Installation Xcas on an Acer Aspire 1

This page describes how to install Xcas on an Acer Aspire 1. For around 250 euros, you get a symbolic graphical calculator much more powerful than "regular" calculators from TI, HP or Casio.
You can choose between installing the xcas_root.tgz archive (or the rpm package not tested yet).
Back to Giac/Xcas main page

Installing xcas_root.tgz

If you do not have net access because vpnc can not open the tun device, first get tun.ko and install it
sudo cp tun.ko /lib/modules/2.6.23.9lw/kernel/drivers/net/
sudo depmod -a
If you have net access from the acer
- Download xcas_root and save it for example in /home/user.
- Click in Files on Documents, then open Terminal in the File menu. A Unix Terminal should open.
- Type
  cd /
  sudo tar xvfz /home/user/xcas_root.tgz
If you don't have net access from the Acer.
- Download xcas_root, store it on a USB key or SD card.
- Put the key or card in the Acer. The file manager should open.
- Open a terminal from the File menu of the file manager (in Documents).
- Type
  mount
  You should see the path to the key or card, something like /dev/sdb1 on /media/disk type ...
- Type
  cd /
  sudo tar xvfz /media/disk/xcas_root.tgz
  replace if necessary /media/disk by the path to your USB key or SD card. Additionnaly, run
  sudo update-mime-database /usr/share/mime
  sudo update-desktop-database -q

Xcas should now be installed. You can run it from inside a Terminal by the command
xcas &
For a more convenient way to run Xcas see below.

Running Xcas from a menu

Click on File, then Documents. In the File menu of the file manager, choose Terminal.
Type
xfce-setting-show &
Click on Desktop, then Desktop Preferences->Behavior, check Show Desktop menu on right click, then leave xfce-setting-show.
Now type
xfce4-menueditor &
add a launcher with xcas as name and program (or command) name.
You can now run xcas (and other programs) by right-clicking if the mouse is above the background of the window manager (i.e. outside of any other opened application window).