One of my very mos favorite progs is xnview but i can't figure out how to install it for Linux. It provides Download links but I can't figure out what to do with them. I've finally learned how to install deb files, that's some progress.

RPM files are installation files for the Redhat distros (and some derivatives such as Mandriva). If you have a Debian-based distro you'll have to use the tarball.

If you are running Debian then you should probably use alien to convert the package.

I haven't done well with tarballs. In fact I've been a total failure at it. I've been trying alien but it keeps telling me the file doesn't exist but I know it does. I must be typing something wrong.

Rather than 1.70 xnview I would try XnViewMP ( up to 0.35) from below but the manual install is the same for either.

http://newsgroup.xnview.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=21616

Obviously using a debian distro & guessing that you are using one of the 'buntu's.

XnViewMP is a great tool, still a beta but stable. Been using it for the last 3 or 4 releases PCLOS 2010/11 and it is very easy to install. Especially easy in PCLOS as it is now in the repo.

But for any linux, XnViewMP is more-or-less standalone so as suggested it might well be worth trying to convert the rpm package to a .deb package using alien. Can't find file? Are you running alien fron the folder containing the rpm? Have you entered the name correctly?

Alternatively you can do a manual install. It will run from your home folder if required but probably best in one of the system folders.

So here is a screen shot to follow. http://imgur.com/quGvI

This is a new install of LinuxMint 11 in an old Tosh M1 laptop I use for testing.

Download the archive rather than the .rpm file and XnViewMP-linux.tgz should end up in your Downloads folder.

Just a reminder, of what you already know.
Linux names are case sensitive.
If you type in a few letters and hit the tab key, linux will try and auto-complete until it has enough for a unique name. So all those long linux names are not really a pita.

now down to basics

Fire up a terminal & change to the downloads folder
cd Downloads
Copy the tgz file to /usr/local/bin. you need to be superuser for this
sudo cp XnViewMP-linux.tgz /usr/local/bin (and enter you password when requested)
now change to that folder
cd /usr/local/bin
unpack the archive
sudo tar -zxvf XnViewMP-linux.tgz (password)
thats it, you can close the terminal

Now you need to make a shortcut for it, and this depends a bit on distro but try;
Right-click on the desktop and create launcher.
Browse for the file /usr/local/bin/XNviewMP-035/xnview.sh
click on the icon and find the png file in the same folder.
and ok it.

You dont need luck, just keep trying.

...Just a reminder, of what you already know.
Linux names are case sensitive.
If you type in a few letters and hit the tab key, linux will try and auto-complete until it has enough for a unique name. So all those long linux names are not really a pita... I might not necessarily know those things, I'm still pretty new to Linux. I saved your instructions and will try them later this afternoon. thanks.