How to Install tar, zip, rpm file?
 

I downloaded different themes from www.kde-look.org, different files have different extensions, like themefile1.zip, themefile2.tar.gz, themefile3.rpm , themefile4.tar
What is the difference between these files and how can I install them?

.zip == standard zip compression, like WinZIP. "unzip filename" should pop it open.
.tar.gz == gzipped tar file. "tar -zxvf filename.tar.gz" will pop it.
.tar == regular tar file. "tar -xvf filename.tar" will open this one.

Tar *used* to be primarily for backing things up to tape. Anymore, it's mostly used to turn a whole pile of files (like a directory) and make them one file.

gzip and zip are just different compression methods.

tar.gz is the most common one you'll run into. :)

.rpm is RedHat's package manager (rpm, get it?) SuSE, Mandrake and some others use it too. "rpm -i filename.rpm" should install it.

# Guides to software management
LNAG - How do I install a program I downloaded from the Internet?
Rute Guide's software explanation
You might want to check out CheckInstall to manage source code installations/uninstallation

you may also come across filename.tar.bz2
extract its files with
tar jxfv filename.tar.bz2

Thanks everybody!!
Do i have to install rpm file after doing command
rpm -i filemane.rpm
that's all, or I have to rum, confifure, install after that?

thats all you have to do, most of them even put a link in your $PATH so you can usually launch it by just typing the name of the program.