I am using slackware 11.0 kernal 2.4.33.3

i go to command prompt and type 'installpkg <aim.1.5.tgz> and get this error
"-bash:syntax error near unexpected token 'newline'"

i tried it again typeing this 'installpkg aim.1.5.tgz and get this error
"Cannot install aim.1.5.tgz: package does not end in .tgz"

what am i doing wrong in this?

if you are in the folder where the archived package sits, and open a console from there, you will type something like this:
installpkg packagename-1.2.3-noarch-slack11.tgz

In other words, you use the FULL name of the package, and it must be a Slackware-built package in order to use 'installpkg' to install it.
If it isn't a Slack-package, but a package of sourcecode for a non-specific distro, then you need to extract the package, and follow any instructions inside it in README file(s) to configure, compile, and install the application.
Does this help?

I'll let this image speak for me: http://pr0n.encyclopediadramatica.co...Y_u_do_cat.jpg

--

Now. If you are trying to install a source package as Grapefruit Girl said (hi!); you might want to check out how to build your own slackware package. Doing this will not only allow you to properly install the piece of software, but will also let you easily upgrade and remove it.

let's just say its been one of those weeks lol.