Ubuntu problem opening files

bat999

fermi wrote: »

But surely Google earth is available in the repositories?

Yes, it's in Ubuntu's repo.
But I thought that the OP was having problems unzipping files in general, just using GoogleEarth as an example.
:cool:

fermi

bat999 wrote: »

But I thought that the OP was having problems unzipping files in general, just using GoogleEarth as an example.
:cool:

It seems that they are, but they mention GoogleEarth in their opening post.

Problems extracting archives aside, a large part of modern distros is making that unnecessary for common software. Select GE from the package manager and it will all be done for you.

But even most desktop environments will let you right click a file to extract now (and have for a long time), assuming that you have the correct package/executable installed to handle it.

Distros should really provide a link on the desktop to the HOWTOs/FAQ for newbies. That would help with this sort of thing a lot.

old_codger1

fermi wrote: »

Distros should really provide a link on the desktop to the HOWTOs/FAQ for newbies. That would help with this sort of thing a lot.

Ubuntu does. There's a little lifebelt icon at the top, (by default, IIRC).



It takes you to

http://help.ubuntu.com/

But the 'archive' stuff can be found here...

http://help.ubuntu.com/community/File%20Roller

old_codger1

Jazzy_B wrote: »

Basically, I can't open any files I've downloaded, like Google earth. I've tried downloading different files e.g.bin files,zip files, tar files. When I look up how to open them, I'm faced with options of changing commands, which I'm not familiar with, but would be happy to try if I knew where to start.
I'm sure there must be an easier facility to open files just by clicking on them, but where it is I don't know.

It depends what it is. There isn't a generic 'open everything regardless of what file type and format it is' in Linux any more than there is in windows.

Generally, as others have said, you should be installing programs from what are called 'repositories' and be using synaptic, the package manager that comes with ubuntu. As I run the normal version of Ubuntu I can't be sure how to access synaptic but I assume it's in the 'Other - Add/Remove' section on the desktop or maybe the 'Settings' bit on the left.

You mentioned 'bin' files. They're usually programs. certainly the GoogleEarthLinux.bin is a program, specifically the installation program for googleearth.

Other files, like 'zip' or 'rar' require the archive manager. 'rar, in particular, requires the 'rar' and 'unrar' archive manager extnsions as far as I can see from the documentation.

Take a look at the documentation on the websites to see how to install the software necessary because it appears a bit differnt from the normal ubuntu layout.

In all honesty, if it were me, I'd consider installing the normal ubuntu but that's because I know my way around it.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/AspireOne
http://www.aurala.com/ma/?p=49

Jazzy_B

I've been on a steep learning curve today, but I've worked out how to install the things I want, and use the terminal. I'm just too used to Windows. A lot of the language is completely foreign to a newbie. I'm still having problems getting GE to run properly, but I'll get there.
Thanks again

heggied

By default, Firefox will download everything to your desktop (in the directory /home/{username}/Desktop).

Using the UNR version of Ubuntu (which I'm running here on an Acer Aspire One, and loving) you won't see the desktop though, as it has it's own launcher thingummy installed over it. You can open a terminal quickly by pressing Alt-F2 and typing "gnome-terminal" (without the quotes) and then "cd ~/Desktop" (again, without the quotes). All the downloaded files will be there.

Or should be, if Firefox's config hasn't been changed from its default.

I'm in the middle of posting a blog post about things to do after installing UNR - I'll send you a link when it's finished if you like.

Jazzy_B

That would be great. I've got GE running now but it's painfully slow.

old_codger1

Jazzy_B wrote: »

That would be great. I've got GE running now but it's painfully slow.

Doesn't googleearth require 3DFX graphics? I think the acer might have it but I'm not sure what speed the graphics processor is. I had the same thing on an old toshiba and at first I thought it was the linux client but when I loaded the windoze version, (the machine had both on and was dual-boot), it was exactly the same. Well, SLOWER, if anything

old_codger1

heggied wrote: »

I'm in the middle of posting a blog post about things to do after installing UNR - I'll send you a link when it's finished if you like.

I'd be interested to hear of people's experience with it as well

heggied

For those who are interested, the post is here -
http://www.cloggingthetubes.co.uk/2009/04/things-to-do-immediately-after-installing-ubuntu-904-netbook-remix/