The following should be self-explanatory:

php -r 'var_dump(function_exists("gzfile"));' 
bool(true) 
php -r 'var_dump(function_exists("gzopen"));' 
bool(false) 
php -r 'var_dump(function_exists("gzopen64"));' 
bool(true)

The following posts are useful references:
generateSitemap.php gzopen() fatal error on Ubuntu 14.04 (replace gzopen() by gzopen64())
Zlib functions (gzopen etc.) are undefined while gzopen64 etc. exist
Bug #20246     Broken with php 5.5.9

EDIT : All the issues here are a result of using ubuntu 14.04 LTS

I have reinstalled using ubuntu 12.04LTS and everything is running well

**-------------------------------------------**

I'll be running FA on a VM so I don't "have" to be using ubuntu 14.04.

I'm open to using Ubuntu 12.04LTS if it removes the problem.

Do you know (or heard) if this issue exists in previous Ubuntu versions?

thank you
Darryl

If gzopen64() function exists, use it else use gzopen() => needs to be implemented in FA.

The said function appears in 4 core files (and not in any extension file):

  admin/backups.php (1 hit)
    Line 102:     if (function_exists("gzopen"))
  admin/db/maintenance_db.inc (1 hit)
    Line 723:         if ($zp = @gzopen(BACKUP_PATH . $backupfile, "a9"))
  includes/archive.inc (2 hits)
    Line 441:             if ($fp = gzopen($this->options['name'], "wb{$this->options['level']}"))
    Line 462:         return @gzopen($this->options['name'], "rb");
  includes/packages.inc (2 hits)
    Line 165:     $list = gzopen($file, 'rb');
    Line 220:     $file = $zip ?  gzopen($fname, 'wb') : fopen($fname, 'wb');

Maybe a wrapper function is in order.... fa_gzopen()

@joe: any ideas?

although It looks like progress on the face of it, i.e. I can see  list of themes / extensions.

I cannot apply a theme nor see the "activated extension" of import transactions

10) found a similar issue in wordpress found here https://wordpress.org/support/topic/php-function-is-disabled-abort-expected-gzopen-updraft

11) added this code to the config.php - >function gzopen( string $filename , $mode, $use_include_path = 0 ) { return gzopen64($filename, $mode, $use_include_path); }

12) now can see the list of extensions / themes / COA' (good start

However this error is thrown (with debugging still on) - > Argument 1 passed to gzopen() must be an instance of string, string given, called in /var/www/html/frontaccounting/includes/packages.inc on line 165 and defined in file: /var/www/html/frontaccounting/config.php at line 290

13) further help needed but getting closer.

Can now:
a) see the theme list and download (but can not activate)

b) see the COA list and download (appears to working when creating new company)

c) see list of extensions and download and activate (yet to see how to use the import transactions function, or see where it lives after activation)

If anyone can assist further with the error and theme installation, thank you.

After a day of banging my head against a wall ,im taking a break to watch the footy and have a beer.

It seems "not seeing any extension/themes listed in the setup area" is something to do with PHP zlib compression not being installed in ubuntu 14.04

further steps taken"

1) turned on FA debugging

2) clicking on install/activate COA get this msg " www/html/frontaccounting/includes/packages.inc on line 165"

3) google search revealed zlib not installed in PHP

4) confirmed not installed by running phpinfo in doc root

5) installed using these instructions: http://www.namhuy.net/2430/install-enable-zlib-linux-server.html

6) NOTE! if you get this error, like i did -> "Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (13: Permission denied)"

THEN use these instruction before completing step 5) http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1853026

7) reboot apache

8) can see zlib is now on (via phpinfo)

Directive    Local Value    Master Value
zlib.output_compression    On    On
zlib.output_compression_level    6    6
zlib.output_handler    no value    no value

9) and Im stuck again (the same error persisting " www/html/frontaccounting/includes/packages.inc on line 165"

.....but now convinced it's something to do with ubuntu 14 /PHP version.

I hoping someone can point me in the right direction from here

Cheers
Daz

So far I have :

1) downloaded the en_AU-0000.sql file from your git hub fork
2) copied into the FA SQL directory
3) AS ADMIN loged into the initial company and navigated to install COA
4) I am faced with this page (nothing in the list -> https://www.dropbox.com/s/icbq1u66vugr3p0/Screen%20shot%202015-04-05%20at%208.27.25%20AM.jpg?dl=0

Now,

If I create a new company, the en_AU-0000 appears in the list (although it is throwing sql errors which is another issue)

system info:
ubunutu 14.04LTS
mysql 5.5.41
PHP 5.5.9

Can you tell me what possible causes are for this?

Thank you

I am an end user, not a programmer.

I've noticed most of the extension installation questions in the forum remain un answered.

unfortunately there are some real holes in the the documentation and answered being provided.

Well intentioned responses but to much assumed knowledge in the replies. Knowledge not covered sufficiently in the documentation.

Hopefully, If I get a solution for this, I can provide some clearly written, step by step instructions for the subject.

If I go to  Install/Activate Extensions, I am faced with the install extension bage with no options.

Not sure if it's related but the problem is the same for :
  Install/Activate Extensions
  Install/Activate Themes
  Install/Activate Chart of Accounts

Docu seems to suggest clicking these options should make FA populate the list from the githup repo, is that right?

I have net access on this machine. Any ideas?

Cheers
Daz

Generic Installation of Addons and their links.

Specific to Modules

EDIT : All the below issue are a result of using ubuntu 14.04 LTS

I have reinstalled using ubuntu 12.04LTS and everything is running well

**-------------------------------------------**
Hi all,

I've been trolling through heaps of posts for an hour looking for a simple step by guide to installing extensions.

Is there a link somewhere on the forum?

There really should be a stick for something like this for my 2 cents

Cheers
Daz