How do you open Apt links in Ubuntu?

Question

I'm trying to download an Apt file but I don't know how to. I'm using Firefox too.

Solution 1

Associate apt links in firefox with /usr/bin/software-center

Just tried it for a playdeb.net link and it brings it up for you.

Solution 2

If you want a lighter alternative to Ubuntu Software Center, that handles Apt links, you can use AptURL, that needs to be installed with:

sudo apt-get install apturl

Then, you can associate apt links in Firefox with /usr/bin/apturl, as described in screenshot below.

Comments

[edwin]

It is just a file, you download it just like any other. BTW, are you sure you cannot get it from the official repositories?

[Habi]

What to do if you want to download that file, not open it with software center?

[Stefano]

You cannot "download that file", because an apt link does not point to a phisical file, but refer only to a package name. So the only way is to process the apt link in a package manager, that will search and download the referred package.

[Habi]

Can't we get location of that referred package, so that we can download it?

[Stefano]

not from the link itself.. only the package manager knows the repository location

[Juan Simón]

It's better to install the graphic version: apturl-gtk.