Install multiple instances of a program from .deb file to different locations

Here's the issue:

I have Google Desktop for Linux in a .deb file, and I have an account on a server without su privilege. I would like to install Google Desktop on the server just for myself, in my home directory, but the .deb file wants to install to /opt, and it wants su privilege. I don't know why it wants to do that--can't it just let me put it in my own home directory?

It would also be nice if other users could install their own instances of Google Desktop as well, in their own respective home directories.

I don't think this is possible, but if anyone can help that would be great.

Thanks.

Solution 1:

Have you tried with --inst option of dpkg? From man dpkg:

--instdir=dir
  Change  default  installation directory which refers to the directory where 
  packages are to be installed. instdir is also the directory passed to chroot(2)
  before running package's installation scripts, which means that the scripts see
  instdir as a root directory.  (Defaults to /)