How to 'compile' a .tar file ? (Newbie)

marlon2006 · 06-08-2006, 05:52 PM

Fedora 5.

I downloaded a file for testing named 'tfn2k.tar'.

Now I need to 'execute' this on my Fedora 5.

How can I issue commands to do whatever is necessary to make this tf2nk.tar run ?

I researched tar commands such as 'tar -cZf tfn2k.tar' but it returns message "Cowardly refusing to create an empty archive".

Pleae advise.

pljvaldez · 06-08-2006, 05:55 PM

Tar is a compressed archive like zip. What you probably need to do is untar it and then run whatever script is compressed inside.

Try tar -xvf tfn2k.tar. Then change into whatever directory is created (probably tfn2k) and look for a file that says README, which will probably tell you what you need to do.

pixellany · 06-08-2006, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marlon2006

I researched tar commands such as 'tar -cZf tfn2k.tar' but it returns message "Cowardly refusing to create an empty archive".

You're going backwards.....

the -c flag is to create an archive. You already have one, so you need -x for extract.

As the other reply states, the common command to extract is tar -xvf
x extract
v verbose
f use a file

DeusExLinux · 06-08-2006, 11:56 PM

just for a further hint, when all else fails, check the man pages.

man tar

It will give you all the switches and whatnot, they have bailed me out of a lot of jams!

marlon2006 · 06-09-2006, 11:59 AM

This forum is amazing. Thanks all for your patience and professional responses !