Synaptic packet manager Mini Howto for linux. (I am using ubuntu 7.04 and kde)  :-)      Back to Main Page

This is a very short version, and if you want to know more, go to the Internet etc.

This howto is without any guarantee, and you may use it on your own responsibility only.

There may be errors, but I do not want to use too much time to  write this howto.

To check specific words you may try: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page  (search).    



Index Of Page:

To search for a package

Properties of a package

To install a program

The various icons

To uninstall a package

Repositories

/etc/apt/sources.list


Synaptic is a packet manager, used to install, remove and upgrade "deb" packages, packet files ending on ".deb".

Each "deb package  file" is a complete program, ready to be installed on debian -or family systems: ubuntu, knoppix, Linspire, MEPIS, Xandros.

Synaptic is very easy to, you mainly open the program, "search" for the name of the program to install, press a few buttons, and wait until the

installation has finished.                                                                                                                                                Back to Index of Page

To start synaptic, open a shell konsole (or xterm or bash), and write "sudo synaptic" - enter (or K - System - Synaptic Packet Manager):

   Then synaptic opens up:


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To search for a package, click the "Search" button and a search dialoque opens up for you to write in the name of the package -

then click on "Search" button (or "Enter"), and then synaptic will search for all packages containing the text string "gimp".
Here (below) is the search result, and you can see, that gimp is already installed    - move the vertical slider with mouse, to see:


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To see the properties of a package (here "gimp"), select "gimp" with left mouse click (blue color), and a information window opens:


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I have circled the "Properties" button which is to be clicked, to show the Properties information window - click on each of the 5 tabs (above):

Common: Shows general information about the package.

Dependencies: Shows which other packages the selected package (gimp) depends on (programs depends on other programs -and libraries and vice versa) (libraries are collections of modules on which programs are build = compiled).

Installed Files: Shows a list of installed files (to give the user an overview over the various files).

Versions: Gives the version number of the selected program.

Description: Gives a description og the program (the same as shown in the lower right window on the Synaptic Main dialog).

To install a program (gimp2.0-quiteinsane) which is not installed   click in this small white square:


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Then click on "Mark for installation" (above, blue line) and you get this (see below) - note the yellow bent arrow :



Then click on the "Apply" button (see above):


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Above you see a summary of what to be installed etc. - then click "Apply", and the package will be installed:



After this window (above) the installed files will be applied - you can install several packages at the same time.

Below you see a list of the various icons used in synaptic, and their meanings:



You find this (above) Icon Legend list under the "Help" menu item                     Back to Index of Page

To uninstall a package you click the installed package's "Installed" icon: (you can uninstall several packages at the same time):



Then click on "Mark for removal" (above):



Then click on "Apply" (above):


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and then click on apply again (above):



You should press the "Reload" button every time  changes have been done to the repository (the server with all the packages on the Internet -

also called a Mirror server, as there are several servers with identical packages, around the world, you to use the nearest), or when you think

it necessary - just to update everything (better to often than not) (see button below):


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To change settings about "Repositories" choose "Settings - Repositories" (see below):



and then click on Repositories, and you come to the "Repositories" dialog (see below):


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Download From: (see above) Here you can change mirror server, to a country which matches yours (here a mirror in Sweden is selected).

When you use a mirror in your own country (area) everything will go much faster.

You can also use synaptic to check which software (programs) are installed on your computer, and you can check where the files are, the

version numbers, and much more, so let it be an important part of your working tools - use it, and get used to it.

There is another program alike synaptic, called "Adept", but I am only used to using synaptic, and it has served me well for some years.

Note: The set-up file, where synaptic (and also Adept) gets it mirror information is: /etc/apt/sources.list, and it can be edited directly (if

you know how to) - open a shell and write: "sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list", and then you can edit the file (IMPORTANT to make a backup first:

Open a shell: "sudo mv /etc/apt/sources.list /etc/apt/sources.list.orig" - then you have a copy called "sources.list.orig").

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8/2007