? on installing additional software in Linux
 

hello there,
I am new 2 linux and i have so many ?'s. But seriously, Just installed mandrake 9.1 Power pack w/bare minumum of features and I wanted 2 start installing stuff like Open Office (I assume that the KDEOffice I see is not the same as OpenOffice, a cdplayer etc...) But when I was trying last night in the Control center to load software i didnt see anything on the screen to load. I assume You have to put a cd in but how do u get linux to look there to start install? Also how do u know which cd has openoffice or an mp3 player on it so u can install that software. so many ?'s so little time. Any answers welcome...

alan


p.s.- if u already have a program installed will linux alert u 2 this and stop the installation?

I use urpmi in a console rather than the control centre. If you type (as root) urpmi OpenOffice.org it will tell you what is available for download. While the console is available, open a browser and goto Easy Urpmi, it will give you more download sites and the commands to add them.

If a program is already installed, urpmi will return with a message to tell you that it's already installed.

Openoffice on your cdrom
 

Just pop the cdrom in the cdrom drive and mount it

mount /mnt/cdrom
then type

ls -la /dev/cdrom | grep openoffice......

you should be able to find openoffice realy fast

if u go to the menu --> configuration --> packaging --> install software, u will see a box to type in whatever programs u want to add to mdk9.1. type in openoffice or even the mp3 player, xmms. it's that simple.

thanx for the info I'm still a bit confused though.I have 7 cd's from my Power Pack distro. how do i know which cd has Open Office on it 2 put in when i have install software menu up? Also i downloaded acorobat reader in .tar.gz format how do unzip this baby and get it installed? are u guys sure this Linux is better then Windows??? Thnax for your patience 2 a guy whose been working in windows world 4 20 years..

alan

i guess, whichever cd you used first, second, third, etc to install mdk is what cd#1, 2, 3 would be. to answer your adobe question, go to the directory with the adobe tar.gz file, at the prompt type:
tar -xvzf ado*.tar.gz [press enter].

then, type:
cd adobeFolderName [press enter]
./configure
make
make install

only time will tell if linux is worth it for you. i like it and so do many others but who knows what will happen when linux is put under the scope like windows. linux was originally used for servers. now, they have integrated a GUI/desktop feature into them. u can do just about anything windows can do (and sometimes even better).

i hope my instructions were clear.

thanx for the advice i'll try it tonight. coming from windows where u just click on a zip file and it self extracts and launches a setup program this seems a like going thru hoops 2 install a simple enough program. I guess coming over from windows u have your own set of prejudices. i'll be back alot 2 this forum and be doing alot of reading.
alan