Add new icons to the HUD

> I have created the application in the MainMenu

What is the MainMenu - the dash?

> but cannot find how to import it

Import it where?

When an application is open it's icon is displayed in launcher, right click on the icon and select 'keep in launcher'.
https://help.ubuntu.com/12.04/ubuntu-help/

Usually when an application has focus the alt+key displays it's appmenu incl. application icon.
Maybe you could tell which application the HUD should display.
Example of HUD.
http://www.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/whats-new

Unity terminology.
http://askubuntu.com/questions/10228/whats-the-right-terminology-for-unitys-ui-elements/62842#62842

> wine layer options do not appear in the HUD at all?

IIRC there was a bug report somewhere in unity bugs. Maybe query 'hud' tag.

Main menu is an app that brings up the GNOME main menu. I also added alacarte and was able to add my app in the usual way. However, there appears to communication between the dash/launcher and this (legacy?) application.

If I use the GNOME classic desktop my application which is a full screen one, fails to run properly because the GNOME panels, which appear to be invariant, appear over part of my display. I would prefer the UBUNTU desktop if I could get some better control over the HUD, but it seems to have been programmed with funny ideas of what apps should be displayed.

The application is SimCity 4 Deluxe running full screen under control of wine. It runs fine in the Unity desktop but has to be iniated from a console. I have a script in my /home/user/bin directory that loads and runs this successfully (and has for years). In the past, I was always able to add an entry to the standard menu using alacarte to install it for quick access, icon and all. This script calls out custom parameters. The SimCity 4 Deluxe icon which appears in the HUD calls out the standard game without the command line options I require.

I guess what I really want to do is point that entry to my script.

Sorry, I forgot to mention that I am becoming highly frustrated with the poor quality of the desktop help system. It just runs you areound in circles.

I neither use Gnome fallback mode nor wine. Maybe try ubuntuforums.org for Gnome-classic issues.
That said, maybe create a .desktop file, move it to ~/.local/share/applications or sys wide /usr/share/applications.
When it runs fine from a terminal in Unity it should display an icon in the launcher.

Alternative desktop launcher.
http://www.ubuntugeek.com/how-to-create-desktop-launchers-in-ubuntu-11-10oneiric.html

If HUD and desktop-help don't meet your expectations consider to report a bug or share your constructive ideas on brainstorm.ubuntu.com.

Thanks Sam_. Of the three methods outlined, the ubuntugeek suggestion was the most successful. However complete success was not achieved as follows:

I now have a script that allows creation of the appropriate desktop initiator.
You can drag it into the launcher, which apparently is only a pointer. It loses the custom icon.
If the desktop file is removed, the entry is removed from the launcher.

Keeping the initiator on the desktop works, however. It will do for now.

I am thoroughly disappointed in the new desktop's dash, display and launcher. It is extremely weak and suitable only for the mom and pop user. I expect professional users will not be very happy.

Much better documentation for the dash and friends would perhaps allieve this. Essentially this new desktop is a casting of pearls before swine, and I wonder just how many ordinary users agreed to take ownership of this idea?