where is the information?

[ashtree]

Hi,

I often find myself stuck because I don't know where to go. For example, I can't use 'Digicam', the image viewer because I get

'KDELnit could not launch /home/jennifer/iso 8859-1'. Why not? What do I do?

I couldn't find much helpful so I downloaded Kuickshow, an image viewer that I'd used successfully in the past. I unzipped it okay but when I open it I get a panel full of icons with odd names, none of which seem to help me get the app to a place where I can view some snaps. Once again I couldn't find much helpful.

This isn't a complaint, by the way. I know I don't know enough. But I would like to know how I find out what I need to know. The examples I've given are the latest but there has been lots like them.

Some guidance here would really be appreciated.

[Manchunian]

Hello,

How are you installing this stuff? Are you using your package manager? In other words, if you're using Ubuntu, do you install it with Synaptic or do you still have the Windows reflex of going to a site and downloading the software from there?

[i92guboj]

I couldn't find much helpful so I downloaded Kuickshow, an image viewer that I'd used successfully in the past. I unzipped it okay

Yes. It seems like what Manchunian says. You don't usually do this on linux. You use the package manager of your distribution to install or uninstall software. It will take care of everything for you. You don't need to manually download nor unzip anything.

You should check the chapter in the user documentation of your distro to know how to install or uninstall software. If you can't find anything, let us know which flavor of linux are you using, because each one has a different package manager.

[ashtree]

Hi both,

Well, now, you've picked out my failing immediately. I do go to sites and download the stuff directly. I didn't realise that this isn't the way to do it in Linux.

I'd seen the term 'compiling' but didn't know what it meant. I'm glad I don't have to do it if I use a package manager.

I'll change my ways immediately and report back on what I hope will be a successful transition to a real Linux attitude.

I'm very grateful for your swift replies.

[i92guboj]

Hi both,

Well, now, you've picked out my failing immediately. I do go to sites and download the stuff directly. I didn't realise that this isn't the way to do it in Linux.

You can, of course, but then you are on your own.

This is why distros exist. One of the reasons to use a distro over any others (besides default configurations and set of software) is that they provide different package managers, and different sets of software sometimes.

You can still download software on your own, but then you are the one to read the docs, install is accordingly and maintain it (taking care to not provoke collisions with the software your package manager installed, which is the hardest part if you don't know how to do it).

I'd seen the term 'compiling' but didn't know what it meant. I'm glad I don't have to do it if I use a package manager.

Programs are written on text editor, on a given programming language (in linux this is usually C, but there are literally hundreds of them). The compilation is the process that convert those text files writen on a given language, into executable code which a computer can understand. This is done using the compiler (and you might even not have one if you are using a regular binary distro, so the first thing would be to setup that compiler and a few other things).

Usually, installing software on your own that way is not recommended, unless you have a reason to do so. And even then, the right thing to do is to compile it yourself on your home, then create a native package for your distribution, and use that package to install it properly in your system.

So, usually you are better just using your package manager and the precompiled binaries that your distro offers.

[Manchunian]

I'd seen the term 'compiling' but didn't know what it meant.

You don't have to worry about that right now! This is rarely necessary, in fact with some distros you theoretically never have to do it. Tell us what you're using and we can help further.

[ashtree]

Hi again,

You're being very nice and helpful, you know. Wish I could buy you both a drink!

I'm using Simply Mepis 6.5 at the moment. I bought the version 7 cd but had to forsake that as I couldn't get a good email connection with Thunderbird. (I spent a couple of days on and off on that). 6.5 is no problem in that regard.

I've now clicked on Synaptic Package Manager and seen the list of programs? modules? already installed. I was just about to google on how to get Synaptic to fetch me something that isn't on the list when I saw your replies. Do I have to go to a 'repository?'

I'm quite prepared to help myself in learning Linux but don't know where to go to read up on it. Is there an online beginners course somewhere that's worth doing?

In the meantime I do need to be able to carry on with my everyday computing. This is why I asked my original questions and if you can help, that's great.

[i92guboj]

Hi again,

You're being very nice and helpful, you know. Wish I could buy you both a drink!

I'm using Simply Mepis 6.5 at the moment. I bought the version 7 cd but had to forsake that as I couldn't get a good email connection with Thunderbird. (I spent a couple of days on and off on that). 6.5 is no problem in that regard.

I've now clicked on Synaptic Package Manager and seen the list of programs? modules? already installed. I was just about to google on how to get Synaptic to fetch me something that isn't on the list when I saw your replies. Do I have to go to a 'repository?'

I'm quite prepared to help myself in learning Linux but don't know where to go to read up on it. Is there an online beginners course somewhere that's worth doing?

In the meantime I do need to be able to carry on with my everyday computing. This is why I asked my original questions and if you can help, that's great.

If the package you are searching for is not in there, you should then ask on the simply mepis forums, here:

MEPISlovers Forums - Powered by vBulletin

Not that I am unwilling to help with mepis or something, but I don't know anything about it, and I would probably miss guide you.

I think that mepis is debian based, so, it might be possible to add debian repositories, and use them. But that might be dangerous or even destroy your installation if something goes bad. So, the mepis people might know that better.

Another possibility is that you did not search on a correct way on synaptic, or maybe it is just that the software you are using is rare or has some licensing problems that keeps regulars distros from shipping it and putting it into their repositories.

Anyway, which is this software that you need to install?

[Manchunian]

You're being very nice and helpful, you know. Wish I could buy you both a drink!

No trouble at all. That's the spirit of Linux

OK, here's what to do. Simply Mepis is a Debian-based distribution (good choice) so you need to open your repositories file and add some more repositories. The ones you have now are only the 'official' ones and will not provide you with everything you need, most notably the video and audio codecs. Please bear in mind that these codecs are officially illegal if you're in the US. If you're not in the US, they aren't illegal; if you are, then it's just worth bearing in mind. Very few people bother about this crazy law.
So, to add these repositories you first have to find them. Take a look on the Simply Mepis site (you should fine them there, but then again...) and find mirrors close to where you live and add them, one by one, to /etc/apt/sources.list. To do this, open a terminal and do the following:

xhost local: root
su
kedit /etc/apt/sources.list

The first line may not be necessary: try it without first. If the file refuses to open, try again, this time using the first line. After you have done su, you will need to add your root password (not your user password, the other one that you were asked to assign during the installation process.)
Now, if all's gone well, you should have increased the number of repositories that are currently available to you, and hence the number of programmes. After these, add the new repositories, one repository per line. Be careful that these repositories are the right ones for your version of Simply Mepis (6.5) and not the ones for the most recent one - otherwise you might have problems later. Once this is done, quit (and save, of course ) and then, in the terminal do:

apt-get update

Make sure you're root before you try this, you'll know if you are because you'll see a hash sign (#) rather than a dollar sign.
Once you've done all this, you'll be able to use synaptic to download and install nearly 20 000 programmes!
Sorry, I don't know which repositories you need to add, as I don't use Simply Mepis. Google around for this. Perhaps someone else knows here?
Please don't hesitate to ask for help if I'm going too fast: Linux takes a bit of getting used to at first.

[Manchunian]

it might be possible to add debian repositories, and use them.

No, no, don't do it! It would be dangerous!