How to install software on Linux Mint

[sunewbie]

I'm not too sure, but doesn't Evince work similar to Acrobat? I have not used Acrobat for ages!

For me it's working. I use Linux at home and so there are no complex pdf with form filling etc.

[DaComboMan]

Hello,

I've unzipped two programs that weren't in Software Manager's repertoire (RSS OWL & TreePad Lite Linux ed.) and both are functionnal.

Problem is, i don't have the right-click options to add them to the panel or to favorite list (they don't even show up on recent list) so every time i have to dig deep into my download folder where i put them to click on the program icon.

[xenopeek]

At least in Linux Mint 13 MATE and Cinnamon you can right-click the menu button, and choose to edit the menu. Open one of the existing categories (RSS OWL to Internet, TreePad to Accessoiries or Programming), and choose to add an new entry. Then configure the command to run to the full path of the file you run. Give it a description, and you now have them in the menu. You can then right-click them in the menu to add them to your favorites list, or for at least Cinnamon also to add them to the panel or desktop.

[DaComboMan]

@Vincent,

Pardon my ignorance, but i presume that i am to open the Sofware Manager to add new category.
Problem is where?
When under "web" i don't see the option to add a new category anywhere.
Sorry!

[xenopeek]

Right-click the menu button, the thingy in the lower left of your screen that says "Menu" Choose Edit menu.

[DaComboMan]

I did it! I did it!

Thanks Vincent!

At first i was just selecting it so i guess i wasn't getting the full path.
Then i finally clicked on "open" that there it was.

LinuxMint is cool, but the learning curve is demanding.

[Oolong]

I don't seem to have Software Manager any more. Nowhere visible, anyway. I can't remember if it's supposed to be under Accessories, or System Tools, or somewhere else, but anyway, it's not. Could be because I'm using Gnome Classic (because it seems to be the only one that allows me to play videos okay most of the time) but obviously it really shouldn't disappear when we switch desktop environment anyway!

Any clues?

[mysoomro]

Thanks Vincent.. this is a very useful guide..
Simple and easy to understand..
I really needed this information..

[gladsonvm]

ofcourse evince is really good to read pdf files.Its fast also.

[cluelesscoder]

What directory should we install the tarballs to? The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard at http://www.pathname.com/fhs/pub/fhs-2.3 ... REPACKAGES suggests that /opt might be the right place, altho I'm not sure what "add-on" means exactly.

(And no, I don't want to hear stuff using Synaptic or finding the PPA. Sometimes that's just not an option.)

[xenopeek]

Depends. If it is a tarball with an already compiled program, you can put it anywhere you like. Usually these tarballs come with an installer script that will install the program to /usr and add a shortcut in your menu. If there is no installer script, you can usually put it where you like. If only one user needs to run the program, you can put it in a folder in your home folder. If you want other users also to be able to use it, /opt is a better place and less risky than trying to manually put the program in /usr (as you generally will have few programs in /opt, so making a mistake there is not as damaging).

A tarball with just source code will usually, as part of the "make install" step (remember it is better to do "checkinstall"), also install the program to its intended folders (usually in /usr or sometimes /opt).

[Specter]

Thank you so much. Exactly what I was trying to understand.

[Curtrey]

I am new to Forum because although I have been running Linux Mint Debian for more than six months, it has now gone wrong. I have pleaded in forum (search under curtrey) but no success so far.
I want to install a possible fix for no sound which is a patch from the manufacturer's web site. I can follow your instructions to the point where the file is in the terminal bur the next command (./configure) is kicked out with the comment "no such command". My attempts end at that point.

Please advise.

Thanks Curtrey

[7vn11vn]

What a help this thread has been. One of my favorite Windows programs was TheBrain from thebrain.com. They have a Linux version and I downloaded it, but couldn't figure out how to install it. Kept double-clicking and getting an error that Pluma couldn't open it. What can I say? Anyway, I found this thread and figured it out and now it works beautifully. Even got the Adobe Reader up and running. These were a couple of programs I was having trouble living without. Thanks to the OP. Your post was quite helpful for this Noob!

[xenopeek]

Thanks Any feedback for improvement is welcome.

[jollyterminus]

I am new to Forum because although I have been running Linux Mint Debian for more than six months, it has now gone wrong. I have pleaded in forum (search under curtrey) but no success so far.
I want to install a possible fix for no sound which is a patch from the manufacturer's web site. I can follow your instructions to the point where the file is in the terminal bur the next command (./configure) is kicked out with the comment "no such command". My attempts end at that point.

Please advise.

Thanks Curtrey

Im having the exact same issue and can't seem to find an answer here anywhere. I have decompressed the tarball into the folder I wanted. But in the terminal I navigate to it, type "./configure" and get the same message: "bash: no such command or directory." Can someone please help? I wish I had been born knowing all this, but I wasn't, I have to learn. Thanks.

[xenopeek]

If you have a issue with a specific tarball, please create a new topic in the Software & Applications forum (viewforum.php?f=47) and link to where you downloaded the tarball. We can't help you if we don't know what you are trying to install

[Herr_Merlin]

I installed rednotebook via the software manager and it didn't budge, when I clicked the rednotebook in the start menu. Then I got to the website of rednotebook and read that you only have to type 3 commands into the terminal to get some PPA and the program runs fine after that.

If I read correctly, than there was an old version in the software manager and via the terminal I replaced it with a newer one.

Does anybody know if this behaviour will occur more frequently?

[Catbuntu]

I installed rednotebook via the software manager and it didn't budge, when I clicked the rednotebook in the start menu. Then I got to the website of rednotebook and read that you only have to type 3 commands into the terminal to get some PPA and the program runs fine after that.

If I read correctly, than there was an old version in the software manager and via the terminal I replaced it with a newer one.

Does anybody know if this behaviour will occur more frequently?

What do you mean with this behaviour?
If you mean if you'll have more updates, yes. When rednotebook team publish another update, you'll see it on your Update Manager and you won't have to wait until it's published on Mint's repositories.

Catbuntu

[velky_pivo]

Also,
yum - for rpm packages
alien - to convert some packages into debian

Perhaps someone more experienced than me could provide info at this post