Apps added using xdg-desktop-menu no longer show up in menu

[_sluimers_]

I used the examples from this site:
http://linux.die.net/man/1/xdg-desktop-menu

That seemed to work, but I couldn't get one icon right.
So I removed them from the .local folder and installed them again.
Now that no longer works, the files may be installed in the .local directory
but they fail to show up in my menu, even if I try reloading plugins or uninstalling the files.

What's going on?

[EDIT]Not really solved, but I don't think it's very useful if xdg can't install where there are no permissions.[/EDIT]