in reply to Perl Modules

Hello jamroll,

Your description is very open, you are saying that you have all these modules that you are trying to call. Did you implement all these modules yours self? Do you have a main script eg. main.pl that calls the modules in the directory?

For example pseudo code main.pl

#!usr/bin/perl
use strict;
use warnings;

use pm::security;

print banned(...); # This is how you are calling the method and you ar
+e getting the error?

[download]

How you export your methods? Have you read Simple Module Tutorial

We need to see at least one module and how you have define it, how you are calling it and see why you are not able to access your methods.

Provide us all these data with well formatted output and we will be more that happy to provide assistance.

Update: Sample of your module to get you started:

Perl module (Security.pm) inside your directory Pm. Path to the module is (local dir of main.pl module Pm/Security.pm)

package Pm::Security;
use strict;
use warnings;
use Exporter;
use vars qw($VERSION @ISA @EXPORT_OK);

$VERSION     = 1.00;
@ISA         = qw(Exporter);
@EXPORT_OK   = qw(banned);

sub banned  { return reverse @_  }

1;

[download]

Main module (main.pl) 

#!usr/bin/perl
use say;
use strict;
use warnings;
use Pm::Security qw( banned );
# use Benchmark qw(:all) ; # WindowsOSn
# use Benchmark::Forking qw( timethese cmpthese );

my @list = qw (First ~ Second);

say banned( @list );

__END__

$ perl main.pl
Second~First

[download]

Hope this helps, BR

Seeking for Perl wisdom...on the process of learning...not there...yet!

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re^2: Perl Modules
by jamroll (Beadle) on Jun 20, 2017 at 20:58 UTC
    and i know the title of this thread is vague. i have no clue how title my current conundrum....let alone describe it well enough (or in jargon) for you to completely understand in my first posting. i'm terribly sorry about that. it's not meant to intentionally mislead, even if it does mislead a tad. i just have no words to describe succinctly the issue at hand.
[reply]
Re^2: Perl Modules
by jamroll (Beadle) on Jun 20, 2017 at 18:34 UTC

    alright. i'll post some code. the relevant stuff. it'll be large, i'm sure...that's why i didn't post code in the first place. i'm seeking general information - problem is i can't articulate into words what I'm having difficulty with. with that said, it is imperative i figure this out, so i'll do exactly what you guys need to help me, and i will pay great attention. oh! let me just say this - jargon often escapes me. simple jargon doesn't, but if the jargon starts getting real technical, jamroll tends to get lost...so i adhere to the KISS principle like flies on ... stuff.

    i may redact some areas of the code for security purposes.

    i'll point out that i don't use caps very often, as you can see. i don't much care to hit shift that much. i recognize the convention is to upcase the first char of a module (Security instead of security, for example) - but is that just a convention, or a hardcoded rule?

    all of the modules in pm:: are my own creation! the modules are stored in D:/Apache24/htdocs/pm/

    i try to avoid having to use other's packages (that requires learning their way, and since i'm so very deep into this project, incorporating something new would be an entirely grandiose endeavor - no, i'm kinda stuck with the structure i'm laying out here)

    so, firstly, this is the error message i get (happens everywhere, too - not JUST with this example):

    Software error:

Undefined subroutine &pm::security::banned called at pm/user.pm line 1
+36

    [download]
    so here's the ALL of the code that is generating this error (like i said, this could be big)

    user.pm - d:/apache24/htdocs/pm/user.pm

    ##########################
package pm::user;
##########################



#/
# Encapsulates all user related functions
# these routines do NOT require a DBH
# the DB is connected to automagically!
#/



##########################
use strict;
use CGI::Carp qw(fatalsToBrowser);
use URI::Escape;
use Exporter;
use vars qw($VERSION @ISA @EXPORT);
##########################



##########################
$VERSION     = 1.00;
@ISA         = qw(Exporter);
@EXPORT      = qw(
                  _tests

                  blockedUser

                  check_user_stats

                  get_uid_byNickname

                  get_user_age
                  get_user_blocked_users
                  get_user_city
                  get_user_country
                  get_user_dp
                  get_user_friend_requests
                  get_user_friends
                  get_user_fuck_alert_count
                  get_user_message
                  get_user_messages
                  get_user_pic
                  get_user_pics
                  get_user_stat
                  get_user_stats
                  get_user_stats_asIcons
                  get_user_subscription_type
                  get_user_theme_data
                  get_user_unread_messages

                  get_users_emails
                  get_users_nicknames

                  isUser
                  isUserAdmin
                  isUserBday
                  isUserModerator
                  isUserSubscriber
                  isFriend

                  set_user_stats

                  user_paid_expired

                  nickname_in_use
                  email_in_use
                 );
##########################



