Running Linux & Installing Programs
 

damnit, i spent 20 minutes + typing this post and it got lost after asking me to login, so i'm typing this again from memory =(

Alright, i am so thankful i found this forum, and am thankful to any help from you in advance.

I'm a newbie n just finally got Redhat linux 8.0 working off from a partition on my 2nd hard drive. I'm running the GUI (kde i think) and everything seems to be working fine (internet is up n running, etc).

However, I am trying to download and install this program called PSPP (a statistical program distributed for free) which is written for linux. Here's the ftp for the files; ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian/pool/main/p/pspp/

about 15 files, a couple of them .gz which is compressed format i guess? and most being .deb Dont know what to make of these files, n i understand with linux file extenstions dont matter.

So i found the installation guide; http://asis.web.cern.ch/asis/product...pp_4.html#SEC5

Step 1 "cd to the directory containing the PSPP source"

This first step raises problems i need to solve for running Linux in general and how to download / install programs;

1) What do i do with the files on the FTP site? If i put them in a directory where do i put it and how?
With mozilla i clicked on all the files and every time it brings up a window giving me the option to either save it or open the file, if i click open the file (no program was associated with it) i would have to select a program to open the file with. I dont recognize any uncompressing or dearchiving thing (this is what i'm guessing i need to do). I copied the files to the "desktop" but that didnt take me anywhere. I went to tucows to download a decompressor program, but that was no help cuz from there i had to open it or save it, and it seemed to be the same type of files on the ftp. ahhhh!!! so confusing!!!

2) "cd to the directory"; Where is the COMMAND PROMPT??
i've used dos way back in da day, but with linux all i have seen is the GUI, i've looked around and cannot figure out how to bring up the command prompt. i do have a list of commands and explanations.

3) Once i find the command prompt, any specific things or steps i need to follow for downloading the files from teh ftp and installing the program??


Again, Thanks in advancee for your help

Stressed & Frustrated
Peter - ineedacookie

Just relax and use xman for simple answers
 

Hello,

I was also in the same situation few months back (11 months to be specific). I also didn't know a thing about it. but this forum is a definate help.

Your first question :
1. What do i do with the files on the FTP site? If i put them in a directory where do i put it and how?
Ans. save them in your home ie. /home/<your login name> folder.

2. Where are unzip programs
Ans. gunzip, tar, unzip etc....

3. your shell prompt is the COMMAND PROMPT.
Ans. it will be some black box image in the task bar

4. use the following command to unzip the .gz or tar.gz files

gunzip -cd <filename> | tar xvf -


Mayank Johri