How do I put a launcher on my desktop in 16.04

Do you want the terminal to run and then the script run in the terminal or do you just want the script to run with no visible terminal?

I would like the script to run with no visible terminal.

What is the file name you have and what language is the script written in?
Do you have a shebang as the top line?

It is a bash script called runxampp.sh

I can drag an icon from the GUI file manager to the desktop, but instead of the file running, it opens in gedit. I can't find a "default program" to assign that has the script run...

Do you have this as the top line in the file:

#!/bin/bash

Yes -- The contents of the file are as follows:

#!/bin/bash
gksudo /opt/lampp/manager-linux-x64.run &

<b>OK - lots of trial and error... My solution was to edit the Main Menu and add an item (under internet) with the command:
gksudo /opt/lampp/manager-linux-x64.run

Then drag that item to the panel (I like gnome-panel) - dragging it to the desktop creates a not trusted launcher without any info on how to make it trusted (argggh!)...</b>

Putting the script in usr/share/applications did not help nor did copying/editing a file from ~/.config/autostart after copying it to the desktop... in both cases double-clicking the icon launched the script within gedit...

IN ANY CASE, I have a a single click way to launch this development tool. Thank you, as always, for your help.

Tom

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.