How can I install two versions of the same program simultaneously?

[Michele]

On 4/1/08, J & K Spaulding <spaulding at iimetro.com.au> wrote:
>
> you can install the rpm package:
>
> $ sudo apt-get install rpm
> ________________________________

Hello J,

Apologies for what is probably a dumb question: if I install rpm as
you suggest, can I then install rpm packages without converting them
to .deb with alien?
What is the implication in terms of the applications database? will I
end up with two separate databases or will synaptic also track the
.rpm packages I have installed on my system?

Cheers,

Michele