How to Convert .RPM files to .DEB - Linux(Ubuntu)

Most of the linux installation programs come in the RPM format.It could get confusing sometimes to install via RPM as you would need to first extract it and then search for the shell script .sh file and then in the terminal execute it and follow instructions etc.An easier way out to this is converting the RPM file to DEB and then all you need to do is double click on the DEB file and click on INSTALL PACKAGE.Its that simple.
To do the RPM to DEB conversion you need to install alien.Here's how you go about doing it

Step 1 : Go to the Terminal(Applications->Accessories->Terminal) and type sudo apt-get install alien
NOTE:You may need to insert your ubuntu installation(live) cd for this, incase you want to avoid that, you could by going to System->Administration->Software Sources and then unchecking "Installable from CD-ROM/DVD"
Step 2 : After you have alien installed, converting is pretty easy , its just a one line command.Firstly you need to change the current directory to the directory where the rpm file is.Say i have an rpm file called myfile.rpm in my Desktop i.e. in the /home/prash/Desktop directory.So for this i need to type cd /home/prash/Desktop first and then type sudo alien -k myfile.rpm
NOTE:Obviously you got to replace myfile.rpm with the actual name of the rpm file
Step 3 : This would create the DEB file for myfile.rpm and then all you need to do is double click on the DEB file and click on INSTALL PACKAGE to get the application to install.