initial setup and install help

[Heather]

I am a newbie at this. I've used macs, pc , and linux. One of the big things I liked about linux was the way I could find just about anything from one utility (a bit like "finder" on a mac but better) and it wasn't bogged down with a ton of useless software and addware. Simple. Now I realize the simplicity was mostly a result of the configuration choices of the person who set it up.

There are so many options with fluxbox 6 it is a bit overwhelming. I've got the live cd downloaded and running on my laptop (not this one) but I'm having a hard time with the configuration. I need a shopping list or something for what is required to run it. The application software like office, gimp, video editing etc is easy enough to pick out; its the other stuff I need help with.

In short, what do I absolutely need to run the system(file manager, hardware drivers etc)?
Where and how do I start to configure the stuff needed ? I could care less about color and typeface of the windows type of personalizing. Its the way of accessing files and applications that is the big thing. Please help. Thankx

-Heather

[Kendall]

"Home" in the basic right click menu is your file manager.

Configuring Fluxbox isn't difficult, but if you have issues getting dirty with text file editing then you'll have some serious problems. Open the file manager, high Control+h to show the hidden files, and double click on the ".fluxbox" directory. All the basic configuration stuff is in there.

Shane did a pretty good job of building a remarkably complete system with Fluxbox CE 6 so you should have everything you need to be up and running already installed. All of your installed applications are going to be in the submenus in the bottom half of the right click menu, and if you add or remove an application it'll add/remove itself from the proper submenu automatically. I'm pretty sure there's a search utility in there somewhere, if you can't find it then right click on some empty space in the file manager and you should have a search option.

Fluxbox CE 8 will be available for download in a couple of days if you're interested.

[Heather]

Thanks that helps. I was able to find the file manager and see all sorts of stuff. I'm not sure what I should leave alone and what I can mess with. Flux 8 might be a good option but I have to get this thing running (doesn't have to be fine tuned) by this afternoon for a conference call. I worked on it most of last night.

[Kendall]

What exactly is it that you're needing to accomplish? The more specific you are, the more someone might be able to help.

[Heather]

there is no "how to" section or guide that I can find for deciphering the set up process of sifting through the packages. There are multiple sections: applications, communication, utilities, science, math, etc. with tones of oddly named things in it. Some make sense and others I couldn't tell at all what it is or does. I could spend a week straight just sifting through and looking each package part up to find out what it is/does. if there is an explanation of " what is what" somewhere,that would be most helpful. Example: If you are not going to be creating software or going nuts on the command line, don't bother with whole section, but you do need a basic utility (say "run" or something) to give you access to the command line in case of emergency. Another example: You can't pair this type of file manager (or some other utility) with this type (say kde or gnome etc) of interface/ configuration. Example: if you want to navigate in "this" way you have the choices of three similar utilities that do basically the same thing.

It may be easier now that I've backed up the original os. I was apprehensive about going through with actions because it was on a live disk and I hadn't backed up the original os yet.

I this doesn't make much sense, o well. I will figure it out eventually.
-Heather

[Kendall]

there is no "how to" section or guide that I can find for deciphering the set up process of sifting through the packages.

If you mess with them for a few minutes you should be fine figuring out what the vast majority of them do.

but you do need a basic utility (say "run" or something) to give you access to the command line in case of emergency.

Alt+F1 should bring up a terminal, Alt+F2 should bring up the "Run" dialog. Did you read the release notes?

Another example: You can't pair this type of file manager (or some other utility) with this type (say kde or gnome etc) of interface/ configuration. Example: if you want to navigate in "this" way you have the choices of three similar utilities that do basically the same thing.

I'm really not sure I understand what you're saying here. Could you elaborate further?

[Heather]

Yes, I read the release notes. I know how to get the "run" utility to work. I was trying to use it as an example of something that you may not think right of the bat that you need but you do

[Heather]

Yes, I read the release notes. I know how to get the "run" utility to work. I was trying to use it as an example of something that you may not think right of the bat that you need but you do

[Heather]

sorry about the double post. This thing is about to die. I'll figure it out.

[Kendall]

I was trying to use it as an example of something that you may not think right of the bat that you need but you do

This is precisely why there are release notes: to make the end user aware of such things, point out known bugs, explain differences from prior versions, etc.

[shane]

Hi Heather,

From your post, it seems like you are browsing the packages in the Synaptic Package Manager... right? It will be a pain to go through each one since there are literally thousands of packages and many are simply smaller programs (libraries) that are used by the 'main application'... which is actually what you will be using.

The easiest way to find an application to accomplish a task is to use the search function at the top of the package manager. Search using semantic terms e.g. 'image editor', 'photo manager, 'video editor', etc. That way you will not have to decipher weird program names. Then look for the packages with the Ubuntu logo in the 2nd column. This logo indicates that the package is officially supported and means that they will generally be more mature and stable applications. Going through these supported applications will be much quicker and I'm sure you will find what you are looking for much faster.

That said, the Fluxbox CE comes preinstalled with applications for most common tasks. These are sorted by category in the submenus when you right-click on the desktop. First see if what you want to accomplish can be done with the existing applications. If not, you can go ahead and install what you need.

Seeing that you are doing something work oriented, you may find Open Office a more suitable set of applications than the default AbiWord and Gnumeric (which are also capable but less featured).

As Kendall said, if you can tell us specifically what it is that you are trying to do, then we can give you more exact advice and point you in the right direction. No use handing you a spoon when you need a knife

[Heather]

Thankx. That is exactly what I ended up doing. I was just trying to get around it. It was extremely time consuming but a lot easier when I got a hold on the ins and outs of the app. The original set had just about everything needed but it had a lot of extras to show people what they could have. I had to pick what I wanted and get rid of what I didn't want, enabling me to have a streamlined system.

[Heather]

One more thing. Do you know of a utility that manages apps? The thunar file manager is good but It doesn't handle apps or external devices like disks, external hdd, ipod etc (or at least you can't launch them from there). I've looked for a "plug in" or a command action for it but so far not much. Any Ideas? Thankx
-Heather

[shane]

A Thunar daemon (background process) is run in the default setup and this should allow for automatic mounting/accessing of removable drives and devices. They will appear on the left in Thunar (bookmarks area). You can access or remove drives from here. Right-click to get the context menu. The command starting this daemon is located in the ~/.fluxbox/startup file (Thunar --daemon &). Press Ctrl+H in Thunar to view hidden folders.

You can also check the configuration tool, System Tools > Removable Drives and Media, and in the Storage tab select all options under Removable Storage. They should all be selected by default. In the Multimedia tab there is an option for handling portable music players (like your iPod). You can fill in the appropriate command to run when your iPod is plugged in.

About iPods, I am not so sure (I do not own one). Apple locks these devices down to only work with iTunes, so it might not be recognized like other standards compatible devices. That is why I do not own one You could try using a more full featured media player like Banshee or Rhythmbox. Banshee is the lighter of the two but Rhythmbox is officially supported by Ubuntu. Read this: http://www.simplehelp.net/2007/07/08/ho ... in-ubuntu/

Thunar is simply a file manager and does not aim to be more than that, to keep it lightweight. To manage applications, use a package manager. By default, there is mintInstall, the Mint specific package manager which makes installation of certain common applications very easy. You can find it in the menu under System Tools. Then there is Synaptic Package Manager which I think you are now familiar with. Use either of these to manage your applications.