Adding a Simplify3D Unity Launcher for Ubuntu 20.04 (Focal Fossa)

I've been using Simplify3D for slicing STL files for several years now. I've really liked the software and have always felt it was well worth the money as I have lost far fewer prints using it.

I reinstalled my laptop with Ubuntu recently and so I was happy to see that Simplify3d has a Linux version as well.

Their install instructions were pretty minimal as they have a really nice installer that did most everything. After install though, I did not see Simplify3D show up in the list of applications.

Here are the steps I followed to manually add it:

1. Searched, found and downloaded a jpg version of their product icon and converted it to a png. I'll save you that trouble and you can right click and download this one instead:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Copy the downloaded image file to /opt/Simplify3D-4.1.2

$sudo cp ~/Downloads/simplify3d-icon.png /opt/Simplify3D-4.1.2

3. Create a .desktop file

$sudo vi /opt/Simplify3D-4.1.2/Simplify3D.desktop

and paste in this:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Application
Version=0.9.4
Name=Simplify3D
Comment=3D Printing Slicer
Icon=/opt/Simplify3D-4.1.2/simplify3d-icon.png
Exec=/opt/Simplify3D-4.1.2/LaunchScript.sh
Terminal=false
Path=/opt/Simplify3D-4.1.2

4. Now add the .desktop file to the Unity Launcher

$ sudo desktop-file-install /opt/Simplify3D-4.1.2/Simplify3D.desktop

That's it, now it will show up in the launcher!