png to that directory, so /home/joe/icon.png. Specify Icon=/home/joe/icon.png in .desktop file. Try that. If that does not work then perhaps you have something wrong in your .desktop file.

                  I said that. I copied the image same directory(build) with .desktop file.

                  000c42ac-595e-4949-a3cd-65b5019af013-image.png

                  JonBJ 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • Joe von HabsburgJ Joe von Habsburg

                    @JonB said in Icon for linux application:

                    I do not understand your English or what you are saying.

                    Sorry for that.

                    @JonB said in Icon for linux application:

                    Let's say your home directory is /home/joe. Copy icon.png to that directory, so /home/joe/icon.png. Specify Icon=/home/joe/icon.png in .desktop file. Try that. If that does not work then perhaps you have something wrong in your .desktop file.

                    I said that. I copied the image same directory(build) with .desktop file.

                    000c42ac-595e-4949-a3cd-65b5019af013-image.png

                    JonBJ Offline
                    JonBJ Offline
                    JonB
                    wrote on last edited by JonB
                    #23

                    @Joe-von-Habsburg said in Icon for linux application:

                    I said that. I copied the image same directory(build) with .desktop file.

                    It's quite simple. I suggested you:

                    1. Copy icon.png to /home/joe/icon.png (whatever your home directory is).
                    2. Put Icon=/home/joe/icon.png (that's whatever full path) in .desktop file.

                    I don't know what your screenshot is supposed to be showing me. I never said to put anything anywhere near a Resources directory or in your "build" area. And your .desktop file is in somewhere like ~/.local/share/applications/, right?

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • Joe von HabsburgJ Offline
                      Joe von HabsburgJ Offline
                      Joe von Habsburg
                      wrote on last edited by Joe von Habsburg
                      #24

                      I add to home

                      Screenshot from 2026-04-20 11-02-06.png

                      Build directory

                      Screenshot from 2026-04-20 11-07-27.png

                      [Desktop Entry]
                      Version=1.0
                      Type=Application
                      Name=App
                      Icon=/home/x/icon.png
                      Exec=myapp
                      Comment=My Application
                      Categories=Application
                      Terminal=false
                      

                      Icon is :
                      icon.png

                      I saw that
                      fab9ae44-410d-4834-a9be-1e2dd7f7ee05-image.png

                      @JonB said in Icon for linux application:

                      desktop file is in somewhere like ~/.local/share/applications/, right?

                      should i create .destop file in there ?

                      JonBJ 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • Joe von HabsburgJ Joe von Habsburg

                        I add to home

                        Screenshot from 2026-04-20 11-02-06.png

                        Build directory

                        Screenshot from 2026-04-20 11-07-27.png

                        [Desktop Entry]
                        Version=1.0
                        Type=Application
                        Name=App
                        Icon=/home/x/icon.png
                        Exec=myapp
                        Comment=My Application
                        Categories=Application
                        Terminal=false
                        

                        Icon is :
                        icon.png

                        I saw that
                        fab9ae44-410d-4834-a9be-1e2dd7f7ee05-image.png

                        @JonB said in Icon for linux application:

                        desktop file is in somewhere like ~/.local/share/applications/, right?

                        should i create .destop file in there ?

                        JonBJ Offline
                        JonBJ Offline
                        JonB
                        wrote on last edited by JonB
                        #25

                        @Joe-von-Habsburg
                        As I understand it, your icon.desktop file seems to be in some build directory. I said you should have nothing to do with build directory at runtime. What makes you think Ubuntu/GNOME will look in your build directory for any .desktop file, why should it? It does not even know it is there.

                        1. Put your icon.png in /home/joe.
                        2. Leave your icon executable in something like /home/joe/iconproject/build/Desktop/ directory. (I assume your executable is named icon.)
                        3. Ensure icon.desktop includes the following 2 lines among its other content:
                        Icon=/home/joe/icon.png
                        Exec=/home/joe/iconproject/build/Desktop/icon
                        
                        1. Put/copy icon.desktop to directory /home/joe/.local/share/applications/. That is where Ubuntu/GNOME/desktop manager looks for .desktop files. You might have some more there if you have any other applications with .desktop files, or your might be the only one.

                        You might have to log out of desktop and back in again after you have done item #4, to make GNOME look in /home/joe/.local/share/applications/ again for your new icon.desktop file.

                        When you have this working you can think again/play with lines

                        Icon=/home/joe/icon.png
                        Exec=/home/joe/iconproject/build/Desktop/icon
                        

                        so that they do not necessarily have to have /home/joe in them if you want this to run/distribute elsewhere. But first get it working with the absolute paths so we know where we are.

                        1 Reply Last reply
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                        • Joe von HabsburgJ Offline
                          Joe von HabsburgJ Offline
                          Joe von Habsburg
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #26

                          Thank you so much, It works. For that kind of things, must be so explanatory. Thanks everyone :)

                          1 Reply Last reply
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