Unzipping downloaded .zip file to root folder.
 

This is a real DAQ, but... I created a folder in "~/.local/share", to whit “vlc/skins2”. The idea was, to unzip a file now on my Desktop “vlc-skins2.zip” to that folder via:
It doesn't work. When I do a “ls -a” on "~/.local/share" I see the folder as "vlc%2fskins2" ... with an altered delimiter. The tree view of the folder reads, “vlc/skins2”. I've not come across this phenom before and I'd like to find out what it means. Do I have to change the name of the destination folder to “vlc%2fskins2”? If so, what do I need to understand if I come across this again?

I took a shot at deleting the file I created “vlc/skins2” in “~/.local/share” and went ahead with:
to see if the code would create its own file/folder.

So that doesn't work either.

What happens if you try:

I think you need the -d in order to have the files extracted to a directory other than the current directory.


Regards,

Fordeck

The "%2f" sequence is the hexadecimal notation of "/" (slash). Take in mind that zip/unzip at the origins were the *nix ports of the pkzip/pkunzip DOS programs. You often see hexadecimal notations in URLs, just to make an example.

By the way, the problem here is that maybe youuu misunderstood the meaning of arguments to the unzip command:
here files are the name of the archived files you want to extract (the source, not the destination). Here is the complete synopsis:
where at the end of the command line you see -d exdir. This is the way to specify a destination directory different from the current working dir (default). Your command should be:
if I interpret well your requirement (some doubt on the vlc/skins2 part).

Edit: too late.. Fordeck beat me! ;)

Hi,

Shouldn't that be:

unzip /home/pilgrim/desktop/vlc-skins.zip -d~/.local/share/vlc/skins2 ??

Hope this helps.

[edit] Beaten by a mile...... :) [/edit]

I tried it first without the /vlc/skins2" folder in "/root/.local/share", and a 2nd try after re-creating the folder.

Is the "Extract to" utility an option?
What about simply doing a "Drag Drop" from the DT into the /share folder and trying to unzip it there?

Update:

I dropped the .zip file in and noW show:

What would y'all suggest? I could use the "Extract Here" option. Or extract to the /vlc/skins folder. I'm working from directions on:
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/skins.php

that will do your job..try it.

Hi,

Does the skins2 (or vlc/skins2) directory exist before unzipping the file? It should.

As druuna already noticed!

Something happened to my last post when I responded to druuna. Here is a facsimile.

The answer is Yes & No & Yes.

In my futzing around with the vlc folders in a different directory, “/usr/share” I created a folder “/vlc/skins2” thinking (big mistake) that I needed it to install the .zip file. I didn't realize at that time that the legit folder, the one set up when I installed vlc in the first place, was already extant in the right directory.

When I finally cottoned on to my bad assumption and found the right folder, I saw the “/vlc/skins2” folder and made another bad assumption that it was the one I had created.
So I deleted it by way of experimenting to see if the “unzip to” would create it; which it didn't of course. So I re-created it as “vlc/skins2”.

What was confusing me was that when I went to “/home/pilgrim/.local/share” it wasn't the same folder as “/root/.local/share”.
This confusion was brought about because none of the codes I tried would unzip the file on my DT to: “~/.local/share/vlc/skins2”, so I went hunting around to see what was what.

Nevertheless: I took the easy route, opened Konqueror as su, and drag/dropped the .zip file in:
“~/.local/share”. “~/.local/share# ls -a
. .. Trash vlc%2fskins2 vlc-skins.zip”

Before I mess things up further let me check options.
Is the [1] KDE GUI “Extract to/here” the same thing as [2] “unzip to/here” from the command line? I've been assuming they are the same.

Right clicking on the “vlc-skins .zip” icon in “~/.local/share” folder contents window, the drop down menu give the option:
[1] Or from a root terminal would this code be OK?
[2] I apologize for being so tedious. But I've never had this kind of a problem before and it's making me paranoid.

Follow up

Well; I tried. I opened Konqueror as root, called up the “~/.local/share” folder, Right Clicked the “vlc-skins.zip” icon and from the KDE GUI menu clicked “Extract to/here” that opened a dialoq box:
But when I entered:
as the destination folder name I got prompted:
The folder (icon) was right beside it in the /share folder!

I also tried entering “/vlc/skins2” and “vlc/skins2”... no joy. For some reason, the GUI app doesn't recognize (?) that “/vlc/skins2” folder. That is how this mess began in the first place. I couldn't d/l that “vlc-skins.zip” file to “~/.local/share” folder; no how, no way. And yes; I was doing it as su/root.

So: I did the “drag/drop” maneuver again and “moved” the errant .zip to “/vlc/skin2” folder and extracted it “in situ”.

Whooop!!!

This has to be the most frustrating exercise I've met in years.

Now: the regime to get a skin is “supposed” to be: <http://www.techzilo.com/vlc-skins/>
That looked straightforward. But it weren't. When I went to vlc “Settings” > change interface to “Skins2” I got the standard dialoq box titled “Open a Skins File” ... It went thusly:
vlc “closed”/exited by itself.
Restart
Opened vlc
No change (no new skin)

Back to: New dialog box asking “Open Location”.
Screenshot (forum attachment utility doesn't like 110.0 KB PNG Image from Ksnapshot)
[img=http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/7327/17971598.th.png]

Right!!! I knew where that was going!

Suffice it to say, I've tried entering every combination of uri </root/.local/share/vlc/skins2> in that dialog box and they all produce error messages.

And that's where I am.

If you are in GNOME, you can run a su -c "nautilus --browser" in red hat/fedora or sudo nautilus in debian/ubuntu, find the file, right click, extract here. Copy the extracted files wherever you want. Don't assume everything must be done the hard way. If you are root, just start nautilus and right click, extract here, copy files.

bendib;

I'm using Debian/GNU/KDE/Konqueror/Iceweasel.

I've got my files so messed up now, I don't know what the heck I'm doing anymore.Those blasted skins files/ folders/contents both zipped and unzipped..... are all over the place in half a dozen root files & folders, on my Desktop... I'm going to have to spend half a day just finding & deleting them from where they don't belong.

OK: Now that makes sense. I copied the unzipped files to a folder on my DT “vlc/skins2”.
When I open vlc > Settings > Switch Interface > Skins2 > Open a skin file (Helper Menu) > Highlight Desktop > double click vlc/skins2 > Click on one of the Skins “chaos.vlt”> vlc closes/exits.

Restart

Open vlc (No Change. Default skin returns) > Settings > Switch Interface > Skins2 > Open a skin file (Helper Menu) > Highlight Desktop > double click vlc/skins2 > Click on one of the Skins “carbon.vlt”> vlc closes/exits.

Restart

Open vlc (No Change. Default skin returns) > Settings > Switch Interface > Skins2
The “carbon.vlt” skin appeared! Yay! I don't like it at all.

When I tried to change it via “Preferences” > check “skinnable interface” “Save” I still get no option to change the skin; i.e., recall the Helper Menu. I just tried “carbon.vlt” to see if the problem was that the “chaos.vlt” was wonky; which it seem it was.

In fact, I can't get back to the default vlc page at all. When I start it, the carbon skin emerges.I did find the access to the Preferences again. But what do I have to do to get a skin I'd like?

Suggestions?

Edit: ... I found the sol'n. Go to preferences > interface menu and just click "Reset".