I can't download anything!
 

I don't understand. Everytime I try to download something (such as Opera web browser) that doesn't require YaST. It just shows up in "file roller". I have absolutely no idea how to make it run. I've had this problem for a long while and so far no one has been able to help me.

Help??

Are you trying to download a file from a web browser? By the way, opera is available through yast.
Did you right click and select save as?

I assume that you are using SuSE as your distro. Please put your distro in your user profile. That will help the responses zero in on a solution quicker. Otherwise we have to ask.

Also indicate your desktop environment. KDE, Gnome, XFCE?

Do you have the same problem in firefox or konqueror?

What is the file extension you are trying to load? The mime type may be associated with fileroller. Perhaps it is a tarball you are trying to download. Then either right click and save or extract the files using fileroller.

It is just a matter of how you save the link in question.
If the file behind it has a known file-extension (.zip or .tar.gz or) it is downloaded and opened wit the appropriate program by default - which is "file-roller"
You can alway use "save as" or "save under" - it depends on the browser a little - what happens by default if you just click is also adjustable via the preferences of your browser.
Even from file-roller you can save the downloaded file - or look directly into it, unpack it...

File-roller is just a handy application to take care of compressed files. Uncompress your compressed data to some known location.

If the uncompressed file(s) are applications or installers, then you can run them either by double-clicking (depends on the file) or by launching them from the command-line.

I'm sure the Opera website has proper install instructions. Installing Opera was never complicated, regardless of the operating system.

Linux Archive

I don't understand what you guys mean by saving it.

Then you should be much more specific about what you are having a problem with.
What do you do? What happens? What do you expect to happen? And: important! What did you try to make it work like you expect it to.

Everything I try to download anything it either comes up with YaST or file roller. YaST always freezes, always. People in the past have suggested I download some things such as wine, etc. And everytime I download something like that successfully in the "Downloads" pop-up window, it never affects my computer whatsoever, even though it says in the records that it's been downloaded. They've also told me that I should minimize the YaST window and just wait a really long time. It still always freezes, the window blanks, and I have to "force quit" like you do on youtube with firefox sometimes? I've tried to use alternatives to file roller when it comes to that and choosing what to download something with, but I've looked through everything and as far as I can see there's really no alternative. The files in file roller I get whenever I download something such as a new feature, a web browser, an update, or a game look like bits and pieces of the application taken apart. Like codes for the font, audio clips, etc. Whenever I open them I always get these weird documents that look like a lot of different commands. I've tried them out to see if they really were commands and tried to decipher the documents to the best of my ability, but nothing works.

There you go.

Also, for whomever asked, my desktop environment is Gnome.

sounds like what your downloading is source code. much, i might even say most, software in Linux is provided in source code. usually packaged in "tar balls", (files with tar.gz or tar.bz2 extension.) basiclly compressed archives, zip files. these need to be unpacked and compiled to create the executables. there are lots of sites with instructions on compiling from source. usually there is a file called INSTALL and/or README in the package with specific instructions.
it would be helpful if you had a specific piece of software you wanted help with. because although most installs are basically the same, some have unique requirements or procedures.

I gather you have trouble finding where the files get stored when you download them.
I assume you are talking about a web-browser, specifically firefox. Please say so if these assuptions are not correct so far.

Firefox has menus at the top of the window - one of them is labeled "Tools" - inside it you find "Downloads" - it shows a summary of what was downloaded.
On some files the right-click menu has the option to "Open Containing Folder" - choose that - then you know where it is.

Files like source-code are often compressed archives - filenames end in .zip , .tar , tar.gz , tar.bz2 , rar - those are the more common ones.
Your browser is set to open these filetypes with the program that can handle such archives (e.g. uncompress/unpack them) - that is fileroller in Gnome.
You always have the option to just download the file instead - this is basic knowledge on how to operate a web-browser.
press SHIFT or CTRL while clicking the link - or click with the right mouse button instead of the left - you get choices what to do with that link or with the content the link points to.

If you still cannot discover a single file now - the issue has to be a completely browser unrelated one.
Can you create, copy, move files around?

I looked and there's no install of readme files in the fileroller.

Also, I don't get what you intend to do by me using SHIFT or CTRL. It didn't do anything.

It sounds like you don't know how to use a web browser. Right click on the link instead of double clicking. Then select "save link as ..". Don't double click.
That is why File roller comes up instead of saving. If it is a tarball (one ending in .tar.gz), the cd to where you saved the file and run "tar xvzf <filename>". If the extension is .tar.bz2, then run "tar xvjf <filename>" instead. This will extract the files in the tarball. Nearly every source package will have a readme file. If you see a file by the name "configure", then you most likely need to cd into the extracted directory and run:
./configure
make
sudo make install

Some installation programs will have a file ending in .bin. This will probably be a binary or script install program. In this case (first read the README or INSTALL file), make the file executable "chmod +x <filename>" and then run it "./<filename>".

Well - did you at least find your downloaded files? Do you now know how to navigate through your files in order to find the place where they are stored.
Also for a hint on this location:
- open your web-browser
- use the menu on top: Edit --> Preferences --> Main (the first tab)
there you can see and also change the directiory all files are downloaded to unless you say otherwise.
In Opera it is: Tools --> Preferences --> Advanced --> Downloads

Apart from that you should really find yourself a guide on how to _use_ your web-browser - because clicking on links using a mouse and your index finger is _not_ the only thing browsers can do. I mean no offense - that is my honest advice!

Are you guys saying that the only place it will show that something has been added or downloaded to my computer is in the Downloads window? Because I know how to find that already. Also, again on the whole "right click, don't double click" thing, I never double click it. I tried to download opera again (with a .rpm file) and then I right clicked and the only options listed are-

"Open
Open Containing Folder
Remove
_____________________
Properties"

I saw a file by 'config.css'.

But I'm not exactly sure what you're talking about with "cding" and those commands you listed. Can you please be more specific?

I tried to also download it with a .tar.gz file and did what you said, but

came up.

No - we are not saying that - but it is true ;)

What is "it"in your post - your browser?
In that window (Tools --> Downloads) you have the option to right-click and select: Open Containig Folder)
Is it there - which one is it - the path to it?

See my last post - I tell another way how to find the place your browser will download all files to - since you seem not to know that place.
To find out whether you really have a problem downloading anything please do the following:

- find any file you like on the web (picture, archive, mp3 ... whatever)
- right-click and select: Save Link As
- take note where it is supposed to go - or select the place yourself
- download it
- open your file-manager and navigate to the place you saved it to - if you got no errors while downloading the file

Is the file there? - If not: what error did you see? Where did you want to save it to?