How to add new software and packages

Asked by Farakh Jamil

Hi,
I have just downloaded and installed Unity linux and I like its speed and looks very much but not being a linux expert I am completely stumped at how to add Openoffice and some games. There are two icons for Smart Package Manager, one on the task bar and one on the desktop which is supposed to be used for adding software but once I open Smart Package Manager I don't know how to proceed further to add software. There is a long list on the main screen of Smart Package Manager but everything I click on is reported as already installed. I am totally lost as to what to do next to install OpenOffice and a couple of games. I am sorry for not being smart enough for the Smart Package Manager :) Please help!!!
FJ

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Smart Package Manager Edit question
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Solved by:
Dave Hill
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Revision history for this message
Matthew Dawkins (mattydaw) said :
#1

I believe this question belongs on http://forum.unity-linux.org/,

But to answer your question easily, you need to "Update Channels" and then click on "Find Packages" and in "Search:" type openoffice?

In short the metadata for the packages in the repositories is not shipping in the livecd and you need to download that information with smart.

Revision history for this message
Farakh Jamil (farakhjamil) said :
#2

Thank you very, very much for your prompt response and help Matthew. I did
not intenMidoritionally post the question on Launchpad but was directed to
the launchpad by the default Unity help and information page that loads
when the Midori browser is run. I also signed up on the Unity forum when I
read about it on the Midori page and posted the question there too.
However, by that time I had downloaded OpenOffice from its site, unarchived
it with the xarchiver application provided. Luckily, it had a
'windows-like' 'Setup' program which I clicked and the program installed
smoothly. I also needed a PDF reader and tried to install Okular and Evince
but was unsuccessful because they did not have setup programs. Then I
downloaded Foxit and installed the same was as OpenOffice beautifully. Now
I want to install Firefox and a few games but nothing seems to work.

I did exactly as you have instructed in your email. I clicked 'Update
Channels' and a few items were updated. However, I do not see any command
for 'Find Packages'. Indeed, there is a command for 'Find' which opens a
new screen where one can enter text and click the magnification icon for
find. I entered 'firefox? there and clicked find and absolutely nothing
happened - with or without the questionmark. Therefore, I still require
your help :)

Thanks again,

FJ.

Matthew Dawkins <email address hidden> wrote on 8 Nov 2010,
08:09 PM:
Subject: Re: [Question #132997]: How to add new software and packages
>Your question #132997 on Smart Package Manager changed:
>https://answers.launchpad.net/smart/+question/132997
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
>Matthew Dawkins proposed the following answer:
>I believe this question belongs on http://forum.unity-linux.org/,
>
>But to answer your question easily, you need to "Update Channels" and
>then click on "Find Packages" and in "Search:" type openoffice?
>
>In short the metadata for the packages in the repositories is not
>shipping in the livecd and you need to download that information with
>smart.
>
>--
>If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
>know that it is solved:
>https://answers.launchpad.net/smart/+question/132997/+confirm?answer_id=0
>
>If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
>following page to enter your feedback:
>https://answers.launchpad.net/smart/+question/132997
>
>You received this question notification because you are a direct
>subscriber of the question.
>

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Revision history for this message
Best Dave Hill (davehill) said :
#3

Hi, FJ

I'm about as new to Unity as you are (and like you I am using it out of its specifications - I'm not sure it's meant for us), but to expand on Matthew's reply, I suggest you try this, only because it worked for me, after I hit the same problem you did.

Start the package manager again, go to Edit in the menu, then pick Upgrade All. I then did Fix All Problems and Upgrade All again - don't know if that helped, but it couldn't hurt.

Then I followed Matthew's instructions to install Open Office. You're right - it's Edit, Find . . .

I'm trying Unity because it's a quick, intelligent and "pretty" environment, and I'm not sure I want to hook up with a derivative of Unity that might go in some other direction or not keep up. It is pretty cool, even on this old Pentium III.

This probably should have been in the forum, but I couldn't find your message there.

Anyway, I hope that helps.
Dave

Revision history for this message
Farakh Jamil (farakhjamil) said :
#4

Thanks for your help Dave. I was able to fix the package installation problem finally and everything sorted out fine. Unfortunately, I had another problem with Unity a few days later when the X-Windows system stopped booting up. I therefore decided to wait for some time until Unity was a little more mature and some basic bugs were fixed before using it. I have now installed Pardus Linux and it is working great and is very stable, though I do miss the wide choice of software in Unity.