missing installation instructions

Hi,

I just downloaded libreOffice for Linux from the official web site. I expanded the archives and:
- there is no single easy-to-identify executable or script to install the software
- there are no installation instructions (there is a readme which even has an "installation notes" section which says nothing about installation)
- in the download page and in the FAQs there are no installation instructions either

there are 2 steps to install LibreOffice on a linux based system

package install and desktop integration

follow the instructions found here:

http://www.ghacks.net/2010/09/30/install-libreoffice-on-fedora-and-ubuntu/

TDF should include an official wiki page for this however

Ah...no...
I don't think telling a Debian/Ubuntu user to install via RPM is correct.

Please see this page from the mailing list for installing deb packages:
http://www.mail-archive.com/discuss@documentfoundation.org/msg00497.html

The idea about the need for platform packaging has been discussed to great length here previously.

Bottom line: TMTOWTDI
(There's more than one way to do it)
...but let's go a route that makes sense for the platform involved.

Regards,
SF

Ah...no...
I don't think telling a Debian/Ubuntu user to install via RPM is correct.

Please see this page from the mailing list for installing deb packages:
http://www.mail-archive.com/discuss@documentfoundation.org/msg00497.html

The idea about the need for platform packaging has been discussed to great
length here previously.

Bottom line: TMTOWTDI
(There's more than one way to do it)
...but let's go a route that makes sense for the platform involved.

the link I posted had instructions for both. The link you referenced is for
a temorary repository, which works great too!

all you really need to do after downloading and untaring is run the
following command in terminal in both directories

sudo dpkg -i *deb

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. I didn't mean to ask you how to install LibreOffice. My point was that installation instructions should be included with the package and/or in the download page.

Or much better, instead of telling the user what he should type in the terminal, put it into a script and call it something like "setup".

I usually expect any software I download to automatically install itself with a click. Which is what usually happens when you use any "popular" operating system (and distro in the case of gnu/linux).

I'm still a newbie with Ubuntu and I've only used it for a while, but i've installed a few programs and this was the first time I downloaded a program and had to _figure out_ how to install it.

By the way the procedure mentioned in the blog article of converting the RPMs into DEBs with alien doesn't work, it prints a lot of error messages and doesn't generate the expected debs.

If the most "correct" way to install libreOffice in Ubuntu is from the debs, then I don't understand why they are not linked to in the main download page, it's a bit absurd that one has to google for them.

You may argue Ubuntu is just one of many distros, but the same can be said of.... whatever distro uses RPM packages.

Hi,

With this script you can install LibO into operating systems baseds in
Debian: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KAMOM0A3
To download .deb packages:
http://download.documentfoundation.org/libreoffice/testing/3.3.0-beta2/deb/

More help, in Spanish:
http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/ES/instalar-como-usuario-Linux#En_Debian_y_derivados

the link I posted had instructions for both. The link you referenced is
for a temorary repository, which works great too!

The link you posted shoehorns one linux's packaging distribution methodology into another packaging system. Best to keep them separate. Don't mix RPM, YUM, Debs, et al. I would sooner install from source if a deb were not available before I would even "consider" going the methodology suggested on this page. Its not recommended to tell a newbie to "do it this way" when it is inconsistent with the methodology for installing software for her/his platform.

With the exception of Debian/Stable (which only changes because of security upgrades), Debian has temporary repositories also (testing/Squeeze, unstable/Sid, experimental). The only difference is that Nikola's work isn't "approved" by Debian, but its packaged expressly for Debian systems (i.e. going through the Debian build package process).

I usually expect any software I download to automatically install itself
with a click. Which is what usually happens when you use any "popular"
operating system (and distro in the case of gnu/linux).

I sense a lot of pain and learning for you. IMO, Ubuntu packages the OS so it looks pretty. I'm not particularly fond of how Ubuntu adds stuff to packages, but the Linux they produce is (for the most part) stable. Its the extra stuff that they put as default into their version of the Linux desktop that has kept me away. But, this is a learning experience for you. If you haven't blown up an operating system lately, you haven't been trying hard enough. :smiley:

Thanks for the replies. I didn't mean to ask you how to install
LibreOffice. My point was that installation instructions should be included
with the package and/or in the download page.

Or much better, instead of telling the user what he should type in the
terminal, put it into a script and call it something like "setup".

I agree that a standard "README" file should be put into the package with the instructions. Makes sense.
However, there is only so much detail that can be put into "install instructions". IMHO, a guess was made that the average Linux user knows how to install a package for her/his OS. However, this is part of the joy of learning Linux, learning how to do something that works for you and that you are comfortable doing (getting "positive feedback").

Please see:
http://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallingSoftware
(There is a link at the top of the page that will help direct you to the Ubuntu wiki pages for your preferred language)
The Ubuntu wiki will be your best friend. It will help to "flatten the learning curve". I would suggest that you bookmark the wiki home page. It is stuffed full of very useful information especially useful to new users.

With this script you can install LibO into operating systems baseds in
Debian: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KAMOM0A3
To download .deb packages:
http://download.documentfoundation.org/libreoffice/testing/3.3.0-beta2/deb/

More help, in Spanish:
http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/ES/instalar-como-usuario-Linux#En_Debian_y_derivados

Making people go through the hassle of downloading from megauploads for a one line script?
WT....??

If you're going to call something an auto installer script make it do something useful like:
- downloading the file
- extracting the contents
- doing the package install.
Not the most effective use of bandwidth.

$0.02
Regards,
Scott Furry