Installing brake cables

If you looked at parktool and have books (Zinn?) it should be straightforward. www.sheldonbrown.com also has some good info on how to route the cables/minimize curve to ensure you don't loose efficiency. What are you having problems with?

How much do I pull the cables from the brakeset side?
Do I have to squeeze the levers or calipers?

after interlocking the head of the cable with the keyhole inside the brake lever, all you do is pull the slack cable at the caliper taut through the casing. This will bring the brake lever up flush to the hood in ready position. Push the cable through the eyelet in the pinch bolt at the caliper. With one hand on the caliper, lightly squeeze the caliper close but not touching the wheel and with your other hand using an 10 mm box end wrench or appropriate size, "lightly" tighten the pinch bolt at the caliper. "Before" cranking the bolt down too tight, test for the correct amount of slack at the brake lever. It a trial and error process to get it precisely right and not difficult with a little practice...many little tricks to the trade....lubricating the cable prior to insertion into the casing (some don't with tephlon casings) ...using a dremmel to square off casings to negate any burring etc. One trick is to intially adjust the pads line-to-line with the wheel surface and then very lightly tighten the pinch bolt. Then go to the lever and squeeze/slip the cable at the eyelet to get the desired amount of slack then finish tighten the caliper pinch bolt. You also want to start with the micro adjuster on your caliper set all the way down. After you feel the brake and are happy with the adjustment, then finish torque the pinch cap nut down. A quick review and hope it helps,
George