how do i install .tar files?

Komakino · 02-17-2005, 04:47 PM

The file extension means nothing in linux, they're there for the user's benefit. Even if you called a .tar.bz2 file .zip you could untar it using:
tar jxvf filename.zip
as if you'd never renamed it.

Anyway, I'm not sure why you're having such problems. If you've downloaded a file ending in tar then:

Code:

tar zvf myfile.tar

will untar it. If it ends in .tar.gz (or .tgz) then:

Code:

tar zxvf myfile.tar.gz

will untar it. If it ends in .tar.bz2 then:

Code:

tar jxvf myfile.tar.bz2

will untar it. Then, assuming you've downloaded source code, you would:

Code:

cd mynewdirectory

where mynewdirectory is the directory created when you untarred the tarball.
And then read the README or INSTALL file, which usually tells you to:

Code:

./configure
make
(become root - by typing su and entering the password)
make install
(to put the program on the system at large)

syg00 · 02-17-2005, 06:04 PM

Seems the initial question isn't being answered. The reason there is a problem is a lack of understanding of tar
You need to tell it what to - compress or uncompress or whatever. Verbose by itself ain't valid - as the message said.
We all know this, the answers given show the options, but not why.

Some of the links given should do the job, but man command is there for a reason.
squirlprotector, try entering man tar from a terminal screen. This is a help system (contraction of "manual" I believe). Works for most commands when you get lost

edit: use q (quit) to get out of man.