how to launch downloaded files?

Hi All,

I'm a day old Linux user, and am loving the system performance. Everthing is great, except that I can't seem to get the files I download off the net to "execute". I know where the files are being saved. How do I "run" them? I have a Netscape installer, but can't seem to get it working.

Any suggestions? I'm running Red Hat 8.0.

RB.

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Since you put "execute" and "run" in quotes, I wonder if you are referring to something other than running an downloaded application that was compiled for Linux. If you are, please explain further what you mean.

If not ... if that is what you mean ... you either run it from a command-line prompt (in X, open an xterm or eterm and run it from there), or you add it to your X window-manager's popup menu (comes up with the right mouse button, normally), or you do something specific to the desktop environment (e.g., Gnome or KDE) that you are running. There are also specialized "launcher" applications that emulate some of the click-to-run style of the Windows GUI.

--
-------------------------------------------"Never tell me the odds!"--------
Ray Olszewski -- Han Solo
Palo Alto, California, USA [email protected]
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You can't get anything you download to launch under linux without some processing first. This isn't windows and those who put Linux together care lots more about your security than the people out of redmond washington ever did. If you downloaded files with an extension of .exe, you'd have to move them over into the windows partition to execute them unless you haven't got a windows partition. Not having a windows partition is a great way to run a linux system too. If those files have extensions like .tar.gz those linux can extract and probably build for you. Before I go into any of that procedure though most of the time you should not run as root and when you do run as root never do so while connected to the outside world. That's a great way to have your linux system knocked over by a hacker. Let's say you have /home/joe on the system and you're using that account to access the internet and that's where what you downloaded is now. you would do the command cp filename.ext /tmp <cr> first. Then the command cd /tmp <cr>. then the command tar zxvf filename.ext <cr>. Now here's a trick. try typing only the first few letters of the filename.ext and then hit tab and look at the name the machine offers. If it's correct just hit enter and you'll do the operation on that file. That's tab completion for you. Once the tar is done, from the /tmp directory type cd <partial file name> then tab and if the directory the file created under /tmp is correct hit return. After that ls -d <cr> and see what's in the directory. readme files are a good place to start if present and they usually are, so if there type less readme or less README <cr> and read. You'll probably be shown commands to run to build your application on your system which if run as shown should get you a working application. Seriously though, you really want to register and sign up with freshmeat.net and subscribe yourself to their newsletters. The reason is, the freshmeat.net newsletters come to your email address and are better than windows update for linux because they're not constantly nagging you to install stuff. Linux takes the approach that you're not 5 years old and can think for yourself. Welcome aboard!

Jude <dashielljt(at)gmpexpress-dot-net>

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One thing you should keep in mind is that you may have to change the file attribute to executeable _if_ you downloaded an executeable file.

Have a look at 'man chmod'
You can use it like 'chmod u+x yourfile' which will change permission to executeable for the owner of the file.

HTH

Arno

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Arno Seitzinger wrote:

[stuff about chmod]

For the owner, it has to be u+x, of course...

Arno

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