Using CPAN module

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

I'm new to perl and i'm desperate to use a CPAN module. Specifically the module i want to use is Math::MatrixReal. I downloaded ActiveState Perl and i'm using Komodo as an editor. I'm running Windows Vista. I'd REALLY appreciate it if someone could lay out the instructions for me (the more detailed the better). I tried on my own first but i just couldn't get it to work. I know i'm supposed to build it first or whatever, but i just simply couldn't get it to run. Thanks a LOT

Comment on Using CPAN module

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Re: Using CPAN module by syphilis (Archbishop) on May 27, 2008 at 07:53 UTC
You can install using ppm if you like. Just run (while connected to the internet): ppm install Math-MatrixReal That's not making use of CPAN.pm - I'll let someone who actually uses CPAN.pm talk you through that (or provide the relevant links). I suggest, also, that you take a look at the perlmodinstall documentation. Cheers, Rob	[reply]
Re: Using CPAN module by holli (Abbot) on May 27, 2008 at 10:49 UTC
A guide to installing modules for Win32 holli, /regexed monk/	[reply]
Re: Using CPAN module by andreas1234567 (Vicar) on May 27, 2008 at 07:56 UTC
Have you read the If you're running ActivePerl section from perlmodinstall? -- No matter how great and destructive your problems may seem now, remember, you've probably only seen the tip of them. [1]	[reply]
Re: Using CPAN module by rovf (Priest) on May 27, 2008 at 09:14 UTC
Not being an expert, here is how I did get it running for me: I am not using the CPAN module directly, but through a tool called the CPAN shell, cpan. I'm using Windows 2000, but I hope things are the same under Vista. If you are sitting behind a firewall, you need to set the environment variable HTTP_PROXY to your proxy. From a command line Window, execute the command `cpan` You should have it in your $PATH when you have installed ActiveState Perl. Note that whenever you do this, you should start cpan from the same directory (it creates on the first use a configuration file relative to the working directory). Answer the qustions you get asked by cpan. Usually this is only necessary the first time. Now you are in the cpan shell. Typing a question mark, displays the help. Useful commands are `install` (for fetching a module from CPAN and installing it on your system) and `o conf`, which with you can display your configuration settings and change them if necessary (for example, if you want to specify different installation directories). For example, install your module with `install Math::MatrixReal` Leave the cpan shell with the `q` command. Note that you can have only one shell open at a time, and q removes the lock file. Hope that helps... -- Ronald Fischer <ynnor@mm.st>	[reply] [d/l] [select]