How do I know where the extra folder is that pd is looking at? Nothing is where I have read to look.
So, I downloaded the comport zip file, Then, found the only(I think) extra folder on my computer. It's located at /usr/lib/pure-data/ I move the comport.zip file in, unzip it and change the permissions to match all the other files and folders in the /usr/lib/pure-data/extra folder. Start pd and no change. The object I name comport is still dotted and I get the can't create error.

By creating it in the home directory? That's what I did.

It still won't work with an extension file that hasn't been compiled. Some compiled extensions require some extra steps as well, thou I don't think comport is one of them.

It's good to know how to do that stuff, but it's a heck of a lot easier to just install (if necessary)/use deken and just grab it that way.

You made a directory in your home folder for extras? What was the path, directory name and permissions?
And, Yes. I tried to get deken to work. But same problem. I got the deken tcl file and put it in the extras folder and nothing. Then. I tried putting it in the tcl folder. still nothing.

@lulu_joe13 Yup, sure did. Just created it as a regular user, no root stuff. Path should be /home/(username)/pd-externals/. When I was still using 0.46.7 I just placed the deken file in /home/(username)/pd-externals/deken-plugin/ and restarted Pd.

The only thing that might be different in my install is that I compiled Pd from the home directory instead of installing from the linux distro's repositories. If the above doesn't work you could try adding the path with the Path option in the File>Preferences>Path or Edit>Preferences>Path menu option, then restart.

@NoDSP That was VERY helpful. Now I know how to specify the path. And I get this when I start PD
'pd-gui' connecting to 'pd' on localhost 5400 ...
------------------ done with main ----------------------
input channels = 2, output channels = 2
priority 6 scheduling failed; running at normal priority
Default font: DejaVu Sans Mono
Loading plugin: /usr/lib/puredata/extra/deken-xtra-apt-plugin.tcl
'deken-xtra-apt-plugin.tcl' already loaded, ignoring: '/usr/lib/puredata/extra/deken-xtra-apt-plugin.tcl'
opened 0 MIDI input device(s) and 0 MIDI output device(s).
The Pd window filtered 8 lines
The Pd window filtered 9 lines

First thinks first. I still don't have the find externals menu under help?
Any ideas.

Try removing that path you entered OR removing deken from one of the two extra folders (I assume you have two now). It looks like Pd is trying to load deken twice. Might screw some things up that way. Starting again from a clean reboot afterwards isn't a bad idea either.

So, I removed all the pd stuff from my system I could and then did apt-get install. I will try the deken-plugin.tcl file again. When I click on the link on the web page the tcl file opens in gedit. I save it with the name deken-plugin.tcl in my ~/pd-externals/. Correct?
I should then see find externals under help?

Um, don't know about opening it in gedit, I would just right-click it and save the file directly to the folder without opening. Note also that if you uninstalled Pd there's usually files left behind, thou you should only have to worry about the ones you modified (so you should already know where those are if you need to delete them).

Oh, thank-you, thank-you @NoDSP. Now, have the file manager and comport!!!!!!

Awesome! Glad you finally got that sorted.