h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Now we're getting some where!

Questions:

A: How do I know if they are SQL commmands or not?
B: How do I know which one to type the commands into?

Umm... they're SQL commands if they're in SQL.

Doesn't it say any of this stuff in the instructions???

If you see some statements that start with the following commands:

ADD
INSERT
SELECT

then it's probably SQL.

If you things like:

./somescript.pl
./someprogram
cd /somepath

then they're probably shell commands.

But the instructions should say where to type them!!!!!

Have a look at them.

They say nothing to the sort. At least, not that I can determine.

If you're talking about the "Step by Step" manual install instructions, it says "From command line:" in italics. That means from a command/cmd prompt on Windows.

I still think you should try running "perl installer.pl" from the Koha directory to do an automated install. The worst that can happen is that the installation fails.

Well, I think that I found the file you were talking about. When I clicked it, a command prompter came up for a few seconds then went away.

I think I know what the problem is.

I think that every thign is downloaded and installed as it should be. I simply have to create a database table (or whatever it is) and configue the programme to the specifications that they give.

The only thing is: I don't know how to do this.

I beleive that we have firmly established that those are indeed command lines. The only thing is, there are a lot of Command Prompters into which I can type those lines. Which to choose?

comp-err.exe comes up for a few seconds then goes.
isamchk.exe runs some script then dissapears.
myprintdefaults.exe does the same as the second but less script.
myisamchk.exe same.
myisamlog.exe same but Beeps at me.
myisampack.exe more script then dissapearance act.
mysql.exe says "Welcome to the MySQL monitor. Commands end with ; or \g. Your MySQL id is 1 to server version 4.0.14-nt.
mysqladmin.exe Script and close.
mysqlbinlog.exe same.
mysqlc.exe same as mysql.exe but id is 2 not 1.
mysqlcheck.exe Script then close.
mysqld.exe opens and does nothing. Won't let me type either.
mysqld-max.exe same.
mysqld-max-nt.exe same.
mysqld-nt.exe same.
mysqld-opt.exe same.
mysqldump.exe coems up then closes quickly.
mysqlimport.exe has script then closes.
mysqlshow.exe has script then closes. This time, though, the script is not extensive. Just a box made with -- and || and some words in the centre.
mysqlwatch.exe says some thing about how it is calling some centre.
pack isam.exe script then closes.
perror.exe Script then closes.
replace.exe beeps. No script then closes.

Those are all of the Command Prompts. There are two or three that I can do these things in. And, the Command Prompt in my Star - Programs (damn American Spelling. - Accessories.

What to do?

By the way, the \h tells me nothing.

You need to get to a command shell. Press the Start button, click "Run..." and type in "cmd". Change to the directory where you decompressed Koha ("cd \path\to\Koha") and type "perl installer.pl". If you get an error, copy it and paste it into a posting, then I'll be able to help.

I have re-downloaded both Koha and ActiveState Perl 5.8.0 build 806 for Windows.

For Koha, it said that every PERL module was already installed.

For Active State, I clicked Repair. Every thing went smoothly.

But, when I tried to do the thing you sugested, this came up: 'usr' is not recognised as internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

However, I think that I have none the less acheieved what you wanted by re-installing ActiveState and Koha.

What next?

Wait a second.

I'm an Idiot.

I've been tryign to do a Manual Configuration. Fool that I am, just above it is Option one: Automatic Configuration.

I found the installer.pl However, when I double click it, a Command Prompt comes up and has some text. But, it leaves MUCH too quickly for me to even get a chance to read it. That did not sto me, though. It starts off You seem to be installing from It took me one shot per word. It hurts me eyes too much to get all the text.

Does this help?

The text reads (I did the click bit enough) You seem to be installing from CVS. Please install the "buildrelease" script and install from the resulting tarrball.

This seems to be for Unix. Yet, I downloaded for Windows. Is this file from Koha or ActiveState?

The file is from Koha. You're doing too much double clicking for your own good, I think. Start up a command prompt (Start=>Run=>"cmd") and try working with it that way. To change directories, type "cd " (no quotes). When you get to the Koha directory, type "perl installer.pl" and see what happens.

I believe the script is complaining that you're installing from CVS because you're trying to start the script by double clicking it which means it's trying to start up from somewhere in c:\winnt\ instead of in whatever directory you've unzipped Koha into.

Well, that did work some what:

After I got into the appropriate folder (thanks for the instructions: Finally, some thing goes right!) the script came back saying the same thing. Only, this time, I didn't have to give myself a headache reading it. Plain and simply, it said: You seem to be installing from CVS. Please run the "buildrelease" script and install from the resulting release tarball.

So, I searched for buildrelease. I found it. I ran it in the cmd. It asked me what I wanted to open it with (it is buildrelease.orig). I said Perl Command Line Interpreter. It said: "This script will automatically build a release tarball. The script asumes that you already have the koha and koha-html modules checked out for the release you want to build, althought it will update the modules before building. Where is the cvs 'koha' module located. []:

What do I do now?

Oh, the programme is installer.pl not perl installer.pl as the manual suggests at one point. It corrects itself the next line down.

A .pl file is just a script and it requires Perl to run, thus you are running Perl with "installer.pl" as an argument if you type "perl installer.pl". This is happening invisibly when you type "installer.pl" because of the file association ActivePerl creates.

So, if I run perl intsaller.pl, this is an Application that reads the Script which is installer.pl?

Hmmm....

What would you suggest as to the prior problem, the one that when I access installer.pl it says the things about a CVS module?

Perl (the application) opens installer.pl (the Script), reads it, parses it, compiles it and runs it, yes. All quite quickly.

That... is a good question. CVS, in case you didn't know, is a system for tracking changes to application code. Generally downloading from CVS means you're getting the bleeding edge alpha version of the product. I'm not sure why it's insisting you're installing from CVS since you're clearly not...

Hmm....

Do I dare to ask if you Know a Way in which I can Rectify the Error?

I would have to do much more digging and installing to help you with that. I've really reached the limits of what I can do without actually downloading and installing the software and I'm afraid I don't have the time to do that. And even if I did there'd be no guarantee I could help you.

It sounds to me like the installer script is failing some sort of check and giving you a misleading error message. In order to fix a problem like that, you'd have to edit the script and figure out where it's failing. Based on the fact that you're not familiar with the command line, I'd guess this is currently a bit out of your league.

At this point I'm tempted to say "Hire a professional". If you do hire someone, make sure they're familiar with database systems, Apache, and Perl.

I was hoping ot Set it Up Myself.

Hmmm....

Well, I think Koha has an E-Mail Thingy. I'll have to try them.

Well, no matter, I thank you Kindly for having taken this much Time for me. I will continue to Putter around and see if I can do some thing.

Danke und... ende.