Fedora Core 4 comes on one DVD or several CD-ROMs packed full of software. When you installed Fedora Core 4 on your computer system, however, only some of this software was copied to your hard drive. If you followed the directions in Chapter 2, "Installing Fedora Core 4," you have installed only those software components most commonly used by Fedora Core 4 users who want a Unix-style workstation. It is likely that at some point while using Fedora Core 4, you will want to revise the list of software components that have been installed on your computereither by uninstalling software you no longer use to free up space or by installing additional software from the Fedora Core 4 CD-ROMs. Fortunately, Fedora Core 4 includes an easy-to-use desktop tool called the Package Management tool for installing or uninstalling software packages. A software package is a program or logical collection of several related programs and the data files that they require in order to operate. Packaging software in this way allows a number of files and program components to be installed or uninstalled in one operation. Starting the Package Management ToolTo start the Package Management tool on the Linux desktop, you choose Desktop, System Settings, Add/Remove Applications. If you are not logged in as root, you are asked to enter the root password before the Package Management tool starts. When the Package Management tool is started, it scans the list of software packages already installed on your system so that it can show you a list of already installed packages and offer you the choice to remove one more of them, should you choose to do so. This check can take anywhere from a few moments to several minutes, depending on the speed of your system and the number of packages that are already installed. After the scan is complete, the main Package Management tool window appears, as shown in Figure 31.1. Figure 31.1. After the scan of already installed packages is complete, the Package Management tool appears.The main display of the Package Management tool gives you a list of available groups of related packages (applications or application components). You can use this list to either add or remove software from each package group. To understand the information presented in the main display, you must be familiar with its components:
Installing and Removing Software in GroupsThe check box next to a package group in the Package Management tool indicates its current state. If a box is not checked, no software packages from the package group are installed on your computer, or you have marked the group for removal by unchecking it. If a box is checked, at least one software package from the package group is installed on your computer, or you have marked the group for installation by checking it. To remove an entire package group, uncheck the box next to the group in the Package Management tool. Any software from the package group that is present on your system is marked for removal, the package counter for the group is updated to reflect this change, and the details button next to the group disappears, as shown in Figure 31.2. Figure 31.2. Unchecking the box next to a package group marks any installed components from the group for removal.To install a package group, check the box next to the group in the Package Management tool. The package group is marked for installation, and the package counter for the group is updated to show that a number of packages for the group are installed. When checked, some package groups install every component, whereas others install only a default collection of the most popular packages in the group. A details button also appears next to the newly checked group, as shown in Figure 31.3. Figure 31.3. Checking the box next to a group marks the default selection of packages in the group for installation.Using the Details Dialog BoxThe Details button next to each package group provides additional functionality that helps in the following situations:
The Details dialog box opened from the Package Management tool solves each of these problems. The Details dialog box is used to do any one or all of the following:
To open the Details dialog box, click the Details button next to an installed package group or a package group you've marked for installation. The Details dialog box is shown in Figure 31.4. Figure 31.4. The Details dialog box contains a detailed list of packages in a package group, with a check box for each package.Checking an unchecked package in the Details dialog box marks the package for installation if it is not already installed; unchecking a checked package in the Details dialog box marks the package for deinstallation if it is currently installed. After you customize the list of packages for the package group to suit your needs, click the Close button to accept the list of packages you've selected for the package group.
Updating Your SystemAfter you select or deselect package groups and/or individual packages to suit your needs, marking packages for installation or deinstallation in the process, click the Update button at the lower right of the Package Management tool. The tool takes a moment to process the list of installations and deinstallations you've scheduled; a progress bar indicates how much longer the tool needs to finish its survey. After the Package Management tool determines what is needed for the software you've requested to be installed or uninstalled, it displays a summary of the changes you've requested, as shown in Figure 31.5. If you would like to see a detailed listing of the software packages that will be installed or removed, click the Show Details button; this alters the display to show a more detailed list of packages to be installed or removed. Figure 31.5. A summary of the number of installations and removals you've requested is displayed.When you are ready to proceed with the changes you've requested, installing packages you've marked for installation and uninstalling packages you've marked for removal, click the Continue button. The Package Management tool proceeds with the installations and removals, showing a progress bar to indicate how much work remains. If you've selected to install packages, you are asked to insert one or more of your Fedora Core 4 CD-ROMs at some point. When this occurs, insert the requested CD-ROM and click the OK button to continue. After the Package Management tool finishes installing and uninstalling software, it displays a dialog box to indicate that the process has completed. Click the OK button to dismiss the Update Complete dialog box; then click the Quit button in the lower right of the Package Management tool to exit the tool and return to your desktop. |