.gitignore

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 # Editors
+*~
 .vscode/*
 
 # Python virtual environment

manual/getting_started/installing/index.rst

@@ -77,4 +77,5 @@ Follow the steps for your platform.
 .. toctree::
    :hidden:
 
+   linux_example_install.rst
    linux_windowing_environment.rst

manual/getting_started/installing/linux.rst

@@ -12,16 +12,15 @@ Install from blender.org
 ========================
 
 Download the Linux version for your architecture and decompress the file to the desired location
-(e.g. ``~/software`` or ``/usr/local``).
+(e.g. ``/opt`` or ``~/software`` or ``/usr/local``).
 
-Blender can now be launched by double-clicking the executable.
+Blender can now be launched by running the ``blender`` executable in the installed directory.
 
-When using this method of installation, it is possible to have multiple versions of Blender installed.
+Getting icons to work is somewhat tedious, but does not have to be redone when updating
+blender versions. See :doc:`Linux Example Install <linux_example_install>`.
 
-For ease of access, you can configure your system by adding a menu entry or shortcut for Blender.
-You may also associate blend-files with Blender so that when selected from the file browser,
-they will automatically open in Blender.
-These settings are typically found in conjunction with the Window Manager settings. (Gnome or KDE.)
+When using this method of installation, it is possible to have multiple versions of Blender installed
+as they each have a different directory name.
 
 
 Install from Package Manager

manual/getting_started/installing/linux_example_install.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+
+*******************
+Linux example install of downloaded Blender
+*******************
+
+The following commands sucessfully installed the downloaded 4.0.2 version of Blender
+on POP!_OS (a spinoff of Ubuntu). This includes making the ``.blend`` files show
+thumbnails and icons and making double-clicking of them launch Blender.
+
+This should work for other Linux distributions, however the directories files must be
+placed into, especially icons, can change depending on the distribution and the
+desktop theme. Search around for similar directory names and files to locate where
+they should go.  `Freedesktop.org <https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Specifications/>`__
+is the official specification for how these files work.
+
+Use of ``sudo`` can be avoided by unpacking the download into your home directory, using
+that instead of ``/opt``, and making all the links to ``~/.local`` instead of ``/usr/local``.
+
+**Extract the downloaded ``.tar.xz`` file into a directory in ``/opt``**
+
+   .. code-block:: sh
+
+      sudo mkdir -p /opt
+      cd /opt
+      sudo tar -xf ~/Downloads/blender-4.0.2-linux-x64.tar.xz
+
+**Add a symbolic link to skip the version number**
+
+   .. code-block:: sh
+
+      sudo ln -sTf blender-4.0.2-linux-x64 /opt/blender
+
+**Make Blender commands work from the command line**
+
+   .. code-block:: sh
+
+      sudo ln -s /opt/blender/blender /usr/bin/blender
+      sudo ln -s /opt/blender/blender-thumbnailer /usr/bin/blender-thumbnailer
+
+   You should now be able to type ``blender`` in a shell to run it.
+
+**Make the desktop know about the blender application**
+
+   .. code-block:: sh
+
+      sudo ln -s /opt/blender/blender.desktop /usr/share/applications/
+
+   It should now appear in your Application selector, but the icon is missing.
+
+**Make the icon for the blender application work**
+
+   .. code-block:: sh
+
+      sudo ln -s /opt/blender/blender.svg /usr/share/icons/hicolor/scalable/apps/blender.svg
+
+   Here you need to locate the correct directory for your Linux distribution.
+
+**Check if the "mime type" exists**
+
+   This should work on any modern Linux installation.
+
+   .. code-block:: console
+
+      $ mimetype foo.blend
+      foo.blend: application/x-blender
+
+   Alternative:
+
+   .. code-block:: console
+
+      $ grep blender /etc/mime.types
+      application/x-blender				blend
+
+**Add the mimetype if missing**
+
+   Put the following into ``/usr/share/mime/packages/Overrides.xml``:
+
+   .. code-block:: xml
+
+      <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+      <mime-info xmlns="http://www.freedesktop.org/standards/shared-mime-info">
+        <mime-type type="application/x-blender">
+          <comment>Blender scene</comment>
+          <glob pattern="*.blend"/>
+          <sub-class-of type="text/plain"/>
+        </mime-type>
+      </mime-info>
+
+   And run this:
+
+   .. code-block:: sh
+
+      sudo update-mime-database /usr/share/mime
+
+**Make the icon for .blend files work**
+
+   .. code-block:: sh
+
+      sudo ln -s /opt/blender/blender-symbolic.svg \
+          /usr/share/icons/Pop/scalable/mimetypes/application-x-blender.svg
+      sudo update-icon-caches /usr/share/icons/Pop/
+
+   At least for this system, an entirely different subdirectory had to be used than
+   the one for the execuatble icon.
+
+**Make thumbnails work for .blend files**
+
+   Thumbnails may already be working, try saving a ``.blend`` file and then looking
+   at it in the files application. If not this should make them work:
+
+   Put the following into ``/usr/share/thumbnailers/x-blender.thumbnailer``:
+
+   .. code-block:: ini
+
+      [Thumbnailer Entry]
+      TryExec=/usr/bin/blender-thumbnailer
+      Exec=/usr/bin/blender-thumbnailer %i %o
+      MimeType=application/x-blender;