modifying menu items

[mascarasnake <dontdrill earthlink net>]

Happy New Year, all!

I'm 'fairly' new at linux and have started to get the hang of compiling.
In so 
doing, I've been able to download some GNOME-centric apps that are not 
available from my distro (YDL 3.0). Thusly, I began to edit my
Applications 
menu - No Dice.

using nautilus, URI- 'applications:///' I am unable to create a 'New
Launcher' 
from either File menu or right-click; create a Launcher on the Desktop
or a 
panel and drag or copy it to the 'applications:///' window; copy a
current 
Launcher in order to edit it.

I have tried the procedures as user, opening nautilus as 'su', and
logging in 
as root. The error I keep getting this:

	Error while copying.

	Error "Unsupported operation" while copying.
	Would you like to continue?

My queries are:
Am I missing something (libs, maybe)?
Is there a work around for this in CLI?
In a Nutshell, how can I fix this?

thanks muchly in advance
-- 
                      "It's what you make it, man.
                              Takes time.
                             A little bit.
                          A little bit more."

					The Minutemen