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[qwms-avib AT dea.spamcon.org]

keesan2 AT cyberspace.org wrote:
> 
> I am not using pkgtool.  You are.

Actually, I usually use installpkg (same as you).
But since installpkg is just a subroutine of 
pkgtool, I am actually using pkgtool (same as you).

> Pkgtool is just preferred by people who like colored 
> menus rather than command-line and typing.

Isn't it nice that pkgtool gives you a choice?
You can use the pkgtool menu or you can use the
command line.  However, there are some advantages 
in using the menu:  
(1) you don't have to remember the various commands,
'   parameters and file names.
(2) you can install several packages (from the same
'   directory) in one operation.

> I think it was something about cannot find doinstall.sh.  

doinstall.sh is the installation script.  It varies from
package to package.  

> Did this have somethign to do wtih creating links?

Sometimes it creates/destroys links.  But it can do other 
things as well.  It is just an ordinary script.  So anything 
you can do with a script, could be done by doinst.sh.

> Opera was not from Debian.  I installed it just fine 
> with installpkg.  

Are you sure?  I thought Opera came as a self-installing 
package (you just uncompress it and run install.sh).

> > Installing a package may involve more than putting the
> > files in the right place.  Settings may need to be changed.
> > Startup scripts may need to be modified.  Links may need
> > to be created/destroyed.
> 
> Installpkg seems capable of handling all this.

Indeed, that is what installpkg (and the other pkgtool 
subroutines) were designed for.  However, tar does not 
do this.  I was simply responding to your suggestion that 
tar could be used for this purpose.

Cheers,
Steven