Is there any way to comfigure a desktop launcher (gnome and KDE) that will cause windows to open on a specific desktop?

If there is some command that lets me (1) ask which desktop is current, and (2) direct which desktop to target, I can use a launcher wrapping script. I'm hoping that there is something like the --display option for X11 applications.

If I select a launcher, use ALT+F2, or background a gui-app from a shell, it will open on the current desktop. If it takes long enough to start, I can switch to another desktop and the window will open there.
I'd like to know a generic way that says, "open this window and connect it to desktop N"

I rely on workspace switcher to separate things that I'm doing. Desktop #1 for email and Skype and IM ... communications.
Desktop #2 for everything web browser and downloads.
Desktop #3 is file managers, open IDE's and GUI aspects of work-in-progress.
Desktop #4 for everything shell or [c|k]onsole.

Thanks,
~~~ 0;-Dan

It is desktop specific and is not configured using .desktop, but rather windows manager configuration. Many WM, like Kwin (KDE), Fluxbox and AwesomeWM offer way to configure this. Other probably do too, but I never looked.

I suggest taking a look at AwesomeWM+shifty if you want real control over virtual desktop, it is the one with the most advanced configuration options.

You've asked interesting question.

Take a look: http://www.burtonini.com/blog/computers/devilspie.

May be it helps you.

In kde/kwin, you can use the "special window/special application settings, accessible from the context menu of the window itself or from the kde settings, to direct an application to a specific desktop. You set up matching rules to tell kwin to detect certain window types or titles o such, and it will then apply the window configuration you set up, including size, position and placement.