Ultimate newbie here...
I'm getting really frustrated by this: I am trying to learn how to install tar.gz files, but everything I can find on the Web (and even in the Readme that comes with the file!) says to use the ./configure command, which my distribution (SuSE 10.0) doesn't claim to recognize! Has anybody else experienced this? Can anybody tell me what to do? And, by the way, please keep instructions simple, clear, and step by step, or you'll blow me away. Many, many thanks!!

PS - Linux is great, I'll just be happy when I learn more about how to use it.

./configure is based off the application your trying to install, not the distribution.

Simple steps for untar'ing, and installing *most* source applications: (source applications are usually the ones that end in .tar.gz)

1. tar -zxvf filename.tar.gz
2. cd filename
3. ./configure
4. make
5. make install

-- Also I recommend after step #2, type "ls" and see if there are any INSTALL or README files.. developers of applications usually include these to guide you on installation of the application.

Good luck.

Just to add the software source must have a configure file for this to work..

Well, the reason I thought it was the distribution is because I have gotten the same message every time I try to install any tar.gz file.

Thats probably because your not un'taring the file first. Follow my above steps and you should be fine.