How to use pkexec to add XAMPP to the Linux Mint Menu. Note, it also works on Ubuntu and Ubuntu Mate with suitable changes.

com.ubuntu.pkexec.xampp.policy

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE policyconfig PUBLIC "-//freedesktop//DTD PolicyKit Policy Configuration 1.0//EN" "http://www.freedesktop.org/standards/PolicyKit/1/policyconfig.dtd">
<policyconfig>
    <vendor>Apache Friends</vendor>
    <vendor_url>https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html</vendor_url>
	<icon_name>xampp</icon_name>

	<action id="com.ubuntu.pkexec.xampp.policy">
        <description>Run XAMPP Control Panel</description>
		<message>Authentication is required to run the XAMP Control Panel</message>
		<defaults>
			<allow_any>auth_admin</allow_any>
			<allow_inactive>auth_admin</allow_inactive>
			<allow_active>auth_admin</allow_active>
		</defaults>
		<annotate key="org.freedesktop.policykit.exec.path">/opt/lampp/manager-linux-x64.run</annotate>
		<annotate key="org.freedesktop.policykit.exec.allow_gui">true</annotate>
	</action>
</policyconfig>

pkexec for xampp.txt

How to use pkexec to add XAMPP to the Linux Mint Menu. Note, it also works on Ubuntu and Ubuntu Mate with suitable changes.

I use XAMPP in Linux, both Ubuntu and Mint, but I don't want to start it as a Service. Instead I want a menu icon and, for Linux Mint, a quick launch icon, so I can start the XAMPP Control Panel as and when I wish.

These are the steps to implement it in Linux Mint:

1.	Create the empty file: sudo touch /usr/share/polkit-1/actions/com.ubuntu.pkexec.xampp.policy
2.	Edit the file: sudo xed /usr/share/polkit-1/actions/com.ubuntu.pkexec.xampp.policy and copy and paste the following xml into it

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE policyconfig PUBLIC "-//freedesktop//DTD PolicyKit Policy Configuration 1.0//EN" "http://www.freedesktop.org/standards/PolicyKit/1/policyconfig.dtd">
<policyconfig>
    <vendor>Apache Friends</vendor>
    <vendor_url>https://www.apachefriends.org/index.html</vendor_url>
	<icon_name>xampp</icon_name>

	<action id="com.ubuntu.pkexec.xampp.policy">
        <description>Run XAMPP Control Panel</description>
		<message>Authentication is required to run the XAMP Control Panel</message>
		<defaults>
			<allow_any>auth_admin</allow_any>
			<allow_inactive>auth_admin</allow_inactive>
			<allow_active>auth_admin</allow_active>
		</defaults>
		<annotate key="org.freedesktop.policykit.exec.path">/opt/lampp/manager-linux-x64.run</annotate>
		<annotate key="org.freedesktop.policykit.exec.allow_gui">true</annotate>
	</action>
</policyconfig>

3.	Save the file and exit xed.
4.	Create a png image of the favicon file in /opt/lampp/htdocs
5.	To open the Menu Editor in Linux Mint: right click on the Menu button. Click on Configure. Click on Menu. Click on Open the Menu Editor.
6.	In the left panel, click on Internet then click on New Item
7.	Enter the following in the dialogue:
		Name: XAMPP
		Command: pkexec /opt/lampp/manager-linux-x64.run
		Click on the icon and select the favicon.png you created earlier
8.	Save and exit the Menu Editor.
9.	In the Menu right click the newly created XAMPP icon and click on + Add to panel

You should now be able to launch XAMPP from the menu and the quick launch bar. As a bonus entering pkexec /opt/lampp/manager-linux-x64.run into terminal will also start the XAMPP Control Panel.