Where and how to install Pidgin - problem

[Mark Doliner]

On Thu, 15 Nov 2007 20:06:22 +1300, Chris wrote
> Hi a newbie here
> 
> I'm running Ubuntu 7.04 and trying to get pidgin (Pgn) installed.
> I downloaded the source file into my home dir. Opened terminal and 'cd'
> to find file dir and ran './configure' as per 'install' file then, 
> Type `make' to compile the package.
> 
> Type `make install' to install the programs and any data files and
> documentation. ("You should run 'make install' as root to make sure
> plugins and other files get installed into locations they want to be
> in.)
> 
>  then had the error message that GTK+ 2.0 files were not installed 
> so I installed them
> 
> however after all was "installed" the file was created in my Home dir
> with my documents etc. Not what I expected?
> Then I tried to run the program by clicking Pidgin 'shell script'
> nothing happens?
> Please can someone help with what was supposed to happen or where I went
> wrong here and how to get it to run in the right place?
> 
> TIA
> Chris

Have you considered upgrading to Ubuntu 7.10?  I believe it ships with Pidgin
2.2.1, which would probably allow you to avoid compiling it yourself.

-Mark