Finding execution files - new programs

Greetings!

Ref: Mandrake-Linux 8.2

I installed a couple of programs - both rpm - using M-L rpm installer wizard (don't recall the exact name of the installer).

After installation . . . nothing. I have no idea how to find the buggers. A program installed in Windows would at least provide a desktop icon to start, not to mention being included in Programs.

Q: Other than doing a search (Find) and looking into every possible directory for an execution file, is there an easier way of doing this??

Thanks,

j

Each distro puts things in slightly differnet places but basically if its in a "bin" directory its a binary and can be executed.

I don't know the specifics of Mandrake but generally this is how it works:

/usr/sbin -- your apps won't end up in here, these are binaries that are usually necessary just of the system (for instance "ls" is in here).

/usr/bin -- more system apps but may also contain regular apps

/usr/local/bin -- should be just user apps if you have this directory, if you don't then they'll all be in /usr/bin

/usr/X11R6/bin -- apps that need X to run (this may be just /usr/X11)

/usr/bin/X11R6 -- more X apps (though often its just symlinked with the above)

Also, where things are installed to is determined by the RPM itself, that's why you'll find apps all over the place. The paths I listed above are fairly common so they should be in your path. If you know the name of whatever it is you installed, you should be able to just start typing it and use TAB-completing to finish it off. If you want to know specifically where it is, you can use the whereis command (whereis app) and it'll show you the directory.

I wish I could be more specific but perhaps someone who runs Mandrake can shed more light on its directory structure.

As long as the .exe belonging to the application is stored within a directory that is in the $PATH environment variable, typing the name should start the app. EG to start mozilla I simply type mozilla from a command line.

Chance are the application is stored somewhere within this $PATH. (To see the $PATH type echo $PATH)

To find something you can use either the locate or find command.

Code:

---

locate filename*
find / -name filename*

---

Locate is faster but I would recommend using find especially to get something that has be added within the last 24 hours.

If you do find the .exe for the application dragging it from a file manager to the desktop would probably be the easiest way to create a link to it, but right click on the kde desktop and you can create links etc, much like windows.

RB :)

Thanks!

I knew it had to be easier . . . always is.

j