unable to run the set_launcher_icon script

bearojo
Hi,
first, my knowledge on the terminal is super basic and I need indications that seem obvious but for me are not :) I've followed the tutorials and have succeed in all steps to install Zotero in Ubuntu (last version):
- Moving zotero to opt
- symlink zotero.desktop into ~/.local/share/applications/ (e.g., ln -s /opt/zotero/zotero.desktop ~/.local/share/applications/zotero.desktop)- un the set_launcher_icon script
But then I run the script sudo ./set_launcher_icon and I get the message "Command was not found".
Any suggestions what to do?
Thanks!
  • adomasven
    edited October 27, 2020
    You're supposed to run this command after changing the directory to where you moved zotero, e.g.
    $ cd /opt/zotero
    $ ./set_launcher_icon
  • bearojo
    Hi adomasven,
    thanks for your reply. I removed zotero and started the installation again following the steps and your commands. It seems that everything worked because I didn't get any error messages.
    However, Zotero doesn't appear in the Applications. It seems there is something weird with /home/beatriz/.local/share/applications/zotero.desktop. When I go there, the following message is showed (it's a translation, sorry if the wording is not accurate):

    Not possible to visualize all contents of zotero.desktop.: Error opening directory /home/beatriz/.local/-share/applications/zotero.desktop: there are too many levels of symbolic links.

    I have deleted this directory, the /opt/zotero directory and started the installation again, but the problem still persists.
    Any suggestion what am I doing wrong?
    Thanks!
  • dstillman
    (You don't need and shouldn't use sudo for set_launcher_icon. Never use sudo if you don't know why you're using it.)
    there are too many levels of symbolic links
    You'd get that if the symlink in ~/.local/share/applications/ isn't actually pointing to the original file. Make sure you're using a full path in the ln command.

    But really, if you're having trouble with this, you should just use the zotero-deb package.
  • bearojo
    Hi, I don't know if I used sudo to run what you indicate. At least not consciously.
    I'll try with the package you indicate, but then I don't understand what the installation instructions are for if there are other options.
    Can you tell me how to delete everything I generated with the previous attempts?
    I love open-source, I'm a huge supporter of it but it's also a bit frustrating because people without computer science degree feel stupid when trying to use it. It makes the whole movement quite elitist.
    Please don't think I'm not thankful, I appreciate your help which is quicker and more relevant than in many paid helpdesks. It's just the humble opinion of a user who struggles to install the cool apps that are open-source.
  • dstillman
    edited October 28, 2020
    It doesn't have anything to do with Zotero being open source. Zotero is as simple to install and use as any other app on macOS and Windows. You're just choosing to use Linux, for which software installation and package management are much more complicated, and we follow the model of many apps that just provide a tarball and leave distribution-specific packaging — which sometimes involves restrictions that limit functionality — up to others.

    But zotero-deb is just a lightweight wrapper around the official tarball, produced by a trusted member of the community, so if you don't know how to deal with a tarball and you're using a Debian-based system, you should just use that.
  • bearojo
    Hi dstillman,
    thanks for your explanation, I always thought Zotero is an open-source tool - it's good to correct misconceptions.
    The package you indicate works absolutely perfect for me, I'm totally happy.

    Thanks again for your time.
  • dstillman
    I always thought Zotero is an open-source tool - it's good to correct misconceptions
    No, you're misunderstanding. Zotero is and has always been open source. I'm saying you're having trouble not because Zotero is open source but because you're using Linux, and Linux is complicated. If you want something less complicated, don't use Linux.
This discussion has been closed.