##########################
my $loggedin = pm::bc_chef::cookie_get("loggedin");
my $db = pm::bc_sql::sql_connect("ns.db");
##########################

# this is just one sub. as you can see there are TONS of subs...

##########################
sub get_user_blocked_users($) {
  #*
  # gets a list of blocked users for the specified user
  # can return an empty array
  #*
  my ($uid) = @_; # a uid

  my @blocks = ();
  my $results = pm::bc_sql::sql_execute($db, "select BID from blocks w
+here UID = " . $db->quote($uid)); # could be a single hash ref, or a 
+ref to an array
  if (ref $results eq "HASH") {
    if (pm::bc_sql::user_exists($db, $results->{BID}) and not pm::secu
+rity::banned($db, $results->{BID})) { push @blocks, $results->{BID}; 
+}
  } elsif (ref $results eq "ARRAY") {
    foreach my $ref (@$results) {
      if (pm::bc_sql::user_exists($db, $ref->{BID}) and not pm::securi
+ty::banned($db, $ref->{BID})) { push @blocks, $ref->{BID}; }
    }
  } else {
    return undef;
  }

  return @blocks; # an array of blocked uid's
  #usage: my @blocked_users = get_user_blocked_users($uid);
}

#...

1;

    [download]
    and related code for the function calls within the above module's sub. which are:

    sql_execute, user_exists, and banned

    pm::bc_sql::sql_execute(...) is my own flavor of the execute command (and i'm certain, nay, i know it's is badly done) - but it works! so, it stays as is for now

    bc_sql.pm - d:/apache24/htdocs/pm/bc_sql.pm

    package pm::bc_sql;

#/
# a module for manipulating an SQLite DB on
# Apache in a Windows 10 environment
#/

########################
use strict;
use warnings;
use Exporter;
use vars qw($VERSION @ISA @EXPORT);
use CGI::Carp qw(fatalsToBrowser);
########################

use DBI;

########################
$VERSION     = 1.00;
@ISA         = qw(Exporter);
@EXPORT      = qw(
                  _tests

                  sql_connect
                  sql_create_perchie
                  sql_create_random_user
                  sql_db_user_reset
                  sql_db_valid
                  sql_disconnect
                  sql_execute
                  sql_execute_bound

                  get_about_page
                  get_body_asWord
                  get_cities
                  get_city_id
                  get_city_name
                  get_config
                  get_constant
                  get_constants
                  get_country_cities
                  get_country_id
                  get_country_id_byName
                  get_country_name
                  get_countries
                  get_default_theme
                  get_errors
                  get_eye_clr_asWord
                  get_gender_asWord
                  get_hair_clr_asWord
                  get_height_asWord
                  get_help_page
                  get_home_page
                  get_location
                  get_navbar
                  get_orientation_asWord
                  get_phrase
                  get_profile_views_count
                  get_race_asWord
                  get_security
                  get_security_asWord
                  get_seeking_asWord
                  get_site_name
                  get_theme_data
                  get_themes
                  get_users
                  get_weight_asWord
                  get_zodiacs

                  set_config
                  set_constant

                  is_friend
                  is_admin
                  is_subscriber
                  is_moderator

                  ban_exists
                  ccid_exists
                  fma_exists
                  ipn_exists
                  msg_exists
                  msgs_exist
                  theme_exists
                  user_exists

                  sql_get_user_stat

                  in_maint
                  new_uid
                  new_tid
                  new_ccid
                  read_text

                  validate_new_user_data
                  valid_id
                  valid_ip
                  valid_date
                  valid_config
                 );
########################



