Installing AbiWord on Linux / INTEL
Welcome to the community of AbiWord users!
The current version of AbiWord (0.7.9) should install and run properlyon any Linux system with INTEL (or INTEL-COMPATIBLE) processor. AbiWord has been packaged in several different industry standard distribution formatsto simplify the installation onto your system:
- DEB -- Debian 2.1 (Slink) or later
- RPM -- RedHat 5.2 or later, SuSE 6.1 or later
- Slp -- Stampede Linux
- TAR -- works anywhere
A much more detailed version of these instructions is contained in theREADME.
RPM
The RPM installation process is very simple. - Download the distribution files (abisuite-0.7.9-1.i386.rpm,2.6MB).
- Become superuser, and enter the command:
rpm - Uvh abisuite-0.7.9-1.i386.rpm
Or, if you are using KDE, right clickon the rpm file, and select kpackage.
When kpackage comes up, click oninstall.
If you have any unsatisfied dependencies,then you will have to install
those before you can isntall Abiword.
- This will install AbiWord and supporting files to /usr/share/abisuite.Symbolic links called AbiWord and abiword will be placedin /usr/bin/X11 but not to the actual executable. Using the - Uvh option instead of - I will take care of replacing the older version of AbiWord for people who are updating.
- For more information one RPM package dependencies, please see the README.
DEB
The DEB simple installation process is very. - Download the distribution files (abisuite_0.7.9-1_i386.deb,2.6MB).
- Become superuser, enter the command:
dpkg - I abisuite_0.7.7-1_i386.deb
-
This will install AbiWord and supporting files to /usr/share/abisuite.
Symbolic links called AbiWord and abiword will be placed
in /usr/bin/X11 but not the actual executable.
-
For more information one DEB package dependencies, please see the README.
SLP
The SLP installation process would probably have to be as simple as the
DEB or RPM installation, yet only we could try it. We currently don't have
the Stampede Linux distribution installed and haven't tested our Stampede
Linux package builds. These files are automatically generated via Alien.
Yet if you try the SLP distribution, we encourage you to send a message
to the AbiWord development mailing
list with an account of your experiments.
-
Download the distribution files (abisuite-0.7.9.slp,
2.3MB).
-
Install via the Stampede package manager.
-
This will install AbiWord and supporting files to /usr/share/abisuite.
Symbolic links called AbiWord and abiword will be placed
in /usr/bin/X11 but not the actual executable.
-
For more information one SLP package dependencies, please see the README.
TAR
There are two versions of the Tar files: one is the statically-linked version
and the other is the dynamically-linked version. The dynamic version is
smaller (2.6Mb vs 3.3Mb), our goal is to make use of a number of shared
libraries on your system. If you don't know what this means, select the
static version.
The installation process for the static Tar files looks scary, but it
is actually quite simple.
-
Download the distribution files (abisuite-0.7.9-Linux_i386_static.tar.gz,
3.3MB).
-
Copy the files to a directory that you have permission for and open the
files:
gunzip - C abisuite-0.7.9-Linux_i386_static.tar.gz |
tar xvf -
... or, if your tar command supports the ' z' flag:
tar xvzf abisuite-0.7.9-Linux_i386_static.tar.gz
Both these commands will create the directory abisuite-0.7.9-Linux_i386_static.
-
Change to that directory and become superuser.
-
Run the install script like:
/install.sh
-
By default, this will install AbiWord and supporting files to the /usr/local/AbiSuite
on your hard drive. You will be given the opportunity to changes this if
you wish.
-
You will also have the option to create links to the executable in a common
bin
directory. By default, this is /usr/local/bin.
-
Please consult the README
spins for additional details.
The installation process for the dynamic Tar files (abisuite-0.7.9-Linux_i386_dynamic.tar.gz,
2.6MB) is identical. Simply substitute _ dynamic for _ static
in steps 1 and 2 above. If you want to read more about which libraries
and versions that the dynamic version uses, please consult the README.
Saving under Linux
If you are saving under linux, it is recommended that you save in your
/home directory, unless you dual boot(see below). If you have a lot of
documents you should put them in a directory such as /home/documents.
If you want to save a document remember you must have permission to
write to it. Sometimes you may not be able to save a document because you
do not have write access. In that case, it is suggested that you try to
"Save As" somewhere else.
Dual Booting Windows and Linux
If you dual boot Windows and Linux, and you want to use the files under
both systems, you will have to save your files on a FAT or FAT32 partion
as windows can not access Linux partions, or on a floppy disk. It is recommended
that you save the files in a directory such as "My Documents". Remember,
under Linux you must have permission to write to that directory. If you
don't, please contact your administator.
Dual Booting Beos and Linux
If you dual boot Beos and Linux, then it is recommended that you save
the files on Beos's native filesystem, under the one directory.
KDE and Abiword
After installing Abiword on your machine, you can then set up Abiword
to work with KDE. Right click on yur desktop, and select "New", and then
"Application", as done below.
You should then type in "Abiword" in a box similar to the one below.
After this, type in any comments that you want, and in the executablebox, type in "abiword", all in lower case.
If you want Abiword icons, then you will have to copy them from /usr/share/Abisuite/icons, to /usr/share/icons, in order to be able to select them. Your finsihedscreen should look like the one below.
Now all you have to do is press the "OK" button and the Abiword icon will appear on your desktop. If you like, you can put it onto your panel by just dragging it from the desktop.