Installing Programs from .tgz files

[kingwill]

Hi

When I used to use Ubuntu if I downloaded a program in a tgz file I'm sure when I opened the file to extract the contents it used to install on my laptop. Now I can install the contents to my folders but it doesn't appear on my program menu list.

Sorry if this doesn't make sense. I'm trying not to use M$ but I didn't get on with Ubuntu and really like Mageia but I'm no expert and I have to say that I'm finding it very difficut to master.

What I'm trying to say is how can I install programs that I can't find in the software update control center.

Any help would be appreciated.

[daniewicz]

Using the control center is always preferred because software dependencies are handled cleanly. You can add more media sources to increase the amount of software available to you via the control center. What software are you trying to install?

[daniewicz]

Have a look at the link below for more details regarding adding media sources:

https://wiki.mageia.org/en/Software_management

[jkerr82508]

If you told us which software you are trying to install (giving a link to the download), it would be easier to answer. Sometimes the package name used in Mageia may not be identical to the name used in other distro's. Some tar files contain binaries that can be run as is, or in some cases installed using an included script file, others contain source code that must be compiled before being installed.

Jim

[ghmitch]

Hello kingwill, I assume you are using KDE? If you are using KDE, do a right click on the Menu Icon. At the top of the resulting list you should see "Edit Applications". Click on "Edit Applications" and that should bring up a "Menu Editor" interface allowing you to link the newly installed applications to the menu. I suspect that none of the previous posters correctly understood your problem which is that you need applications that are unavailable from the distro repositories. HOWEVER, make sure you are subscribed to the nonfree and tainted repositories in addition to the core repositories as many popular application are off limits to core repository due to licensing and/or IP issues. - George