Are you sure they are for the GUI and not to be run in Terminal mode? Did you
download from the Ubuntu servers using Synaptic or their Ubuntu Download
Center? If a downloaded file ends in .deb, it'll be easier than those ending in
.tgz or .rpm...unless things have improved for newbies.

www.unixmen.com/.../937-things-to-do-after-installing-ubuntu-\
1004-lts-lucid-lynx

www.linuxforums.org/.../64958\
-how-install-software-linux.html

www.starryhope.com/.../ubuntu-restricted-extras-lets-ubuntu-play-e\
verything/

I don't remember what it ended in. The description made it sound like the -gtk
one would run from a GUI, so that's why I dldd that one, too.

Im not sure, but it sounds like the developer is assuming you compiled and
installed the program from source code. He did not appear to be aware that you
installed it from the repositories. Even if he was, he may not (probably
doesnt, actually) have any control over how the program gets packaged into the
ubuntu sofware center repositories.

What that means, is that he probably doesnt know where it ends up any better
than you. I had the same problem you are describing recently when i installed
Calibre recently from the software center. After not being able to find it, i
just settled on opening a terminal and typing "calibre" to launch it, even
though it wouldn't be to hard to make a shortcut to open it or add to the menu.

What is the program you were trying to install? With that info, someone can
probably help you get this sorted...

Macchanger and macchanger -gtk.

So opening a terminal and just typing the name should run it? I tried "open
macchanger" and "run macchanger" and got errors. Don't remember what errors, and
I'm not at the puter now.

Try looking in System/Administration for it. If you find the package in
synaptic, right click on it and look in properties, there will be an
item called Section:, and that will show where in the menus the program
can be found after installing it.

Opening the terminal and typing the name doesn't always work... it
does differ from program to program. But a lot actually do just work
typing the name, assuming the executable is in one of the paths that
your OS checks. I don't remember off-hand how to check that, but it
doesn't hurt to give it a go. I'm not familiar with the Macchanger
program, so can't be of much help without some research.

www.ubuntugeek.com/macchanger-utility-for-manipulating-the-mac-address-of\
-network-interfaces-included-gui-utility.html

www.debianadmin.com/change-your-network-card-mac-media-access-control-add\
ress.html

Macchanger Tutorial
www.securitytube.net/Macchanger-video.aspx - Cached - Similar

I wonder if something like this wouldn't be on the Backtrack Linux Live CD:
distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=backtrack

When running programs from terminal just enter the name and then hit
[Enter], you don't type 'Run' or 'Open' in front - if there's a
program of the name you entered then it will automatically start and
if not then a message that 'what you typed' isn't a valid program or
command.

BTW - a neat function of terminal is that it remembers command from
the last session even if you've shut down and re-booted since

Calibre is an "Office" application. Seems odd, but that's where it installed.

I'll be darned. I just checked and that is where it is. i could have sworn I
looked there. Two weeks of using the program and now I sure feel sheepish.