Installing .DEB instead of .RPM (Help me understand)

[flipjargendy]

i've been googling different phrases and everything trying to figure this out. All that comes up is information about installing debian on your computer or things about the CD osi for debian.

How do i install a deb file instead of an rpm. Is there a difference. i've opened the deb file and it seems like it just extracted files. It extracted them to my home folder. i thought it would install the package like some RPM's do. i've used FC3 for over a year and used other distro's before that, but never a Debian based distro. Right now i'm using Kubuntu. i'd appreciate any help i can get right now.

Thank you for the help in advance.

[bidi]

In my opinion, installing debian packages is actually easier than rpm's. All you have to do it point your /etc/apt/source.list file to the right location and off you go. I'm not really sure how to reconfigure that, but if you run "base-config" you can choose the option that allows you to pick repositories. Then, all you have to do is "apt-get install <package name>".

This site is great for getting started with Debian:
http://www.aboutdebian.com/

[squirrelplayingtag]

You can use dpkg if you've already downloaded the .deb.
dpkg -i <package>

[St. Joe]

It extracted them to my home folder. i thought it would install the package like some RPM's do.

Don't extract them. If the deb files are in your home folder and you want to install the group of them then just open a terminal and issue this command as su:

# dpkg -i *.deb

[flipjargendy]

When i opened the file by clicking it brought me to an archiver program and i just figured that's what you do with .DEB files.

.deb files are easier! This Distro just keeps getting better and better. Thanks guys.