Expect.pm problem

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

Hi, I have looked at the Expect.pm questions on this site, but I still have problem using this module. My code is

    $expect = new Expect(); 
    $expect->log_file("./res", "w");
    $expect->spawn("/bin/bash");
    $expect->expect(10,-re,'bash');  
    $expect->send($cmd);
    $expect->expect(10,'-re','Enter');                  
    $expect->send($pwd);
[download]

The $cmd is just a command that performs some maintenance and the $pwd is the password to start it. My problem is this code always hangs at the password. When I run the script with -d, it seems like the $cmd is not sent when I do $expect->send($cmd). It sends the cmd out after the $expect->expect(10,'-re','Enter'). I can see that in the debugger as well as the log file for this expect. Any idea what is happening? Thanks

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Re: Expect.pm problem by tachyon (Chancellor) on Nov 25, 2004 at 03:59 UTC
I expect that the problem is the lack of quotes around '-re' in your 4th line. If that fails you should set debugging on in Expect: `$Expect::Debug = 3; # or $obj->debug(3);` [download] cheers tachyon	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: Expect.pm problem by Anonymous Monk on Nov 25, 2004 at 18:28 UTC
I don't have quotes around my -re and it works. It looks like your first instance of -re works, too. It does not have quotes. I suspect that if you remove the quotes on the last one it would work. In any case, I don't think you would be hanging on your last "send" command. I think it is the quoted -re line above it. Good luck.	[reply]
Re^3: Expect.pm problem by rhymejerky (Beadle) on Nov 29, 2004 at 18:36 UTC
I have taken out all the quote in the -re, but the problem persisted. I know expect.pm works if I execute commands,(ie., ls, cat etc) when the prompt shows up at the end of the command execution. When I run other command (Oracle calendar command to be exact), it does not get back to the prompt. Instead, it shows a line that asks me for password. I have a feeling that expect is not looking at the right place. Any other suggestion is greatly appreciated. Thanks	[reply]