Zypper Command - Zypper Package Management Menu System - Version 2.12

jdmcdaniel3 · May 19, 2013, 11:56pm

SCREENSHOTS - MAIN MENU:

Zypper Command - Zypper Package Management Menu System - is a bash script written to take advantage of and help with the usage of Zypper. Zypper is a command line package manager, which makes use of libzypp, providing functions like repository access, dependency solving, package installation, etc. YaST2 and RPM MetaData package repositories are supported. Zypper repositories are similar to the ones used in YaST, which also makes use of libzypp. Zypper can also handle repository extensions like patches, patterns and products. It is especially useful for accomplishing remote software management tasks or managing software from shell scripts. openSUSE uses the RPM (RPM Package Manager or Red Hat Package Manager) which is a powerful command line driven package management system capable of installing, uninstalling, verifying, querying, and updating computer software packages. Each software package consists of an archive of files along with information about the package like its version, a description, and the like. Zypper Command allows you to work with the RPM database, to backup, restore and repair if required.

Please be aware that some of the commands used in the bash script** Zypper Command** will require root user authority to be run. Those Menu options that require root user authority are identified in the menu option.

APPLICATION PACKAGE QUERY MENU:

TYPICAL COMMAND RESULT DISPLAY:

ZYPPER HELP COMMAND OPTIONS REQUEST:

**PRINTING MENU REQUEST:

http://paste.opensuse.org/view/download/2332269

REPOSITORY MANAGEMENT MENU:**

PACKAGE MANAGEMENT MENU:

**
RPM DATABASE BACKUP, REPAIR and RESTORE MENU:
**

ZYPPER CONFIGURATION and LOG FILE VIEWER MENU:

So I call this bash script Zypper Command (zc) which can be obtained from SUSE Paste. I have written the Zypper Command bash script to reside in the /usr/local/bin folder. Select the Download option in the top right using the link shown below and select open with Kwrite or another text editor. Then save the following text into the file called zc (as in /usr/local/bin/zc). You can do an Alt-F2 and then enter kdesu /usr/local/bin/zc (for KDE) or gnomesu edit /usr/local/bin/zc for Gnome:

Zypper Command - Zypper Package Management Menu System - Version 2.12

It is possible to directly download the script from SUSE Paste using the following commands (You must delete the old version of Zypper Command first should one exist). Just open up a terminal session and copy the text from any code block show here and past it after the terminal prompt and then press enter:

sudo rm /usr/local/bin/zc

sudo wget -nc http://paste.opensuse.org/view/download/75755470 -O /usr/local/bin/zc

Next, you need to mark the file zc as executable with the following command:

sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/zc

You can add all three commands above together and run them as one terminal command. Just copy from here this one line below and paste the command into a terminal session and then press enter. This is an easy to do and highly recommended method to get Zypper Command on your PC:

sudo rm /usr/local/bin/zc ; sudo wget -nc http://paste.opensuse.org/view/download/75755470 -O /usr/local/bin/zc ; sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/zc

To use Zypper Command run the terminal command:

zc

The very first time you run Zypper Command it will create desktop and application icons for you. The system icon will request root user authority to be written to the folder location of /usr/share/applications.

DESKTOP START-UP VIEW USING KDE:

Here is more info on using Zypper in the form of two PDF documents and one text file.

While writing Zypper Command I did find an error in one of the above documents. Why not let us know what it is?

Here is another good link for Zypper: https://en.opensuse.org/SDB-Zypper_usage_12.2

Please tell me of any comments you may have on this bash script.

