Ive recently installed my SuSe linux distro and its working ok now but when i download a file to update something, there in a tar format and i think its like a zip file but how do i unzip the file or install the files or apps? do i have to run a command line or something or can i install downloaded files like windows with exe files?

usually tar files require you to compile them from source. which you would need a compiler to do. if your compiler is installed you can right click on the zip file and extract in subfolder, then you can go to the command line, cd to the subdirectory and type:

1. ./configure

2. make

3. make install

it really depends....you can find the downloaded .tar file using the GUI and double click on it, and extract it that way, or you can use the following command at the command prompt and extract it. whichever way you feel more comfortable with really.

tar -zxfv my_tar_filename

http://simplythebest.net/info/untar.html

make sure you navigate to the directory where the .tar file is located however. also running this command will extract the file in the directory you are currently in. home this works........

........ adding to that - once you've cd'd into the extracted directory its often useful to check out the install or read me files if they're there...

Wow i didn't you had to go through all that trouble to install an application but the only way to setup the tar file is to have a compiler. is it normally installed in my distro of SusE or do i have to know what the source is and do it from their.

i'm not sure about suse, since i use RedHat. but i'm assuming they both come packaged with the gcc compiler. however upon installation of RedHat, i didn't install the compiler......i actually had to go to the add/remove applications and install it that way.

but again, you need to read the install document or readme document that comes packaged with must software. if you have to compile the "make" file then you most defiently need the gcc compiler.....however some programs just require you to run an install script or a configure binary, which in that case i'm not sure if it is necessary to have the compiler.....but i don't think it is......i'm new to linux as well and am still learning.

Say where is the add remove software located in linux?

I believe you use yast for package management in SuSE.

# 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

on RedHat it is located by clicking on the "Main Menu" button, and scrolling up to System Settings. There is a "Add / Remove applications button to click on.......

then I had to install the Development Tools for linux.

keep in mind, this is all using RedHat.

however i'm sure you could go to rpmseek.com and download the gcc compiler, which would prolly be just as painless as doing it the way described above.

I think the only way a windows user can install apps in linux is through apt and using synaptic.

Go to
http://freshrpms.net/apt/
and
http://apt.freshrpms.net/

It's quite easy. Easier than in windows.
Believe me I was frustrated for months with the damn RPM dependency hell.

Thought I'd throw my two cents in here since I'm a newbie and just went through what this person is going through. I would call it Linux-shock -- the realization that you're not in windows land anymore. So, in case all this stuff is confusing:

There are two ways to install new software. If it is a rpm file (as opposed to tar), then you can install the file by going through Yast. Click on install new software and direct the module to the file with the rpm file it's in. This is the Linux equivalent of add/uninstall software.

If we are talking about a tar file, it gets more complicated, but it's still fairly easy.
1) Login as root.
2) Open up Konqueror (for file management) and right click on the tar file. Choose the option that says Ark. Ark is essentially winzip or stuffit for Linux and it will allow you to enter where you want the file unzipped. The best place to put new applications is /usr/local/. When the unzipping process is done, you should have created a new folder with the application's name in the /usr/local file.
3) Now you have to open konsole (ALT F2, then enter "konsole"). Change to the directory that you have just created, i.e. cd /usr/local/the name of the new folder.
4) type (without the quotes) "./configure"
5) type "make"
6) type "make install"
7) logout as root and login as the user you normally are
8) open up konqueror (as file manager) and find the folder in /usr/local you just created. in that folder, you should find an executeable file that might have the name of the application or might be called install. click on them until something happens. you're not likely to do any harm. and then the program should be up and running.

NOTE: I AM A NEWBIE AND EXPERTS WHO READ THIS MAY SAY I HAVE GOT IT ALL WRONG. BUT THIS IS WHAT I DO, AND IT SEEMS TO WORK FOR ME.

Good luck! I can tell you this isn't easy, but it's definitely well worth it.

isn't learning linux and actually understanding how a computer works the whole philosophy behind window users whom wish to make the conversion to linux.

furthurmore, even though using GNOME or KDE may give you an interactive way to untar and install files, it still is in your best interest to start learning to do things from the command line. especially if you are trying to install an .rpm, because if you simply "double click" on a .rpm package using the GUI, it will not show you if it has "failed dependencies" or not.

Isn't Linux cool? I think it is far more better interesting to use than Windows, just because their are alot more anomolies in Linux and it has more of a true computer envirement not like windows just a gui ontop of a bunch of red tape and goofy code that can't even be justified in a true computer envirement. But i see some of the ways to install these programs know but when you said to run Konqueror a where is this app located and when i log in as root and go to sax my mouse goes nuts and i see fading menues poping up and i lose my pointer so im staying away from sax but yasp or whatever i use to make my computer more easier .