Q:

How to launch application as root from Unity Launcher?

Mainly I am looking for a way to pin an application to the Unity launch bar, and run it as root.
Currently, even if I start the application with sudo, and pin it after it starts, it will start as current user next time.
Sad, but there is no context menu option "run as ...".
Update: I switched to gnome3 and now I'm happy, I'm missing only the search.

A:

If you want the app to always run as root

Pin the application to the launcher as normal.
Locate the applications .desktop file which will be in either:

/usr/share/applications/APPNAME.desktop
~/.local/share/applications/APPNAME.desktop
or somewhere else, use locate .desktop|grep APPAME

Open with gedit:
gksudo gedit /usr/share/applications/APPNAME.desktop

Then change the line
Exec=APP_COMMAND

to 
Exec=gksudo -k -u root APP_COMMAND

Save

This command will also keep your environment which is very usefull if you need to connect to others servers and use your private key.
To add a quicklist option to 'Run as root'
Follow steps 1, 2 and 3 above
If the launcher currently doesn't have any other quicklist options, just append this to the end of the document
X-Ayatana-Desktop-Shortcuts=Runroot

[Runroot Shortcut Group]
Name=Run as root
Exec=gksudo -k -u root APP_COMMAND
TargetEnvironment=Unity

A:

In the Main Menu under System, Preferences, type gksudo in the Command field of Launcher Properties, e.g.:
/usr/bin/gksudo /usr/bin/yourapplication

Your Name field might say:

sudo yourapplication

So users know they may see a password popup and why...
I am not sure about Unity Launcher vs Main Menu. Maybe this helps?
Good luck

