CPAN module installs failing

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

Hello, I'm ultimately trying to install the Lab::VISA::Installation module from CPAN running strawberry perl 5.10.1.1 under Win7 which is failing:

C:\Users\ssdlab>cpan Lab::VISA
CPAN: CPAN::SQLite loaded ok (v0.199)
Database was generated on Wed, 11 Feb 2015 18:41:55 GMT
Running install for module 'Lab::VISA'
CPAN: YAML loaded ok (v0.71)
Running make for A/AK/AKHUETTEL/Lab-VISA-3.02.tar.gz
CPAN: Digest::SHA loaded ok (v5.48)
CPAN: Compress::Zlib loaded ok (v2.024)
Checksum for C:\strawberry\cpan\sources\authors\id\A\AK\AKHUETTEL\Lab-
+VISA-3.02.tar.gz ok
CPAN: Archive::Tar loaded ok (v1.54)
CPAN: File::Temp loaded ok (v0.22)

  CPAN.pm: Going to build A/AK/AKHUETTEL/Lab-VISA-3.02.tar.gz

WARNING: AUTHOR takes a string/number not a ARRAY reference.
         Please inform the author.
Note (probably harmless): No library found for -lC:/Program Files (x86
+)/IVI Foundation/VISA/WinNT/lib/msc/visa32.lib
only nested arrays of non-refs are supported at C:/strawberry/perl/lib
+/ExtUtils/MakeMaker.pm line 664
Warning: No success on command[C:\strawberry\perl\bin\perl.exe Makefil
+e.PL]
  AKHUETTEL/Lab-VISA-3.02.tar.gz
  C:\strawberry\perl\bin\perl.exe Makefile.PL -- NOT OK
Running make test
  Make had some problems, won't test
Running make install
  Make had some problems, won't install
[download]

I do not understand the reasoning for the no library found message as the path is correct and the file is there. As part of the debug, I'm trying to update/install the ExtUtils::MakeMaker module which is failing for what looks like different reasons.

CPAN: CPAN::SQLite loaded ok (v0.199)
Database was generated on Wed, 11 Feb 2015 18:41:55 GMT
Running install for module 'ExtUtils::MakeMaker'
CPAN: YAML loaded ok (v0.71)
Running make for B/BI/BINGOS/ExtUtils-MakeMaker-7.04.tar.gz
CPAN: Digest::SHA loaded ok (v5.48)
CPAN: Compress::Zlib loaded ok (v2.024)
Checksum for C:\strawberry\cpan\sources\authors\id\B\BI\BINGOS\ExtUtil
+s-MakeMaker-7.04.tar.gz ok
CPAN: Archive::Tar loaded ok (v1.54)
CPAN: File::Temp loaded ok (v0.22)

  CPAN.pm: Going to build B/BI/BINGOS/ExtUtils-MakeMaker-7.04.tar.gz

Using included version of CPAN::Meta (2.120351) because it is not alre
+ady installed.
Using included version of CPAN::Meta::Requirements (2.127) because it 
+is not already installed.
Using included version of CPAN::Meta::YAML (0.008) because it is not a
+lready installed.
Using included version of ExtUtils::Manifest (1.65) as it is newer tha
+n the installed version (1.58).
Using included version of JSON::PP (2.27203) as it is newer than the i
+nstalled version (2.27000).
Using included version of Parse::CPAN::Meta (1.4405) as it is newer th
+an the installed version (1.40).
Checking if your kit is complete...
Looks good
Generating a dmake-style Makefile
Writing Makefile for ExtUtils::MakeMaker
Writing MYMETA.yml and MYMETA.json
CPAN: Module::CoreList loaded ok (v2.25)
dmake.EXE:  makefile:  line 438:  Warning: -- Ignoring AUGMAKE meta-ta
+rget [.NOTPARALLEL] because prerequisites are present.
The system cannot find the path specified.
dmake.EXE:  Error code 129, while making 'blib\lib\ExtUtils\.exists'
  BINGOS/ExtUtils-MakeMaker-7.04.tar.gz
  C:\strawberry\c\bin\dmake.EXE -- NOT OK
Running make test
  Can't test without successful make
Running make install
  Make had returned bad status, install seems impossible
[download]

The message that "The system cannot find the path specified." is not particularly helpful. What path? Where is it being specified? I feel like the MakeMaker not being installed may be what is screwing up the Lab::VISA installation but I'm stuck at this point.

Comment on CPAN module installs failing Select or Download Code

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Re: CPAN module installs failing by syphilis (Archbishop) on Feb 12, 2015 at 23:56 UTC
`Note (probably harmless): No library found for -lC:/Program Files (x86 +)/IVI Foundation/VISA/WinNT/lib/msc/visa32.lib` [download] It's looking for a file named literally "libC:/Program Files (x86)/IVI Foundation/VISA/WinNT/lib/msc/visa32.lib.a", though it might accept a ".lib.lib" and it might accept the absence of the "lib" prefix (not sure). But it's looking for a file that can't possibly exist because the name contains a colon and forward slashes (which are illegal filename characters). You've not managed to pass on the information as you intended. Simplest way is probably to set the LIBRARY_PATH environment variable to point to the location: `set LIBRARY_PATH="C:/Program Files (x86)/IVI Foundation/VISA/WinNT/lib +/msc"` [download] and hope the spaces don't stuff things up. (There should be an incantation that works even if the one I've given doesn't.) I would also then create a copy of visa32.lib named libvisa32.a (though I'm not sure if that needs to be done) and then build the module manually by running: perl Makefile.PL LIBS=-lvisa32 dmake test dmake install But I've not built this module myself, so there might yet be other considerations. I hope there's something here that you can use to your advantage. Cheers, Rob	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: CPAN module installs failing (windows) by tye (Sage) on Feb 12, 2015 at 17:11 UTC
`The system cannot find the path specified.` [download] The message that "The system cannot find the path specified." is not particularly helpful. What path? No kidding. But you'll just have to blame Windows for that problem, as it is the source of that (vague) error. You'll probably want to run dmake with options telling it to log what it is about to run before it runs it (which it appears would be just not passing "-s" to it). - tye	[reply] [d/l]
Re: CPAN module installs failing by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Feb 12, 2015 at 20:02 UTC
I do not understand the reasoning for the no library found message as the path is correct and the file is there A path with spaces without quotes: `Note (probably harmless): No library found for -lC:/Program Files (x86 +)/IVI Foundation/VISA/WinNT/lib/msc/visa32.lib #...............................insert quote here^..because^.and.^...a +nd...^...................and insert quote here^` [download] With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday' Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error. "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority". I'm with torvalds on this In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice. Agile (and TDD) debunked	[reply] [d/l]
Re: CPAN module installs failing by shnatko (Initiate) on Feb 13, 2015 at 14:23 UTC
Thank you for the input. I was able to get both modules installed after updating to the 5.20.1.1. version of strawberry perl. All is right with the world again. thanks	[reply]