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12. How to create a DotPup

First of all: creating a DotPup-file requires good Linux knowledge and is something for advanced Puppy users.

How to create your own DotPup:

• Start the program "Menu | Word processing | Geany text editor". Create a new blank sheet and enter the following commands:

  #!/bin/sh
  tar -xzP -no-same-owner -f dotpup.tar.gz
  rox /tmp/readme.txt

• Save the file as /root/dotpup.sh
• Open a shell and enter:

  • chmod +x /root/dotpup.sh

  Make the file executable.

• Copy all files of the new program into the correct directories of Puppy Linux. You will have to consider where to get the program files from. For example you could copy the files from another Linux-distribution installed on your computer (e.g. Debian). Or install the program with the pb_debianinstaller (see chapter 7.2.3) first.
• a file called readme.txt. This file should list all files that your DotPup stores on the computer. Save the file as /root/readme.txt and copy the file to /tmp.
• Open a shell and enter:

  • cd /root
  • tar czvPf dotpup.tar.gz /directory1/file1 /directory1/file2 /directory2/file3 /tmp/readme.txt

  All program-files and the readme.txt are put into the file dotpup.tar.gz.

  • md5sum dotpup.sh > md5sum.txt

  Create a md5sum of the file dotpup.sh.

  • md5sum dotpup.tar.gz >> md5sum.txt

  Create a md5sum of the file dotpup.tar.gz.

  • zip -9 MyProgram.pup dotpup.sh dotpup.tar.gz md5sum.txt

  Puts the files dotpup.sh, dotpup.tar.gz and md5sum.txt into the file MyProgram.pup.

  • rm -f md5sum.txt

  Deletes the file md5sum.txt.

  • rm -f dotpup.tar.gz

  Deletes the file dotpup.tar.gz.

  Now you have made a DotPup. If you are familiar with shell scripts you can write a shell script for creating a DotPup.

• You should test the DotPup. Copy the DotPup-file to a harddrive or USB-Stick. Shut down Puppy and start Puppy from an original Puppy-CD with the boot-option "puppy pfix=ram". Start "Menu | File managers | puppyROX file manager" and left-click on the DotPup-file. Install the program and verify whether the progam works OK.

If you wish, you can offer your DotPup to other Puppy users. Upload the DotPup to the forum, category "Additional Software". Do not forget to mention for which Puppy-release the DotPup is created.