[Solved] Help testing Linux/RPM desktop integration packages

[RGB]

You don't need to be a code wizard to help Apache OpenOffice project and this is a small example of how to help even if you are not an expert.

For those Linux users on the RPM land, when installing Apache OpenOffice instead of using your distro specific desktop integration package (openSUSE, Mandriva, Fedora), please use the "freedesktop" one... and of course report back the results.

If you already have the desktop specific package in place, you can remove it and install the freedesktop one.

¿Are there any conflict? ¿Can you open apps from desktop menu? ¿Are there any lost icon? ¿How that package compare with the distro specific one? Please, tell also which desktop do you use.

Any feedback on this will be really useful.

Thanks in advance.

[acknak]

Do you know: Does the integration package change configuration files? I mean, if I remove the DI package after testing, is it completely gone, as if it had never been installed?

Does the DI install/remove reasonably when the distro's OOo (or LibO) packages are installed?

I've always avoided the DI package because I worried that it wouldn't "play nice" with the distribution's configuration, and I'd be left having to clean up a nasty mess.

[RGB]

Desktop integration packages only add some .destop files to provide menu entries and one folder with icons, everything on the /usr folder: they are quite safe and AFAIK they do not change anything else. Installing and uninstalling those packages should be a "non surprise" experience. At least, that's true for me

But I must admit I always uninstall the distro's packages first... in fact, the OOo/LibO packages distributed by openSUSE were always problematic for me...

[kingfisher]

Would it be too much to ask what the desktop integration rpm does? What files and folders does it create?

[RGB]

Would it be too much to ask what the desktop integration rpm does? What files and folders does it create?

Ask RPM...

Code: Select all

rpm -qpl openoffice.org3.4-freedesktop-menus-3.4-9593.noarch.rpm

As I said before, most of those files are png to provide icons and there are some desktop files to provide menu entries.

[kingfisher]

Thanks. I had no idea you could do that.

[RGB]

On the ES forums and on the mailing lists I gathered some feedback on this: the result is that the freedesktop rpm works without problems on openSUSE, CentOS, fedora, PCLinuxOS, mandriva and mageia,

The idea is to reduce on future AOO versions the four desktop integration packages for rpm we have now to just one.

Of course more feedback on this is welcome (specially if you find trouble ) but it seems there is no problem on using the freedesktop package.

[moctezumamex]

Hello from Mexico, well I have 3.4.3 open office installed and working in Mandriva 2011 powerpack, i installed open office apache 4.1.1, all appear fine in the install and remove software, it indicate that all is in order in the installation of open office 4.1.1, but the RPM do not create the icon in the menu for start programs for open office 4.1.1., only can start the version 3.4.3. I know that is recommended that remove first the 3.XX but if it have another core, why I have to remove it? any way i always testing the installation in this way, How can i start from terminal or how can I put the icons in the menu for Openoffice 4.1.1.?

[moctezumamex]

I suggest that put a number as prefix in the RPMs 01, 02, 03 ...0n, in the compressed file to indicate the order in the installation, that will be very useful for new users and help to minimize troubles in the design. and most say that will be useful in any other installation that needs and specific order, Simple and easy

[moctezumamex]

Ok here we go, for all users of mandriva 2011, with or without updates, you can install easily the Open Office Apache 4.1.1., i test the installation without uninstall the original open office in the distro mandriva 2011, in this case 3.4.3, install RPM in order (i will provide the order further), well ones that you finish the installation the icons will not appear in the Menu as suppose most be, but you most go to the directory Root/opt/openoffice4/program there are located the files that start Open Office Apache 4.1.1., select soffice archive and click to open, do not worry if start some terminal or emacs that show you a text (you can read it),
1.-If emacs appear simple re open soffice, do not close emacs program yet and then openoffice Apache 4.1.1. will work
2.-To create an easy start icon...
2.1.-Put a panel in the upper position of the screen, if you do not have it yet, use panel tool box and add one empty.
2.2.-add a kickoff application Launcher, it will put a K with a menu to select any program in your PC by categories
2.3.-Enter to Launcher and go to recently used tab.
2.3.1.-Go to soffice that appear in this menu with mouse and click ones with right bottom mouse, above of soffice, remember is the archive that you already run by first time in the step 1.
2.3.1.1.-It will appear a floating menu, select add to panel, it will put an icon in the panel that you put in the 2.1 point (or in the panel that you already have it), may you can put in desktop if you have installed the option.
Now you have an icon not customized, but working to launch Openoffice apache 4.1.1.
NOTE 1: Do not worry if you have 3.x.x version of your original distro, even if you update to the most recent version 3.x.x it will not affect the functionality of both, original open office 3.x.x.x and Apache 4.1.1., Original open normally in menu and apache from Panel, you can use Rosa, Apache will appear in recent documents section, but only it will be available means remains as recent document.
NOTE 2: Remember that if you start something in panel that give it treatment of archive to soffice archive and not as application, but it will work properly like an application.
NOTE 3. some times is very useful have 2 or 3 Office available, that depends of your habits as user, in my case are very useful.