Thank You for using openSUSE,

jdmcdaniel3 · June 8, 2013, 4:43pm

Zypper Command Supports the Ability to import repo listings and to install package file lists. A Repo file would look like this:

Save as the file $HOME/Documents/openSUSE_12.3_Multimedia.repo

[Packman]
name=Packman
enabled=1
autorefresh=0
baseurl=http://packman.inode.at/suse/openSUSE_12.3/
path=/
type=rpm-md
priority=10
keeppackages=0

[libdvdcss]
name=libdvdcss
enabled=1
autorefresh=1
baseurl=http://opensuse-guide.org/repo/12.3/
type=rpm-md
keeppackages=1

To load this file you would start Zypper Command (zc) from terminal or using your new program icon then select:

2. Zypper Package Repository Management Menu and then *2. Zypper Import Repository .repo File (root authority)
Select the file openSUSE_12.3_Multimedia.repo and press the Open button and confirm you want to load these repos. Invalid repo information or if the repos already exist will casue the repos to not be installed.

Package Files can be installed from .pack file listings. Such as the following:

Save as the file $HOME/Documents/openSUSE_12.3_KDE_Multimedia.pack using for KDE Multimedia:

# Zypper Command - Zypper Package Management Menu System - Version 2.00 
# Created on: Sat Jun  8 08:41:44 CDT 2013 by Zypper Command
# Enter Only Package names you want installed using this *.pack Text File

libxine2-codecs 
ffmpeg 
lame 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-good 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-bad 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-ugly 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-bad-orig-addon 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-good-extra 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-ugly-orig-addon 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-ffmpeg 
libdvdcss2 
flash-player 
dvdauthor07 
gstreamer-plugins-base 
gstreamer-plugins-bad 
gstreamer-plugins-bad-orig-addon 
gstreamer-plugins-good gstreamer-plugins-ugly 
gstreamer-plugins-ugly-orig-addon 
gstreamer-plugins-good-extra 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-fluendo_mpegdemux 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-fluendo_mpegmux 
k3b-codecs 
gecko-mediaplayer 
vlc 
smplayer 
h264enc 
x264 
gstreamer-plugins-libav 
vlc-codecs

Save as the file $HOME/Documents/openSUSE_12.3_GNOME_Multimedia.pack using for GNOME Multimedia:

# Zypper Command - Zypper Package Management Menu System - Version 2.00 
# Created on: Sat Jun  8 08:42:47 CDT 2013 by Zypper Command
# Enter Only Package names you want installed using this *.pack Text File

libxine2-codecs 
ffmpeg 
lame 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-good 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-bad 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-ugly 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-bad-orig-addon 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-good-extra 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-ugly-orig-addon 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-ffmpeg 
libdvdcss2 
flash-player 
dvdauthor07 
gstreamer-plugins-base 
gstreamer-plugins-bad 
gstreamer-plugins-bad-orig-addon 
gstreamer-plugins-good 
gstreamer-plugins-ugly 
gstreamer-plugins-ugly-orig-addon 
gstreamer-plugins-good-extra 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-fluendo_mpegdemux 
gstreamer-0_10-plugins-fluendo_mpegmux 
vlc 
smplayer 
totem-browser-plugin 
h264enc 
x264 
gstreamer-plugins-libav 
vlc-codecs

To load one of these files you would start Zypper Command (zc) from terminal or using your new program icon then select:

3. Zypper Add/Remove/Edit Package Management Menu and then 4. Zypper Install Package Text File Listing (*.pack, root authority) then select either the file openSUSE_12.3_KDE_Multimedia.pack or openSUSE_12.3_GNOME_Multimedia.pack and press the Open button and the listed packages will be installed as listed. The GNOME package can be used with any desktop if you like.

Zypper Command can install application packages based on names read from a text
file. This Text File should include a listing of the application package names
you want to install. Zypper Command expects the text file name to end with the
‘.pack’ file extenstion. The package names can be all on one line, or each
package name can be on a line by itself or even a combination of both.

Example:

My Package Name Listing 1

package_name_one
package_name_two
package_name_three

<OR>

My Package Name Listing 2

package_name_one package_name_two package_name_three

I would suggest you limit the number of packages to be installed to 25 or so.
If you find a more definitive number, just let me know. This text file should
contain only the names of the application packages to be installed. Version
numbers and most anything after the dash, should not be included in the name.
Both comment lines that include a ‘#’ and blank lines will be ignored.

Included package names can cause additional dependency application files to be
installed. Having an Application that requires other applications be installed
is very normal to occur.