########################
sub sql_execute($$) {
  #*
  # runs an SQL statement on the supplied db.
  # must be connected, and <b>must</b> <a href='#sql_disconnect'>sql_d
+isconnect</a> to commit changes.
  # a reference to an array of hash references can be returned
  # if only one item is in the array, then we give a hash ref instead
  # of a one element array reference
  # (which is a hash reference in and of itself)
  # three different return values: scalar, array ref, or hash ref
  #   - dependent on # of results, or kind of sql statement (insert, c
+reate, update,
  #     select, delete, etc)
  # !this function does not and will NOT "sanitize" your query - that'
+s your job!
  # for instance: my $sql = "select * from users where ID = " . $db->q
+uote($uid);
  # note: this function should only have one return statement at its e
+nd...not
  # several strewn throughout the code like it is here.  this will be 
+updated
  #*
  my ($db, $sql) = @_; # the dbh && the SQL statement

  my $prept = $db->prepare($sql);

  if ($sql =~ /^insert |update |delete /i) {
    my $rv = $db->do($sql) or die $db->errstr;
    if ($rv eq undef) { $rv = 0; }
    if ($rv eq "0E0") { $rv = 0; } # yes.  a failure.  insert update a
+nd delete ought to affect at least one row.

    return $rv; # 0 on failure, 1 on success
  } elsif ($prept) {
    $prept->execute();
    # now, grab all the results from the query, and dump them into an 
+array as hash references to each "hit"
    my @arr = ();
    while (my $row = $prept->fetchrow_hashref) { push @arr, $row; }

    if (@arr eq 1 and $arr[0]) {
      # if the array has only one element, then, it's kinda pointless 
+to give a ref to the array
      # so instead, let's just give back that hash reference
      my $hashRef = $arr[0]; # this ought to be a hash reference, no?

      return $hashRef; # a hash reference when there is only one array
+ element
    }

    if (@arr eq 1 and ref $arr[0] ne "HASH") {
      # if the array has only one element, and it's not a hash referen
+ce (meaning $arr[0] =~ /0e0/i)
      # then ...
      @arr = (); # clear the array
    }

    return \@arr; # an array reference (can be a zero element array), 
+or
  } else {
    return \(); # a reference to an empty array when no results, or qu
+ery failed
  }

  #usage: my $rv = sql_execute($db, $sql);
}

########################
sub user_exists($$) {
  #*
  # determines if a user exists or not
  #*
  my ($db, $uid) = @_; # a DBH && a user ID

  my $sql = "select ID from users where ID = " . $db->quote($uid);
  my $uref = sql_execute($db, $sql);

  if (ref $uref eq "HASH") {
    return 1; # 1 when user exists
  } else {
    return 0; # 0 when user does not exist
  }

  #usage: if (user_exists($uid)) { print "$uid exists"; }
}

# ...

1;

    [download]
    security.pm - d:/apache24/htdocs/pm/security.pm 
    package pm::security;

#/
# a module to encapsulate security-related functions
#/

use strict;
use Exporter;
use vars qw($VERSION @ISA @EXPORT);
use CGI;

$VERSION     = 1.00;
@ISA         = qw(Exporter);
@EXPORT      = qw(
                  _tests

                  banned
                  bounced
                  get_salt
                  password_correct
                  password_set
                  get_client_IP
                  login
                  logout
                 );



######################################################################
+##########################
######################################################################
+##########################
######################################################################
+##########################



########################
sub banned($$) {
  #*
  # gets the banned status of a uid
  # !this function requires updating
  # the code in this function needs to
  # conform to a more basic format
  # there should only be one return!
  #*
  my ($db, $uid) = @_; # a DBH && a uid
  my $query = "select banned from users where ID = " . $db->quote($uid
+);
  my $result = pm::bc_sql::sql_execute($db, $query); # should result i
+n a 0 or a hash with one key: a UID
  # $result is a hash reference
  if (ref $result eq "HASH") {
    if ($result->{banned} eq 2) {
      return 1; # 1 when the user is banned
    }
  }

  return 0; # 0 when the user is not banned
  #usage: if (banned($db, $uid)) { print "yer banned, bitch"; }
}

    [download]

    i think that covers the meat of it... i have removed all use pm::xxx; statements in the actual code, and just copied it to here. i have also tried removing pm::xxx:: before my function calls when the corresponding module has "use pm::xxx;" in it. i get the same error as what's above in other places (not just ::banned does exist - but sometimes sql_execute doesn't exist). it's all very very confusing to me. i don't understand even why the error message appears...and sorry it took so long to reply. had to make sure i covered my bases, dotted my T's and crossed my eyes!

