UNIX for Dummies Questions & Answers

Hi,
Well I finally got around to installing linux [openlinux], the install went fine. I have just tried on to install some software.It gunziped and untared fine. It even complied fine[at this stage i was most proud]. However when I try to run the program. I get the message "bash:[programname] is a directory". I have tried changing the permission on the file and also tired running the program as su, nothing seemes to help.
Do i need to change the $PATH variable?
Has anyone got any idear what is causing this strange behaviour?
cheers
john_bir

that's because after you untar the file a directory is created. You have to go into that directory not run it. read the installation notes, it helps a lot.

you must do de change directory command, cd yourdirecory!

rite first: mr Luftwaffe
i]I DID READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!!!
ii] I am well aware that untar prduces a directory, and yes i went to the directory,
Rite ur turn mr adme
i] i tried that and it said "bash:[programname] is not a directory"
and i'm assuming de is meant to mean the

Any other ideas?

Please lose the sarcasm. These people are trying to help you; and adme, whose location is Switzerland, may be struggling with a second or third language to do it.

Even though you have cd'ed into a directory, bash won't look there unless . is on your path. I'll bet that your home directory is on your path, so bask looks there and sees the directory. You can verify this by typing:
type <program-name>
to see which file bash is trying to run. I would just type:
./<program-name>
to run a program in the current directory. Adding . to your path is not wise.