Online Tax Returns Software- Installing

[Lawi]

Hello to everyone,

Am very new to Linux. I bought an Acer Aspire1 and been using it to do my basic Office stuff. I like the portability aspect of it- light weight!

Its only recently that my PC conked and i have had to do alot of my stuff on my Netbook. I am on urgency mode today as i am trying to submit my monthly VAT returns whose deadline is 10th. Problem is i don't know how to load the returns software onto my machine. I thought it would have been as easy as the Windows version of download and install. But after several hours of online searches am still not with it.

On the bright side though, i managed to install the latest Java 1.6up13 through the Terminal commands so i have moved an inch towards enlightenment.

Can someone kindly guide me on how to install the Tax returns software available here:
Kenya Revenue Authority - KRA Online

P.S....am unable to share the URL but it is as follows kra[dot]go[dot]ke[forward slash]portal[forward slash]downloads[dot]html

Regards
-Lawi

[reed9]

This is the README file with the linux version of the software.

On Linux Plataform:
===================
1) if java is not installed first must double-clicked the file
jre-1_5_0_16-linux-i586.bin

2) after the installation of Java the file TSW-1.0-install.jar must be selected


F.A.Q.:

¿How can i know if i have installed java in my platform or wich version is currently installed?

Please double-click the file javaSimpleTest.jar

If Java runtime environment is installed the system show the version of the jre installed.
If Java is not installed or the version is smaller than 1.5 please double remite to instruction 1)

You said you successfully got Java 1.6 installed. Does the JavaSimpleTest included show that?

From the terminal, run

java -jar TSW-0.3.2-install.jar

(Make sure you're in the same directory as the file.)
Any errors?

[Lawi]

when i double click the SimpleTestjar i get the message: *Do you want to instal the Update patch*
When i click o.k i get the message: *patch file is not available*

Am i missing something?

[Lawi]

I may add that the Simpletestjar shown came with the download but the Java i successfully installed i got directly from SUN

[reed9]

Are you sure it's successfully installed?

Installing Sun Java on Aspire One Linux

[Lawi]

Thanks alot. The code did it! Now am trying to figure out how to run the application..... How do i put an icon for easy clicking?

[Lawi]

[QUOTE=reed9;745813]Are you sure it's successfully installed?


I conclude success based on this message:
[user@localhost ~]$ ls /usr/java
default jre1.6.0_13 latest

Is that what i should be looking out for?

I did use the script from Macles

[reed9]

Thanks alot. The code did it! Now am trying to figure out how to run the application..... How do i put an icon for easy clicking?

Which code? This java -jar TSW-0.3.2-install.jar? So it does successfully run?

Unforunately, adding desktop launchers does require hand editing a file.
Acer Aspire One Tips and Tricks The road to Elysium

FYI, the default linux OS on the Aspire One, and in fact all netbooks that I've seen so far, is...kind of crappy. In the sense that it does not allow easily adding new applications or modifying your system, and because it is based on a fairly old version of Fedora.

When you have time you might consider installing a better distro.

[Lawi]

Which code? This java -jar TSW-0.3.2-install.jar? So it does successfully run?

Unforunately, adding desktop launchers does require hand editing a file.
Aspire One Tips and Tricks The road to Elysium

FYI, the default linux OS on the Aspire One, and in fact all netbooks that I've seen so far, is...kind of crappy. In the sense that it does not allow easily adding new applications or modifying your system, and because it is based on a fairly old version of Fedora.

When you have time you might consider installing a better distro.

Yes... with the script you provided java -jar TSW-0.3.2-install.jar I was able to move to the next stage of installing. Surprisingly i had tried that approach but i must have been typing the wrong way. It seems appropriate spacing is important. After installation though i dont know how to launch. Am hoping the link you shared will guide me.

Am still on the steep side of the learning curve. From your experience, which is better distro? Might you share a link for a manual on the same. I would like to upgrade soon if it will ease my work in the future. Am sure the process will be agreat learning opportunity as well.

Will work on the hand-edit as per your guidance. Thanks.

[reed9]

Look in /usr/share/applications

Odds are it created a .desktop file (these files populate the menu and can be used as desktop launchers, depending on your desktop environment).

I would assume the name would be something like TSW.desktop, but it isn't obvious looking at the installation files.

If you find it there, you may be able to run the file just by double clicking on it, or right clicking and choosing execute.

Or you can open this in a text editor, and look for the line

Exec /path/to/file

Where /path/to/file will be the path to where the executable is installed.

Two popular netbook distros:
Eeebuntu Official Site - Main
easypeasy - for netbooks