install tar files

First off - is there a DEB or PPA file for the same software?

Tar or usually tar.gz should be considered the same as a ZIP or other archive file - what's inside could be anything.

Typically tar.gz (or in your case .tar) are source file installs - once the file is extracted (from command line using the command "tar xvf $FILENAME.tar" should extract it for only .tar), see if there is an INSTALL or README file with directions to install the program.

For source file installs you may want to see https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CheckInstall which is a wrapper that will create a DEB file (preferred Ubuntu installation method) from the source code, which has a number of benefits.

Assuming (and that's all I can do with information provided) this is a typical source installation you would use (from a terminal in the extracted directory):

   ./configure
   make
   sudo make install

Again, using a DEB file or the CheckInstall method is FAR superior to above directions!

Best of luck,
George

What is it a tar file of? (my bet is firefox)

first unzip the file ...just double click on the tar file..... usually there is a readme file which gives information about how to install the package for which tar file was created... so follow the instructions given in Readme file and you will succeed in installing the software.

Ta very much for all the info which was a great help and getting on better. A THE BEST John

Ta for the help getting on a lot better now. "A THE BEST" John