linux msn
 

arghh, i finally got a rpm package for the linux version of msn messenger
the rpm went in ok, but wheres the file i click on to make it work.. where did it install to?
its making me crazy..

amsn-0.61-1.i386.rpm from sourceforge

Try locate or find the file.

locate amsn
find / -name amsn

I've never heard of amsn, but i think that redhat (if that's what you are using) comes with gaim... it's a nice one because you can connect to lots of networks (yahoo, ms, aol). I don't know, if you can't get amsn to work, you should try that one

If you cant find them even after 'locate'ing or 'find'ing them you better opt for the source tarball of amsn. :D

Thankyou very much, i searched for amsn and found the executable
amsn works very nicely, it is a good functioning clone of micro$oft
msn messenger. I love this place!

somethign to point out to you would be that it generally doesn't matter where the executable is, it'll be /usr/local/bin probably, but wherever it is should be on your path, so you've no need to know where it is

Hey Loco_g welcome to Linuxquestions....if your running KDE 3.> try using Kmess it is a real good Msn messenger for linux, comes with the basics like send/receive file transfers, font, etc. etc, give it a search on sourceforge or take a look at apps.kde.com (it may be down, because i tried going onto it earlier today and it never worked)

Garry

That's comforting to know their site is down.. ;)
Another alternative would be just to use GAIM, very easy to use and setup.

Yeh gaim is excellent, but i am not sure why i use it :p i use AMSN, probably cause of its UI, its still buggy, on my RH 7.3 i use kMess which is real good but works with 3.> im running MDK 8.2 with only 2.2> so it won't run...well yeh enough about me lol

gaim is good

but why does it not matter where the executable is?
i use mandrake 8.2 and kde and when i installed the rpm it just says thankyou and click finish but there was no shortcut or anything to run it so i had to search for it to use it.

You have to make your own shortcuts...if you wish to make it one the desktop you right click, go to Create New, then Link To Application, Then all you mainly need to do is fill in the General and Executable Tabs. where executable is you put in the command (in this case amsn) or you browse for the executable....

Garry

oh and another thing, with oter packages, how do i use .tar.gz and .tgz packages?

in case of .tar.gz or .tgz files first

tar -xvzf filename.tar.gz
OR
tar -xvzf filename.tgz to decompress the archive.
Then the process of installation may be different in different packages. The most usual way is ( if u can find a configure file in the directory)

./configure
make
make install

And as for your question on why you wouldn't have to search for it...

MOST rpm's and tarballs (tgz tar.gz) during the install phase of them will place the executable file into what is known as your $PATH. Not an exact definition, but it'll work:
Your PATH is a known location of directories on your system, containing the executable files for your programs. Having the file your path keeps you from having to type out ABSOLUTE path. Meaning, that if /usr/bin is in your PATH (which is should be btw) then if you place an executable file in that directory, you can type from ANY location on your system just the name of the executable file, and it will execute. An example would be 'cp'. CP is located in your path, so everytime you want to cp something (copy) in the command line, all you do is type cp filename /path/to/filename and that's it. NOT /bin/cp /path/to/file /path/to/file That would get old after 2 times.

So to my point.. If you have a program you install via RPM method, more than likely it will place this file in your path, and then execute by just typing the name of the program.

Example: Installing Opera:
rpm -Ivh opera-6.0.i586.rpm
Then all you have to type to execute opera after the install:
opera

So I hope this helps clear some things up for you on $PATH and installing files ;)

Cool

And also instead of doing the hardway of un-tarring(well i knew it was hard and confusing for me when i started out)
Which sandy stated above...

all i do is use my file manager eg. Konqueror, click on the .tar.tgz file then right click on the folder inside the .tar.tgz file and paste it where you want, saves doing it from the command line...

I know this probably didn't make sense :D but you will get use to it hehe