FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.6.0_15"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_15-b03)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 14.1-b02, mixed mode, sharing)



ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Linux roque-desktop 2.6.31-14-generic #48-Ubuntu SMP Fri Oct 16 14:04:26 UTC 2009 i686 GNU/Linux

I've tried with Ubuntu 8.10, 9.04, 9.10, and Fedora 11 and Fedora 12, and the problem happens in all of these linux distributions.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
When you download an application with JavaWebStart, after installing it, jws tries to create the shorcut desktop, but it fails, with the following error message: "can't create desktop shortcut for application XXXXX".

No more details are shown in the java console.

After doing a lot of test, I've determined the reason of the failure, and a workaround.

Reason: I'm using linux installed with my locale configuration, that is, with the spanish language. When you install ubuntu in spanish, the user folders are created in spanish too. For example:

/home/myuser/desktop is in spanish ---->  /home/user/Escritorio

Due to this, JWS can't create the desktop shortcut.

Workaround: It works well if I install ubuntu in English, and when the instalation is finished, I change the menus and icons language to Spanish. Then, ubuntu aks if I want translate the user folders, and I have to answer NO, to preserve the original folder structure.

Then, you have ubuntu in spanish language, and jws works well.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Install Ubuntu 9.10 in spanish, and try to download an JWS application that creates a desktop shortcut.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
The JWS application is downloaded and installed OK, but You can see that the shortcut creation fails.

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Install ubuntu 9.10 or any other linux in english, and after the instalation, change the language to spanish, but preserving the original folder srtucture.