[reply]
[d/l]
[select]

      Here is a very simple script and module to demo the principles. First a module with 1 subroutine

      package pm::mytest;

sub message {
  return 'Hello from pm:mytest';
}
1;

      [download]

      and a script that uses it

      #!/usr/bin/perl
use strict;
use warnings;
use CGI;
use CGI::Carp 'fatalsToBrowser';

use lib 'd:/apache24/htdocs';
use pm::mytest;

my $msg = pm::mytest::message();

my $q = CGI->new;
print $q->header,$q->start_html,
$q->h1($msg),$q->end_html;

      [download]
      poj
[reply]
[d/l]
[select]
        your code is good. and i understand this much very well. i'll point out, that d:/apache24/htdocs/ is my 'working' directory - thus, .pl files are stored there, and .pm files are stored in ./pm

        and, i noticed i forgot to post my main code, which may be relevant (or critical even?) to my module confusion

        debug.pl - d:/apache24/htdocs/debug.pl 

        #!/perl/bin/perl.exe

###########################
##
## this is a debug script to simply test each module's abilities
##
## if a new subroutine has been added to any module within
## the pm folder AND it requires testing, search THIS
## document for
##    "# [modulename] TESTS"
## where [modulename] is the name of a module. eg: "bc_sql"
##    add the new test in the same way as other tests found in this sc
+ript
##
###########################

# must have's!
use strict;
use warnings;
use CGI::Carp qw(fatalsToBrowser);
use DBI;
use URI::Escape;

use pm::bc_chef;
use pm::bc_misc;
use pm::bc_sql;
use pm::subdesc;
use pm::redir;
use pm::search;
use pm::security;

my $BORDER = 0;

my $navheight = 20;
my $navcontainerheight = $navheight + 20;

my $loggedin = pm::bc_chef::cookie_get("loggedin");
my $db = sql_connect("ns.db");

if ($loggedin !~ /^A6DE0E8077|7EE22A4BBF$/i) {
  if (not isUserAdmin($loggedin)) {
    print error_redir("/", "Access Denied");
    exit 1;
  }
}

######################################################################
+############
######################################################################
+############
######################################################################
+############
######################################################################
+############
######################################################################
+############

# much of the code is redacted here, and only what you need is include
+d
# things like "display_debug_one" and related are redacted, since they
+ just
# display things and have no real affect / effect on the data at all

my $COOL_DOT = "<font size=4>&nbsp;&bull;&nbsp;</font>";

my $rv = "cache-control: no-store\n";
$rv .= "content-type: text/html\n\n";
$rv .= "<html>\n";
$rv .= "<head>\n";
$rv .= "  <title>NS Debug Page</title>\n";
$rv .= "  <link rel=stylesheet href='css.pl?debugger=1'>\n";
$rv .= "</head>\n";
$rv .= "<body>\n";

# a paramater to capture the selected PM with
my $debug_page = get_constant($db, "QUERY_DEBUG_PAGE");
my $pm = lc(get_param($debug_page));

if (not $pm) {
  # this part redacted, since it simply displays a menu...
# end if (not $pm)
} else { # if $pm contains a value
  if ($pm eq "chef") {
    ################################
    # bc_chef TESTS
    $rv .= display_module("bc_chef", "Chef");
    $rv .= "<br><a name=subtests class=anchor></a><br><hr><center><tab
+le border=$BORDER cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=subnavbar><tr><td
+ class=title>&nbsp;Cookie Tests&nbsp;</td></tr></table></center><hr><
+br><br>\n";
    $rv .= pm::bc_chef::_tests();
  } elsif ($pm eq "date") {
    ############
    # date TESTS
    $rv .= display_module("date", "Date");
    $rv .= "<br><a name=subtests class=anchor></a><br><hr><center><tab
+le border=$BORDER cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=subnavbar><tr><td
+ class=title>&nbsp;Date Tests&nbsp;</td></tr></table></center><hr><br
+><br>\n";
    $rv .= pm::date::_tests();
  } elsif ($pm eq "dir") {
    ############
    # bc_dir TESTS
    $rv .= display_module("bc_dir", "Directory");
    $rv .= "<br><a name=subtests class=anchor></a><br><hr><center><tab
+le border=$BORDER cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=subnavbar><tr><td
+ class=title>&nbsp;Dir Tests&nbsp;</td></tr></table></center><hr><br>
+<br>\n";
    $rv .= pm::bc_dir::_tests();
    
