apt-get and installing without download-- how to target the file?

Let me first say that I've since managed to get the same packages to install via apt-get & download. This post is simply to satisfy my ned to understand apt-get.

To install mysql database client/server on my Nokia 900 I failed to get apt-get to download the file, so I located the deb packages at maemo's extras-devel/fremantle-1.3 repository[1] that I located using the gronmayer database[2] and using my desktop, then transferred them to the N900 via USB.

Every time I attempted the install using busybox's root account,
#apt-get install --no-download mysql-client-5.0_5.0.89-1maemo9_i386.deb

I received the error:
E: Couldn't find package mysql-client-5.0_5.0.89-1maemo9_i386.deb

A similar post suggested another user who downloaded the files only via download option suggested to check for a downloaded file in,
/var/cache/apt/archive

So I put the files there hoping apt-get would find them. This also didn't work.

What's the secret to target a downloaded file with apt-get?

-----
As it turns out I realized after a successful apt-get install that I was citing the incorrect file for the n900 i386 instead of armel arch. (>_<) Also, there was another error with a repository conflict and it was necessary for me to use Application Manager to turn off all but the devel repository to get apt-get to install without errors.


[1]: http://repository.maemo.org/extras-devel/pool/fremantle-1.3/free/m/mysql-5.0/
[2]: http://www.gronmayer.com/it/

Hello!

apt-get is just a front-end for dpkg to manage automatic update- and upgrade-procedures. If you want to install something directly you have to use "dpkg -i [package]".

Greets!
Mitsch

Thanks for the reply. I know from using YUM (Fedora package manager) that it also does dependency management and populates a yum database with info about what I've installed. apt-get does the same?

Its funny, in the Fedora culture no one ever says this app is the front end for that command. I never hear anyone say yum is the front end for rpm, for example.

Looking forward to leaning about maemo's culture. cheers!