Locate Command Linux Problems

[rubix81]

Hey so I am trying to write installation software. I am installing third
party software on a computer, but first I check to see if it has already
been installed. I am trying to use the locate command but it is not
returning anything. To test it, I put a file that I installed and copied
it into a different directory. I know it is there, and I copy and pasted
the title so that I knew that would be correct. "$locate filename.a"
returns nothing, however. I can be sitting in the correct directory
staring straight at the file and it will still not give me its location.
Does anyone know more about how locate works who can help me figure this
out?

Thanks!

Posted at Nginx Forum: http://forum.nginx.org/read.php?2,197663,197663#msg-197663