  } elsif ($pm eq "misc") {
    ############
    # bc_misc TESTS
    $rv .= display_module("bc_misc", "Miscellaneous");
    $rv .= "<br><a name=subtests class=anchor></a><br><hr><center><tab
+le border=$BORDER cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=subnavbar><tr><td
+ class=title>&nbsp;Misc Tests&nbsp;</td></tr></table></center><hr><br
+><br>\n";
    $rv .= pm::bc_misc::_tests();

  } elsif ($pm eq "sql") {
    ############
    # bc_sql TESTS
    $rv .= display_module("bc_sql", "SQL");
    $rv .= "<br><a name=subtests class=anchor></a><br><hr><center><tab
+le border=$BORDER cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=subnavbar><tr><td
+ class=title>&nbsp;SQL Tests&nbsp;</td></tr></table></center><hr><br>
+<br>\n";
    $rv .= pm::bc_sql::_tests();

  } elsif ($pm eq "user") {
    ############
    # user TESTS
    $rv .= display_module("user", "User");
    $rv .= "<br><a name=subtests class=anchor></a><br><hr><center><tab
+le border=$BORDER cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=subnavbar><tr><td
+ class=title>&nbsp;User Tests&nbsp;</td></tr></table></center><hr><br
+><br>\n";
    $rv .= pm::user::_tests();

  } elsif ($pm eq "html") {
    ############
    # html TESTS
    $rv .= display_module("html", "HTML");
    $rv .= "<br><a name=subtests class=anchor></a><br><hr><center><tab
+le border=$BORDER cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=subnavbar><tr><td
+ class=title>&nbsp;HTML Tests&nbsp;</td></tr></table></center><hr><br
+><br>\n";
    $rv .= pm::html::_tests();

  } elsif ($pm eq "redir") {
    ############
    # redir TESTS
    $rv .= display_module("redir", "Redirection");
    $rv .= "<br><a name=subtests class=anchor></a><br><hr><center><tab
+le border=$BORDER cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=subnavbar><tr><td
+ class=title>&nbsp;Redirection Tests&nbsp;</td></tr></table></center>
+<hr><br><br>\n";
    $rv .= pm::redir::_tests();

  } elsif ($pm eq "search") {
    ############
    # search TESTS
    $rv .= display_module("search", "Search");
    $rv .= "<br><a name=subtests class=anchor></a><br><hr><center><tab
+le border=$BORDER cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=subnavbar><tr><td
+ class=title>&nbsp;Search Tests&nbsp;</td></tr></table></center><hr><
+br><br>\n";
    $rv .= pm::search::_tests();

  } elsif ($pm eq "security") {
    ############
    # security TESTS
    $rv .= display_module("security", "Security");
    $rv .= "<br><a name=subtests class=anchor></a><br><hr><center><tab
+le border=$BORDER cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=subnavbar><tr><td
+ class=title>&nbsp;Security Tests&nbsp;</td></tr></table></center><hr
+><br><br>\n";
    $rv .= pm::security::_tests();

  } elsif ($pm eq "subdesc") {
    ############
    # subdesc TESTS
    $rv .= display_module("subdesc", "SubDesc");
    $rv .= "<br><a name=subtests class=anchor></a><br><hr><center><tab
+le border=$BORDER cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 class=subnavbar><tr><td
+ class=title>&nbsp;Security Tests&nbsp;</td></tr></table></center><hr
+><br><br>\n";
    # no tests needed.  "debug.pl" uses the subdesc module EVERYWHERE,
+ so it is tested and if it fails, you'll know...
    #$rv .= pm::subdesc::_tests();
    $rv .= "no tests performed here: debug.pl is the test!<br>\n";

  } elsif ($pm eq "faq") {
    $rv .= display_faq();
    # no associated debugging output 
  } elsif ($pm eq "howto") {
    $rv .= display_howto();
    # no associated debugging output
  } elsif ($pm eq "notes") {
    $rv .= display_notes();
    # no associated debugging output
  } elsif ($pm eq "ppdebug") {
    $rv .= display_paypal_debugger();
    # no additional debugging output
  } else {
    $rv .= "Unrecognized module selected: $pm<br>\n";
  }
# end else of if (not $pm)
}

