Is it still actual? Anyway... for future generations... the syntax is:

Exec=@CMAKE_VARIABLE@

The desktop file is supposed to have ".cmake" extension. In CMakeLists.txt use configure_file() statement.

You can use e.g. tdebase/kdesktop/kdesktop.desktop.cmake as an example...

Thank you. As Slavek mentioned, I did learn how to do this. The challenge now is remembering. :)

Darrell