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

Hi Monks,

Sorry this is probably too much of a newbie question for here.. but I could not find a section in the A&Q about installing modules.

I use Windows and ActivePerl and life is sweet using PPM to install and update my modules.

I have never had to manually install a module so now Im finding the GD module is not listed as something that I can install I assume I have to install it manually.

All instructions I find seem to be specific to *nix and simply copying in the GD files into what appear to be the right folder in the packlist file does not show it up when I use PPM to query my modules.

Anyone got any helpful hints on how to install packages under Windows manually (specifally the GD module)? (Even copying the GD.pm file into the same fodler asn my test_gd.pl script doesnt want to work :-(

Thanks,
 ___
/\__\ wolis
\/__/ www.wolispace.com

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Installing modules under win9x
by shenme (Priest) on Sep 01, 2003 at 06:56 UTC
    Building GD requires compiling C to create DLL libraries and is probably not something you are prepared to do. There's more than just pure Perl code involved.

    What ActivePerl are you running? When I run ppm on my 6xx version (Perl 5.6.x) I see a GD 2.06 listed from ActiveState.   However I also see another newer GD version (2.07) listed at another PPM repository that I use, Randy Kobe's.

    To use Randy's ready-made module, if you are running a 6xx ActivePerl then while in ppm type in
        set repository RK http://theoryx5.uwinnipeg.ca/cgi-bin/ppmserver?urn:/PPMServer
    and then search for GD.   You ought to see it listed now.

    Hey, I found a reference to how to install it from there in one command:
        ppm install http://theoryx5.uwinnipeg.ca/ppmpackages/GD.ppd

    If you are running a 8xx ActivePerl I found a reference to using
        set repository RK http://theoryx5.uwinnipeg.ca/cgi-bin/ppmserver?urn:/PPMServer58
    to access Randy's Perl 5.8 modules.   The matching single command should be (untested)
        ppm install http://theoryx5.uwinnipeg.ca/ppms/GD.ppd

[reply]
Re: Installing modules under win9x
by nite_man (Deacon) on Sep 01, 2003 at 06:46 UTC
[reply]
[d/l]
      And the first cab off the ranks is a winner!

      Thanks Michael and the other Monks, it works a treat.

      I had to delete the copies of GD and GD folders I had peppered my lib, site\lib site\lib\auto etc.. folders with as it cause a problem first time.

[reply]
Re: Installing modules under win9x
by phydeauxarff (Priest) on Sep 01, 2003 at 12:01 UTC
    It looks like you have already gotten some good advice specific to your installing GD question but I thought if you didn't already know about the How Do I Make a PPM package FAQ it might serve as a useful tool for you in the future.
[reply]
Re: Installing modules under win9x
by aquarium (Curate) on Sep 01, 2003 at 13:15 UTC
    the ppm tool does not use PATH or INCPATH etc. it uses its' own config on where to look for modules. the location(s) where to look is/are called repositories. type "help" in ppm and look for commands to do with repositories. by default ppm looks at the activestate repository on the internet.
[reply]
      Intruigingly I have ActiveState perl 5.005_03 at work - and PPM found GD and installed it no worries and I have made my first JPGs and PNGs (yay) - I appear to have all DLLs.

      However at home I have ActivePerl 5.8 or something to do with 8 (I dont remember but its a rather new installation - didnt realise my work veriosn was so old!) and PPM on that can see a couple of GD-barcode modules and thats it.. no specific GD itself.

      I will try ALL of the wonderful suggestions above..thanks heaps Monks!

      GD is quite fun.. next Ill have a look at Tk!

[reply]

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