        [download]
        oh! and i guess you could use a _test() function, too for the example i'm showing. hopefully i've covered it all finally...if i missed something, do let me know, i'll post it. but i gotta get this solved.

        i totally get how to use a single pm. i'm wondering why i get these silly errors.... security.pm - d:/apache24/htdocs/pm/security.pm 

        ########################
sub _tests(;$) {
  #*
  # to test all <i>pm::security</i> functions
  #*
  my ($extended) = @_; # show extended data (optional)
  my $rv = "";
  my $loggedin = pm::bc_chef::cookie_get("loggedin");
  my $test = "";
  my $test2 = "";
  my $test3 = "";
  my @atest = ();
  my %htest = {};
  
  my $db = sql_connect("ns.db");
  if ($db) {
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_code("get_phrase(\$db)", get_phrase
+($db));
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_code("get_about_page(\$db)", get_ab
+out_page($db));
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_code("get_home_page(\$db, \"\")", g
+et_home_page($db, ""));


    $test = "SITE_NAME";
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_constant(\$db, \"$test\")"
+, get_constant($db, $test));
    $test = pm::bc_chef::cookie_get("loggedin");
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("user_exists(\$db, \"$test\")",
+ user_exists($db, $test));
    $test = "991B146AEC";
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("msg_exists(\$db, \"$test\")", 
+user_exists($db, $test));
    $test = "31-1";
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_city_name(\$db, \"$test\")
+", get_city_name($db, $test));
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_country_name(\$db, \"$test
+\")", get_country_name($db, $test));
    $test2 = "6132F16686";
    #$test3 = "7EE22A4BBF";
    $test3 = "1237EE22A4BBF";
    @atest = (); push @atest, ($test2, $test3);
    $test = "select * from 'ccinfo' where ID = ? and UID = ?";
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("sql_execute_bound(\$db, \"$tes
+t\", \\\@values)", sql_execute_bound($db, $test, \@atest));
    $test = "Canada";
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_country_id_byName(\$db, \"
+$test\")", get_country_id_byName($db, $test));
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_profile_views_count(\$db, 
+$loggedin)", get_profile_views_count($db, $loggedin));
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("ipn_exists(\$db, \"$test\")", 
+ipn_exists($db, $test));
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("ban_exists(\$db, \"$test\")", 
+ban_exists($test));
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("ccid_exists(\$db, \"$test\")",
+ ccid_exists($test));
    $test = "index.pl";
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("file_exists(\"$test\")", file_
+exists($test));
    $test = "C8E0B9312F";
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("fma_exists(\$db, \"$loggedin\"
+, \"$test\")", fma_exists($db, $loggedin, $test));
    $test = 3;
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_body_asWord(\$db, $test)",
+ get_body_asWord($db, $test));
    $test = "31-20";
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_city_id(\"$test\")", get_c
+ity_id($test));
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_city_name(\$db, \"$test\")
+", get_city_name($db, $test));
    $test = "31-20";
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_country_id(\"$test\")", ge
+t_country_id($test));
    %htest = pm::user::get_user_stats($loggedin);
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("theme_exists(\$db, \"$htest{TI
+D}\")", theme_exists($db, $htest{TID}));
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_default_theme()", get_defa
+ult_theme());
    $test = 1;
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_eye_clr_asWord(\$db, \"$te
+st\")", get_eye_clr_asWord($db, $test));
    $test++;
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_hair_clr_asWord(\$db, \"$t
+est\")", get_hair_clr_asWord($db, $test));
    $test++;
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_gender_asWord(\$db, \"$tes
+t\")", get_gender_asWord($db, $test));
    $test++;
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_height_asWord(\$db, \"$tes
+t\")", get_height_asWord($db, $test));
    $test++;
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_weight_asWord(\$db, \"$tes
+t\")", get_weight_asWord($db, $test));
    $test++;
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_orientation_asWord(\$db, \
+"$test\")", get_orientation_asWord($db, $test));
    $test = "31-20";
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_location(\$db, \"$test\")"
+, get_location($db, $test));
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_one("get_profile_views_count(\$db, 
+\"$loggedin\")", get_profile_views_count($db, $loggedin));


