Ubuntu Wiki

Instructions to install & configure Opera 8 in Ubuntu, based off [http://www.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=40467 this Ubuntu Forum thread], updated for Opera 8.50

Note that as of Opera 8.50, Opera is now ad-free and has no subscription/license fee! (You can pay for premium service if you like, though.)

Download the Latest Ubuntu Opera .deb

Opera now provides .deb files specifically for Ubuntu. The generic .deb ones should work too.

Opera provides two basic types of installations: static and shared. They differ in how the Qt library is linked to Opera. In the shared version, Opera uses the Qt installation on your system. In the static version, Opera has Qt built in. The static version is a larger download, and it uses bitmap (i.e. not antialiased) fonts on menus and in the filechooser. The dynamic build integrates with the system, thus it uses whatever antialiasing setting you have for other Qt applications. Static builds still allow antialiasing in the browser window and most other UI elements. Static may be faster and more stable, at least it is in one long time Opera fan's experience. Try both if you like; it's easy to install and uninstall applications in Ubuntu.

Go to [http://www.opera.com/download/ Opera Download Site], choose your package, and pick a download mirror.

Or get the latest Preview from [http://snapshot.opera.com/unix/ Opera Preview and Betas]

Save the file to somewhere you can find it - either Desktop or your own home directory is best.

Installing Opera

Open a terminal. Type:

sudo dpkg -i opera<Tab key>.deb

Note: Tab completion can be a major help with long, complex filenames. Provided you're in the correct directory, just typing "opera" and then hitting the Tab key where it says <Tab key> in the above command should get Ubuntu to finish the filename for you.

Opera will take a minute to install.

If you get messages about unmet dependencies type:

sudo apt-get -f install

apt will then install the missing packages.

Ubuntu-izing Opera (Completing the install)

Unlike many programs from Ubuntu's repositories, Opera will not add itself to Ubuntu's Application menu. That's easy to fix, though. We'll also get Opera to use Ubuntu's default file handler.

Back in terminal:

sudo gedit /usr/share/applications/opera.desktop

In gedit, paste the following:

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Opera Web Browser
GenericName=Web Browser
Comment=Simply the Best Internet Experience
Exec=opera %u
Terminal=false
MultipleArgs=true
Type=Application
Icon=/usr/X11R6/include/X11/bitmaps/opera.xpm
Categories=Application;Network
MimeType=text/html;image/gif;image/jpeg;image/png

Save this file, and go back to Terminal. Type:

mkdir ~/.opera
gedit ~/.opera/filehandler.ini

In gedit, paste the following:

Opera Preferences version 2.0
; Do not edit this file while Opera is running
; This file is stored in UTF-8 encoding
[Settings]
Default File Handler=gnome-open ,1
Default Directory Handler=gnome-open ,1

Save this file, and exit gedit.

Alternatives to the above - Install via apt-get

Add the following line to your apt sources.list file

deb http://deb.opera.com/opera/ unstable non-free

OR if you prefer not to "live on the edge" go with the stable version.

deb http://deb.opera.com/opera/ stable non-free

.After making these changes to your sources.list file, save it. Then, in a terminal type

sudo apt-get update

followed by,

sudo apt-get install opera

All your dependencies will be taken care of and you won't need to create the desktop file described above. It's done automagically!

The other nice thing about this method is that you'll not have to worry about keeping up to date with future releases. It's done for you!

Gnome Skin for Opera

You may preview the skin [http://my.opera.com/community/customize/comments.dml?id=3255 here].

If you're using Opera, you may immediately install the skin by clicking [http://my.opera.com/mneptok/skins/get.pl?id=3255 here].

Setting Opera as default browser

To set Opera as the system default browser and mailreader. Follow this steps:

• Go to System -> Preferences -> Preferred Applications

• Under the Web Browser tab select "Custom" and, in the Command box, enter:

opera -newpage "%s"

• Under the Mail Reader tab select "Custom" and, in the Command box, enter:

opera -newmail "%s"

Start the browser

You can now start up the best browser known to mankind by going Application menu --> Internet --> Opera Web Browser.

Troubleshooting

Missing package

If you have choosen the qt-shared version, you need the libqt3c102-mt package. This is libqt3-mt in Ubuntu Breezy.

Operamotif problems

If you get any operamotif problems try the static version!

Java problems

If you start Opera from the console you may see the following error message if java doesn't work correctly:

ERROR: ld.so: object 'libjvm.so' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded: ignored.
ERROR: ld.so: object 'libawt.so' from LD_PRELOAD cannot be preloaded: ignored.

To fix this, correct the Java path under Tools -> Preferences -> Advanced Tab -> Content -> Java options. It should look similar to this:

/usr/lib/j2re1.5-sun/lib/i386/

Your actual java runtime version could be different from this one. Changes will not take effect until the browser is restarted.

Use [http://www.java.com/en/download/help/testvm.xml] to test your Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

General Plugin Problems

In order for Opera to see a plugin, the plugin must be in Opera's plugin path. You can add directories to the plugin path with Tools -> Preferences -> Advanced -> Content -> Plugin Options. Add the desired directories and click Find Plugins. You may have to restart Opera to enable the plugin.

Some common plugin .so files:

Acroread Plugin Problems

The acroread plugin does not work by default in Opera, as of version 8. You must edit the Opera startup script for it to work. Use your favorite editor to open the opera startup script:

sudo gedit /usr/bin/opera

Replace the lines

OPERA_LD_PRELOAD="${LD_PRELOAD}"
export OPERA_LD_PRELOAD

with

LD_PRELOAD="libXm.so.2:${LD_PRELOAD}"
export LD_PRELOAD
OPERA_LD_PRELOAD="${LD_PRELOAD}"
export OPERA_LD_PRELOAD

Start Opera and open a pdf. When it asks you what to do, click the Change button next to the Opens With. A file type association dialog should popup; choose the plugin option at the bottom (nppdf.so should be an option).

Credits

Credits for the GNOME skin: [http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=370428 mneptok]

CategoryDocumentation