<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>README for the binary distribution for AS Perl 5xx of the MSSQL modules</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<BODY><CENTER>
<H1>MSSQL::DBlib 1.009<BR>
MSSQL::Sqllib 1.008</H1></CENTER>
<UL>
<P>
This is MSSQL, classes for calling DB-Library for Microsoft SQL
Server from Perl.
<P>
Copyright � 1991-1995 Michael Peppler<BR>
Copyright � 1996 Christian Mallwitz, Intershop Gmbh<BR>
Copyright � 1997-2003 Erland Sommarskog<BR>
All rights reserved.<BR>
<P>
This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
it under the same terms as Perl itself.
<P>
</UL>
<H3>Brief overview</H3>
Michael Peppler developped Sybperl. Christian Mallwitz of Intershop GmbH
ported Sybperl 2.03 to NT (there is now a more recent NT port that comes with
the regular Sybperl distribution). From their work, I created MSSQL::DBlib.
<P>
MSSQL::Sqllib is fairly generic SQL library built on top of the DBlib
class, with an interface which is focused on being simple to use.
<P>
<H3>What's in this kit</H3>
The zip file includes Intel binaries for ActivePerl 5xx, 6xx and 8xx
(Perl 5.005, 5.6 and 5.8). If you need a binary for ActivePerl 3xx,
mail me at <A HREF="mailto:
[email protected]">
[email protected]</A>.
<P>
The kit includes source files and a makefile.pl, so that you can build it from
sources if you like. See <A HREF="#build_src">Building from sources</A> at
the end of this file.
<P>
The binaries were all built on Windows XP SP1, against versions 522, 631
and 804 of ActivePerl. For the binaries for ActivePerl 6xx and ActivePerl
8xx I used the C++ compiler in Visual Studio 6 SP5. For the binary for
ActivePerl 5xx, I used the C++ compiler in Visual Studio .Net. (Because
the binary compiled with VC+ 6 would not run).
</UL>
<H3>Prerequisites</H3>
To install the binaries this you need (if you are building from sources,
see below).
<UL>
<LI> ActiveState Perl Build 5xx, 6xx or 8xx.
</LI>
<LI> Run-time libraries for DB-Library on the machine where you run the Perl
scripts. (To install these it is sufficient to install the client part
of SQL Server.)
</LI>
<LI> Access to SQL Server 6.5 or later.
</LI>
<LI> Any Windows platform (save arcane 16-bit versions) should do, but I
have only tested the current binaries on Windows XP and Windos 2000.
</LI>
</UL>
<H3>How to install</H3>
<UL>
<LI> Extract the zip file anywhere you like.
</LI>
<LI>Open a Command Prompt, and change directory to where you extracted the files.
</LI>
<LI>Run the script activeperl-copy.pl. This script inspects your PATH to determine
where your Perl installation is, and installs the files according to
the structure used by ActivePerl.
</LI>
<LI>You can prevent the script from searching by
giving the top directory for your Perl installation yourself. E.g.:<BR><BR>
<CODE>
perl activeperl-copy.pl C:\Perl
</CODE><BR>
</UL>
<H3>Running test scripts</H3>
The MSSQL modules comes with a couple of test scripts. If you install from
source code, you run the test scripts as part of the installation process,
see <A HREF="#build_src">below</A>.
<P>
If you want to verify a binary installation, run test scripts from the command
line. See <A HREF="tests.html">tests.html</A> for how to run the test scripts.
<H3>Small troubleshooting guide</H3>
You may get a message like this when you run a script which uses any of the MSSQL
modules:
<PRE>
Can't load 'f:/Perl/AS-613/site/lib/auto/MSSQL/DBlib/DBlib.dll' for module MSSQL
::DBlib: load_file:The specified module could not be found at f:/Perl/AS-613/lib
/DynaLoader.pm line 200.
at 1_dblib.t line 22
Compilation failed in require at 1_dblib.t line 22.
