Perl Database access

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

Ok folks I need to be able to access a database using Perl. I know that I need the DBI module. I have been to the command line and I typed ppm and then "install DBI and then Y but it always times out with:

C:\>ppm
PPM interactive shell (2.1) - type help for available commands.
PPM> install DBI
Install package 'DBI'...
"HTTP POST failed: 500 (Can't connect to www.activestate.com.80 (Timeo
+ut), <> line 2.) in SOAP method call. 
Content of response:
at C:/BIN/perl/site/lib/PPM/SOAPClient.pm line222

C:\>
[download]

Is this meant to be for UNIX systems (the shell bit I find worrying) as I'm using WindozeNT. I need to get this module and I then need to know how to, given a set of values/variables that I can interpolate, get this data INTO the database. I have to use an access database. Eternally in your debt if you can help, Fian....

Comment on Perl Database access Download Code

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Re: Perl Database access by jorg (Friar) on Mar 14, 2001 at 21:41 UTC
My experience with PPM is that it didn't really like being behind a proxy/firewall, that could be one problem. Alternatively someone might have tampered with the repository in which case you will need to make it point to whatever AS defaults it to do for example `set repository MYREP http://www.ActiveState.com/PPMPackages/5.6` from the PPM Last you could just install the package yourself by downloading if from Activestate repository archive @ `http://www.ActiveState.com/PPMPackages/5.6/zips` , then just uncompress in temp dir and run 'PPM install packagename'.. on the other hand a supersearch for 'PPM' should give you the same answers and a lot more hope this helps, jorg	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: Re: Perl Database access by Fian (Novice) on Mar 14, 2001 at 22:38 UTC
Go raibh mille maith agat..... I went to activestate.com and downloaded the beast. Gottit. Slan...	[reply]
Re: Perl Database access by davorg (Chancellor) on Mar 14, 2001 at 21:30 UTC
PPM works fine on Windows systems - that's what it was written for. The problem seems to be with your connectivity to activestate.com. Are you connected to the internet? -- <http://www.dave.org.uk> "Perl makes the fun jobs fun and the boring jobs bearable" - me	[reply]
Re: Perl Database access by Coyote (Deacon) on Mar 14, 2001 at 21:28 UTC
PPM is more of a Windows tool than anything else (although there is a version for linux). Did you try to download the file manually from ActiveState rather than through the PPM shell? ---- Coyote	[reply]
Re: Perl Database access by buckaduck (Chaplain) on Mar 14, 2001 at 23:52 UTC
If you're behind a proxy firewall, you may need to follow the instructions which are included with ActivePerl. Either put the following lines in autoexec.bat or run them on the command line before PPM: SET HTTP_proxy=http://x.x.x.x:yy (substitute your proxy server's IP and port) SET HTTP_proxy_user=username SET HTTP_proxy_pass=password buckaduck	[reply]
Re: Perl Database access by sierrathedog04 (Hermit) on Mar 15, 2001 at 04:18 UTC
Before you install DBI make sure that you have first told PPM to look for packages at the ActiveState site. From the PPM command prompt type: `set repository ActiveState http://www.ActiveState.com/PPMPackages/5.6` [download] To test whether PPM is finding DBI type: `search DBI` [download] Finally, if PPM returns a hit type: `install DBI` [download] PPM sometimes fails when you go through a firewall, but I tried PPM for the first time today (yay!) and it worked great going through my corporate firewall.	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: Perl Database access by Jouke (Curate) on Mar 15, 2001 at 13:21 UTC
On the perl-win32-users mailinglist there was some discussion on problems with the PPM server with similar errors as you mention above. I think it's wise to subscribe to one of their mailinglists and ask the question there. Jouke Visser, Perl 'Adept'	[reply]