When creating a new .pack text file make sure to press enter on the last Package
name included in the list so that a blank line is below the last package name,
else it will not get installed when the .pack files are read.

Once You have added in the two new repositories and used the new *.pack file to install required Multimedia Applications, you need to do a Distro Upgrade from the Packman Repository.

To do this using Zypper Command Start Zypper Command (zc) then select/enter as follows:

3. Zypper Add/Remove/Edit Package Management Menu

6. Zypper Distribution Update (zypper dup - root authority)

Do You wish to Perform a Distribution Wide Update? [y/n] (n): y

Are Your Repositories Already Corrected and Ready for this Update? [y/n] (n): y

Please Enter only dist-upgrade Command Options, if any:** --from Packman**

You Must Enter the root User Password here … Then Next you will see

… A List of Programs to Load, Replace, Downgrade and so forth will be shown …

Continue? [y/n/?] (y): y

You will install and replace all required Multimedia files from Packman as required. I normally suggest you at least log out of your Desktop and log back in, but a full system restart would be your best course of action after installing a great number of new applications just in case.

Thank You for using Zypper Command,

jdmcdaniel3 · June 8, 2013, 4:49pm

Zypper Command - Zypper Package Management Menu System has been posted as Version 2.00. ZAPPIT has been changed to Zypper Command in this new release with many new changes. Many menu options have been combined and placed in a more logical location. *.repo and new *.pact automation files can be created, edited and loaded using Zypper Command. Zypper Command is now located in a new location at /usr/local/bin with a new shorter name of zc which can be used by all openSUSE users without being installed multiple times. You may remove ZAPPIT if you wish as Zypper Command includes all of the old commands plus more.

Thank You,

jdmcdaniel3 · June 13, 2013, 4:49am

Zypper Command - Zypper Package Management Menu System has been upgraded to Version 2.10 and is now just under 1900 lines of bash code in total. I have made modifications to most all zypper commands, as run inside zc, trying to make each one more clear, tending to each detail as best as I can so that the bash script adds value to using zypper over any manual method you can use. Only you can tell me if I have succeeded in my task. I would love to hear from any user of Zypper Command and all comments are welcome here, so make yourself heard today. If you use Zypper Command, you are going to want this update.

Thank You,

jdmcdaniel3 · June 19, 2013, 12:40am

Terminal Commands to upgrade to openSUSE 12,3 using Zypper:

Become Root

su -
password:

Refesh Existing Repositories

zypper refresh

Fully Update Existing System

zypper update

Disable All Existing and old repositories

zypper modifyrepo --all --disable

List all existing openSUSE 12.2 repos

zypper repos

Now remove them one at a time by number #

zypper removerepo #

Add in New Repos:

zypper addrepo --name "openSUSE-12.3 OSS" http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/12.3/repo/oss/ repo-12.3-oss
zypper addrepo --name "openSUSE-12.3 Non-OSS" http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/12.3/repo/non-oss/ repo-12.3-non-oss
zypper addrepo --name "openSUSE-12.3 Updates" http://download.opensuse.org/update/12.3/ repo-12.3-update

Add in Packman Repo:

zypper addrepo --name "Packman" http://packman.inode.at/suse/openSUSE_12.3/ "All_of_Packman"

Now update what files belong to each repo:

zypper refresh

Now do the Zypper Distro Upgrade Command

zypper dup

Reboot System
Load Multimedia Files:

sudo zypper install libxine2-codecs ffmpeg lame  gstreamer-0_10-plugins-good gstreamer-0_10-plugins-bad  gstreamer-0_10-plugins-ugly gstreamer-0_10-plugins-bad-orig-addon  gstreamer-0_10-plugins-good-extra gstreamer-0_10-plugins-ugly-orig-addon  gstreamer-0_10-plugins-ffmpeg libdvdcss2 flash-player dvdauthor07  gstreamer-plugins-base gstreamer-plugins-bad  gstreamer-plugins-bad-orig-addon gstreamer-plugins-good  gstreamer-plugins-ugly gstreamer-plugins-ugly-orig-addon  gstreamer-plugins-good-extra gstreamer-0_10-plugins-fluendo_mpegdemux  gstreamer-0_10-plugins-fluendo_mpegmux vlc smplayer totem-browser-plugin  h264enc x264 gstreamer-plugins-libav vlc-codecs

