Need help in installing apps
Forum: Apps
Topic: Need help in installing apps
started by: LeightonW
Posted by LeightonW on Feb. 01 2007,11:35
I just recently installed DSL on my Toshiba Sat Pro 4270 laptop and I got to hand it to ypu, Very slick OS you got there for 50MB... Anyway could some shed some light on how to install applications through the File Manager... I'm rather new to Linux and I've ALWAYS used the Evil thing that is called Windows. So could someone please reply to my need of help and is it possible to install something simuler to windows explorer in DSL. If there is could you give me a link to download it and instructions on how to install it....
Thanks in Advance
Leighton
Posted by mikshaw on Feb. 01 2007,14:29
I can't help much with solving your problem, but I can perhaps shed some light on its existence.In windows, the file manager is pretty much embedded into the operating system...an integrated tool which, to an extent, automatically handles file associations so that when you double-click on a filename or icon a specific action is taken. In the case of software installers, most of them include code which does the installing for you without having to open an "installer" program.
In Linux, binary software packages usually require the existence of a separate installer tool (also known as a package manager) which must be run in order to install the software. Different distros use different package managers, and some distros, such as DSL, do not have a package manager installed. DSL does have support for for package management, however, by installing dpkg and optionally synaptic. While you typically need to run the package manager manually, it has the added feature of being able to install software from internet repositories and in many cases to handle dependencies for the desired package.
A default DSL setup comes installed with the myDSL system, which is not a package manager but does do the "install" part of package management.
Getting back to the file manager, you can configure most file managers, including the two found in DSL, to run a specific application when you click on a specifc file, but this must be done by the user (consult the documentation on the website of your desired file manager).
Posted by lucky13 on Feb. 03 2007,14:42
| Quote (LeightonW @ Feb. 01 2007,06:35) |
| So could someone please reply to my need of help and is it possible to install something simuler to windows explorer in DSL. |
Which version of DSL are you using? If you're using 3.3, you'll need to read < this thread > to be enable apt and synaptic. Earlier versions let you select "enable apt" from the "tools" part of the menu.
Synaptic is a program that lets you view, install, and remove programs from the Debian pool. Many of those programs will work without any problem, some can cause a few problems. To be on the safer side, you can download and install DSL packages using the "my dsl browser" in your menu (network, I think). Or launch it from a terminal window (at the $ prompt, type: "mydslPanel.lua & exit").
As far as file managers similar to Win Explorer, there really aren't any for the reasons in mikshaw's reply. DSL comes with a fine two-pane file manager called emelfm (as well as mc). It's not too difficult to use and it's a lot faster than MS Explorer for moving files around. It's already configured to work with file extensions you'll have in DSL: opening an mp3 file will open it in XMMS, a PDF file will open in xpdf, etc. You can right click on files for more options (including viewing contents in or extracting zipped files). You can also reconfigure it yourself (like adding buttons in the middle) to suit your own needs once you understand how things work.
If you want something that lets you drag and drop files and folders (and more), you can try rox filer. It's QNX-like in its approach, though, not Win-like. To drag and drop files around, you'll probably want to open it twice and move to the relevant directories you need (you can also do things without d&d in one window by right clicking if you know your target directories). You can also use it to launch programs by dragging files on top of them (i.e., drag m3u playlists on top of your XMMS icon in rox or on your pinboard). Rox is also a good replacement for xtdesktop to manage your desktop icons (with multiple pinboards for different functions or users); you can find more information about it at the rox website.
There's a dsl version in the applications section of the < mydsl repository >. Use the "mydsl browser" to fetch and install it (open it, go to applications, search down to rox.dsl, click install if you want it after reading the info file.