Problem installing PMs with PPM

George_Sherston has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

O wise ones - I'm stumped

Up to now when I've needed modules I've just copied them from CPAN into the appropriate sub-directory. But now I need Timer::HiRes, which is a bit more complicated it seems. So I've been trying to use ppm, but I get this error message

not well-formed at line 1, column 17, byte 17 at
C:/perl/site/lib/SOAP/Parser.pm line 73
[download]

I get this same error whatever module I try to load with ppm.

Sorry if this seems trivial but to me it might as well be Sanskrit! Here's a dump of other info that might be relevant:
- I'm using windows 98
- I'm running ppm from the c:\perl\bin prompt in a DOS box
- I have perl 5.6.0 (Activestate)
- All the modules I've installed successfully in the past have gone into c:\perl\lib

I would be very grateful if any wise monk can tell me either (1) how to make ppm work or (2) how else I can install Timer::HiRes (I can't get the makefile to work either) or, failing these, (3) another straightforward way to time bits of my code.

§ George Sherston

Comment on Problem installing PMs with PPM Download Code

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Re: Problem installing PMs with PPM by tachyon (Chancellor) on Sep 05, 2001 at 18:07 UTC
Have a look at the ppm docs. Use Internet explorer to look at `c:\perl\html\index.html` for all the docs. Just type that into the Address window. Click on the ppm link. Read. If you have problems using ppm to do the download and install ppd packages you can download PPDs from http://www.activestate.com/PPMPackages/zips/6xx-builds-only/ as zip files. You can also see the whole list of available ppds. You just unzip them and run `ppm install module-xyz.ppd` in the directory you unzipped them in. cheers tachyon s&&rsenoyhcatreve&&&s&n.+t&"$'$`$\"$\&"&ee&&y&srve&&d&&print	[reply]
Re: Problem installing PMs with PPM by rchiav (Deacon) on Sep 05, 2001 at 17:20 UTC
I'm trying to read between the lines here so tell me if I'm correct in my assumptions.. Are you trying to install the "time-hires.ppd" with ppm or are you trying to install something you've downloaded from CPAN with it? If it's the latter, ppm is for installing PPD files.. not for installing from CPAN itself. I just tested it and I was able to install Time::HiRes. Do the following.. (which will pull it from activestate's web site) `ppm install time-hires` [download] Hope this helps.. Rich	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Re: Problem installing PMs with PPM by George_Sherston (Vicar) on Sep 05, 2001 at 17:41 UTC
I'm installing direct from CPAN... or rather, I'm NOT installing direct from CPAN, in the sense that I'm trying and failing! § George Sherston	[reply]
PPM ne CPAN by larryk (Friar) on Sep 05, 2001 at 18:31 UTC
you don't need to use CPAN in the `perl -MCPAN -e shell` sense if you have ppm installed (i.e. it came with ActiveState's build of perl). at a command prompt type `ppm install time-hires` which will do it for you or you can just type `ppm` and enter the "shell" for ppm where the command you want is simply `install time-hires` Hope this helps larryk perl -le "s,,reverse killer,e,y,rifle,lycra,,print"	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Installing PMs with PPM - UPDATE by George_Sherston (Vicar) on Sep 05, 2001 at 21:25 UTC
It looks like there's no easy answer. But it turns out the difficult answer (A) works and (B) isn't all that difficult, now that I have a cable modem. So I re-installed Activestate perl (build 629) and ppm works sweet as a nut and I have Timer::HiRes. Thanks to all for your advice and convincing me this was what I had to do! § George Sherston	[reply]
Re: Problem installing PMs with PPM by idnopheq (Chaplain) on Sep 05, 2001 at 19:08 UTC
tachyon has a great answer, and likely the quickest. But, what version of ppm are you running? I've got 2.1.5, and Time-HiRes installs just fine. IIRC, some older versions of ppm had all kinds of problems. If you upgrade at least your ppm or all of AS, likely the issue will go away ( it did in my case ). HTH -- idnopheq Apply yourself to new problems without preparation, develop confidence in your ability to to meet situations as they arrise. ~ Shunryu Suzuki	[reply]
Re: Problem installing PMs with PPM by Agermain (Scribe) on Sep 05, 2001 at 19:47 UTC
I had the same problem, George. The only way I could really fix the problem was to uninstall Perl and install ActiveState's latest release of ActivePerl. (5.6.1, build 628). After installing build 628, I had no problems installing new modules via PPM. andre germain "Wherever you go, there you are."	[reply]
Re: Problem installing PMs with PPM by blacksmith (Hermit) on Sep 05, 2001 at 19:40 UTC
Thanks for posting this question, Mr. Sherston. I have been having problems learning to install modules. I am currently getting the error message : `PPM> install PDF::Create Install package 'PDF-Create?' (y/N): y Installing package 'PDF-Create'... Error installing package 'PDF-Create': Could not locate a PPD file for + package PDF-Create` [download] And when I try to type in "search" I get nothing. It just carriage returns back to the PPM prompt. I am using version 2.1.5, and my ActivePerl version is 5.6.1.626. I have unzipped the files into several different folders trying to find out if maybe that was the situation. What directory am I to unzip the files? And, any suggestions on what my other problems may be? Thanks again for posting the question and all of the replies.	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Re: Problem installing PMs with PPM by dws (Chancellor) on Sep 05, 2001 at 21:22 UTC
And when I try to type in "search" I get nothing. Ah... You may be running in to one of two common problems: The ActiveState site is temporarily down or unreachable. (This does happen on occassion.) Or You're on a corporate intranet, with a proxy server between you and the outside world. If the problem is #2, (which seems unlikely in your case since you've managed to get an install to at least partially work) you'll need to set up some environment variables to tell PPM about the proxy server. The ActiveState PPM FAQ the info you need. Open it and search for "proxy".	[reply]