I've had Softmaker running for a long time. It was the first thing I installed in Solus. Extract the tar.gz file in the file explorer, then open the terminal in the folder it extracted to.
Then run ./installsmoffice

You can use flatpak install commands that you find on Flathub to install flatpaks. They will be in the software center when it is completely rewritten (in the works this year according to their roadmap).

Unzipping is done with the "tar" command, or from the file explorer.

For VPN I simply add my VPN configurations to the Connections tab on Solus Plasma. Does not require any outside tools. But I guess you can request a package.

kyrios Already mentioned the printer request situation (and also another UI for the VPN I believe).

I guess that covers everything?

    zaivala Same as ANY other OS with tar. I use tar xvf some.tar.gz, unzip is for .... zips...

      elfprince No, I haven't. Because I have zero experience in that type of file, and nobody mentioned it until now. Thank you.

        Xarius Perhaps it would, but I can't read those or blow them up ...

            zaivala@zaivala-solus-t430 ~ $ cd Downloads
            zaivala@zaivala-solus-t430 /Downloads $ ls
            softmaker-office-2018-942-amd64.tgz
            zaivala@zaivala-solus-t430 /Downloads $ tar zxvf softmaker-office-2018-942-amd64.tgz
            office2018.tar.lzma
            installsmoffice
            zaivala@zaivala-solus-t430 /Downloads $

            OK, I'm not sure what to do next... I'll go up and look, but I think I'm nearly done somehow...

            OK. As I type, Softmaker Office 2018 is installing. Thank you Xarius, and thanks to elfprince for the missing link.

            I went to request the printer driver, but that is apparently a different forum and I'm not a member of it yet.

            So, 1 for 3.

              zaivala Check out my answers above. Also, you can install openvpn from the software center, download Mullvad VPN's configuration files, and add them to /etc/openvpn.

              Or, you know, you can literally follow the guide on https://www.mullvad.net/en/download/config/, selecting "Linux" on the platform submenu. You can install openvpn on Solus via either the Software Centre or by typing sudo eopkg it openvpn in your terminal.

              This way, you can simply connect to your VPN servers using the Internet Connections menu (on top of your internet connection, you will select and connect to a VPN server). At least I can see my VPN options in my Connections menu after that setup on Plasma. Not sure if the same exists on Budgie or not. Maybe someone who is currently on Budgie can help there (just to see if networkmanager-openvpn works with Budgie or not).

                  Reference for Plasma desktop, if it helps. This is how my Connections menu looks like after installation. I can also manually add the config files by simply clicking on "Add New Connection" and selecting OpenVPN

                  arkhenius I literally had somebody who knew what they were doing tell me that Mullvad should install via OpenVPN, and that he would go do it on his system and then give me the steps. He got back to me, and said it failed.

                  Also, Mullvad's instructions for using Wireguard are incredibly simple and I've done it before. But I've moved this discussion to a new topic, as I've found Wireguard in the snap-store and I'm having trouble getting snap-store to run.

                      As for this way of installing SoftMaker Office working in Ubuntu Budgie, I don't NEED it to, as the .deb file installs just fine.

                        • [deleted]

                        • Post #30

                        zaivala Doesn't install on Arch

                          zaivala To have snaps run in your system, first install snapd (sudo eopkg it snapd), then either search for snaps by typing snap search <packagename> in the terminal or using a website like https://snapcraft.io/, and install by typing sudo snap install <packagename>. Snaps and Flatpaks are supported in Solus, but they are not in the Software Centre yet, so you have to use the terminal as I have explained to use them. The Software Centre is currently being rewritten (should be done around Summer hopefully) and it will include snaps and flatpaks once that's done.

                          As for Mullvad VPN not running through what I have explained; that makes no sense. They have their configuration files ready, they have instructions for them to be used via OpenVPN, and that is a universal solution regardless of distro. As I am showing you, I have OpenVPN configurations running on my machine, using the same type of files. I believe that person that you were talking about did not know what they were doing.

                          As for the SoftMaker Office installation: I am not sure what the point is. It is as simple as extracting a compressed archive and running an installation script on Solus. No need for any terminal use either, as you can just right click on the file and click on extract, and then double click on the script (the only terminal usage may be a chmod +x <filename> to give the file executable rights). How is that different from running a .deb file (other than one more step of just extracting)?

                          Edit: I mistook the Ubuntu Budgie reference as a distro comparison. Rereading the thread; what dbarron and I was talking about was the Budgie desktop of Solus, not Ubuntu Budgie. Budgie is developed by Solus and is Solus' flagship DE, so I assumed you were using it instead of the other options (GNOME, MATE, or Plasma).

                              Well, I tried to install Mullvad via Wireguard, but it does not install jq. The instruction files for doing this in .deb packages are:

                              sudo add-apt-repository ppa:wireguard/wireguard && sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install curl jq openresolv linux-headers-$(uname -r) wireguard-dkms wireguard-tools

                              All that automatically creates the Mullvad file for Wireguard. But none of that works in eopkg. So I am currently still screwed.

                              I will make an attempt at using OpenVPN. I know my level of skill, though, and if I couldn't do it -- if someone who actually KNOWS something couldn't do anything -- then I don't see much hope.

                              It's easy to configure openvpn via the network manager applets in either Plasma or Budgie. Perhaps you overestimate the person's skill level.

                              zaivala
                              You should be able to install the snap store with the following cli
                              sudo snap install snap-store

                              As far as .deb files goes, the main thing you may be missing is that solus is not based upon Debian, and therefore does not use apt. You should stop considering .deb files just like you wouldn’t consider .rpm files when using Ubuntu.

                              You need to make your installer executable. I may get some hatred for this... but if you trust your software you are attempting to install I believe you will want to type:

                              sudo chmod 777 file.name

                              you can easily start typing the name and then press tab in the cli and it should finish.

                              After that command run your installer.

                              I hope this helped you out.