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Dist · 28 Jul 2009 at 04:02

I'm currently running ubuntu, and up until now i have been able to install programs using apt=get and each time i have the program has been put in the applications menu at the top, which i can then drag as an icon onto the bar.

The problem is, recently a new version of packet tracer came out, so I downloaded it. Not knowing how to install a .bin it took me a little time to find out that it is far from simple. First i had to chmod 755 the file so that i had permission to install it, and then to install it i had to type ./filename, i couldnt simply type filename. Once installed I now had to figure out where it installed to so that i could run it, checking the preferenced in synaptic package manger i found it was in /usr/local/PacketTracer5/.

From there I can just type packettracer to run it, but going to that location every single time i want to run it is just an annoyance. Is there any way i can make a shortcut so i can just click an icon in my bar at the top of the screen?

Edit: to save creating a new thread, does anyone know why the font displayed in packet tracer is distorted? almost as if the font has been shrunk slightly, causing jagged and distorted lettering.

.walls · 28 Jul 2009 at 09:22

Create a file somewhere in your path and add the following:

Code:

#!/bin/bash
/path/to/your/binary

then

Code:

chmod +x $new_file_name

You can now run your program from anywhere.

As for the fonts thing... have you got the correct fonts that the program is trying to call installed?

rick827 · 28 Jul 2009 at 13:16

Just had a quick google on the font thing, have you tried this?

http://ruben.jenster.eu/?q=node/16

zinc · 28 Jul 2009 at 13:21

You can also simply right click on your desktop and create a launcher and choose:

Type: Application
Name: PacketTracer5
Command: /usr/local/PacketTracer5/packettracer

Pick a fancy icon by clicking the large picture

Hit ok then drag that onto any panel or bar.

Dj_Jestar · 28 Jul 2009 at 13:56

.walls said:
Create a file somewhere in your path and add the following:

Code:

#!/bin/bash /path/to/your/binary

then

Code:

chmod +x $new_file_name

You can now run your program from anywhere.

As for the fonts thing... have you got the correct fonts that the program is trying to call installed?

or just:

Code:

sudo ln -s /path/to/your/binary /usr/local/bin/binary

Dist · 28 Jul 2009 at 14:25

Thanks for the help everyone, I now can easily run packet tracer whenever I wish now, as well as I now know how to set up a shortcut again in the future if i ever have to

rick827 said:
Just had a quick google on the font thing, have you tried this?

http://ruben.jenster.eu/?q=node/16

I just tried that and it seems to have stoped packet tracer from loading. If i comment out the section it says to, when i try run packet tracer the terminal just says "starting packet tracer 5.2", but then just says in the terminal and the program doesn't run.

BigglesPiP · 28 Jul 2009 at 20:07

Dist said:
checking the preferenced in synaptic package manger i found it was in /usr/local/PacketTracer5/.

Wait, what?

You installed it from an executable installer file (much like how windows installers work), the package manager should have no idea that the program exists. So I'm not sure how you manages to get synaptic to tell you where it is.

Dist · 28 Jul 2009 at 21:46

BigglesPiP said:
Wait, what?

You installed it from an executable installer file (much like how windows installers work), the package manager should have no idea that the program exists. So I'm not sure how you manages to get synaptic to tell you where it is.

I just typed packettracer into the quick search box of synaptic package manager and it shows packet tracer there. I wasn't sure if it would even show as I didnt install it through the package manager, but it is there, and provided me with the information i needed to know where it was installed.

.walls · 28 Jul 2009 at 23:07

Dj_Jestar said:
or just:

Code:

sudo ln -s /path/to/your/binary /usr/local/bin/binary

could do that as well, of course

.walls · 28 Jul 2009 at 23:10

BigglesPiP said:
Wait, what?

You installed it from an executable installer file (much like how windows installers work), the package manager should have no idea that the program exists. So I'm not sure how you manages to get synaptic to tell you where it is.

yes it will.... if you install a .deb file, it still gets registered - the same way that if you use dpkg to do it (or on other distros yum, yast + rpm... or emerge, portato or equo, etc, etc). It still uses the same database.

If you installed from source with ./configure, etc, then your package manager will not know it exists.

EDIT: damn... sorry for the double post!

BigglesPiP · 29 Jul 2009 at 01:23

.walls said:
yes it will.... if you install a .deb file, it still gets registered - the same way that if you use dpkg to do it (or on other distros yum, yast + rpm... or emerge, portato or equo, etc, etc). It still uses the same database.

If you installed from source with ./configure, etc, then your package manager will not know it exists.

EDIT: damn... sorry for the double post!

Going by the OP's OP, he installed by executing a file. Not by installing a *.deb or *.rpm file, and not using checkinstall...

The only thing I can assume is that the packettracer ubuntu installer does things monumentally backwards, and installs a *.deb file. Which given to the user direct, they could install by simply double clicking it. Rather than chmod +x ing it and ./ ing it.

.walls · 29 Jul 2009 at 09:53

BigglesPiP said:
Going by the OP's OP, he installed by executing a file. Not by installing a *.deb or *.rpm file, and not using checkinstall...

The only thing I can assume is that the packettracer ubuntu installer does things monumentally backwards, and installs a *.deb file. Which given to the user direct, they could install by simply double clicking it. Rather than chmod +x ing it and ./ ing it.

Ahem... White Russians in the middle of the week make me fail to follow the thread properly! (also the reason for the double post!)