install a programme downloaded as tgz file

I have downloaded a file called mnemosyne-1.2-r1.tgz; a tar file which contains a bunch of scripts all together a memory training programme. I want to install that programme on my ACO under Linux. I did not find under "How to" how to do it. I did not find it in the repository with add/remove programmes.
I am a beginner in Linux so please provide me with instructions or advice which I may understand as former windows user. I know how to use the terminal and how to introduce line commands. However, I have never worked with a compiler if that is required.

 

I've just replied to someone who wants to install something else from a source tarball (which is what you have) in this post - starting several lines down! - does that give you enough to work out what to do?

 

to un-tar the file type

tar -zxcf <filename>

in terminal

after that, what you do depends on how they have it set up

 

Sorry : I did what you said and I am now in a directory -which is the equivalent of MyDirectory- with the following content:

[user@localhost mnemosyne-1.2-r1]$ ls

about_dlg.py __init__.py mnemosyne_zh_CN.qm
about_frm.py last_grade.py mnemosyne_zh_CN.ts
about_frm.ui LICENSE mnemosyne_zh_HK.qm
activate_all_categories.py main_dlg.py mnemosyne_zh_HK.ts
activate_categories_dlg.py main_frm.py mnemosyne_zh_SG.qm
activate_categories_frm.py main_frm.ui mnemosyne_zh_SG.ts
activate_categories_frm.ui message_boxes.py mnemosyne_zh_TW.qm
add_items_dlg.py mnemosyne mnemosyne_zh_TW.ts
add_items_frm.py mnemosyne_core.py plugin.py
add_items_frm.ui mnemosyne_cs.qm preview_item_dlg.py
add_menu_item.py mnemosyne_cs.ts preview_item_frm.py
always_shuffle_queue.py mnemosyne_de.qm preview_item_frm.ui
AUTHORS mnemosyne.desktop product_tour_dlg.py
card_prop.py mnemosyne_de.ts product_tour_frm.py
change_category_dlg.py mnemosyne_es.qm product_tour_frm.ui
change_category_frm.py mnemosyne_es.ts qt_cs.qm
change_category_frm.ui mnemosyne_fa.qm qt_de.qm
ChangeLog mnemosyne_fa.ts qt_es.qm
clean_duplicates.py mnemosyne_fr.qm qtextedit2.py
config_dlg.py mnemosyne_fr.ts qt_fr.qm
config_frm.py mnemosyne_he.qm qt_he.qm
config_frm.ui mnemosyne_he.ts qt_ja.qm
custom_tag.py mnemosyne.icns qt_pl.qm
edit_item_dlg.py mnemosyne_ja.qm qt_pt-br.qm
edit_item_frm.py mnemosyne_ja.ts qt_XX.ts
edit_item_frm.ui mnemosyne_log.py qt_zh-cn.qm
edit_items_dlg.py mnemosyne_nb_no.qm qt_zh-tw.qm
edit_items_frm.py mnemosyne_nb_no.ts README
edit_items_frm.ui mnemosyne_nl.qm setup.py
exceptions.py mnemosyne_nl.ts sound.py
export_dlg.py mnemosyne_pl.qm statistics_dlg.py
export_frm.py mnemosyne_pl.ts statistics_frm.py
export_frm.ui mnemosyne.png statistics_frm.ui
import_csv.py mnemosyne_pt_BR.qm tip_dlg.py
import_dlg.py mnemosyne_pt_BR.ts tip_frm.py
import_frm.py mnemosyne_XX.qm tip_frm.ui
import_frm.ui mnemosyne_XX.ts version.py

When I gave the command
[user@localhost mnemosyne-1.2-r1]$ ./config
I got:
bash: ./config: No such file or directory

So, it did not work

Maybe, the compiler is not correct since it seems that some files are Python files.
Anyway thanks for your fast reply

Winfried

 

There's a file there called 'README': does that give any guidance?

