how do i use Alien on ubuntu 5.04?

kriogenic · 02-12-2006, 12:35 AM

ok well i have ubuntu 5.04 and i just got told u can convert rpm files to deb files using Alien so i used ubuntu's package manager and got Alien thing is im in experienced and dunno how to even run Alien yet alone convert could some one run me trhough what i do after installing alien?

help much appreciated

thanks in advanced
- Kriogenic

anti.corp · 02-12-2006, 02:22 AM

Run it using sudo:

Code:

sudo alien -i name_of_file.rpm

You can also read the man pages for alien

Code:

man alien

kriogenic · 02-12-2006, 10:19 PM

thanks for the help worked great

kriogenic · 02-14-2006, 10:38 PM

*SIGH* can some one please help me it worked once and didnt work again i have an rpm file i want made into a deb and i got this error

Code:

mkdir: cannot create directory `skype-1.2.0.21-1mdk.i586.rpm:': File exists
mkdir: cannot create directory `read': File exists
mkdir: cannot create directory `manifest': File exists
mkdir: cannot create directory `failed:': File exists
mkdir: cannot create directory `Success': File exists
sh: line 1: -skype_1.2.0.21_1mdk.i586.rpm:: command not found
sh: line 1: -skype_1.2.0.21_1mdk.i586.rpm:: command not found
sh: -c: line 2: syntax error near unexpected token `;'
sh: -c: line 2: `; cpio --extract --make-directories --no-absolute-filenames --preserve-modification-time) 2>&1'
Unsuccessful stat on filename containing newline at /usr/share/perl5/Alien/Package/Rpm.pm line 166.
mkdir: cannot create directory `skype-1.2.0.21-1mdk.i586.rpm: read manifest failed: Success\n-skype_1.2.0.21_1mdk.i586.rpm: read manifest failed: Success\n/skype-1.2.0.21-1mdk.i586.rpm: read manifest failed: Success\n': No such file or directory
mv: invalid option -- s
Try `mv --help' for more information.
sh: line 1: -skype_1.2.0.21_1mdk.i586.rpm:: command not found
sh: line 2: -type: command not found
Argument "skype-1.2.0.21-1mdk.i586.rpm:" isn't numeric in bitwise and (&) at /usr/share/perl5/Alien/Package/Rpm.pm line 216, <GETPERMS> line 1.
Unsuccessful stat on filename containing newline at /usr/share/perl5/Alien/Package/Rpm.pm line 235, <GETPERMS> line 1.
mkdir: cannot create directory `skype-1.2.0.21-1mdk.i586.rpm:': File exists
mkdir: cannot create directory `read': File exists
mkdir: cannot create directory `manifest': File exists
mkdir: cannot create directory `failed:': File exists
mkdir: cannot create directory `Success': File exists
sh: line 1: -skype_1.2.0.21_1mdk.i586.rpm:: command not found
sh: line 2: /debian: No such file or directory
sh: -c: line 2: syntax error near unexpected token `;'
sh: -c: line 2: `; patch -p1)'
sh: line 1: -skype_1.2.0.21_1mdk.i586.rpm:: command not found
sh: line 2: -name: command not found
patch failed with .rej files; giving up at /usr/share/perl5/Alien/Package/Deb.pm line 306, <GETPERMS> line 1.
find: skype-1.2.0.21-1mdk.i586.rpm: read manifest failed: Success
-skype_1.2.0.21_1mdk.i586.rpm: read manifest failed: Success
: No such file or directory

that was using this

Code:

sudo alien -i skype_1.2.0.21_1mdk.i586.rpm

can any one help me out here its annoyin me like most things do

craigevil · 02-15-2006, 03:06 AM

Easy way would be to add the folowing:
# Official site for latest version of skype.
deb http://download.skype.com/linux/repos/debian/ stable non-free
to your /etc/apt/sources.list

then use apt-get skype to install

Using Alien to convert rpms to deb doesn't always work..Try searching www.apt-get.org
or making sure you have all the available Ubuntu repositories checked in Synaptic.

kriogenic · 02-15-2006, 08:07 PM

ok i also know why it didnt work it didnt work because i was using fire fox and it stopped the download at half way and i didnt know so all of the file wasnt there im trying gain in a minute and see if it works then if not i will try the way posted by craigevil said and it should work wich is a good thing