I have a bash script for using Zypper: Zypper Command - Zypper Package Management Menu System - Version 2.00 - Blogs - openSUSE Forums Always backup important Data. If you were not using Grub 2, the distro default, consider installing new from a DVD as doing a zypper dup from grub legacy to grub 2 may not work as hoped.

Thank You,

jdmcdaniel3 · June 22, 2013, 3:57pm

Zypper Command - Zypper Package Management Menu System is now at Version 2.12 with only minor changes but one new RPM search option. I can only have 10 pictures per post, so here is the new search sub-menu option.

http://paste.opensuse.org/view/download/58646049

Thank You,

wakou · August 9, 2013, 1:58pm

Lovely stuff as usual James, Thank-you!

jdmcdaniel3 · August 10, 2013, 3:58pm

Thanks for your kind words and I love to help when I can. If you have any suggestions or requests, please let me know what they are.

Thank You,

Iconoclasmic · November 12, 2013, 2:16am

Thank you for the zypper script. I’ve been exploring it for the last hour or two.

I’m not familiar with the zypper command, since I rarely install new software, and when I do, I use either Yast or RPM. From what I’ve read, however, zypper is the CLI version of the Yast GUI. Zypper invokes rpm, and, in addition, zypper maintains repositories. Is that a good summation?

I regard scripts and menus as learning tools, and your menu system has prompted me to learn more about zypper.

If you’re interested in suggestions, I have several I can offer. E.g.:

1: zc could offer a “help” menu option. The option might provide links to documentation files and tutorials. Here are links to three articles that I especially like:

http://opensuse-guide.org/installpackage.php
http://opensuse-guide.org/repositories.php
http://landoflinux.com/linux_package_management_zypper.html

The above articles and the man zypper files are particularly helpful because they offer examples.

2: zc could set certain global options by default (and display them). I’m thinking especially of --dry-run.

3: the zc menus could identify themselves, using their option access path – e.g., “Menu 5.2.4”

4: zc could provide an explicit exit option – e.g., “q” – to prevent accidental exits.

5: zc should restore the original screen colors when it exits

I’m reading your script file and learning from some of your techniues. I see, for example, how you use ps to identify the GUI! Nice.

jdmcdaniel3 · November 12, 2013, 3:26pm

[QUOTE=Iconoclasmic;bt949]Thank you for the zypper script. I’ve been exploring it for the last hour or two.

I’m not familiar with the zypper command, since I rarely install new software, and when I do, I use either Yast or RPM. From what I’ve read, however, zypper is the CLI version of the Yast GUI. Zypper invokes rpm, and, in addition, zypper maintains repositories. Is that a good summation?

I regard scripts and menus as learning tools, and your menu system has prompted me to learn more about zypper.

If you’re interested in suggestions, I have several I can offer. E.g.:

1: zc could offer a “help” menu option. The option might provide links to documentation files and tutorials. Here are links to three articles that I especially like:

10. Installing Software - Install Programs With the Package Manager
11. Software Repositories - Adding and Managing Package Repositories
Linux : zypper Command Overview - www.LandofLinux.com

The above articles and the man zypper files are particularly helpful because they offer examples.

2: zc could set certain global options by default (and display them). I’m thinking especially of --dry-run.

3: the zc menus could identify themselves, using their option access path – e.g., “Menu 5.2.4”

4: zc could provide an explicit exit option – e.g., “q” – to prevent accidental exits.

5: zc should restore the original screen colors when it exits

I’m reading your script file and learning from some of your techniues. I see, for example, how you use ps to identify the GUI! Nice.[/QUOTE]

Happy to hear you like the bash script and thanks for your comments.

Thank You,