 

Unfortuantely not; it contains this:

This directory contains some example plugins with the main purpose of
illustrating to plugin writers on how to achieve certain functionality.
* activate_all_categories.py: running custom code after the database is
loaded.
* last_grade.py: running custom code to preprocess question and answer text
before it is displayed.
* add_menu_item.py: adding a menu item to the GUI.
* import_csv.py: adding a new file format for importing.
* custom_tag.py: intercepting a custom tag of the form <tag_name src="..">
and run its contents in an external program.
* always_shuffle_queue.py: always shuffle the queue, overriding the
prioritising of the scheduled cards.
One might wonder what the purpose is of the Plugin class, as opposed to
running 'register_function_hook' directly. However, a later Mnemosyne version
will allow you to activate and deactivate plugins from the GUI.
Note that if you write plugins which require extra modules, the Windows user
should add those to library.zip.
At least I can not detect it.
Winfried

 

Right, so you're installing mnemosyne. The website for the application has a documentation section; there you will find:

Installation on Linux

1. Install the following dependencies:
* Python 2.4 or later
* Qt 3.x and PyQt 3.x
* PyXML
* pygame and its dependencies
* If you want to be able to enter formulas using latex syntax, make sure that LaTeX and dvipng are installed.
2. Type 'python setup.py install' as root.
3. Run the application by typing 'mnemosyne'.

 

Thanks daldred I will try tomorrow. It seems that I overlooked the description. Anyway I have to understand first how to apply your instructions. Maybe I have to come back. I am a beginner in Linux.
But in any case, thanks for your speedy and precious advice
Winfried

 

<-- I found it

* Python 2.4 or later <--I did
* Qt 3.x and PyQt 3.x <--I did
* PyXML <-- I did
* pygame and its dependencies <-- I did
* If you want to be able to enter formulas using latex syntax, make sure that LaTeX and dvipng are installed. <--no interest
2. Type 'python setup.py install' as root. <-- I did with the following result:

Code:

[root@localhost mnemosyne-1.2-r1]# python setup.py install
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "setup.py", line 4, in <module>
    from setuptools import setup
ImportError: No module named setuptools
[root@localhost mnemosyne-1.2-r1]# 

????????


Any idea what I haveto do?

Winfried

 

I think you probably need to go here and get setuptools installed. I must say I'd have expected the mnemosyne website to point that out!

 

Thanks for this advice. So I downloaded the egg after I checked that by the dependency load I got Pythonversion 2.5.
I executed the following and got again an error

Code:

[root@localhost Downloads]# sh setuptools-0.6c9-py2.5.egg
error: invalid Python installation: unable to open /usr/lib/python2.5/config/Makefile (No such file or directory)

Sorry for bothering you; could it be that the python version we get through our repository differs from the offical version?
I checked /usr/lib/python2.5 for the folder config:

Code:

[root@localhost Downloads]# cd /usr/lib/python2.5
[root@localhost python2.5]# ls

excerpt of the listing shows

Code:

......
compiler             mutex.pyc              struct.pyo
ConfigParser.py      mutex.pyo              subprocess.py
ConfigParser.pyc     netrc.py               subprocess.pyc
ConfigParser.pyo     netrc.pyc              subprocess.pyo
contextlib.py  
.....

there is none
Again ?????

Winfried

 

Yuurrgh, this would appear to be Python's own version of dependency hell!

I've just tried

Code:

sudo yum provides /usr/lib/python2.5/config/Makefile

..which indicates that you need to install python-devel-2.5.1-xx. The xx can be 15 or 26 - best to match it to whatever actual Python package you have installed.

Code:

sudo rpm -qa | grep python-2.5.1

will tell you exactly which Python is installed.

I wonder what it will come up with next?

 

I did so and it is

Code:

[user@localhost ~]$     sudo rpm -qa | grep python-2.5.1
python-2.5.1-26.fc8.2
[user@localhost ~]$ 

What do I do now?

Winfried

 

I did install the setuptools as you suggested; I also asked the mnemosyne user group if they have advice since I got further errors. The last one was :

Code:

[root@localhost mnemosyne-1.2-r1]# python setup.py
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "setup.py", line 9, in <module>
    import mnemosyne.version
ImportError: No module named mnemosyne.version

The first lines of setup.py

Code:

import os, sys, shutil
from distutils.core import Extension
from setuptools import setup
if sys.platform == "win32":
    import py2exe
import mnemosyne.version

From the mnemosyn people I got the message: 1. This is a Python problem and 2. I have to setup or adapt a variable called PYTHONPATH
I also looked for the Python version which I installed

Code:

[root@localhost mnemosyne-1.2-r1]#     sudo rpm -qa | grep python-2.5.1
python-2.5.1-26.fc8.2

O googled around on this variable but the advice I read I don't understand.

However, finally I got it. So no missing PYTHONPATH but a wrong unpacking method of the tar ball.
It seems that it does not work if you unpack the tar ball without ticking the option "full path";
Now I did that and opened a root terminal in the folder created by the unpacking and executed the command: python setup.py install. And BINGO now mnemosyne works.

But anyway thanks for your advices with those I finally got it.
I think we can close this case
Winfried

 

Great - glad you've finally got it working!