Hmmm - that doesn't seem quite right. I suspect that you are confusing the SYBASE env. variable with LD_LIBRARY_PATH.

When working with these environment variables it's always important to remember when theyaare needed.

DBI does not load the DBD::Sybase code when you issue a "use DBI". So it follows that you only need to set the SYBASE env. variable before you call DBI->connect() - unless you have a "use DBD::Sybase" statement, in which case you do need to have $ENV{SYBASE} defined and set correctly (because DBD::Sybase runs some Client Library initialization code when it gets loaded and that code needs the SYBASE env. variable to be set correctly.)

The LD_LIBRARY_PATH variable, on the other hand, does need to get set before the script starts. You can't affect the shared library search directories for the current process (at least not on the platforms that I am aware of!)

Michael