Thursday, April 23, 2009

How to install Linux autopackages in 4 easy steps

You only have to follow these instructions once. After the first time, you should be able to open autopackages directly from your web browser.

Step 1: Download & save

Download the packages you want to install and save them on your computer.
Go to the folder where you saved the software package to.
(Nautilus screenshot)
(Konqueror screenshot)
Step 2: Open Properties dialog

Click on the package with your right mouse button.
Then click on the Properties menu item.
(click for larger screenshot)
Step 3: Enable permissions

Go to the Permissions tab.
Check the Execute, Exec or Is Executable checkbox. If there are more than one Execute/Exec checkboxes, check the top-most one.
Click Close or OK, depending on the dialog.


(click for larger screenshot)
Step 4: Uninstall previous and open

If you already have the software installed from your distributions packages or from the source, remove it first. Then open the package file.
If you are asked whether you want to display or run the package, click Run.
(click for larger screenshot)
Done

The installation will now begin. Follow further intructions that are displayed on the screen, if any.
You only have to follow these instructions once. Next time, you can just skip step 1-4 and open the .package file directly.
Instructions for commandline users

(If you have followed the graphical instructions above, then you don't need to follow these instructions.)
Download the packages you want to install and save them on your computer.
Open a terminal and go to the folder in which you saved the package:
[bash@localhost]$ cd YourDownloadsFolder
/home/example/YourDownloadsFolder
[bash@localhost]$ _
Run the package with the following command:
[bash@localhost]$ bash Example.package
You're done! Follow further instructions on screen, if any.