newbie installation question

[Smike]

I need some info on how to install programs...I downloaded adobe acrobat for linux i386 it came as a tar.gz, so i gunzipped it and then untarred it, now it gave me a directory called ILINXR.INSTALL
inside that directory there is ILINXR.TAR
INSTALL (shell script?) INSTGUID.TXT LICREAD.TXT ReadMe READ.TAR
I've never installed any programs in linux yet, so i'm quite confused by the multiple choices, such as binary, rpm, and source. Any helpful links on somthing to read or anything would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time
Smike :confused:

[mdwatts]

Have a read of some of those files.

less INSTGUID.TXT
less ReadME

Though I would imagine you just need to execute

./INSTALL

[2damncommon]

Hello Smike,
You did not say what distro you are using.
I will attempt to confuse you further.
RPM's are Red Hat Package Manager files that will self install if you a.) have an RPM installer and b.)have other needed files on your system.
Tar.gz files are usually source code. You need to read the readme on these. Usually install by:
./configure
make
make install
Use these if you have a reason to. Otherwise use software packages built for your distro. (RPM, DEB, TGZ)
I usually untar/gzip source somewhere in /usr/src (but I believe anywhere is fine) with tar xvzf filename. That command (unless I have written it wrong) will ungzip and untar your source files into their own directory leaving the original file. Check readme's and go for it. Some source file readme's can be quite complicated.
Like I said, use your distro's own packages if possible.

[Smike]

thanks for the info guys...I'll read those files more!
thanks again!

[2damncommon]

Okay, the reason I asked about your current distro is because every distro I have ever bought comes with Adobe Acrobat.
If you have downloaded a free ISO it probably did not come with Adobe Acrobat.
You made me curious so I downloaded the Acrobat Reader from the Adobe site.
Non-free, proprietairy software (non-free as in you may be "allowed" to use it) does not always play by the general rules I posted above. They OFTEN install differently. Always check the site and software package for exact instructions.
Viewing the ungzipped/untarred files on my Mandrake system I am guessing all you need to do is click on the "Install" shell script. Maybe enter it on a command line with a "./" in front of it if a click does not work.
You have probably got it installed while I am typing this...