    $test = "genders";
    @atest = get_config($db, $test);
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_many("get_config(\$db, \"$test\")",
+ \@atest, "<br>");
    @atest = get_cities($db);
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_many("get_cities(\$db)", \@atest, "
+, ", 1);
    @atest = get_country_cities($db, "31");
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_many("get_country_cities(\$db)", \@
+atest, ", ", 1);
    @atest = get_zodiacs($db);
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_many("get_zodiacs(\$db)", \@atest, 
+", ", 0);
    @atest = (); for (my $z = 1; $z <= 12; $z++) { push @atest, get_zo
+diac_icon($z); }
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_many("get_zodiac_icon([1..12])", \@
+atest, "", 0);
    $test = "203537B0FF";
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_many("get_theme_data(\$db, \"$test\
+")", get_theme_data($db, $test), "<br>", 0);
    $test = "select value from 'zodiacs' order by ID";
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_many("sql_execute(\$db, \"$test\")"
+, sql_execute($db, $test), ", ");
    $test = "zodiacs";
    @atest = get_config($db, $test);
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_many("get_config(\$db, \"$test\")",
+ \@atest, ", ");
    @atest = get_countries($db);
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_many("get_countries(\$db)", \@atest
+, ", ", 1);


    @atest = get_errors($db);
    #push @atest, $test;
    #push @atest, \@atest;
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_large("get_errors(\$db)", \@atest, 
+1);
    @atest = get_constants($db);
    $rv .= pm::html::display_debug_large("get_constants(\$db)", \@ates
+t, 1);


    sql_disconnect($db);
  } else {
    $rv .= "DB connection error!<br>\n";
  }
  
  return $rv; # a scalar of the results of all tests
  #usage: print _tests();
}

        [download]
[reply]
[d/l]
[select]

      Hello again jamroll,

      Let's take the question one at a time. Why you should use Package name as first letter capital? Read the perlman:perlstyle:

      From the link above regarding the packages:

      Package names are sometimes an exception to this rule. Perl informally
+ reserves lowercase module names for ``pragma'' modules like integer 
+and strict. Other modules should begin with a capital letter and use 
+mixed case, but probably without underscores due to limitations in pr
+imitive file systems' representations of module names as files that m
+ust fit into a few sparse bytes.

      [download]

      Having said that I would recommend renaming the directory to Pm/Security the same applies to the rest of the modules that you are using. Let's move on to the next problem, calling the module.

      You are saying that you have a main.pl script that gives you the error:

      Undefined subroutine &pm::security::banned called at pm/user.pm line 1
+36

      [download]

      Let's try to replicate the problem. I am creating the directories as you say d:/apache24/htdocs/pm/user.pm

      I would modify a bit your module so I would recommend to do the same on the rest of your modules. First of all I use also use warnings; for many reasons make your code more safe. Second from the Perl documentation Exporter/Selecting What to Export:

      Do not export anything else by default without a good reason!

Exports pollute the namespace of the module user. If you must export t
+ry to use @EXPORT_OK in preference to @EXPORT and avoid short or comm
+on symbol names to reduce the risk of name clashes.

      [download]

      Having said that I modify your Export to Export_OK. On your modules you need to close them with 1;. Why? Read the perlmod/Making your module threadsafe:

      If it returns a true value, then no objects of that class will be clon
+ed; or rather, they will be copied as unblessed, undef values.

      [download]

      If this is not enough also read Perl Module ending without 1;. Having said that I add also 1; at the end of your module.

      Sample of your module based on the modifications that I propose Security.pm in the directory of my local PC /home/tinyos/apache24/htdocs.

      package Pm::Security;

#/
# a module to encapsulate security-related functions
#/

use CGI;
use strict;
use warnings;
use Exporter;
use vars qw($VERSION @ISA @EXPORT_OK);

$VERSION     = 1.00;
@ISA         = qw(Exporter);
@EXPORT_OK   = qw(
    _tests

    banned
    bounced
    get_salt
    password_correct
    password_set
    get_client_IP
    login
    logout
    );

