1) Because that is the way ActiveState designed it? It allows PPM to pick which of several *.tar.gz files it needs to fetch based on what version of Perl you have. It records information about versions and dates of the packed-up modules so you don't have to download a huge *.tar.gz just to figure out what is inside.

2) It will be in perl/site/lib/DBI.pm. This command: perl -MDBI -e "print $DBI::VERSION" shows what version of DBI you have installed and will complain if you have none.

3) Yes. There is a help (or "?") command that lists the available commands. I don't have PPM handy so you'll have to go look yourself. (:

        - tye (but my friends call me "Tye")