how to install tar.gz files?

[Linswitcher]

I'm just a beginner at Linux. After three days of hard working my system runs fine with dualhead. But now I have the next (I think simple) problem:

How do I install tar.gz files, such as the new OpenOffice release? And the second question: can I only work with software that is approved by SuSe?

I use Suse 10.1.

[techieMoe]

How do I install tar.gz files, such as the new OpenOffice release?

Most TAR.GZ files work like this:

http://www.linuxforums.org/forum/lin...tml#post372612

However I believe the OpenOffice release is not a source code package, but rather a simple script you run and let it install. If you can find an RPM package for the newest version of OpenOffice, that will be significantly easier. Is the version of OpenOffice that came with SuSE 10.1 not new enough for you?

And the second question: can I only work with software that is approved by SuSe?

Not at all. You can run software from anywhere. RPM packages should install on SuSE regardless of what platform they were originally compiled (Redhat, Mandrake, etc). Perhaps I misunderstand your question?

[felipe1982]

openoffice comes with suse 10.1 - you don't have to install it from outside - the newest update from openoffice.org probabaly isn't TOO different from what came with you suse 10.1

[Linswitcher]

Thank you for your comments, Techimoe & Felipe! I can work with this!

I just like to work with the newest versions, to be sure of using the most capable software. Suse Offers 2.0.2, and 2.0.4 is the newest version. Especially on the database platform OpenOffice is changing fast. Because of the fact I could only find a tar.gz-version of the 2.0.4, I tought that maybe Suse had a problem with these extensions. I'm glad I was wrong!

The reason I asked, for OpenOffice, is because the 2.0.4 version is not available with online update. I still have to get used to a different kind of working on a linux machine. But I like it so far!