I know that this question seems stupid, but I'm a Linux newbie unfortunately. I downloaded an application from the internet and installed it successfully. I used the command line, ie. "rpm -ivh name-1.0.0-1.i386.rpm". The problem is after installing, I don't know how to run the program. I tried to type "name", but it doesn't work. Anybody help?

It seems that either the installation failed (you would have been advised, especailly with the 'verbose' rpm switch), or it has installed it somewhere not in your shell's $PATH variable. Try using 'locate' to locate the program:

Or, try using rpm to inspect the .rpm file:

--- rod.

1] Welcome to LQ!
2] Please update your profile so we know your Distro (Saves a lot of extra trouble)
3] An answer:

If it is an application, and you are using KDE, it is probably somewhere in the menus. Or Right-Click the K - Choose Menu Editor, Wait while it scans for applications, Click "Save", Check your menus again.

Typing the name of the command/application in a terminal was a good idea, but maybe you got the name wrong, or it is not in your PATH. (echo $PATH to see which directories are in your PATH)

If you installed the application as yourself (rather than root), it'll probably be somewhere off your home directory. So have a look there, and because your home directory should never be in your PATH, you'll have to reference it directly eg

/home/yourusername/applicationname/application

If that works, then you can always create a shortcut to it on your desktop (Right-click desktop, create new .... link to application, put the above path in the "Execute" bit there you go!)

HTH

other people ight advise against this, but I always just add the install directory to my path via the '/etc/profile' or '~/.bash_profile'. Just look for the line that says 'PATH=<default path>' If you not wants to change your default profile, you can export an updated path manually or in a start up script. for instance, if mozilla is installed at '/usr/local/mozilla': this appends 'usr/local/mozilla' to your existing PATH variable.

regards,
...drkstr

**edit**
changed "PATHS" to "PATH". typo, sorry.
**edit**

Thank you for your all replies.
To tredegar: already updated my profile . Thanks.