What type of apps can be installed with Synaptic?

leupi · 12-11-2005, 07:18 PM

I am new to Ubuntu, and Debian as a whole, and am not sure what to expect from Synaptic. I was trying to install Skype but could not find it in a search in Synaptic, same with the Opera browser (should I?). I downloaded Skype from their site (for Debian) but I still can't install it. Do I use apt-get to install an app that I have already downloaded or does it have to come from one of their repositories?

After downloading skype I double click it and get the message:

Code:

Could not open "skype_1.2.0.18-1_i386.deb"

Archive type not supported.

Same basic thing happens when I try to install Opera

Should I be using apt-get to install these items that I have already downloaded? I tried this:

Code:

sudo apt-get install skype_1.2.0.18-1_i386.deb

and got this:

Code:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
E: Couldn't find package skype_1.2.0.18-1_i386.deb

Same thing happened with Opera. It is obvious that I am using this wrong. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks.

Todd

reddazz · 12-11-2005, 07:27 PM

Use the name of the program e.g.

Code:

#apt-get install skype

If you do not know the exact name of the package you can search for it using synaptic or apt.

leupi · 12-11-2005, 09:44 PM

When I do:

Code:

sudo apt-get install skype

I get:

Code:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Package skype is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
E: Package skype has no installation candidate

I tried doing a search on Synaptic for 'skype' but got no hits. I downloaded skype from skype's website and then tried to install it as such:

Code:

sudo dpkg -i skype_1.2.0.18-1_i386.deb

And got:

Code:

Selecting previously deselected package skype.
(Reading database ... 77365 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking skype (from skype_1.2.0.18-1_i386.deb) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of skype:
 skype depends on libqt3c102-mt (>= 3:3.3.3.2); however:
  Package libqt3c102-mt is not installed.
dpkg: error processing skype (--install):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Errors were encountered while processing:
 skype

So I then try:

Code:

 sudo apt-get install libqt3c102-mt

And get:

Code:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Package libqt3c102-mt is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
However the following packages replace it:
  libqt3-mt
E: Package libqt3c102-mt has no installation candidate

It is then suggested that I run:

Code:

sudo apt-get -f install

and when I do that I get:

Code:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Correcting dependencies... Done
The following packages will be REMOVED:
  skype
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 1 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
Need to get 0B of archives.
After unpacking 9160kB disk space will be freed.
Do you want to continue [Y/n]? y
(Reading database ... 77406 files and directories currently installed.)
Removing skype ...

So it removes Skype. This all seems to be related to an issue that I am having with Opera. I found info on how to install Opera but whenever I start it I get the error:

Code:

Opera encountered a problem during plug-in setup.
Plug-ins will not work properly.
Check your installation.

Could not start plug-in executable 'operamotifwrapper'.
/usr/lib/opera/plugins/operamotifwrapper-3
Please install Motif.

Plug-in path
(Path can be modified in Preferences dialog)

/usr/lib/opera/plugins

When I go to Synaptic to try and install Motif it seems to be the libqt3-mt file listed above and it says that I already have it installed.

Wheeew, OK, I think that that is it for now...

Todd

bwog · 12-12-2005, 06:13 AM

What you can install whith synaptic depends on the sources you added to synaptic. You can add sources in synaptic, or by editing sources.list.

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

sudo apt-get update

Synaptic gives you a lot of information, it also shows dependent packages which are needed also. Synaptic shows if the package is made for breezy. It is best to install from breezy sources.

majstor · 12-16-2005, 09:12 AM

Hope it helps:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/OperaBrowser

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SkypeHowto

seashell11 · 12-18-2005, 12:17 AM

My advice would be to install Automatix http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=66563 this will install both Opera and Skype for you. I used it and it is really easy to run and did a good job.

IBall · 12-18-2005, 07:21 PM

Make sure that the Universe repositories are enabled in /etc/apt/sources.list.

You should just be able to uncomment the corresponding lines, and then run

Code:

sudo apt-get update

.

Then restart Synaptic, or try

Code:

apt-cache search skype

and install the package using apt-get.

I hope this helps
--Ian

leupi · 01-14-2006, 09:24 AM

Worked great majstor, thanks

Todd