using alien and installing deb packages

I have rpm packages that I need to convert to deb and then install (under Knoppix 3.4).

I read the instructions and it seems quite straightforward ...

I first did (as root): # alien xxx.rpm
... which created xxx.deb

I was pleased about that.

The instructions (in my Knoppix manual) said I should simply click on the file and it will install. I tried this and found that all that happened was that the conents of the deb file were displayed.

I tried running xxx.deb from the command prompt but this also didn't work.

Can anyone help me here? What am I doing wrong? Do I need to run from command prompt with certain switches?

Any tips would be gratefully received.

Regards,
Alan Searle

Pull up a console, navigate to the directory you've got your package in, and become root; then issue the command

dpkg -i packagename.deb

(One thing that may cause problems is dependency issues. Good luck.)

A better bet (because of the likely dependency issues) is to use apt-get. You won't find many .rpm packages that are not available as debs and the reverse is true. ;-)