BEGIN failed--compilation aborted at 1_dblib.t line 22.</PRE>
<P>
This means that one or more of the DLLs required to run DB-Library are
not present. Probably you have not installed the client part of SQL
Server on the machine where you get this error. Grab hold of an SQL
Server CD. You only need to install client libraries.
<P>
If the above happens to you when you run the script from a web server,
but it works when you run from a command prompt, then you need to
install DB-Library on the web server.
<H3>Manuals</H3>
The <I>docs</I> subdirectory contains documentation for the two modules. There is
a POD and an HTML file for each module. You may want to rebuild the HTML files,
so that references to Perl elements outside MSSQL are resolved. The file DOPOD.BAT
is a simple file that just builds the HTML files locally.
<H3>Sample scripts</H3>
The directory <I>eg</I> contains a small collection of sample scripts, some
that I've inherited from the Sybperl distribution. You also find one utility
that might be useful, SPTRITEST, which tests all stored procedures in a
database for trivial errors. <B>WARNING!</B> Don't run SPTRITEST on a live
database, but only on a database you can afford to waste.
<H3>Reporting bugs or problems</H3>
Please mail bug reports and suggestions to <A HREF="mailto:
[email protected]">
[email protected]</A>. Try to make your reports as specific as possible.
Particularly don't forget to include which versions of Perl, Windows, SQL Server
etc you are using.
<P>
I usually try to respond within 24-48 hours, but if I am on holiday I am.
<P>
<H2><A NAME="build_src">Building from Sources</A></H2>
<H3>Prerequisites</H3>
To build this you need.
<UL>
<LI> Include files and link libraries DB-Library for MS SQL Server 6.5 or higher.
These are on your SQL Server CD, but may not be installed by default.
<B>Note:</B> Microsoft has announced that the version
of SQL Server after SQL2000 will not come with these files.
</LI>
<LI> A Perl 5.004 or higher installed on Windows. </LI>
<LI> A C++ compiler. If you don't have a C++ compiler GNU has a free compiler.
(Sorry, I don't have a URL.) <B>Caveat:</B> I have not tried to build
this with any compiler than Visual C++</LI>
<LI> A make facility. You can get Microsofts NMAKE (for x86) on:
<A HREF="
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/nmake15.exe">
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Softlib/MSLFILES/nmake15.exe</A></LI>
</UL>
<H3>How to install</H3>
Text in <KBD>this type face</KBD> indicates command you run from the command prompt.
<OL TYPE=1>
<LI>Extract the zip file anywhere you like.</LI>
<LI>Edit DBlib/makefile.pl so that $SQLDIR points to where you include and link
libraries for DB-Library are included.</LI>
<LI>DBlib/makefile.pl also includes a <I>dynamic_lib</I> option, which I don't
know whether it will work with other compilers than Visual C++. For better
startup performance, you are encouraged to find the corresponding command-line
option for your compiler. However, you can remove it if you don't care.
<LI>Open a Command Prompt, and change directory to where you extracted the files.</LI>
<LI><KBD>Perl makefile.pl</KBD>. <BR>
I suggest that you run this from the top directory.</LI>
<LI><KBD>MAKE</KBD><BR>
Or <KBD>NMAKE</KBD>, <KBD>DMAKE</KBD> or whatever your MAKE utility you use.
<LI>If you want to run the test scripts, edit DBlib/t/sqllogin.pl and
Sqllib/t/sqllogin.pl so that they contain a valid combination of user, password
and server. They're shipped to use Windows authentication and local server.
Don't forget to remove sensitive information, once the tests are OK.</LI>
<LI><KBD>MAKE test</KBD><BR>
See <A HREF="tests.html">tests.html</A> for notes on the tests.
<LI><KBD>MAKE install</KBD>
</OL>
You're on the air!
<HR>
<I>
Last updated <!--$$Modtime:--> 03-01-01 20:11 <!-- $-->
</I>
</BODY>
</HTML>
