Package Install Problem

[Mike <mike@olddog.name>]

I am trying to install a .deb package from the local hard drive using 
dpkg -i <package>.deb.

It appears to read the package and then gives me a list of dependencies 
that are missing and that the package cannot be installed.

The problem is that I am trying to move over to Debian from Fedora so am 
a NEWBIE in Debian.

Is there a command in either dpkg or apt-get that will load a .deb from 
the local hard drive and resolve the dependencies?  I cannot find it in 
any man package or document, possibly due to being new to this structure.

Thanks

Mike Dwiggins