tar files

[sawer]

I a newbie to linux. How do I install a tar file. Is there a simple way of looking at the installation? I'd like to install qcad and sketch. I'm looking for a good vector drawing program to replace my corel draw. I,m running mandrake 8.2
thanks

[SuperHornet]

A tar file is nothing more then a achive app.
To extract typetar -xvf fimename

If its compressed (ends with a .gz .bz) use the -zxvf syntax.

Once you untar it read the install and readme doc's all the way thru.

[S.D.Willie]

if you want the easy way, use konqueror and you can just right click on the file and select "extract here"

plus konq works great for most files I.E .tar,bz2.tar.gz, and so on and so on. but thats just for extracting.

for installing, you will still need to (in most cases) run

./configure
make
make install (as root)

SD