######################################################################

sub banned {
    #*
    # gets the banned status of a uid
    # !this function requires updating
    # the code in this function needs to
    # conform to a more basic format
    # there should only be one return!
    #*
    # my ($db, $uid) = @_; # a DBH && a uid
    # my $query = "select banned from users where ID = " . $db->quote(
+$uid);
    # my $result = pm::bc_sql::sql_execute($db, $query); # should resu
+lt in a 0 or a hash with one key: a UID
    # $result is a hash reference
    # if (ref $result eq "HASH") {
    # if ($result->{banned} eq 2) {
        # return 1; # 1 when the user is banned
    # }
    # }

    return reversed @_; # 0 when the user is not banned
    #usage: if (banned($db, $uid)) { print "yer banned, bitch"; }
}

1;

      [download]

      Now that we have defined and applied minor modification to your module let's try to call it for execution from our main.pl:

      Sample of main.pl script, remember the path is relevant to my local PC but it should work for your PC with minor modifications:

      #!usr/bin/perl
use say;
use strict;
use warnings;

use lib '/home/tinyos/apache24/htdocs';
use Pm::Security qw( banned );

my @list = qw (First ~ Second);

say banned(@list);

__END__

$ perl main.pl
Second~First

      [download]

      A minor detail to add here I call the script from a different directory where the dir Pm is located. I manage to do that by using the lib module. If I comment out this line # use lib '/home/tinyos/apache24/htdocs'; I get the following expected error:

      $ perl main.pl
Can't locate Pm/Security.pm in @INC (you may need to install the Pm::S
+ecurity module) (@INC contains: /home/tinyos/perl5/lib/perl5/5.24.1/x
+86_64-linux-gnu-thread-multi /home/tinyos/perl5/lib/perl5/5.24.1 /hom
+e/tinyos/perl5/lib/perl5/x86_64-linux-gnu-thread-multi /home/tinyos/p
+erl5/lib/perl5 /etc/perl /usr/local/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl/5.24.1 
+/usr/local/share/perl/5.24.1 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl5/5.24 /us
+r/share/perl5 /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl/5.24 /usr/share/perl/5.2
+4 /usr/local/lib/site_perl /usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/perl-base) at ma
+in.pl line 7.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at main.pl line 7.

      [download]

      Of course it is because Perl is not aware of my Pm::Security module that I have defined in my directory.

      One last question, why you are calling your function as sub banned($$) I was looking online regarding this because I never used it before and I found perlvar/General Variables:

      LinuxThreads is now obsolete on Linux, and caching getpid() like this 
+made embedding perl unnecessarily complex (since you'd have to manual
+ly update the value of $$), so now $$ and getppid() will always retur
+n the same values as the underlying C library.

      [download]

      If this is the case why don't you call getppid instead of $$. Maybe I am wrong regarding this point so another Monk could share some knowledge.

      Hope this provides you enough information to resolve all of your module(s) problems.

      Seeking for Perl wisdom...on the process of learning...not there...yet!
[reply]
[d/l]
[select]
        yes. seems everything is working most excellently. i have no clue how to thank you enough! so, i extend glorious amounts of thanks to you, and everyone else who replied - it's been a giant help. i even book marked that ebook that was linked to by another monk.

        the module Pm::Bc_chef doesn't like having use Pm::User; in it. Well, it actually causes Pm::User to throw the "subroutine not defined" error message (because use Pm::Bc_chef; is in the module Pm::User. so, if chef needs to refer to a user module subroutine, i can't put use Pm::User; in Bc_chef.pm. baffling, but it's working.

        so grateful

        JamRoll

        Btw - is my coding awful? i've always wondered, and hoped you folks might be willing to grade it without killing my itty bitty ego too much... ;) is there more of my code you would like to see? i can let you peek under the hood, so to speak, to get a better feel for how i go about doing things. i'd really like some constructive input on it, too....i know it's way off topic here, so perhaps PM me...I'll be on and off fairly often, doing my (re)search(es).
[reply]
[d/l]
[select]
        need to talk about that lib thing, too. do i need to include that? @INC already includes the current working folder (the folder where the script resides, by default anyway, and i usually just go with that). so that when i write use Pm::Security;, the system knows to look in "./pm/" (which the ./ in my case is my web server's document root D:/Apache24/htdocs/) without me having to include use lib "...." in my code. um, what else was there about that....drawing a blank. anyway - i'll continue the modifications to my code. when i have completed the updates, and ran a test, i'll come back.
[reply]
[d/l]
[select]

In Section Seekers of Perl Wisdom