How do I install a downloaded program?
 

Like many newbies I have migrated over from Windows. As a result even though I conciously know that I have to forget how something is done in Windows, my brain continues to operate in that mode.

I have downloaded a marine navigation program and it is saved in FireFox. What is the procedure to follow from this point in order to install the program onto my hard drive or even a jump drive? The charts that are to be used with this program are on a different jump drive and I will have to tell the program once it is installed where the charts are.

This seems to me to be such a basic thing to do, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to do it. Any and all help would be most appreciated.

Point by point steps would be useful.

Thanks in advance, Cappy

I should mention that I am using Linux Mint Olivia.

Hi,

welcome to LQ.

Normally you should not download and install software in the fashion you describe. Instead you should first check if the software is available to install using your package manager. So, what software is this, and what version of Ubuntu are you using?

Cheers,

Evo2.

I replied but it disappeared. I am using Mint Olivia and the software is OpenCPN.

Hi,

ok, this is package is in a ppa (Personal Package Archive). So you need to add that ppa to the list of archives (also known as "repositories") your package manager knows about. OpenCPN has provided an easy way to do that. Go to the download page,
http://opencpn.org/ocpn/download and follow the link:
"OpenCPN 3.2.2 for all other *Ubuntu's, Linux Mint and other Ubuntu clones" which will take you to https://launchpad.net/~opencpn/+archive/opencpn
Then click on "Read about installing" and follow the instructions. Post back if you get stuck.

Evo2.

PS. According to wikipedia Linux Mint dropped support for Olivia back in January - you should either upgrade to the next version or install some other distro.

Now that I have checked I think I have Petra.

Ok I read what was in the instruction in "Read about installing" and did that. But what do I do now? When I go to Software Manager it is not there when I do a search. In Softwae Sources I don't know what I should be doing. I click on PPA's and I can see the OpenCPN PPA's, but how do I install it?

Hi,

Ok good. You can confirm by running the following:
ok, just to make sure we are on the same page: is the following what you did?
Did you also do?
This updates the list of packages that the package manager knows about. If this was skipped that would explain why you can see the PPA but not the actual software package. You can run it now, there should also be a button on the software manager that does the same thing.

After doing this you should be able to install the opencpn software with the following command
Alternatively you should be able to find it and install it from the software manager.

Evo2.

Sorry I had to leave. I have returned with a different computer and it is running Olivia. However I have followed your instructions and it appears to have installed on this computer. Thank you so much for your help. I will now attempt to remember and record all the steps for future use. Thanks again.

Hi,
So your next task is learning how to perform an upgrade.

Excellent. Glad I could help.
When I was starting out with Unix and Linux I found it very useful to cut and paste commands that I ran in a terminal into a text file for future reference (indeed, I still do). Having the exact steps taken so easily documented is one of the reasons that I keep working in terminals and avoid GUIs whenever possible.

Cheers,

Evo2.

I must say that I followed your directions on the terminal and it seemed to work very well. My problem is that I cannot touch type and the hunt and peck method is very slow. I like the idea of copy and paste which I did do quite successfully. I will be on again tomorrow, thanks again

Cappy

To evo2;

I don't know your geographic area, but I am on the west coast of NA. It is late but hopefully I will be back tomorrow and I would like to know how to do an upgrade as you suggested. I tell you my geographic position to give you aan idea of the time that I will be online. Probably several hours earlier than today.

Cheers, Cappy

Hi,

I suggest you start here: http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/2

That tutorial appears to have been written by Clem who is the founder and AFAIK still the main driving force behind Linux Mint.

My location is no secret - look to the left. So I'm about 16 hrs ahead (or 1 day ahead and 8 hrs behind). I'll be around on and off as per usual.

Cheers,

Evo2.